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I didn’t indulge her with an answer to that.
“I don’t need satin sheets and handcuffs,” I told her instead. “I just need that man.”
She exchanged a look with her sister.
I figured they were both finally realizing how serious this was, because they both went silent. For once in her life, even Dani didn’t have an opinion to share.
Or maybe she just felt too sorry for me to lay it on me right now.
* * *
That night, I lay on the couch in my mom’s hotel room, flat on my back, while she tried on her wedding dress. I’d gone from staring at the seashell to straight-up staring at the ceiling. As if it might have answers for me.
But all it had for me, like most everything else, were memories of Shane’s face.
When Mom walked out of the bathroom in her wedding dress, I snapped to attention. My jaw actually dropped.
She gasped a little at my reaction. “Oh.” Then she sobbed, like she might burst into tears, but caught herself.
“Mom.” I jumped to my feet. “You. Look.Stunning.”
“Please, help me with this.” She was clutching at the ivory silk bodice. “The whole thing is about to fall down.”
I went and fastened all the silk-covered buttons up the back. When she turned to face me, I just shook my head. “You’re a vision, Margot Vola. Jacob is so lucky.”
She laughed softly. “I never thought I’d be a bride this late in life. But I think I can still pull it off?”
“Of course you can. And maybe sometimes, this is just how long it takes to find your unicorn.” I tried to hold onto my smile for her, to be happy for my mom.
But the thought of that… of waiting for another almost thirty years from now to meet my own Jacob… was fucking depressing as hell.
“Yes,” she agreed, and she laughed softly. Because Mom knew all about my unicorn theory. “It really did.”
“Oh. I have the jewelry for you.” I went to get the boxes Danica had given me. She’d designed a special set for Mom. Gold adorned with rubies that probably cost a small fortune; I’d actually felt nervous walking around with them. They were a gift from Jacob. He’d wanted Danica to make Mom something really special.
I took out the necklace and the earrings and helped Mom put them on.
“Danica wanted to have a look, before you wear them up the aisle. To make sure everything is perfect. But I asked her if I could give them to you tonight. You know, so we could just… have this moment.”
Mom gazed at me as I stood back to look at her.
“You look like a queen, Mom.” I nodded at the full-length mirror across the room. “Go. Have a look.”
She lifted her dress a little and made her way over to it, and I helped arrange the silk skirts around her.
“Fantastique,” she gushed. “Does this mean… I’m ready?”
She was. She was literally wearing her entire bridal outfit right now, down to the lingerie and jewelry. And everything was perfect.
“I think so. Unless you forget your panties or something.”
“Oh, Jolie. They’re on. It’s my groom’s job to take them off,” she added playfully.
I groaned. “I don’t need that imagery, Mom.”
She just smiled at me. “I can’t wait for the honeymoon! I feel like a virgin,” she whispered.
Ugh. My mother, in love.
