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“Very pretty,” Syd adds.
Nana grins. “Well, thank you, my sweet girls. Did you know that you are now my great-granddaughter?” she asks Syd.
“I don’t know what that means,” Syd replies.
“Just that she is now your grandmother too,” I explain to Syd.
Syd loves this idea because her blue eyes glow. “This is so cool. I always wanted a grandmother.”
Nana’s laughter rings and it touches my heart.
“The makeup artist and hairdresser are waiting for you girls in the spare room,” Nana says. “I can’t wait to see you two all dolled up.”
A photographer walks up to us and snaps some candid shots of us speaking with Nana. Syd makes a whole fuss about posing and we all laugh.
“Okay, let’s get upstairs. We can take more pictures later,” I urge, placing my hand on her shoulder. I gently guide her with me to the staircase.
For a kid who was so shy and quiet, she sure has come into herself.
The hairdresser works on my hair while Syd gets her nails done. Connor calls us to check in and I keep the conversation short and to the point. He made his intentions perfectly clear. We are getting married for show and will have the marriage annulled. No harm, no foul.
Once my hair is done, Syd sits on the chair to get her hair done. She makes me laugh when she tells the hairdresser she wants to look like a princess.
“That won’t be very hard,” the hairdresser, whose name is Milly, replies. “You already look like a princess. This hair is just gorgeous, and your eyes are to die for.”
Syd watches her a little confused, and I bet it’s because she told her that her eyes are to die for and she doesn’t understand exactly what that means. The fact I can read her facial expressions and know what she is thinking says it all. From the start Syd and I were two peas in a pod. Now I don’t know where the annulment will leave us. I don’t think I will be able to continue working as her nanny for my own sanity and broken heart.
With Syd’s hair in a braid that wraps around the back of her head, she stands on the chair.
“Syd, be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt,” I warn.
“I look like a princess.” She throws her arms out at her sides.
Everyone in the room laughs and my heart bursts.
“How about you take a seat in that chair, little lady. It’s makeup time,” the makeup artist, whose name is Cindy, says to her.
“I get makeup too?” Syd asks, her eyes bulging.
“Yes,” Cindy laughs. “You really are a cutie pie.”
“Thanks.” Syd smiles.
I shake my head at her cuteness. She is too much.
Hours pass as our nails, hair, and makeup are done. I felt kind of weird not having my best friends as bridesmaids. This whole situation was over the top, so I just explained it was a small wedding at Nana’s so a wedding party wasn’t in the cards. Patty knows the truth but Eden, Rosie, and Amelia all took the news with grace. Willow hasn’t been in town for months now so I’m not worried about her. Besides, they will be bridesmaids at Skylar and Liam’s wedding, which is just around the corner.
After a small break for a late afternoon lunch, Nora announces it’s time to get dressed. Nana wants to take pictures with us before we walk down the aisle.
“But it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding,” I argue.
“Don’t worry about that, Els. Connor is on the main floor getting ready in Nana’s office. He’s got some buds from the team down there with him. Anna just brought them all kinds of hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, and they’ve been given strict orders not to leave the area.” She winks.
“Bless you,” I say.
As the reality of the day and all that it will mean really hits me, my stomach begins to sour. I wanted to make Nana happy. She was my only source of love as a child and this day means everything to her. I can’t let her down.
I slip on the dress and everyone gushes. The hairdresser put my hair in an updo with soft curls around my face. It shows off the neckline of the dress beautifully.
