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“Anything my granddaughter wants she will get,” Nana replies, her voice shaky. “She is my favorite granddaughter.” Her lips curl slightly at those words and my heart squeezes. I’m going to miss these moments.
“Will do. Did you have any plants or flowers you’d prefer?” the wedding planner asks.
“I’d like to have lots of greenery and then have white flowers to contrast. I’d like a canopy of fairy lights for the area where we exchange vows and a white aisle with tea lights going down the sides.”
“For a girl who didn’t know what she wants, you are doing good,” Nana laughs.
We finalize some more details with the wedding planner and then we get off the phone. Anna discusses the menu and Nana tells her to hire a catering company, given the short notice. Since Anna is upset about not preparing the food herself, I ask her if she wants to make us our wedding cake.
“What were you thinking?” Anna asks.
“A three-tier cake and if it’s okay, I’d like pink accents. Syd loves pink,” I relay.
“We can also make pink cookies that have yours and Connor’s name on them,” Anna offers.
“That sounds lovely,” I say. “So, I guess we are all set.”
“You need a wedding dress,” Nana reminds.
“Right. How could I forget that?” I joke.
The thought of going wedding dress shopping on my own sounds awful, and there is no way Nana can take that kind of trip now.
I dig my teeth into my lower lip.
“I have an idea, but don’t feel obligated,” Nana says, her tone carrying a hint of warning.
“Okay,” I say slowly.
“I have my wedding dress. It’s simple and lace. Nonno worked for months in a factory just so he could buy me the perfect dress,” she explains.
“Just hearing that makes me love it already,” I reply.
“I know exactly where it is,” Nora says, standing. She runs off and Anna stands to pour us some tea. She gets up to hold the cup for Nana and I watch Nana trying to hold the cup, but her hands shake. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach returns.
I drink my tea and smile at Nana. I know she doesn’t want me to be sad and she’s so brave, I feel like I need to be the same way.
Nora returns ten minutes later holding a large box that she explains has special paper inside to preserve the color and material of the dress. She passes it to me, and I open it up slowly, feeling my breath sucked from my lungs when I take in the beauty of the dress. It’s a straight cut dress made of white lace, but there are crystals sewn into the lace. The dress has little sleeves and appears to be strapless with a slight dip in the front.
“I don’t know if it will fit,” I worry aloud. I feel tears prickling my eyes thinking of Nana as a bride. It would be my honor to wear this dress. I just wish my wedding was real. The words hit me like bricks falling from the sky. Is it possible to fall in love so fast? I know the answer before I take my next breath. I love him. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but he’s kind of hard not to love. I just wish he felt the same about me.
“It will fit. There is so much about you that reminds me of myself,” Nana sighs.
“I’ll go try it on,” I say, and I take the box with me to the powder room on the main floor. I undress and remove my bra since it’s off the shoulders and I want to see how the dress looks without my straps sticking out. I step into the dress, pulling it up over my behind. So far it’s a smooth fit. I slip my arms through the sleeve holes and then I zip up the back. It fits like a glove. I lift my hair off my neck, admiring the neckline. The fabric is beautiful and intricate. The dress has fairy-tale vibes. I twirl in the bathroom, getting carried away, and look in the mirror while I do. The dress has a hem to it that is a little longer at the back and it hits just past my ankles, but with the right heels it will be amazing.
I debate whether I should show them all the dress and I decide that yes, I should. Nana needs a reason to fight. A reason to be okay. I head back to the living room, and I watch as all three of their jaws drop. Nana’s eyes fill with tears.
“I didn’t think I’d live to see the day,” Nana says, her lower lip quivering.
“Oh, Nana.” I reach down and hug her, my own eyes filling with tears.
When I pull back the tears escape.
“Don’t cry, pretty girl. I’ve lived a full life,” she assures.
Teddy comes up to me and begins to bark at me.
All of us break into laughter.
