“I’m gonna go so that you and your ladies in waiting can finish getting ready. Plus, I wouldn’t want Jenny to scold me for making you cry and messing up your makeup. We wouldn’t want to get off schedule now, would we?”
Rory giggled at her mother’s comments. “She’s already reminded me that the heaters can’t go past a certain time, so we have to get the show on the road as scheduled, no excuses.”
“I’ll see you out there.” Andrea placed a kiss against her daughter’s temple and slipped out of the room.
“Oh pretty, pretty,” Shianne gushed as she touched the pearls against Rory’s neck. “You already have something new, something borrowed and something old. How about something blue?” she asked, opening her hand to reveal a blue garter. Rory laughed and reached for the piece of material.
“It’s far from traditional, but I like it,” she thanked her best friend.
“All right, everyone. It’s almost time. Please tell me you’re all on the last of your preparations.” Jenny stormed into the room like a force of nature, an earpiece with a microphone attached to one side of her face.
“Rory, you look lovely, darling. Are we ready to get this show on the road?”
Rory had to bite her lip to prevent the unseemly sound that threatened to escape them. She looked around the room to see that her friends had the same looks.
“Just my makeup needs some retouching,” she answered.
“All right, that’s good.” She subtly signaled for the makeup artist to come and finish up. “We start in the next fifteen minutes, ladies. Please ensure our bride walks down the aisle on time.” With that, she left the room, probably to check on other things wedding related.
“You heard the headmistress, ladies. Let’s get cracking,” Shianne spoke in stunned silence.
At this, everyone broke out in laughter.
True to her words, in fifteen minutes time, her bridesmaids left the room to go meet the groomsmen they would be marching with. Rory could hear the soft flowery music as it floated from the outside up to the room they were using on the second floor of the Inn.
She made her way down the steps, Shianne holding the train to prevent her from tripping over the material.
“Ready?” she asked, staring into her friend’s eyes.
A smile broke on Rory’s lips. “I’m ready.” Her smile slipped a bit when she noticed the woman behind Shianne. Her maid of honor turned her head, her own smile slipping.
“Want me to kick her out?” she asked seriously.
“No. It’s okay,” Rory assured her. She turned to the woman and gestured for her to follow her to the small kitchenette. As soon as the door closed behind them, Rory whirled on her. “If you’re here to threaten or insult me, just know that it won’t work, not this time,” she warned.
Lenora put her hands up. “That is not my intention,” she spoke softly.
Rory folded her hands over her chest as she waited for the woman to continue.
“I know my words might not mean much to you now, but I do want you to know that I am sorry…for everything. I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did. That was…wrong. Disgraceful.”
Rory didn’t know what to make of this, but she remained quiet as she waited for the woman to finish.
“I love my son, Aurora, very much, and I think that love made me hold on a little too tight. It wasn’t my place to dictate who he should love, and for that reason, I have lost him.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
Rory felt her anger slip a little. She understood where the woman was coming from, and she knew the devastation of not having one parent in her life. She didn’t want that for James.
“He loves you very much, and I know that you love him too. Please take good care of him, Rory.”
Rory’s head went back in shock. That was the first time the woman had called her by Rory.
Lenora turned and walked to the door.
“Lenora, wait.”
She turned to look at Rory, who came to stand before her.
“I am not okay with what you did or the way you treated me. I am far from it.”
