love to,” I answer, touched and honored that my future stepmother is asking me to stand with her.
“Thank you. Having you beside me when I marry your father means a lot.”
“It means a lot to me, too,” I say, wiping a tear away.
“And since Julian will be Jack's best man, everything will be perfect.”
“It will, and he is honored as well. We're so happy for you guys,” I tell her, grateful to have her in my life, and for the happiness she has brought to Dad.
We talk for a few minutes more and say goodbye.
I hang up the phone and stare out at the full moon through the kitchen window, allowing my thoughts to drift to and fro. I know it is only a matter of time before I lose the rest of my hair. I have accepted this fact, but a small hope is always there. I keep thinking I should go ahead and buy a couple of wigs, but it seems like there is always a reason it put off. And I will definitely need one now that I am to be Cassie's maid of honor. Wearing a hat or scarf is completely out of the question.
Maybe tomorrow I will go and browse.
As soon as I awaken I can feel that something is different. Not wanting to wake Julian, I sit up, my hands immediate ly going to my head, and I am shocked to feel more bare sections on my scalp. Hesitantly, I go into the bathroom and close the door, locking it before turning on the light. I don't want to move to the mirror, afraid of what I will see, but I know I must, so I slowly approach the vanity with my eyes closed. Then I look at my reflection and a river of tears splash down my face. My scalp looks like patchwork. I have lost so much hair during the night, no amount of camouflage will help.
Covering my mouth, I drop to the bench and cry.
“Giselle,” Julian calls softly, “ Swee'heart , would ye open the door?”
“I can’t,” I answer with a muffled cry.
“Please, darlin ', tis okay. I ken ye lost more, but it doesnae matter ta me. Ye are still the most bonnie lass I hav ' ever seen. An' ye will alwa's be beautiful ta me no matter wha '. I know I keep repeatin ' masel ', but ye hav ' ta believe me.”
Hearing the emotion in his voice, I take another look at my reflection. There are small patches of dark hair left here and there. Heaving a resigned sigh, I wipe my face.
You will get through this. And this too shall pass. I get up and walk to the door.
“Julian?”
“Aye, honey.
“Would you do something for me?”
“ Anythin ', darlin '.”
Taking a deep breath, I slowly open the door, a few more tears trailing down my cheeks. “Would you give me a haircut?” I slowly smile.
Julian pulls me into his arms , both laughing and crying, raining kisses all over my face. “Aye. I would be glad ta giv ' ye a haircut.”
Five minutes later, he stands behind me with his hands on my shoulders as I examine my reflection. “So wha ' do ye thin'?”
I hesitate, turning my head from left to right, and then smile. “I thin' ye took a bit too much o the top.”
Laughing, he kneels beside me and holds me close. “ Och , how I love ye, mo nighean donn .”
“And I love you. Thank you, Julian.”
“For wha '?”
“For being so good to me.”
“Tis a privilege ta be able ta love ye, angel.” He stands, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror, the burning passion in his gaze heating me to the core. “Now, forgiv ' me, darlin ', but I'm aboot ta take ye back ta bed for a wee bit an' hav ' ma way with ye. All right?”
I stand and turn to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and bury my fingers in his hair. “Aye. And you are definitely forgiven.”
Chapter 14
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
John Keats
I am beautiful. My hair does not make me. I am an amazing person with so much going for me. My husband loves and adores me and thinks I'm bonnie. That is all that matters.
S itting at a vanity in the wig shop, I mentally repeat these affirmations
“Thank you. Having you beside me when I marry your father means a lot.”
“It means a lot to me, too,” I say, wiping a tear away.
“And since Julian will be Jack's best man, everything will be perfect.”
“It will, and he is honored as well. We're so happy for you guys,” I tell her, grateful to have her in my life, and for the happiness she has brought to Dad.
We talk for a few minutes more and say goodbye.
I hang up the phone and stare out at the full moon through the kitchen window, allowing my thoughts to drift to and fro. I know it is only a matter of time before I lose the rest of my hair. I have accepted this fact, but a small hope is always there. I keep thinking I should go ahead and buy a couple of wigs, but it seems like there is always a reason it put off. And I will definitely need one now that I am to be Cassie's maid of honor. Wearing a hat or scarf is completely out of the question.
Maybe tomorrow I will go and browse.
As soon as I awaken I can feel that something is different. Not wanting to wake Julian, I sit up, my hands immediate ly going to my head, and I am shocked to feel more bare sections on my scalp. Hesitantly, I go into the bathroom and close the door, locking it before turning on the light. I don't want to move to the mirror, afraid of what I will see, but I know I must, so I slowly approach the vanity with my eyes closed. Then I look at my reflection and a river of tears splash down my face. My scalp looks like patchwork. I have lost so much hair during the night, no amount of camouflage will help.
Covering my mouth, I drop to the bench and cry.
“Giselle,” Julian calls softly, “ Swee'heart , would ye open the door?”
“I can’t,” I answer with a muffled cry.
“Please, darlin ', tis okay. I ken ye lost more, but it doesnae matter ta me. Ye are still the most bonnie lass I hav ' ever seen. An' ye will alwa's be beautiful ta me no matter wha '. I know I keep repeatin ' masel ', but ye hav ' ta believe me.”
Hearing the emotion in his voice, I take another look at my reflection. There are small patches of dark hair left here and there. Heaving a resigned sigh, I wipe my face.
You will get through this. And this too shall pass. I get up and walk to the door.
“Julian?”
“Aye, honey.
“Would you do something for me?”
“ Anythin ', darlin '.”
Taking a deep breath, I slowly open the door, a few more tears trailing down my cheeks. “Would you give me a haircut?” I slowly smile.
Julian pulls me into his arms , both laughing and crying, raining kisses all over my face. “Aye. I would be glad ta giv ' ye a haircut.”
Five minutes later, he stands behind me with his hands on my shoulders as I examine my reflection. “So wha ' do ye thin'?”
I hesitate, turning my head from left to right, and then smile. “I thin' ye took a bit too much o the top.”
Laughing, he kneels beside me and holds me close. “ Och , how I love ye, mo nighean donn .”
“And I love you. Thank you, Julian.”
“For wha '?”
“For being so good to me.”
“Tis a privilege ta be able ta love ye, angel.” He stands, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror, the burning passion in his gaze heating me to the core. “Now, forgiv ' me, darlin ', but I'm aboot ta take ye back ta bed for a wee bit an' hav ' ma way with ye. All right?”
I stand and turn to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and bury my fingers in his hair. “Aye. And you are definitely forgiven.”
Chapter 14
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
John Keats
I am beautiful. My hair does not make me. I am an amazing person with so much going for me. My husband loves and adores me and thinks I'm bonnie. That is all that matters.
S itting at a vanity in the wig shop, I mentally repeat these affirmations
Similar Books
