Read Online Nuptials for Sale by Virginia Jewel - Free Book Online Page B

was delivered to the apartment.  Josh helped me carry it into my room.
    “Don’t open that!” I screamed when he started to pull the tape off the package.
    He stopped and looked at me, “Why not?”
    “Because, Josh, it is bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the wedding.” I tried to push him away from the enormous box sitting on my bed.
    He laughed, “You’ve got to be kidding me.  We’re having a fake wedding, Mel.”
    “No, we’re not.  We’re having a real wedding, followed by a real marriage.” I pulled the box towards me. 
    Josh sighed, “Real or fake, the wedding dress superstition is ridiculous.  How many episodes of that stupid dress show have I sat and watched with you where the boyfriend goes with the girl to get the dress?”
    “Look, I just want this one thing to be traditional.   You need to find somewhere to go for the next few hours.  I’m calling my mom to come over.”
    He gave me a strange look.
    I sighed.
    After the lingerie shower incident, I’d been thinking a lot about what my mom was missing out on.  As far as she knew, this was a real wedding.  What we were going through was real to her, and I had managed to find a way to keep her out of it all.
    “I want my mom to have this one thing.  She wasn’t there to help me pick it out or to help with any of the other wedding details.  I want her to have this one part of the wedding.”  I gave him a pleading look.
    “Fine,” he sighed.  “I’m going to the gym.  I’ll call you before I come home.”
    “Thanks Josh.”  I flashed a smile at him and wrapped my arms around him. 
    We’d been doing that a lot more lately.  Being forced to look like a loving engaged couple had somehow made our friendship a bit more physical.  We hugged each other, even when no one was around to see us.
    My mom showed up about twenty minutes after Josh left and immediately helped me pull the dress out of its box.
    “Oh Melody, it’s absolutely beautiful,” she said after we had it laid out on the bed.  She started to cry as she grabbed my hand and pulled it up to her face.
    “Do you want to try and help me get into it?” I asked timidly.
    It took us almost fifteen minutes to get the dress on and laced up.  However, when we were done, it was worth every uncomfortable tug and pull.  My mom stood in front of me with a tissue pressed against her eyes, dabbing at the tears streaming down her face. 
    “You are so beautiful Melody.” 
    “Do you think dad will like it?” I asked, suddenly feeling like an insecure child. 
    “I know he will.  I bet he cries when he sees you in this next week.”  She sniffed loudly.  “I can’t believe that in less than a week you’ll be a married woman.”
    “Me either,” I whispered to myself.
    “I brought something for you.”  My mom said as she left the bedroom.  She came back in seconds with a small box in her hands.  “This was mine and it was your grandmother’s before that.  I wasn’t sure if it would go with your dress, but I think it matches quite well.”
    I took the box from her and opened it up to find a delicate lace veil. 
    “Let me put it on for you.” 
    She walked behind me and carefully pinned the veil in place on my head.  We both smoothed the lace over my head.
    I looked at myself in the mirror.  I actually looked like a bride, not a fake bride, or someone who was just pretending, but a real bride. 
    “Mom,” I said softly as she gently smoothed out the veil and dress.
    “What is it honey?”
    “I don’t know if I can do this.” 
    She put her arm around me and looked at me in the mirror.  She smiled warmly at our reflection and squeezed me against her.
    “It’s perfectly natural to have fears about marriage, sweetheart.  Most women do.  What you have to do is try to imagine your life without him.  Is that a life that you want?” She gave my reflection a questioning look.
    I didn’t hesitate, “No, it isn’t.”
    She smiled,