Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 803 : Dress of My Own

*Cat*

After having lunch with Elio and sending out the new digital invitations with our date and newly decided venue, Elio headed off for a meeting with Franky and Leo while I headed to my own appointment.

The address wasn’t too far from the spot where we’d had lunch, so I headed straight over, even if I’d be a little early but as soon as I pulled into the driveway, only a few other cars were there despite how massive and popular the bridal store I’d pulled up to was, I realized I was far from early.

Despite being a whole thirty minutes before the agreed meeting time, I was in fact late without knowing I was late.

Anna was impatiently waiting outside the shop when I pulled up. I barely had time to greet her with a hello before she rushed me into the shop, chattering away in excitement that we got the whole store to ourselves for the day.

David’s Bridal Gowns was a luxury brand of wedding dresses and also one of the most popular stores for new brides to try on their gowns. I didn’t know how Elio had managed to pull it off, but as soon as I walked into the store, I was blown away by the sheer amount of white.

Dresses of all shapes and styles lined the beige and cool-toned stone walls, racks, and racks were pretty pearl whites and creams and every off-white color you could think of. They even had a whole section of rarer colors–black, blue, and red wedding dresses.

The floors were a deep hardwood brown, allowing a bit of contrast in comparison to the flowing white around us which made me feel like I had stepped into a cloud.

In the center of the room was a light grey pedestal with floor-to-ceiling mirrors surrounding it at three angles and another pedestal facing a bright window. Surrounding the pedestal were a few luxurious tables and chairs placed in a ring around while the whole second part of the store was a changing room just hidden behind an open framed doorway.

There was even a catwalk in the back.

“Mom!” I grinned as I spotted my mom sitting in one of the lounge chairs, nibbling on a plate full of madeleines as she held my sleeping daughter in her lap.

Emilia was completely passed out, mouth open with a bit of drool as she leaned against Mom’s arms like she’d checked out from this world to the next.

“Hey honey,” Mom greeted happily. “These cookies are delicious. Want one?”

“No thanks,” I laughed then flinched as someone called out “Cat!”

Olivia, still as beautiful as last I saw her, came rushing out from the changing room with five or six wedding dresses in her arms and beamed upon seeing me.

“Olivia,” I smiled, happy that I had invited her as she tossed the dresses onto one of the chairs and then pulled me into a bear hug.

“No, it’s Mom now, if you want,” Olivia chuckled, running her hands over my arms as she checked me over. “You’re looking gorgeous, honey. I can’t believe you two are finally getting married. I’ve been over the moon and so has Gio.”

I found that hard to imagine considering Elio’s father was the most intimidating man I’d ever met. Even at his older age, I still found it hard to talk to him or even guess what he was thinking.

Olivia insisted he was a teddy bear, that he’d never hurt a fly, but I just couldn’t see it as she could.

I supposed that was what love did to you.

“I’m happy to see you too, We just got back from picking out the venue,” I laughed, letting Olivia fuss over me for a bit before she brought me over to the chairs. They had tea and coffee already set up and I spotted a few women working diligently in the back, including rehanging the dresses Olivia had thrown.

I caught the price tag on one of them and lost count of the zeros before it was hung up on the nearest rack.

“Ooh, it’s that cathedral place. I saw your text. Tell me everything,” Anna gushed, taking the seat to my right.

I happily obliged, telling them all about it and describing it as best I could. I broke out my phone, showing them the pictures of the courtyard where the ceremony would take place and giving out my ideas on the decorations.

Anna and Olivia chimed in for their input, respecting my decisions but still giving me other ideas to try. Mom was quieter and laid-back as she held Emilia. I knew she was still paying attention closely, but I could see her mind was on something else.

“It’s perfect, honey,” Olivia beamed. “But the important thing is that both you and Elio love it, right?”

“Yeah,” I assured her. “Elio loved it just as much as I did. It has everything we wanted and more.”

“I’ve got to say that it’s going to be beautiful,” Anna admitted, then she glanced over at the dresses around us with a smirk. “But not as beautiful as you’ll be. Let’s get started on finding a dress. What kind of style are you thinking, Cat?”

“I don’t really know,” I shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t really think about it.”

“Alright, free reign then,” Anna cracked her knuckles getting out of her seat. “I’ll go left. Somebody take right!” she said and she was off, racing to one of the open racks and searching as if the world depended on her finding me the perfect wedding dress.

“I guess I’ll get it,” Olivia laughed, heading in the opposite direction Anna had gone in.

I shook my head, smiling at their obvious happiness and enthusiasm for me. Sometimes it still felt like a dream, that I was actually going to get married in three months. I’d never really been one of those girls to plan out my dream wedding or even dream about having a wedding in the first place.

“Whenever I brought this up with Dad, he used to say–” I started.

“You can marry me instead. That’s what your father used to say whenever you brought up getting married,” Mom finished my thought, giving me a soft but sad knowing look. She brushed Emilia’s hair away from her forehead, a melancholy feeling waving out of her. “Vinny would’ve been more excited than anyone to help you pick out a dress. I’m... kind of out of my comfort zone here.”

I glanced at my mom’s hand, where a wedding band was long gone from her finger. The sadness in my mom’s eyes was filled with just as much pride when she looked at me. There was no sense of envy or regret that she never got to finish out her life with my father.

“I miss him, too.” I smiled, getting to my feet and gently sitting on the arm of the chair while I gave her an awkward one-armed hug. “He would’ve killed Elio, wouldn’t he?”

“Oh, definitely,” Mom gave a wet laugh. “He’d have thrown him a gun and forced him into a shoot-out just to take you on your first date.” She looked up at me eyes shining with tears as she reached up to cup my cheek in her hand. “You were his pride and joy, you know? His little girl–he would’ve done anything for you.”

I couldn’t help the tears that slipped out of my eyes, wishing my Dad could’ve been here to see me like this.

“You know, it’s strange, but I never would’ve met Elio if Dad hadn’t died,” I said, feeling strange to say it out loud. “So I kinda owe all of this to him in a weird roundabout way.”

“That’s true.” Mom laughed through her tears. “So maybe he did know what he was doing a little bit. He’d probably be gloating in heaven by now, watching all this.”

“Alright, I got everything in your size!”

I barely had time to wipe the tears from my cheeks, turning to face Anna as she came rushing back. She was just a pile of clothes, and dresses thrown everywhere as she carried the pile that was bigger than she was. She panted as she dropped the hanging dresses onto the chair.

“Let’s get to it then!” Anna declared boldly. ‘Which dress first?”

I looked at the huge mound of wedding dresses and I began to regret my decision to bring Anna to this.

As the bridal consultant and the few remaining workers rushed me back to the dressing room with each dress that Anna threw at me, helping me zip it up or pin my hair for the veil, I felt like a Barbie being played dress-up with.

Every time I came back out, Anna and Olivia would sigh while my mom would give me a dazzled look, tears pouring down her face as she sniffed, “My baby.”

Emilia woke up and kept changing hands after every dress I showcased, but after dozens of dresses and hours passing by, there still wasn’t a single one I found I had liked.

The mermaid style felt too constricting around my knees, I felt like I might trip on the walk up to Elio and fall flat on my face. The column felt too blocky on my body, making me look like a solid straight line much to my displeasure.

I liked the ballgown, but the ones I tried on fell too poofy or used a weird fabric for the skirt that didn’t feel right touching it. The A-line looked the best, but it still didn’t feel quite right, and the empire was no good. I didn’t have nearly enough bust to pull it off.

My head was swimming with different wedding styles, as even having straps or being strapless left me feeling confused and overwhelmed. From necklines to skirt shapes, it was never-ending.

“Ugh,” I groaned, feeling exhausted after it all as we went out for drinks and dinner afterward. “I didn’t like any of them.”

“It happens,” Olivia tried to reassure me with a small smile. “I mean, I had to have mine designed personally because I didn’t like any of the dresses I tried on either. Oh, maybe she can design yours as well!”

Olivia’s suggestion filled me with hope and Anna passed me a margarita, which I downed in a single second as I mulled it over in my mind. The idea was a pleasing one–taking the elements I liked from the other dresses to have one with my own personal style.

“But can they design and make it within three months?” I asked worriedly. “I don’t know much about fashion.”

“I’m sure she can,” Olivia said happily. “She’s in America right now, so she should have time to finish up one dress. Besides,” Olivia took my hand in hers, giving me a soft squeeze, “you deserve to feel beautiful, especially on your wedding day.”

“Thanks, Ol–Mom,” I corrected myself and Olivia beamed. My own mother only smiled when I’d brought it up to her, saying the more people who loved her daughter the better. “I just hope Elio will agree.”

“Of course, he will,” my mom interjected, giving me a confident smile. “He loves you more than anything besides this little one. If you say you want it, he’ll make it happen.”

Feeling more hopeful now, Anna helped me sketch out what I liked in the other dresses, helping me combine the elements roughly. It was only an idea, but I thought it would work.

I just hoped it would be done in time for the wedding.