I keep perfectly still as my makeup artist touches up my lipstick one last time. The woman looking back at me in the mirror definitely looks like a bride, but I’m not sure I feel like one. Perhaps it’s simply because the nerves I expected to feel are notably absent, or maybe it’s the incessant chatter surrounding me.
I’m not sure what a wedding day is supposed to feel like, but I didn’t think I’d feel this lonely, even though Abigail, Linda, and Chloe are in the seats next to me, getting ready.
They haven’t stopped talking about Linda’s sorority and Chloe’s grades, but each time I tried to join the conversation, they seemed to dismiss me. I’d ask a question, and the conversation would stall, as though they were merely humoring me with their answers before turning back to each other. In the end, I decided to let them catch up without intruding. I know they don’t do it on purpose, but every once in a while, they really make me feel like an outsider. On days like today, that hurts more than usual.
“All done,” my makeup artist says, and I smile at her in gratitude. For a moment, I wonder what Dion will think once he sees me. I’ve never felt quite this beautiful, and I can’t help but imagine the way his eyes will darken, like they do right before he kisses me. To say I’m nervous about tonight would be putting it mildly, but I’m not scared he’ll treat me cruelly. Maybe I truly am trading one gilded cage for another, but between my father and Dion, I’d much rather have Dion.
I’m startled out of my thoughts when a soft knock sounds on the door, and I tense when it swings open before I give permission to enter. My eyes widen in surprise when Sierra and Raven walk in together, followed by two bodyguards in black suits.
“Faye,” Raven says, a polite smile on her face. “I’m really sorry to do this to you on such an important day, but there was a major issue with your wedding dress, so I’ve had to bring you a different one.”
Linda jumps out of her seat, her face contorting in outrage. “That is completely unacceptable. Do you have any idea who my sister is marr—” she begins to say, her words trailing off once she realizes who she’s talking to.
Raven cocks her brow and pins her down with a stare. “I don’t think we’ve met,” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “I’m Raven Windsor.”
I’ve always found Raven intimidating, but the version of her standing in front of me right now is one that’s simply terrifying. Sierra stares at Linda in much the same way, catching me by surprise. Though I don’t know either of them all that well, they were incredibly kind to me in Hawaii. The change in behavior is jarring, and it takes all of me not to cower.
“Sierra Windsor,” Sierra says, her tone curt. “And as far as I’m aware, this room was reserved solely for Faye. I’m going to have to insist that you give us a moment with her. The Windsor security team will show you to a different room.”
Raven glances back at the two bodyguards behind her and nods. “Sierra really does hate repeating herself,” she says. “So I won’t make her.”
The men move toward Abigail, Linda, and Chloe, and apprehension runs down my spine. Surely Sierra and Raven won’t actually throw out my family? “Would it be okay if they stay?” I rush to say, my voice trembling.
Abigail throws me a panicked look when one of the bodyguards wraps a hand around her arm, and I respond in kind, uncertain what to do. “There’s plenty of space, and I’d hate getting ready all alone. Please,” I beg, shaking. My words go unheard, and I stare in shock as the room is vacated.
“We’ll guard the door,” one of the bodyguards says before walking out and closing the door behind him with a finality that makes me weak in the knees.
“Whew,” Sierra says, plopping into Abigail’s makeup chair. She spins it around and smirks. “I didn’t think they’d leave so easily.”
Her stern expression is gone now, and she smiles at me the way she always has, with kindness and affection. Raven throws Sierra a look that’s clearly meant to be a warning, but that same sweet smile that I’d gotten used to is back, and her eyes twinkle when she looks at me. “I’m sorry about that, but privacy is very important to us. You’ll come to appreciate it soon.” Her tone is kind and understanding, but firm. “So about your dress,” she says, before unzipping the garment bag she’s holding.
A soft gasp escapes my lips as she slowly uncovers my dream dress, disbelief rendering me speechless. Raven chuckles as she takes in my reaction, a knowing look in her eyes. How could she have known? I’ve never even asked to try it on.
“There was a problem with the dress you were meant to wear, so I altered this dress for you instead. I hope that’s okay?”
“Yes,” I say instantly, my eyes flickering to hers. Does she realize how happy this makes me? It feels like a good omen, and it gives me a small amount of hope to hold on to. “It’s an honor to be wearing any of your gowns at all.”
Sierra jumps to her feet, her expression surprisingly vulnerable. “If it’s okay with you, we’d love to help you get dressed,” she murmurs, before shooting me a sweet but somewhat hesitant smile. “I wanted to reach out after Hawaii since we didn’t really get to spend much time together then, but Dion told us to stay away from you until the wedding. For some strange reason, he was convinced we’d scare you away.” She throws Raven an incredulous stare. “Us!” she adds. “As if we aren’t total delights!”
I bite back my laughter, my mood lifting instantly. There’s something about Sierra that makes me feel so at ease. She was very sweet to me in Hawaii too, but Dion and I weren’t in a good place then, and I’d avoided her as much as I could because of it. I regret it now, and I hope it’s not too late to reciprocate her attempts to reach out.
Sierra grins at me and reaches for her bag. “Which reminds me, Dion asked me to give this to you.”
She hands me an envelope, and I stare at it for a moment, a sudden bout of nerves rushing over me. My fingers tremble as I pull out a handwritten note, my eyes widening.
Faye,
Today is the day I stop counting down. Instead, I’ll start counting my blessings, because that’s what I hope each day with you will be. I know this isn’t what either of us wanted, but from now on, we’re in this together. From now on, I’m truly yours. For better or worse.
– D. W.
I reread it over and over, my heart racing. Yours. He isn’t saying that I belong to him now, like I’m a piece of property he’s acquiring. He’s telling me he is mine now, and it hits me hard. I wonder if some part of him knew that this is what I needed to hear today.
I look up to find Sierra and Raven exchanging looks with each other, both of them grinning. My cheeks instantly heat, and I lower my gaze. Did they read this card before giving it to me? I’m used to anything that’s addressed to me being read by my father, but somehow, I want to keep this one little card to myself. Just this once.
“Ready?” Raven asks, her tone patient, kind, as though she’ll genuinely wait as long as I need her to. Tears gather in my eyes, a sudden bout of uncontrollable emotions rendering me speechless. All morning, this has felt like another event I had to attend, another role to play — but right now, with Sierra and Raven standing here with me, I suddenly feel like a bride.
The nervous jitters, the way my thoughts keep turning back to Dion’s words, and the smiles on their faces… I’m not sure what it is about this moment, but I feel special in a way I never have before. I feel more comfortable with these two women that I don’t know all that well than I did with my stepmom and sisters.
“Yes,” I answer. “I’m ready.”
Raven nods and holds up my wedding dress, and I wonder if she realizes how surreal this is for me. She’s one of the world’s most famous models and designers, and here she is, personally helping me get dressed. I know that she’ll soon be my sister-in-law, but I didn’t expect her to treat me so kindly. She scared me for a few moments earlier, but most of the time, she’s nothing like I thought she’d be. I wonder if it’s a Windsor trait.
“You look beautiful, Faye,” she says as she stands behind me in front of the mirror, working on the buttons on my back. “This dress truly was made for you.”
Raven steps back and wraps her hand around Sierra’s shoulder, her eyes roaming over me in satisfaction. “You might be marrying Dion today, Faye, but you’re gaining an entire new family, too. Being a Windsor can be overwhelming at times, but you’ll never be alone. Not ever again.”
My throat closes up, and I draw a shaky breath. I know it’s just a nice thing to say, but her words hit me hard. She has no idea how alone I’ve always felt, even though I never was.
Another knock sounds on the door, and my father walks in wearing the gentlest smile I’ve ever seen. I’m so relieved not to find any anger in his eyes that I almost genuinely smile at him. I can’t remember the last time I did that.
“That’s our cue,” Sierra tells me, throwing me a kind look before walking away. Raven follows Sierra out, and my father’s smile melts away the second the door closes behind her.
“That dress is a disgrace,” he snaps. “It’s far too simple for a Windsor bride. You’re not even married yet and they’re already mocking you. There’s no way someone like Raven Windsor messed up your dress days before the wedding, when there was nothing wrong at your last fitting. They’re trying to embarrass us, and we can’t do anything about it but take it with a smile.”
“I… I don’t think —”
He reaches for me and grabs my arm tightly. Fear rushes through me, and I fall silent. “Don’t think you’ll get to rest easy from now on, and don’t think for a moment those two have your best interests at heart. You need to work hard to win Dion over. Without his support, they’ll trample all over us. You should have kicked up a fuss when they asked Abigail and the girls to leave. What is wrong with you, you spineless piece of shit? How could you have stood there and watch your family be embarrassed like that?” He pulls me forward, and I nearly stumble in my heels. “Try to get through the wedding without embarrassing me any further, or so help me god, I’ll make Chloe and Linda pay for your mistakes.”
