Page 46 of Meet Me at the Altar

Kalliope

TWO WEEKS LATER

“Just try the damn dress on one last time. If she says that she needs to take it in, she knows what she’s talking about,” Khatya argued, shaking my wedding dress at me.

I frowned. “It still fits perfectly fine. I don’t need to change anything. Besides, we’re having this engagement party tonight, and I’m worried someone may see me in it.”

“How are they going to see you, if you’re up here in your bedroom?” Khatya asked.

“When I walk down to my studio where Emma’s waiting to see my dress,” I answered, referring to my seamstress.

“I promise that I’ll make sure the hallway is clear—unless you want me to bring her up here,” Khatya suggested.

I rolled my eyes. “You know how Andrès and I feel about having people in our personal space. We don’t need anyone’s energy to throw off what we’ve got going on here,” I explained, running my finger in a circle, indicating our master suite.

“Well, I’m honored that you two allowed me up here.”

“You’re my sister, goofy. I love you.”

“I love you too, Ka-Ka,” she professed, reverting to my childhood nickname before everyone started calling me Kalli.

“I wish that she hadn’t waited until now to come over for the fitting. Why couldn’t she come another day?” I asked.

“You know Emma is about to head back home to India for three weeks to spend time with her family. She’s just trying to make sure all her loose ends are tied up before she goes. If you hurry up and change into the dress, we can make it downstairs and back up before your guests arrive for your engagement party.”

“Fine,” I replied and snatched the dress from my sister.

Khatya crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head at me. “You’re too much, you know that?”

I plopped down on the bed and stared at my sister. “I don’t know. There’s just so much going on. We’re having our engagement party tonight, my wedding could be any day now, and Drè still hasn’t made up with his parents. I won’t feel right if we hold the wedding and his mother doesn’t come, Khat.”

“That’s on her, and that’s between them. Mommy told you to stay out of it.”

“But how can I? That’s my man, and I only want what’s best for him. I want him to be happy, Sis.”

Khatya took my hands in hers and stared into my eyes. “Beautiful, he will be happy because he’s marrying you. I know that can’t replace the relationship he has with his mother and stepdad, but you’ve got to let God handle that. Besides, he never had a great relationship with Leon from the time Leon moved in with them next door.”

“I know, but he deserves to have his mom there.”

“We’ve still got time. Don’t worry. I suspect that she’ll be there.”

“Okay.” I glanced at my white dress for my engagement party for tonight, blew out a breath, and hurriedly removed my robebefore I turned my attention back to my wedding gown. I had just finished oiling myself and applying my perfume after my shower, when Andrès announced that Khatya and Emma were here for my dress fitting. Before my shower, I had taken a three-hour nap because I was exhausted. Andrès promised me that he had everything handled for our engagement party here tonight with Alexandria’s help. I had trusted him and succumbed to sleep.

If I had known that Emma would have wanted to do my final fitting today, I could have stopped by her shop after I left the salon. I had spent the day with my mama, my sisters, and Adriana at the spa getting our hair, facials, manicures, and pedicures done. I had even had my makeup professionally done this evening at Mommy’s suggestion.

Alexandria had suggested we have a mock run for our wedding day and all the things we could expect that day. She thought today would be perfect since we were holding our engagement party tonight. Our wedding rehearsal was next weekend, but I had no idea when the actual wedding was. I suspected it would be soon, though, with the way our wedding preparation activities had been amped up.

After I put my wedding dress on, I noticed that Khatya was crying.

“Why are you crying, honey?”

“Because Mommy’s going to be so emotional when she sees you on your wedding day, and I do wish she had seen me on mine.”

“Aww, poo. You’re gonna make me cry.”

“Don’t you dare. I’ll be fine.”

“Mama has been waiting for one of us to get married since you ‘stiffed’ her on her chance to show out.”