Page 18 of Under Pressure

She takes in my dress when I stand up. It’s white with a halter neck that ties into a big bow at the back of my neck. A sweetheart neckline and a corset style back together with a fluffy skirt that just barely comes right below my knees all go together to form a totally retro look. I even completed the look with a pillbox hat with a veil attached to cover my face. It sits on the top of my head with my hair pinned up in the back.

My favorite thing about the dress is the little ruched spot in the front where the white is pinned up showing a little bit of light blue lace. It’s my ‘something blue’ that is echoed under my dress with my garter and my panties. The little lace is a modern twist on the 1950s style of the dress.

I twirl for her to show her all of the dress. “You like it?”

“You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right now.” She gets misty-eyed and comes over to wrap me in her arms. “I know we’ve never been close. I had you when I was so young. We kind of raised each other. I’m sorry I wasn’t very good at it, sorry we didn’t have that connection.”

I start to say something but Mom puts her hands up so she can keep going and I don’t interrupt. “No, I…I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look and how…very proud I am of who you’ve become.”

I rush into her arms and we hug as both of us cry. Mom is the first one to pull back. “I’ve messed up your makeup. Let me fix it and then you've got to get your butt down that aisle and get your man. You’ve found a good one.”

“Mom…would you…walk me down the aisle.”

She looks completely shocked but then gives me another watery smile and nods. I think this is the closest to my mom I have ever felt. And once both of us stand at the top of the aisle I don’t even notice the people seated on either side of the aisle. All I can look at is the handsomest man I’ve ever seen waiting for me at the end. And all I care about is the look on his face when he sees me in my gown for the very first time.

I smile and take the first step towards the rest of my life. With my favorite kind of trouble… Waylen.

The End!