Chapter 11: A Sisterly Touch
A Sisterly Touch
“Good morning Ms. Rayne.” A slender red-haired woman in a pair of blue body-fitting suits smiled in my direction. I stared at her confused. Who was she and how did she know my name? She walked toward me as I looked around at the movements in my room.
“I’m Jessica Lawn, Lawn’s world fashion designer. I’d be helping you get ready for your marriage today.” She said, smiling warmly.
‘Marriage?’ My mind screamed at me. How had I forgotten that I was getting married? But it wasn’t something to be happy about.
Wait, did she say she was Jessica Lawn of Lawn’s world fashion house? I stared at her in shock. Lawn’s fashion house was one of the most renowned fashion houses in Los Angeles and she, Jessica Lawn, was its CEO. Only a few in Los Angeles could afford to have her in person, so it was a shock to have her standing live in my room.
“Good morning, Ms. Lawn,” I was excited to see her. I’ve always wished to meet her in person. But with my class of people that was only a dream. One that could never come through, but, here she was, in my room, smiling warmly at me. “It’s nice to finally meet you, I’m a huge fan of your works.”
She smiled at me and held out one smooth hand to me. “Coming from ERIC’s soon-to-be bride, that’s an honor. It is nice to meet you too.”
So that was the stranger’s name.
I forced a smile at her and took her warm hand in a handshake. I could only hope my smile wasn’t as forced as it looked. Then she pulled me toward the shower.
“Let’s get you ready already, you don’t want to be late for your own wedding.” She gave me a gentle push into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I was forced to have a quick shower when desperately what I wanted was to lie in the jacuzzi for hours again.
I stepped out after a few minutes to Jessica’s warm smile. After applying some ointment on my skin, she made me sit on the dressing mirror and started with drying my hair and styling it into a half up half down way. I was surprised that she was doing my hair. I only knew her to be a dress designer.
“You’re also a stylist?” I couldn’t help but ask. I needed even the least conversation to get my mind from the anxiety of the whole thing.
I saw her smile through the mirror. “It comes with the package.” She rolled two handfuls of my honey-blonde hair and rolled them expertly into something I couldn’t see. “Yeah, I specialize more in designing dresses, but I’m also good at many other things. Plus, your husband-to-be wants me to make you look good at your wedding. I’m being paid to do all the work myself.”
My mind briefly wandered off to Mr. Stranger, and I felt a knot tighten at the pit of my stomach.
So this was me dressing up in preparation for my wedding? It was supposed to be a happy moment and a dream come true if the man I would be walking the aisle with was Fred or someone I loved. But, it was a stranger, and it wasn’t even a real wedding, just a marriage registration, and none of my friends or family were invited to witness it. But, since we were only going to the registry, why all these makeup and procedures? Seems Mr. Strange had a lot more to let by.
“Are you nervous?” I heard Jessica ask in the middle of my thoughts.
“Huh!” I said, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
“I asked if you are nervous.” She repeatedly, making me swallow hard. Was it that obvious?
“Uhm… a little, I mean, it’s normal right? Every bride gets nervous on their wedding day.” I answered, trying to hide my nervousness from her.
“It seems the wedding isn’t the main thing you’re nervous about.” She said and flashed me a smile. Then as a sister would, she placed a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes through the mirror. “Don’t be scared. Eric is a good man, although he can be ruthless most times, he wouldn’t hurt you. He isn’t capable of doing that.”
Her hand on my shoulder, the gentle pressure from it, her gentle tone and warm smile, it all stirred the urge to tear up.
“Seems you know him a lot,” I asked, sniffling in incoming tears and taking off my eyes from hers in the mirror.
She turned around to do my makeup and I saw her smile. “Yes, I’ve known him since I was five until now. He’s a good man.”
I couldn’t help but wonder why she sounded that way like he had told her something.
“So you both are like friends?” I inquired and she surprisingly shook her head.
“No, we are not.” She answered and I nodded. We didn’t say anything much to each other after that. I let myself be overwhelmed by my thoughts until I heard her say.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“We are done.”
I was teleported back to reality.
“It’s time to pick a dress.” She snapped her fingers and two men rolled in three different racks filled with clothes toward me. “Let’s see what you pick.”
I stared from one dress to another, confused about which to choose from the beautiful dresses. I looked up at Jessica and saw her smiling.
“Don’t know which to choose?”
“I barely do.” I laughed and she giggled.
“How about we pick the best dress from each designer then select from the top best when we are done?” She asked.
“Okay, let’s do that.”
We both picked out a few dresses which we thought were the best and then selected a white one-shoulder Versace dress.
“Perfect choice,” Jessica said proudly. “Now let’s fit you into this.”
A few minutes more and we were done. Jessica walked me downstairs to the parlor and I caught sight of Mr. Stranger sitting there on one of the grey couches in a black fitted suit with long legs crossed against each other. He had his head resting on the couch’s support and his eyes shut with a serious face.