Cape

October 13, 2024

Cari adjusted her necklace along her collarbone as she sat on the floor in front of her mirror. She had been told over and over that this was going to be the biggest day of her life, but for whatever reason she felt entirely numb. All of the time leading up to this day had been so stressful and overwhelming - between having to plan things around her controlling mother in law, and planner her own bachelorette party, she just was ready to be done with this day. She loved her fiancé, more than anything she loved her fiancé, but this wedding got so much bigger than they both had intended it to be. Her mother in law made it into a family reunion and demanded things to be the way that she wanted them, and in turn, had become more about her than it was about her and her soon to be husband.

She could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks before she realized she was crying. They left warm, salty lines down her cheeks like little snail trails, and she wiped them away as her sister came into the room. Linnea was a tornado, whirring around to grab all of the jewelry for all the other bridesmaids, and didn’t see the tears splattering the carpet around Cari’s crossed legs. She blew her some kisses and ran out the room as fast as she entered.

Why was she crying? Where was this emotion coming from? Taking in some ragged breaths, she placed her hand on her heart and tried to reflect on where this was coming from. She wished that it was joy for the day that was ahead of her, but she knew that was not it. She wished it was joy over spending her life with the man of her dreams, but that was not it, either. It was relief. She was relieved that this day was finally here and that she no longer had to worry about others opinions on her day, her food, her clothing, her bridesmaids dresses, her venue…everything.

Cari pressed her cold fingertips to her eyes and dried her tears, just in time for Linnea to come back in, already dressed in the cranberry colored velvet bridesmaids dress. She gave Cari a little spin and showed off the shoes that she had been talking to her sister about for the three months leading up to this day. They were camel colored leather booties that Cari had not been so sure about, but looked so perfect with the deep red of the gown she was wearing. Both girls squealed and hugged each other. If Linnea could tell that Cari had been crying, she didn’t let it on.

“That tree out back, next to the ceremony space, the one that you were worried about? It is the perfect shade of orange. You are going to be so excited.” Linnea mused while grabbing the earrings from Cari’s jewelry box and putting them on for her sister. “You are going to look like an autumn queen!” Quickly, she twisted and pinned her sisters hair into the most effortless French twist, and pulled a few curls out around her face.

“Are you ready for me to do your make up? Have you eaten anything?” She grabbed the make up bag and an apple of the counter and plopped down in front of Cari. As Cari ate the apple, her sister chattered away about all the beautiful things that the bridesmaids had done in the ceremony space and how lovely they each looked in the color she chose, and did her make up.

Once it was complied, she helped her slip onto the long sleeved, ivory, silk gown, that Cari knew she was going to be freezing in, but she had the - completely organza - cape that would hopefully give her a little more warmth. It has been made out of her mother’s veil and pieces of her mother in laws wedding dress, and she felt absolutely gorgeous in it. It was finally starting to feel real. This day was actually here.

“You’re stunning.” Linnea chokes out with tears filling her eyes. “Let’s go.”