Chapter 103

My mom and Mary opened the black bag that held my white dress. I'd chosen something simple but beautiful, I liked it and my bridesmaids and mom knew what it looked like so they styled me accordingly.

My mom hand painted my nails in a rustic, yellow, gold, going with the rustic theme of the wedding. My toes were a much bolder, burgundy red. My hair Mary, who'd apparently taken a course on hairstyling, had done. Once she'd realized just how thick it was she decided against putting it up or putting it in a half updo. In the end it was divided to that there was a few locks falling over my shoulders the rest of it fell at my back underneath the veil. Mary combed it so there was some extra volume at my roots then she just continued to adjust little bits.

A knock sounded on the door and I quickly checked to see who it was, Thomas? I think. I wasn't sure.

"Who is it?!" Ulyssa asked loudly from her place on the floor. I groaned internally. She was kneeling in her dress.

"Thomas, the best man!" He yelled back.

"What are you doing here?" I asked from my place in front of the mirror my mom was adjusting things here and there and helping me slip my shoes on.

"I came to see," He opened the door, "If you young ladies needed any help,"

Julie who was in the middle of taking her shirt off quickly jumped behind her sister with a yelp.

"Thomas." I said annoyed glaring at him through the mirror, "Get out."

A cheeky smirk lit his features, "Oh, come on. Okay, my real reason for coming here was, do any of you know how to tie a bow tie?" He held up a strip of black fabric that I assumed was supposed to be around his neck.

"No. Listen, can't you just ask Raph, or Thresh? Thresh is- Thresh probably knows, and I'm sure someone else is bound to. Now git." I waved at him to leave.

He raised his hands in surrender, his left one still holding the bow tie, "Alright, meanie."

I rolled my eyes at him but there was a hint of a smile on my face, and he shut the door.

Brad opened it next and moved to sit on the small chair in the corner.

Julie just looked at him tiredly then got up and walked to the bathroom. To change I guessed.

"And what are you doing in here?" I asked as Mary began pinning things in my hair.

"Well… so you know how I'm your brother?"

I snorted and asked sarcastically, "No?"

He gave me a look, "Anyways, so the guy at the front who was showing people to their seats-"

"The usher." I put in.

"Yes, him. Anyway, he asked which one I was, the bride or the groom and I said bride,"

"Uh huh." I nodded.

"Well then I sat down next to Uncle Ross, and he was joking around and being really loud."

Uncle Ross was my mom's cousin, they'd grown up together and were just a couple months different in age so we called him our uncle.

"And?" I asked because he'd stopped.

"Oh, nothing I just thought it was interesting." He said reclining on the chair.

I tried to act annoyed but I ended up laughing. He was too weird sometimes.

"Okay, great. Mommy! Are you dressed?" I called.

"Yes."

"Okay, Brad you remember how you're supposed to walk mommy down the aisle then Raph walks down, then Thomas and Judith, Mark and Mary, Nathan and Julie then Duma and Ulyssa."

"Wait, I'm walking down with who?" Ulyssa asked hooking her finally found earring in her ear. Her chocolate brown hair was done up in a very elegant, French twist bun. With her off-shoulder, ruffled neckline she did not look like a sixteen year old.

"You're walking down with Duma." I replied, "Then I'm walking down with daddy." I said with a shy smile, 'So he can give me away.'

I turned suddenly to face the room, "Is everyone dressed?"

They all nodded, including Brad.

I tried to think of how to say this, "Thank you… for helping me, for… being apart of my wedding." I said I could see that my mom was tearing up, the rest of them just smiled.

We all turned our heads when we heard a knock at the door, I sensed Thresh.

"Yes?" I asked.

"It's me and Charm. She's wondering if we're walking down the aisle or not." He called.

"Oh…" My mouth shaped an 'o' as I remembered the pair.

"Um… you two can go after my mom and brother go. That sound good?"

"It sounds fine, thank you Brooke." Charm called from the other side.

Soon, I was left alone in the room with just my parents. Everyone else was getting ready, my mom would be joining them as soon as she hugged me and said all those things a mother says to her daughter on her wedding day.

"You look so beautiful." She said taking her glasses off and wiping her eyes. I could feel my throat closing up.

"Stop," I choked out with a bit of a laugh, "You're gonna make me cry on my wedding day." I wiped away the small tear forming in my eye.

"Serves you right." My mom said with a watery smile.

My dad just smiled, I could see tears in his own eyes. His beard had been trimmed and he was wearing a tux same as Brad. His black brown hair was styled the same as always.

"We are so proud of you. We love you and we hope that you're marriage is a blessed and happy one." My mom said holding onto my dad's shoulder.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "Thank you."

She kissed my cheek then went and kissed my dad, "Bye, see you soon." Then it was just me and my dad.

"You do look beautiful, Brooke." He said his eyes shining.

Compliments were a rare thing in our house, and much rarer with my dad.

I smiled and laughed shakily my eyes burning with unshed tears.

He came forward and hugged me. My dad had maybe hugged me three or four times in my life, this was a first.

I smiled and breathed in the familiar scent of my dad's aftershave.

"The dress." I said quietly and he let go and stepped back smiling proudly.

I smiled back and took a deep breath as I could tell that I was reaching my breaking point.

"Shall we?" He asked.

I nodded, the tears blurring my vision, "We shall." I whispered as I took my dad's arm.