Enlightening Bloom(26)

She pats my cheek. "You're very welcome. It'll make me happy to see it be of use again."

"Would you like us to help you get ready?" Amelia asks.

I shake my head. "No. I think I'll go ahead and start. When Bloom shows up she can finish helping me. But thanks for offering."

She nods in understand. "Holler if you need anything at all."

"I will." I tell her. They both give me reassuring smiles, and then leave the room, shutting the door behind them. I place the dress across the bed before taking a seat at a vanity table with my makeup bag and hair products in hand. I braid the sides of my hair and pin them back, letting the rest hang loose in waves. I go soft with my make-up, doing light pinks on my eyelids and cheeks, and a pink gloss on my lips. Some eyeliner and mascara, and that's done. I slip into the dress, struggling to zip-it up, just as there's a knock on the door.

"Come in." I call.

Bloom walks in carrying one of those recyclable grocery bags. She sets the bag on the bed as she crosses to me. She walks in a circle around me, taking in the whole look. "That's Tillie's dress?" She asks with just as much surprise in her voice as I had when I saw it.

"Apparently the ultimate Guardian was a flower child in her day."

"No kidding. It looks amazing on you." She says, stopping right in front of me.

"Where'd you run off to?" I ask a little too snippy.

She shakes her head at my attitude all the while smiling. "I had to get some things for you."

"So you ran to a grocery store?” I ask, gesturing at the bag she carried in.

She rolls her eyes as she walks away to pick-up the bag in question. "Stop pouting. I brought you surprises." She turns back around, a tiny package wrapped in yellow cloth and tied with a sapphire ribbon is sitting in her palm.

I unwrap it to find her cross necklace. I look up at her preparing to ask her “What's up?” when she beats me to it by saying. "Your something borrowed. I know you're worried about being hurt, but I want you to remember that life and love call for you to have a little faith in yourself and in your partner."

"You're trying to make me cry, aren't you?"

"Absolutely." She teases as she takes the necklace so she can fasten it around my neck. She reaches into the bag, pulls out another cloth wrapped present, and hands it to me.

I tear into it until it reveals a pair of diamond earrings in the shape of little flowers.

"Your something old." She says. Then takes the earrings from my palm and proceeds to put them on me while explaining. "Amelia is giving you these. They were her mothers. My great-grandmother, Lillian's. Amelia said she was a very wise Oracle who guided her Alpha through many challenges in her life. She said to tell you that she hopes they bring you the same kind of wisdom to guide you through life."

My hands fly to the earrings. "These should go to you."

She grabs my hands and pulls them away from my ears. "I want you to have them too. I don't need an object to connect me to the family I never met. Knowing I have this gift in me that she also had is more than enough for me." I hug her because she truly is a sweet person. She pulls back and grabs a third cloth wrapped gift.

I open it to find a black leather scabbard holding a silver dagger. I pull out the dagger to get a closer look. The handle is adorned with an intricate filigree that is also carved into the blade.

"Your something new."

"How?" I ask.

She takes the scabbard, and motions for me to prop my leg up on a chair. I do so, and she straps it to my leg, under the hem of the dress. "Heath just bought it for Tillie. But now they both want you to have it as a mating gift. Tillie said to tell you a Guardian should always have protection on her. Not only to keep her Oracle safe but also to keep herself safe. She hopes the dagger, like your mate, always protects you."

I slide the dagger into the sheath and put my leg down. My mind is swirling with Tillie's words. Can I trust Tucker to protect me? I guess I'm going to have to, seeing that I'm permanently tying myself to him. "If this keeps up I really am going to cry." I tell Bloom as I fan my eyes.

She squeezes my arm gently. "Hold out a little longer." She picks up the bag and says. "Your something blue." She reaches into the bag, pulls out a bouquet, and hands it to me. Purple, pink, white, and blue wildflowers are bundled together, and wrapped with the same sapphire ribbon as the presents.

I hold the bouquet to my nose to take in the floral scent. "They're perfect. Thank you."

"You're welcome, but credit for those go to Tucker."

"Really?" I ask, shocked.

She nods. "He picked them himself." The thought of him frolicking through the woods, picking flowers is kind of funny. Though I doubt he was skipping like my imagination has him doing. I giggle at the mental image.