Torn (Connections #2)(8)

"I'm fine," I lie so she doesn't feel bad. I've talked to her on the phone so many times since I was hospitalized I think she knows more about the incident than River does.

"What's going on at work?"

Rolling her eyes she says, "The owner's son decided he wants to be more involv . . . ," but before she can finish she's giving me a speculative glance. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"Dressed like what?" I coyly ask, trying to keep my smile from exploding.

"You're wearing a dress! In fact, you're dressed like you're going somewhere when you should be in sweats and lying in bed. You even have heels on. You never wear heels unless I make you."

I glance over my shoulder to see River standing in the kitchen with Caleb. He nods his head. I'm so excited I just blurt it out, "We're leaving this afternoon for Las Vegas to get married!"

She claps and jumps up and down with excitement then suddenly stops. "Wait a minute! You are not eloping, Dahlia London. You can't. I want to see you get married." She hugs me tightly again before pulling away. "Sorry, sorry," she says, wiping the tears from her cheeks and trying to gain her composure.

I start to feel a little guilty, but rapidly try to push those feelings aside. "We'll have a party after the band's tour and all of us can celebrate then, okay?"

River comes around the counter and hugs Aerie before whispering something in her ear. Pulling me into his side he says, "We'll celebrate later, but we want to get married now."

"Is it safe for you to travel?" Aerie says with concern.

Nodding my head I try to convince her not to worry. "Really, Aerie, I feel fine. I promise."

River kisses my hair softly. "Coffee?" he asks Aerie.

"No, you know I don't drink that stuff. It's pure octane and tastes like it, too."

Laughing, he walks back into the kitchen, mumbling, "I don't know how anyone survives without caffeine."

River's phone rings and I hear him say, "Xander, I told you I'm not meeting her today or tomorrow. I don't give a shit what she wants." I give River a concerned glance and he nods at me, flashing me what I know to be his make-believe smile. Once he ends the call, he turns to me. "Dahlia, I have a few things to take care of. Will you be okay?" 

Aerie shoos him away. "She'll be fine," she says and pulls me over to the sofa.

River comes over and kisses me again. "You sure?"

"I'm fine. Go already," I tell him, kissing him back.

"Okay. Caleb is in the music room if you need anything. He set up his computer in there for now. I won't be long."

Aerie and I talk for a while. Once she feels she has wrung every ounce of information from me, she stands and says, "I'll be back in an hour. Don't leave until I get back. I mean it!"

"Where are you going?" I glance at the clock.

"It's a surprise. Wait for me. Please?"

"Okay, you have an hour, that's it."

She waves at me as she rushes out the door.

With minutes to spare she returns holding a gray suit bag in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. She leads me to my bedroom.

"Every princess has to have a wedding dress to get married in," she says as she unzips the bag and pulls out the most beautiful white silk dress. Simple, yet elegant. It's a sleeveless cocktail-length dress with a deep V-neck and A-line skirt adorned with tiny pearls. There's also gorgeous, yet subtly patterned silk embroidery on the bodice, making it special enough for the occasion but not overwhelmingly fancy. It's perfect.

She sits me on the bed and pulls out a simple pair of silver high heels and slips them on my feet. "Just like Cinderella, Dahlia, you got your Prince Charming," she says as a tear slides down her cheek. She pulls one more item out of the bag for me. I look at the beautiful white band of fabric with small blue jewels all around it as I take it out of the box. "The dress is your something new, here is your something blue." It's a garter and as she takes it from my hand, she slips it on my leg and up to my thigh; I laugh at her need to make sure I follow the typical bridal wedding traditions.

Once she has powdered and primped me, covering my bruises as best she can with makeup, she stands up and removes the pearl earrings from her ear. "And these are your something borrowed." They are her great-grandmother's pearl earrings, the ones I've always loved. I remove my earrings and insert hers, then stand to look in the mirror. Now I really look like a bride. I throw my arms around her despite the pain shooting through me. "I love you, Aerie Daniels, forever and always. Thank you so much!"

"You don't have to thank me. I can't have my best friend getting married in just anything. And to be honest I was afraid you might end up in your Converse sneakers." I puff out a laugh and grab my camera. I hold it out in front of us and snap a picture. She's been my best friend for so long, I want to remember this time with her forever.