Darkness Before Dawn

"Maybe one day," I whisper before pulling Cole out of there and continuing our walk into the stores.
    "I'm proud of you," Cole says, placing a kiss on my palm.
    I respond with a smile and let him lead me into the jewelry store.
     

     
    I wipe my hands on the ivory gown I'm wearing for the fourth time this morning and take a couple of shaky breaths. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be nervous today. I keep reminding myself that it's just us, and I'm marrying the only man I was meant to be with, but it's not enough. My stomach is still turning, and all I can do is take deep breaths to keep me from wanting to run to the bathroom and vomit. Becky comes up behind me in her navy bridesmaid dress with an ivory sash and smiles brightly. Her red hair is picked up into a sophisticated up-do. She stands closely behind me, pushing her enormous belly into my back, while she massages my scalp. My eyes close and and my lips part at the feel.
    "Sit," she orders, pushing my head down so that I sit on the chair in front of the mirror. "You look stunning. Calm down. Deep breaths. This is your day!" she says with a smile as she fixes my loose curls to cascade down my back.
    "I know! I don't know why I'm so nervous!" I reply, exhaling.
    "Well...have you given him his present?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.
    I shake my head and sigh, feeling my stomach somersault at the thought. I'd planned on giving it to him before the reception, then after the reception, then I thought I'd just send the box over with Greg and let him record Cole's reaction but I don't want to miss it, so I settled on after. Now I'm wondering if I should just send it over after all. I groan at my own indecisiveness, making Becky giggle.
    "Stop worrying! And don't move, I'm going to put this clip on your head now," she says sternly, putting a bobby pin in her mouth to open it with her teeth before putting it in my hair. She repeats the process a couple of times until the front part of my hair is held away from my face. She tightens it, making me flinch and takes out a silver comb I haven't seen before. I turn around, crinkling my eyebrows at it, and give her a questioning look.
    "It's your something borrowed," she explains with a shrug.
    "Who did you borrow it from?" I ask cautiously. I know it's not hers because she and Greg eloped in Vegas when we were in college and she didn't wear a veil.
    "It was in your family box, silly!" she says with an eye roll. "You never sorted through the entire thing, did you?"
    I gasp, my eyes widening. "The stuff Aunt Shelley left me?"
    "Yeah," she says slowly, looking at me with an uneasy expression. "I thought maybe you'd want to wear something of hers."
    I take the comb from her hand and examine it. It's small and silver with diamonds and just the thought that Shelley wore this at her own wedding, to the man she loved until the day she died, regardless of how sad their story was, makes tears sting my eyes.
    "You don't have to," Becky whispers, seeing my sad expression.
    "No, I want to. Thank you," I whisper.
    "She left a note with it," she whispers, handing me a stained, folded paper.
    I take it with shaky hands and unfold it. Seeing her handwriting takes my breath away, and I sniffle back tears to read it.
     

     
    I fold it back up and hold it close to my heart as Becky leans down to hug my shoulders.
    "I wish she could've been here. I wish Maggie could've been here," I whisper hoarsely.
    "Me too, babe. Me too," Becky whispers back, placing a kiss on my head. "Let's get you ready. No more crying on your wedding day!"
    I laugh and fan my eyes, taking a couple of breaths to keep my emotions at bay. Aimee comes in wearing her bridesmaid dress as Becky adjusts my veil with the silver comb.
    "You look breathtaking," Aimee breathes. "The most beautiful bride ever. My brother is going to die when he sees you."
    "Thank you," I smile. "You guys don't look so shabby either!"
    "Oh please, I look so fat in this. I can't believe you chose this material knowing how pregnant I am!" Becky exclaims, making us laugh. "Yeah, keep laughing! I'm going to make sure to renew my vows when you're eight months pregnant!"
    "You still haven't given it to him, right?" Aimee asks in surprise.
    "Nope, not yet," I reply.
    "Good. Can you do it in front of us? I'm dying to see his face!" she squeals.
    "I know, right?" Becky adds in excitement.
    "We'll see," I say with a laugh.
    A knock on the door makes us simmer down and check ourselves in