Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

departed, "with your marriage being so - so potentially controversial, it is extremely important that we put a good face on the ceremony. Everyone must see that your family is behind you completely in this marriage."
    Even if they weren't, not completely. But for the first time, Lily saw that this mattered to her mother. What it meant to her.
    Love. It was all about Julia Yu's love and concern for her daughter - maybe not arriving in the form Lily kept looking for. And maybe it arrived with some overly controlling strings attached, too. But love just the same.
    "Okay," she said meekly. And as they talked, she made notes.
    They'd finished their meals by the time they reached the big decision: the Dress. Her mother was talking about various designers, some bridal magazine article she'd read, and where they might go to look at various styles.
    An idea flashed into Lily's head. It felt right. "Mother, I've been thinking," she said, though she hadn't, not until this moment. "Oh - sorry, I interrupted. But I think I'd like Chinese style, not a - a princess gown or a ball gown or any of that."
    Her mother stopped talking. She tipped her head to one side, her eyes narrowing. Slowly she nodded. "Yes, that might work. Some of your generation are doing this, you know, using Chinese touches in their weddings. You are not an ordinary American bride, are you? You are Chinese American. And you are not marrying an ordinary American man. But nothing off the rack," she added in quick warning. "Nothing cheap."
    "Of course not. Though with my budget, it can't be too - "
    "Lily!" Julia was horrified. "You are not going to deny me and your father the chance to buy your wedding dress!"
    Oh. "Thank you, then."
    "Now, how Chinese do you want this dress to be? Do you want a chi pao?"
    "I don't know. I guess I'll have to look at some dresses, but... yes, a chi pao sounds right. In silk, maybe white or ivory, with embroidery in matching thread. Something subtle."
    "Embroidery? What kind?"
    "A dragon." Lily smiled. That felt perfectly, absolutely right. "I'd like a beautiful Chinese dragon on my wedding dress."