Promised (The Promised Series)

still, the dress shocks me.
    I school my features when she turns to me with a big smile on her face, waiting to hear my opinion. “Gorgeous, Mom.”
    Strutting to the mirrors, she does a little shimmy, turning this way and that to admire herself. “Your Dad is going to love it.”
    Her and the gypsy triplets (seriously, those three look like they could be triplets in those get ups) stand there praising each other’s dresses for I don’t know how long. Finally, Mrs. Dallas speaks up. “Alright darlings, while you all get fitted by the seamstresses, I’m going to steal the bride to be.” Holding her hand out to me. “Time to see the show stopper.”
    Looking at Dani and Marley, I roll my eyes where only they can see. They cover their mouths to cover their giggles as I take Mrs. Dallas’ hand and follow her out of the room. I requested a flowing Grecian style gown, but Mom nixed that idea. So realizing, once again, that my opinion didn’t matter, I let her take over the design. Not what a normal bride would do, but heck, I don’t even want to be the bride so what do I care what I walk down the aisle in.
    My first look at the monstrosity displayed on the mannequin makes me regret that decision, big time. Mrs. Dallas is gushing about how the dress is her most fabulous piece to date, but I’m only hearing every other word as I stare in shock. Do they really expect me to wear that ?
    I come out of my daze and slowly move around the dress, so I can take it all in. And trust me, there’s a lot to take in. It reminds me of those Barbie cakes that little girls request for their birthday, except the skirt is at least twice as puffy. I won’t even be able to walk in the dang thing. Not to mention, it’s wider than the freaking aisle. I take in a deep breath and release it to control my growing anger. Taking in the rest of the dress isn’t the best way to wrangle it in, but it must be done, so I move my eyes away from the skirt to look at the bodice. A strapless, corseted, lingerie type bodice covered in the same swirly crystal design as the bridesmaid dresses meets my eyes. The mannequin is wearing a long crystal covered veil with a tiara so large that it would make a beauty queen envious.
    “How… Why?” I mumble to myself.
    “Don’t worry your pretty little self. We’ll help you get into it today and on your wedding day.” Mrs. Dallas tells me as she places her arm around my waist. She’s so excited about the dress and has always been so nice to my family. But right now, I wish she was a raging witch so that I could tell her how the dress has me throwing up in my mouth without feeling bad.
    Instead, I paste my fake smile on, once again, and say. “That’s great!”
    A good forty-five minutes later, I am strapped into the contraption and standing in front of my mom and sister-in-laws. Mom is crying her eyes out of course, the gypsy triplets are gushing about how much they love it, and Marley and Dani are covering their mouths, trying to stifle the laughs I can tell they’re dying to release. I’m half tempted to start ripping off crystals to throw at all of them. And of course, spending the better part of an hour being strapped into my nightmare come to life dress has not improved my already bad mood.
    Mom finally takes a deep breath and starts wiping up her tears. Once she’s calmed herself, she maneuvers around my enormous skirt and grabs both of my hands into hers. “This must be like a dream come true for you, baby girl. You look so beautiful.”
    “Thank you, Mom. But I thought you’d design something a little closer to what I told you I liked.” I whisper, trying not to make a scene and embarrass her in front of everyone.
    She straightens her back, releases my hands, and cocks her hip. Oh heck, here comes the gypsy sass she’s famous for. “Arwyn Elizabeth, don’t start with me. That dress you showed me was just so…boring.”
    “Just because it wasn’t covered in miles of tulle and pounds of crystals, doesn’t mean it was boring. Simple can be beautiful too, and that’s what I wanted.”
    “You’re seventeen. You don’t know what you want.” She throws out as if I’m still a little girl who needs help picking out her clothes.
    This is the point where the anger that’s been building in me since we arrived hits nuclear level. Looking at Dani, I ask. “Did she really just say that to me?”
    “Umm…” Dani stutters, her eyes the size of saucers.
    “Arwyn.” Mom