Not Fake for Long by Weston Parker

28

KEIRA

“You look wonderful, darling,” my mother cooed when I walked into the bridal suite. She sat in an overstuffed armchair in the center of the room but got up to kiss my cheek once the door had closed behind me. “I can’t believe you skipped out on a day of pampering to get ready by yourself.”

Hailey’s voice piped up from the bathroom. “Keira’s never enjoyed hanging around in a spa, Mom. You know she had some work to get done this morning anyway. I’m just glad she’s here on time.”

“Of course, I’m here on time,” I protested, even though I’d come very close to being extremely late. When I’d walked out of my bedroom and Harrison had looked at me the way he had, there had been a minute or two where I’d seriously considered not leaving the apartment at all tonight.

I headed toward the bathroom and found Hailey sitting on a high stool with her back to the mirror, a makeup artist putting some finishing touches on her face. She was still wearing a stark white robe, but her hair was done, and her dress was hanging from a mirror in the main room.

“You look gorgeous,” I squealed, grabbing her hand because it was the closest I could get to hugging her.

She started turning her head toward me, then sighed when the makeup lady gave her stern look. Squeezing my hand instead, she stared straight ahead. “Thank you. So do you. Are you ready?”

“I should be asking you that question,” I teased, releasing her hand to take a step back. “How are you feeling?”

“Excited,” she replied, a ghost of a smile touching her lips before the makeup lady sighed loudly. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m just happy to have my sister here. Are we nearly done?”

“If you can sit still for five more minutes, we will be,” the woman said, then looked at me. “Why don’t you help yourself to a glass of champagne and wait with your mother? We’ll be out soon.”

Holding my hands up in surrender, I nodded and backed out of the room. Mom winked at me, smoothing out her dress as she sat down again.

“These service providers aren’t to be trifled with,” she said, softly enough that we wouldn’t be overheard. “I’ve nearly been kicked out three times for interfering.”

“Were you interfering?” I asked as I picked up an already filled flute of champagne from a mirrored tray. “You were, weren’t you?”

She laughed and rolled her dark eyes at me, gently lifting only one shoulder instead of acknowledging my question. “So, since we have a minute to ourselves, why don’t you tell me about your date?”

“Wow, that was fast,” I said, glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner. “I’ve been in the room for all of two minutes.”

Mom’s hand went up as if she was about to touch her ponytail, a habit of hers when she was feeling confronted, but where her ponytail would usually have been hanging, there was nothing. All of her long, almost black hair had been pinned up and braided around her head.

“You can’t blame a mother for being curious. I didn’t even know you were bringing a date until recently. Who is he?”

My gaze dropped to my hand. On the second finger was the ring he’d given me a few minutes ago in the car. Mom hadn’t spotted it yet, but as I shifted my glass from my right hand to my left, her eyes grew wide.

“What is that?” she asked breathlessly, rising in a graceful yet lightning-fast move to stride over to me with her gold dress billowing out behind her. “Is that a ring?”

“Yes, Mom, it’s a ring,” I said, swallowing past a dry lump in my throat as I forced a smile. I hadn’t expected it to be easy to lie to her about this, but I also hadn’t expected how much I wouldn’t be wanting it to be a lie.

Harrison and I had only known each other a couple of weeks, but it didn’t feel like it. From the minute we’d met, it felt like I’d known him all my life. We clicked in every way possible, and while I knew we were a far way off from even talking about a real relationship, never mind marriage, having his ring on my finger felt right.

“You’re engaged?” My mother gaped at me, taking the glass from me to take my hand in hers. “We didn’t even know you were seeing someone. I don’t even know his name, sweetheart. Who is he?”

“He’s my date tonight—my fiancé,” I said, clearing my throat to cover how awkward it had been to clarify it that way. “His name is Harrison, and I’d really like it if you’re nice to him.”

“Of course, we’ll be nice to him,” she gushed, beaming at the ring before looking into my gaze. “Why didn’t we know there was even a man in your life, baby? It would’ve been nice to know you were seeing someone before we were hit with the news that we’ll be planning another wedding soon.”

“It’s going to be a long engagement,” I blurted out, suddenly terrified that she was going to want to know what kind of wedding we wanted, which was logical. We definitely should’ve discussed what we were going to say to that. “We’re not really thinking about the wedding yet.”

“That’s fine, honey. If you want a long engagement, then you’ll have one, but…” She narrowed her eyes at me as she trailed off, her head tilted just enough to let me know she was deep in thought. “Why wouldn’t you tell us?”

“She didn’t want to steal my thunder,” Hailey said, saving me from having to answer as she swept into the room in a puff of powder, hairspray, and perfume. “She’s just the best, isn’t she? She said it was better if you focused on one engaged daughter at a time.”

Mom’s eyes flicked from me to Hailey and back again, but there was still a hurt expression on her face. “That was very sweet of you, darling. I still just would’ve liked to have known he existed before learning that you were engaged.”

“We were trying to keep it quiet, Mom,” I said, latching onto the excuse my sister had so seamlessly provided. “For Hailey and Nick, but also for ourselves. We’re not looking for judgment, but talking about our wedding in the same breath as this one seemed like a surefire way to invite it.”

“Why would we judge you?” I hated myself for the hurt in her voice, but I’d already started down this road.

Plus, it wasn’t entirely untrue. If Harrison and I ever were to end up getting married, it would probably be in a small ceremony on the farm. Nothing like this. Not that I’ve ever really thought about it.

“Harrison works on a farm, Mother,” Hailey said, making me all the more grateful that she had my back on this one. “Nothing to try and squeeze money out of. Give Kiki a break, okay?”

Mom’s hand went flying to her chest and she glowered at my sister. “It’s just time that she found someone. I don’t care if he’s a farmhand. I still would’ve liked to have met him before my daughter agreed to marry him.”

“You’ll like him,” I offered lamely before turning to my sister. “Is it almost time to get your dress on?”

She shook her hands out at her sides and nodded. “Just about. I need to go over my vows one last time before we do it. Give me a few?”

When I nodded, she shot me a smile and disappeared into the dressing room before closing the doors behind her. Once Hailey was gone, Mom grabbed my arm and dragged me to the window.

“The guests are starting to gather,” she said. “Point out this fiancé of yours to me. I’d like to at least see what he looks like.”

I sighed but followed her gaze to the clearing underneath some trees where the wedding would take place. There was an arch made entirely out of flowers in front of a small gazebo where Hailey and Nick would be standing, hundreds of chairs set out, and lights strung from all the branches.

It was stunning, truly looking like something out of a fairy tale. I’d been surprised when Hailey had told me they’d opted for a garden wedding instead of getting married in the chapel, but now that I’d seen the setting, I totally got it.

Plus, while she’d chosen not to ride a horse to the ceremony, she was being brought in in a carriage. I assumed the carriage and the horses couldn’t exactly fit into the chapel. Hailey wouldn’t have wanted everyone waiting for her outside only to have to wait for them to make their way into the chapel before she entered.

One grand entrance was enough. Even for Hailey.

Mom and I watched the gathering guests from a distance, but it took some time before I saw Harrison heading up from the stables. Taking a deep breath, I raised a hand and pointed at him. “That’s him right there.”

My mother moved so close to the window, I wondered if she was going to stick her nose right up to it. She didn’t, but she also made big eyes at me when she glanced away from it. “Him?”

“Yes, Mom, him,” I said.

“He’s quite a catch, baby,” she said, clearly impressed. When she turned back to the window, a small frown puckered her forehead. “He looks familiar somehow, but I can’t say where I know him from.”

“Maybe he just looks like someone you’ve met before,” I said, my head turning when I heard the dressing-room doors opening. “I think Hailey’s ready to put her dress on. Are we going to have enough time to take pictures of her in it before the ceremony?”

“They’ve already taken most of them,” Mom said. “That’s why they were just touching up her hair and makeup now. She was ready a couple of hours ago, and we took all of her solo shots. They just need a few of us with her once she’s slipped on her dress.”

“Got it,” I said, rushing over to my sister’s side when Mom went to get her dress.

She lifted her arms and stepped into it while Mom and I helped, the photographer snapping away while we laughed and talked. It was a little forced, but I knew there would be some nice pictures of the three of us between the ones he was taking now.

“You’re sure this is a good idea, right?” Hailey asked once the dress was on. She was staring at her reflection in the mirror, smoothing down the front of her dress while Mom put in her earrings for her.

I leaned in close to her side, wrapping my arm around her corseted midsection to give her a half hug. “It’s a great idea. I’m proud of you, sis. This is your day. Enjoy it.”

Mom fussed over both of us for a few more minutes, helping Hailey with the rest of her jewelry while I cracked jokes about how weird it was to hug her when her body felt so hard in that dress. When we were done, I looked into the warm brown of her eyes and took her hands.

“Do you need to pee before we go out there?” I asked, and she broke out laughing before releasing my hands and stepping away.

“Here I thought you were about to say something profound,” she said. “You looked so damn serious.”

“I was being serious. You don’t want to end up rushing the entire ceremony just because you didn’t go to the bathroom when you had the chance.”

She rolled her eyes but then launched herself at me and pulled me into a giant hug. “Thank you for being here and for making me laugh. I think I’m ready to go now.”

When she let go of me, she nodded firmly and glanced at Mom and the photographer. “I’m definitely ready. Let’s get this show on the road.”