***
“Tell you what Wesley,” Karen turned to look at Ty with sympathetic eyes, “why don’t you just head on out. You look like you’re ready to drop. We’ll keep you posted.”
“Hmmm… That sounds good.” Ty yawned. “But I’d rather wait till the polygraph is done.”
Karen shook her head in incredulity. “Just make sure you don’t collapse in front of your bride on Saturday.”
“You’d love that won’t you?” Ty laughed.
“Let’s just say the little darling doesn’t deserve a passed-out groom on top of her shock.” Karen chuckled, turning to look at the setup through the one-way mirror. “God, I can’t wait to see her face when she sees you.” She’d seen the two at the dinner at the White House a few months earlier and thought they looked absolutely perfect together.
Ty laughed. “I just pray she doesn’t pass out herself.”
The whole agency was buzzing with the upcoming surprise wedding. People wanted front seats so as not to miss anything. Much as Ty was excited about the whole thing, a part of him was dreading Tanesha’s reaction. He knew that she was going to cry and wished he had the power to prevent that from happening but he knew there was nothing he could do to prevent that. Well, he hoped she wouldn’t kill him afterward for ruining her makeup.
“Fuck, I can’t wait to see her,” Ty muttered under his breath but Karen heard him perfectly and couldn’t help the smile that widened her lips.
“Finish hard, soldier.” She chuckled. “Okay, all set.”
And even as Ty stood up to go and stand beside Karen to watch the polygraph, he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
***
“Oh my God, I look like the bride.” Tanesha gasped as she stared at herself in the mirror. The gown was even more beautiful than what they’d seen in the bridal catalog. She felt like a princess. It just wasn’t right. “Bri…” Tanesha breathed as she tore her eyes off her image and turned to face the ladies. Briana, Kayla, Caroline, Queenie, the designer, and her assistant stared at her, speechless. They were obviously as awed by the dress as she was.
Tanesha tried to say what was on her mind but the look on the faces of the ladies made her lose her train of thought. For some reason, her dress was the last to be made by the designer. All the other ladies, including Briana, had already picked up their dresses…which she hadn’t even seen. Briana, Kayla, Caroline, and Queenie had decided to come with her for the final fitting of her dress and to pick it up, whilst Jen, Mary, and Thea saw to the final preparations at the plush Club Picasso, where Briana’s Hen Night was to take place that evening. Well… that was what she was told.
Tanesha looked down at herself. The breathtaking designer A-line bridal gown looked like a fairytale wedding dress. The strapless, lace-over rich dolce satin gown fell elegantly into a sophisticated court train. It featured an elaborate sparkling Diamante beading on its fitted sweetheart bodice and train, giving the gown an ethereal look. The skirt was embellished with dainty lace appliques, which shimmered with every turn, with a layer of sparkle. Its spectacularly designed corset back would make every exit as beautiful as the wearer’s entrance. The gown offered the perfect amount of style and glamour, to complement Tanesha’s colour and poise, and at the same time sexily showcase her natural feminine curves. That gown screamed elegance, romance, and sophistication. It was jaw-droppingly beautiful.
“Mama Mia.” Caroline finally broke the silence. “It’s absolutely stunning.” She breathed.
“I don’t think this is right,” Tanesha said quietly, looking up at the ladies. The look on their faces said it all. The gown was beautiful. But she couldn’t possibly wear such a gown when she was merely the maid of honour. Besides the fact that the gown was obviously very expensive, she couldn’t take the spotlight off the bride herself. She wouldn’t. No, she hadn’t seen Briana’s gown yet but unless it was a Lady Diana kind of gown, people would have a hard time knowing who the real bride was. “Bri…” Tanesha frowned when she finally focused on Briana. Briana looked as though she’d won the lottery.
“Fantastique!” Briana finally managed to gasp with a phony French accent. “Oh my God, he’s going to die.”
“Who’s going to die?” Tanesha looked confused.
“Her dad,” Kayla said quickly, giving Briana a stern look.
“Does it really matter who’s going to die?” Caroline chuckled. “I mean I’m a girl. And I’m trying very hard not to kneel over in a faint right now.”
“Briana, I don’t think I should wear this dress.” Tanesha sighed. “In fact, I’m not going to.” Briana had wanted to know what gown she would have worn had it been her wedding. And when she’d picked that gown, Briana had insisted she wore it as she wanted herself and her maid of honour to look like princesses. Tanesha thought that was the silliest thing she’d ever heard but had tactfully refrained from telling Briana. “I know you said you wanted this but…this is a bit much.”
“Ow come on Tanesha,” Kayla said. “We do as Briana says, remember?”
“Actually, I don’t think this dress is all that,” Queenie said dismissively, her hands on her hips. “You should have seen me rocking mine this morning. You actually look like a real maid, sister.”
“Come to think of it, you’re right, Queenie,” Kayla said with a bored look. “You should have seen Thea and Mary when we came in to try our gowns yesterday. Yours comes nowhere close, my dear.”
“Really?” Tanesha looked shocked. She’d seen the look on their faces when she’d emerged from the dressing room for goodness’ sake. She turned to Briana. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Bri?” Tanesha asked, flipping off a snorting Queenie.
“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect gown for my maid of honour, love.” Brianna grinned. “Now get out of that gorgeous dress so that they can pack it for us. We have a Hens Night to attend.
So with a shrug and a last look at the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen, Tanesha went back into the dressing room to take it off. If the bride was okay with it, who was she to complain?