Gen 9- Chapter 10: Wisteria Lace

We had sent her upstairs an hour before hand. Probably shouldn’t have waited as long as we did to go and check on her, but everyone was busy. All corners of the house were buzzing with excitement, and it sadly took a lot longer than it probably should have to realize, that Taffy was still not back. I walked through the living room to find uncle Chessie at the bottom of the stairs. After checking his watch for the third time since I had entered the room, I decided I better ask what had him so worried.

“Everything good Uncle Chessie?”

“Fine dear, but could you go check on Taffy? She went to try on her dress and hasn’t come back yet.”

I looked at the clock on the wall. I still had a little time. “Sure.”

“Thank you dear.”

Climbing the stairs quietly, so just in case something was really wrong I would be able to hear it, I headed for my grandmothers bedroom. The door was closed, not a sound could be heard on the other side. Tentatively I knocked. “Taffy? Are you in there?”

A low reply came almost immediately. “I’m here.”

“Is everything alright?”

“No.”

“Can I come in?”

“Okay.”

I nodded to myself apparently, since no one else could see me, and then opened the door slowly. The room was bright, brighter than usual. It was an overly sunny day for Twizzlerbrook  and I almost didn’t see her tiny frame at first, due to the light glaring through the large window. A slight movement, just about the time my eyes were adjusting, lead me to find her on the far side of the bed. Fully dressed, face cupped in her hands, she stood very still. “Taffy?” I questioned, stepping in a little further into the room.

“Yeah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I look stupid.” She moaned. “I look stupid and I feel stupid. I’m too skinny for this dress. My legs look like miniature chicken wings and everyone is going to laugh at me.”

A small tinge of annoyance colored my expression, but thankfully she still had her back to me and did not see it. I was baffled, how could such an adorable little person, be so hard on her self. Being too thin had never crossed my mind as a bad thing, but here she was, and it definitely bothered her. “Your legs don’t look like that and no one would ever see them that way.”

“Easy for you to say, you have nice legs, not tooth picks.”

Now I was really thrown off. She thought my legs were nice and hers were not. Insecurities really do come in all shapes and sizes.

I could see, that my original plan of attack would be of no use, so I decided to try another angle. I sunk down so could I get below her gaze and would be able to see her sweet eyes. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to do this, if you don’t want to. No one is going to force you to wear that dress. If you want to grab your jeans and walk down the aisle, I have no problem with that.”

Taffy sniffed loudly. “No. I will wear it. I’m just nervous.”

“That’s okay.” I smiled. “I’m nervous too. I-”

Just then the door swung open and a frantic Cerise and Sandy busted in like fireman late for a fire.

“OMB!!” Sandy squeaked. “You’re not dressed!? Where is your dress? Wisty what are you doing?!”

I searched the room for a clock and my eyes settled on the electric one sitting on the bedside table. 3:20 was staring back at me. Ten minutes. I only had ten minutes!! “Oh my!” Now it was my turn to squeak. The girls startled to scramble around the room like a couple of wild turkeys, screeching and squawking as they tried to push me out the door. “Where’s your dress?!” Sandy asked again.

“It’s in the bathroom. The bathroom!”

“Well then! Go go go!! Bathroom away!”

I tried to make sure Taffy was alright before I left, but there was no time, Sandy was literally pushing me through the open door and into the hallway.

“Go! Go! There is no time for this. She will be fine.” Sandy looked back over her shoulder. “Cerise you are on bridesmaid duty!!”

“I’m on it!”

“See, everything is fine. Now get in there!” All in the same second, Sandy had pushed me into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. *slam* “Now get that dress on missy!”

“Okay okay!”

The garment bag hung on the back of the door, swinging gently from the extra force of the door being shut so abruptly. I walked over to it and started to unzip the extra long zipper. A voice shot from the other side of the door again. “Come on Wist! This is your big day. Now move it!”

“Alright! I’m going!”

Her voice was muted, but I could hear her continue to prattle on as I slipped into my gown. Rustling noises of the tafetta fabric, must have alerted her that I was working to get it on, because she started to let up, just a little bit.

“Do you need help? Can you zip it?”

I had just zipped myself up to the top as she asked. “Nope. I’m good!” I called back.

“Okay.”

“You know this would be a lot easier in the bedroom. We could help you!”

“I got it! I promise.”

“The floor better not be wet. If you get the dress wet, I will be forced to come in there after you.”

I stepped back bumping into the door, to get a better look. “Dry as a bone.”

“Okay, well hurry up!”

“Just a second! Go find my dad please.”

“Alright. I’ll be right back.”

I hadn’t told any body about my reasoning for wanting to be in the bathroom. It sounded kind of silly saying it out loud, but my bathroom and I had been through a lot together. It only seemed fitting that I would be in there to prepare myself for such a big day. I waited till I was sure she had gone, before turning my attention to the mirror. My first real look at me in my dress. Well, other than in the dress shop, but that doesn’t count. This was real. This was the moment. I was actually shocked at who was looking back at me. I looked beautiful, and I could see it and feel it. My mouth finally cooperated and started to close from its slack-jawed position, and a smile started to spread across my lips “Hello beautiful.” I grinned to reflection. Something I had been forcing myself to do for close to year now, but for the first time, it didn’t feel silly. I was pretty sure it was starting to work. I could definitely tell, I was treating myself better because of it. I gave my reflection a final nod before opening the door.

Click me!! OMB Berry’s first montage!! Play me!

Seriously in a flash, it seemed like all was said and done. Tapestry and I were now husband and wife and I couldn’t have been happier. He promised to wait and he did just that. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been on him. It must seem like a wiz bang flash type of deal to you, I’m sure, but it was pretty much anything but.  It was a long arduous road on my journey of self discovery, and truthfully I am still traveling down that path, but I finally got to a point where I was ready to carry on with someone by my side. Some one sweet, understanding and who would do anything to make me happy. I find it funny that we kind of got off on the wrong foot to start. I honestly had no clue that he saw me as anything but a buddy who would occasionally give him friendly advice, but even during my time away, we remained friends, our friendship grew more and more all the time. He was regularly checking up on me, to see how I was progressing, not in a way, that was like “hurry up already!!”, m0re like genuine interest on how things were going. I really couldn’t have asked for anything more. In fact it was his suggestion to start greeting myself in the mirror every day. I’m not sure if he came up with it on his own, or if he might have researched it, but I was so impressed, I could have cared less either way. He was that missing piece, always there to support me, pressing me to go further, it wasn’t long before I knew I was in love. Not that valentines day card and chocolate kind of love,  but the real thing. A friendship set on fire. I couldn’t imagine life with anyone else.

As funny as this sounds, I was the first Chiffon from our household to go on an actual honeymoon. Circumstances in prior instances had always kept my ancestors from going out into the great unknown. Whether it was jobs or families issues, everyone from the time our family was established, had spent their wedding night at the house. I decided it was time for a change, but it was actually my uncle Prelude, who had booked us two first class tickets for a weekend in Starburst Shores! So in turn my mom and dad rented us a seaside summer home for the duration of our trip. Well it wasn’t completely seaside, but the beach was just over the road and definitely close enough! Besides I wasn’t sure how much of the beach we would actually be seeing. Hurr hurr.

It was already dark by the time our plane touched down at the Starburst Airport, a bright moon almost completely full, sat over head in the unnaturally clear sky, following us in our cab as we traveled to the opposite side of town. The night sea air was much warmer than it should have been, but that is coming from a Twizzlerite, our nights were always cold.

Tapestry paid the cabby and then helped get all of our luggage from the car. I tried to pick up one of the suit cases, but the moment I picked up the handle Tap had swooped in and snatched it away. “I got this. You just stay right here for a minute. Don’t move!”

I laughed. “Okay. I can’t go in?”

“Not yet.  I will be right back.”

“Alright. I will be right here.”

Up the stairs he went, two different trips to get all the luggage and then back he came . “Alright.” He grinned. “We can go in now.”

“Alright.” We headed up the steps, but Tap stopped short after unlocking and opening the door. He turned his attention back to me and gave me a look over. Somehow I knew exactly what he was thinking. “Oh no no no. There is no way Tapestry Chiffon.” I yelped, but it was too late. He was already scooping me into his arms. “There is no way you can carry me! You crazy man!” My yelped turned into a laughing cry as I was, more effortlessly than I had envisioned, carried over the threshold. Once we were safely inside, he set me down. I still claim it was an act of berry voodoo, but the look of satisfaction on his face, warmed my heart, just the same.

“My hero.”

We decided on one of the upstairs bedrooms and then moved our luggage in. I took my case to the bathroom, so I could slip out of dress, and into something a bit more comfortable. I was incredibly nervous. We had decided that waiting for our wedding night was something we both could manage. I probably wouldn’t have minded, but he insisted. It was more proof, that he was interested in more than just that part of our relationship. Again far too romantic to deny. So this was to be our first night. I pulled my nighty from the suitcase and slipped it on over my head. I could feel my heart racing. Was I nervous? Or excited? It was hard to tell. I swallowed hard and opened the door. Tapestry was already making himself comfortable on the bed, when I emerged. A laugh escaped his lips as I stepped into the room. “What on sweet earth are you wearing?”

“My night gown?”

“I was expecting something a little more… I don’t know. Wedding night-ish.”

I looked down at my ridiculous frock. Even with all my new found confidence, I knew there were certain things I was still not suited for and a tiny nighty was definitely one of them. “This can be sexy.” I assured him. “See.” I tried to pop a hip, but under all the fabric, the sexy motion definitely fell flat.

Tapestry just smiled and pushed himself up from the bed. “It’s alright, but I think I know something that would make it better.”

“Oh ya? What is that?” I asked inquisitively.

I wasn’t sure what he was planning, so it came as surprise, when he leaned down, grabbed the him of my nighty and slipped over my head. Dropping it off to the side on the floor, he gave me a sly smile. “That’s much better.” I could feel my mouth slightly gaping, and my cheeks had flushed a bright red. It was nothing new for us to be together, we kissed and all that other stuff, but it was the first time we had seen each other with our clothes fully off. The last time someone had seen me that way, was Matrix and well, that definitely wasn’t something I wanted to think about that moment.

Something flipped on my head as I was standing there, in all my glory, my confidence kicked into full gear. My voice had dropped to a low and sultry tone, and my movements, felt so fluid and sexy. I had no idea what had come over me, but I liked it. I bit my bottom lip and slid my hands over Taps shoulders, pulling him in closer and bringing his lips to mine. Our kiss was long and sweet, but the moment we came up for air, I leaned over and whispered in his ear. “You are looking pretty great yourself.” I cooed.

That must have been the magic phrase, because the next thing I knew, I was being lead to the bed, planting kisses on my neck as he went. He truly loved me, every part of me, and I could feel it all the way down into my toes. Our first night was NOTHING like what I had experienced before. It wasn’t a race. It was just a special time for us both, to share and explore more about each other. That was the night I finally let it all go. I had accepted me and so did he. Things had finally fallen into place. We spent the entire night in each others arms, talking and laughing till the sun came up. I had gone through a lot of hardships in my life, but looking up to find his sweet face staring back down at me, there was no doubt in my mind, that everything had been worth it.