Starting Over

A month. I’ve been locked in this damn hospital for a month. Liam and the guys hung around for about 2 weeks before I forced them to leave. Liam was none-too-happy about it, whining and protesting (even using some choice words), but it’s not his choice. Besides, my mom and his mom have been here the entire time, as have Ashly and Stephanie. In fact, I’m being flown back to London in two days and Ashly and Stephanie are coming with me. They’ll be there until the wedding. I’m still in a wheelchair but at least the screws were taken out two weeks ago. My leg’s not pretty but it’s there. The doctor is releasing me today with a wheelchair and crutches so that I can go dress shopping with everyone before I fly back home.
“Hey, chickadee! You ready to blow this popsicle stand and look at dresses?” Ashly bursts into the room in her usual all-too-chipper way. It’s 9am… how can someone be so happy and hyper at 9am?
“As ready as I’ll ever be. You guys are going to have to help a lot though” I respond.
“Of course!” Ashly answers as she helps me off the bed. My leg is still in a lot of pain but pain is a good sign as far as I’m concerned. To me pain means healing. If I can’t feel the pain, something’s wrong. Maybe I’m just a masochist. I take a seat in my wheelchair and Ashly begins to push me out the doors. The air outside hits me with the welcoming feelings of summer. The warmth envelops me and instantly I begin to relax. Fresh air is the best. My mom pulls the car around and Ashly and Stephanie help me get into it. There’s no way that we can take a taxi or the metro like we normally would. We take off towards Upper Manhattan where the best bridal shops are. Mom parks the car and the girls come around to help me out when my phone rings
“Hi, Liam” I answer without looking at the caller ID. I know it’s him. He calls me at the same time every day. I know he’s still nervous and worried about me, and today it’s probably worse. He didn’t want me to leave the hospital yet. He thinks I’m not ready.
“Hello, love. How are you?” he asks.
“I’m feeling pretty good. We just got to the bridal stores” I tell him.
“Good. I won’t keep you, then. I was just calling to say that I miss you” he says quietly.
“I miss you too, Liam. I’ve gotta go now, I love you. See you soon” I coo into the phone before hanging up.
I finish sliding out of the car and grab my crutches from Stephanie while Ashly pushes the folded up wheelchair into the salon. As soon as I walk in the door, I feel overwhelmed. There’s so much white and toile and puff. I hate dresses that look like cupcakes, all big and puffy and round. Makes me itch just thinking about all the crinoline. After about 2 hours in the salon, I give up on my dress and we begin searching for bridesmaids dresses and mother’s dresses instead. Of course those come easily. The girls already knew what they wanted and I totally agreed. We ordered all the dresses for all the girls and my mother and were about to leave the salon when a dress caught my eye. It was a lacey dress in a off-white, almost cream color. It has intricate beading all over it. The train is entirely beading and lace. There’s a lacey, beaded belt around the waist. It’s strapless and gorgeous. Everything that I have ever wanted.

“Mom!” I yell excitedly.

“What’s wrong, Sam, do you need your chair? Is your leg hurting?” she asks nervously.

“No, no, I’m fine. Mom, look at this. I need to try it on. It’s perfect!” I say excitedly as Ashly, Stephanie, and Karen walk up behind me.

“That would look perfect on you. Liam wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off you, even more than now” Karen says sweetly.

With that, she and my mom help me get it off the mannequin and into the dressing room. The sales consultant helps me in getting the dress on and zipped. It fits perfectly. I don’t think that I’ll even need alterations. I turn around and admire myself in the dress, it truly is perfect to me. I take a deep breathe before opening the dressing room door. My mom and Karen start to tear up instantly. I know that this dress is coming home with me today. I can’t leave without it. My mom agrees. We pay and head out the door with my perfect dress in hand.

“Hi there!” Liam answers the phone on the first ring. “I’ve been hoping that you’d call. How was dress shopping? See anything you liked?” he asks. He’s been so great about all the wedding talk.

“I bought a dress. I bought my perfect dress. Suddenly I have so many ideas for the wedding” I say excitedly.
“That’s amazing, love. I honestly thought that you were going to take at least another few weeks to find one. I’m glad you got your perfect dress though and I can’t wait until I can see you in and make you my wife. I love you so much Sam but I’ve got to run now, ok? Talk later, ya?”
“For sure. I love you too. Please hurry home to me” I say and we hang up. I am flying home the day after tomorrow so for the rest of my time here, I’m going to ignore the pain and exhaustion and go do some sight seeing.

Notes