Chapter 5 - Dress shopping.

"Yes, we're going dress shopping today. I'm already overwhelmed."

Cara said on her phone to her best friend Malory who was on a businesses trip to Wyoming. She was going to be gone for a while but her friend had assured her that she was going to be around for the wedding since she was going to be the maid of honour.

"I'm sorry about that, just take your sweet time, wedding planning can be so stressful."

Cara nodded as she looked out the window of her car, her mother was already waiting for her at the bridal shop and she was about ten minutes late for her appointment but she didn't care, she had a really long day at work and she really just wanted to sleep.

But she had been putting off her dress shopping for so long because she had cold feet and the wedding was creeping dangerously close, especially with what Alex had said about not wanting to waste any more time.

"I know. After this appointment I think I'll just go on a break. There's still so much to do, I miss you a lot Malory."

She said and Malory sniffed from the other line. Cara suspected that she was crying, Malory always teared up very easily, she was a very emotional person, but that was what Cara loved about her, she was always able to empathise and sympathise with people.

"I know. I miss you too, I really can't wait to be done here and see you."

"Me too. Okay, I have to go, I'm pulling over. I just arrived at the bridal shop, I'll call you later."

Cara said as she ended the call and parked across the bridal shop.

After getting her purse and checking herself out in the mirror, she unlocked her car and crossed to the other side of the road.

She had never really been to a bridal shop before, not even when her cousin Anne was getting married and she was part of the bridesmaids. But being to one has suddenly made everything more real as she admired the pretty little mannequins in front of the shop's front display, there were weddings gowns with sweetheart necklines and full ball gown skirts and glittering form fitting mermaid wedding dresses. It was going to be a long day, she thought as she sighed.

Inside the wedding shop, there was a air of ambience and calm as she was confronted with a pristine and beautiful atmosphere with even more wedding dresses. She walked straight to the reception desk the minute since she couldn't find her mother.

The blonde at the reception desk flashed her a bright smile as she looked up from her computer.

"Welcome to La Hatte. Do you have an appointment?"

Cara nodded.

"Yes, I do. A 3:15pm. My mother Mrs Devine is here already."

She clarified and the receptionist nodded in understanding as she checked her computer.

"Oh yes, Cara Devine?"

"Yes, that's me."

Cara replied in a flat tone and the receptionist smiled.

"Oh that's great! You're the bride. Please follow me."

She said as she came out of her tiny cubicle and Cara followed her. She tugged at her suit and suddenly felt mildly uncomfortable with the three piece suit she was wearing and her stiletto heels. Perhaps she should have picked a better date for her dress appointment but La Hatte was the only bridal shop her mother wanted her to buy her wedding dress from and Cara was not prepared to argue.

But they were always booked in advance and Cara had forgotten about booking the wedding dress for a while, so when they gave her a 3:15 pm appointment on a Thursday, she really didn't argue.

The receptionist led her to the inner room where there were even more wedding dresses on display. Her mother was already seated in on of the white comfy sofas with a glass of champagne in her hand and a bridal magazine.

"Oh good. You're here." Her mother said as she looked up from her magazine and patted the space next to her. Cara was exhausted.

"You look exhausted, how was work?"

Her mother asked and she shrugged.

"Exhausting. I'm going to tell Dad to give me a break."

She murmured as she settled in the soft plush couch and moaned in pleasure.

"Oh! This feels nice. Maybe I'd go to a spa later for some pampering."

Her mother raised her eyebrows.

"This is Daisy Ridley. She is your consultant for today. She's going to be helping us find some dresses for you to wear."

Cara sat up straight and found a bubbly woman in a black dress smiling at her.

"Hello Daisy Ridley."

"Hi!!! Nice to meet you Cara. Your mother made me understand you already have something in mind for your wedding dress?"

Cara nodded.

"Yes, I do. No ball gowns and no lace."

She replied and Daisy raised her eyebrow.

"Okay, would you like to check out some pieces? It'll help you narrow your choices down."

Daisy asked and Cara nodded. Daisy took her to a back room with even more dressed and Cara felt overwhelmed as she started showing her some of the dressed and naming their designers.

"So we've got some really great choices, we've got A-lines and Mermaid tails and I really think you'd look really good in a mermaid tail, what about this?"

Daisy asked as she showed Cara a lace dress with a sweetheart neckline and a long mermaid tail.

Cara scrunched up her face.

"Hnmmm, I'm not really sure. It has lace, I've always wanted something plain, like satin. Not too much drama but very elegant at the same time."

Cara explained and Daisy nodded as she heaved the dress back on the hanger.

"I know a wonderful alternative to that, in fact, I know two!"

Cara watched as Daisy brought out two gowns from their hanger and led her to the dressing room.

The first dress was a satin sheath dress that had lovely beadings and a very simple look to it, as Daisy helped her lace up the dress in the dressing room, Cara ran her hand through the fabric wondering if everything that was happening to her was real, she was getting married. And it seemed to get even more real by the second. Her heart was far away from getting married, in fact, it was the last thing on her mind.

"Are you ready to come out now?"

Daisy asked as she lifted Cara's hair and fixed it into a bun so they could put a veil on it.

"Sure, let's do it." Cara said after a long sigh and heaved the dress up as she walked out of the dressing room.

She was extra careful not to trip on the dress as she stood up on the raised platform, the dress was heavier than she said anticipated.

She faced the mirrors as she stared at the dress and she was momentarily shocked by what she was.

She was wearing a wedding dress.

A real wedding dress and her hair was up and Daisy was trying to pin a veil on it.

She glanced at her mother who smiled.

"Oh! You look gorgeous honey. Simply stunning."

Cara smiled as she stared at herself in the mirror, it was a lovely dress, but not something she would see herself wearing at her wedding.

"It's beautiful."

She murmured as she twirled a little to get a good look at the dress. Daisy so far looked impressed with herself after fixing a veil on Cara's head.

"Do you like it?"

"Sure, I do."

"Hmm. I'm getting the feeling you don't like it that much."

Daisy said as she stroked her chin and Cara glanced at her and her mother, they had the same expression on their face.

"Yes, I don't think you like it very much. Can she try another one?"

Her mother asked and Daisy nodded.

"Of course, right away."

With the help of Daisy, Cara was able to get out of the wedding dress and into a new and different one.

It was an off the shoulder satin wedding dress with an A line Skirt, Cara was already falling in love with the dress as she ran her hands through the fabric and stared down at the skirt.

"I like this better. I like the skirt."

She said and Daisy nodded.

"Yea! I knew you would like it!"

"Can you give me some time alone with it? I'll come out when I'm ready."

Cara requested after Daisy finished with the dozens of the buttons at the back of the dress. Daisy nodded and touched Cara's shoulder briefly.

"Sure."

When Daisy left the dressing room Cara sighed and stared at the tiny face mirror in the dressing room, it was the only mirror in the dressing room.

"Oh God, what the hell am I doing?"

She asked herself as she shook her head.

The dress was beautiful, everything was perfect, the wedding was in a little less than three months yet she was not only unprepared for it, she felt utterly and totally disengaged with the idea of having a wedding.

She didn't want to get married, she was only doing it to help her parents, to help their company and for a long time she had accepted her face. But then two weeks ago Nicholas had happened and she had never felt more baffled and conflicted in her entire life.

That night with Nicholas had ruined a lot more than she had expected and Cara was conflicted and confused.

Going through with the wedding was the right thing to do for her family, but morally it was wrong.

On the other hand, telling Alex what happened would only bring more shame and humiliation to her family. Alex's father wasn't only a CEO and a popular business man, he was also a senator in the city.

It was going to be an embarrassment to the family and hers if such a story was ever leaked out.

Cara sighed as she stood up straight and blinked back the tears, there was nothing she could do, she had to go through with the wedding.

That was all she could do.

She came out a few minutes later with a wide plastered smile on her face.

"Mum.."

She called out to her mum as she examined the dress in the mirror. Her mother was smiling pleasantly, from the looks on her face, she also loved the dress

"I think this is the one."

"This dress, this is the dress for me."