Chapter 14 - THE WEDDING DRESS SHE MADE FOR HERSELF
A year after Evelyn's wedding, Gabriel asked Avery a question.
“Would you marry me again?”
She stared.
“We're already married.”
“I know.”
“Legally.”
“Yes.”
She crossed her arms.
“Then why?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Because the first time, you were afraid.”
Avery's expression softened.
He continued.
“You were trying to protect your father. I was trying to control a threat.”
He took her hand.
“We never had a chance to choose each other freely.”
Avery looked at him.
Then smiled.
“Are you proposing?”
He laughed.
“Badly.”
She nodded.
“Very.”
They planned a small vow-renewal ceremony.
No four hundred guests.
No political connections.
No champagne tower.
Just family and friends.
Avery made her own gown.
Ivory silk.
Hand-embroidered flowers.
A fitted bodice.
A long, flowing skirt.
And a narrow strip of antique lace from her mother's wedding veil.
She worked slowly.
Carefully.
This time, there was no blood.
No secrecy.
No exhaustion.
Just joy.
Evelyn helped sew the final pearls.
She was still learning.
Her stitches weren't perfect.
Avery smiled.
“They're beautiful.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You're lying.”
“A little.”
They both laughed.
On the morning of the ceremony, Lenora arrived at the studio.
She looked at the gown.
Then at Avery.
“It's extraordinary.”
Avery smiled.
“Thank you.”
Lenora hesitated.
“May I help you with the veil?”
Avery looked at her.
For a moment, the memory of the service hall returned.
The folded place card.
The laughter.
The humiliation.
Then Avery nodded.
“Yes.”
Lenora's eyes filled.
May you like
She stepped forward.
And carefully placed the veil over Avery's hair.
