The Love of a Flower

The Before

   Alana had never been more excited for a shopping trip than she was for this one right now. Excitedly with a tint of anxiety, Alana left her adorable pink buggy for the Ocean County Wedding Store, a small boutique at the outskirts of Flemmingway. She found her fiancé, Mason Peterson, waiting inside with a book nestled between his crossed legs. How adorable he looked with his ginger hair flopped all to one side. At least, Alana took a liking to her fiancé's untidiness. It made their marriage seem even more of a reality. At long last, Mason glanced up and scowled.

   "You're late," he hissed. One thing Alana disliked about her love was his knack for being a control freak. She made a note to train him to embrace the faults in life. She ignored his moody comment and went to give him a kiss. "Hmmm..." Mason said, as if he were deciding to forgive her or not for leaving him waiting for a good hour.

   "I brought you a present" Alana said before he could make up his mind. Sitting next to him on a fluffy pink ottoman, Alana reached inside her purse to present him with an envelope. He looked skeptical but opened it nevertheless.

   "'Enclosed is a check for 20 dollars. Good luck. Signed Mr. And Mrs. Parker,'" Mason read aloud. He laughed. The Parkers were Alana's parents. They had disowned her a few months back but he guessed they still felt the need to send a "generous" wedding gift. Alana giggled after he licked the envelope back shut.

   "I got it in the mail this morning," she said.

   "I'm shocked they even remembered. Granted, our wedding is still two months away," he said. Alana couldn't wait until September when they would embrace their new life together. She knew Mason felt exactly the same way.

   "Alana Parker," a voice called out from behind a desk a few feet away.

   "I am she!" Alana said. She followed the lady into a small room with a full-length mirror and three puffed up seats. Mason tried to follow suit, but was soon stopped by the desk-lady.

  "Uh uh uh. The groom must wait outside," she ordered. Mason held his hands up in defeat and returned to the waiting room. The lady called in two small women to help her with the measurements. "Good good, you have kept your size," she said. Alana had worked hard to keep her figure. Her large hips and tiny waist had always worked against her.

   Step by step, the two small women helped Alana into her wedding dress and shoes while Yolanda, the head seamstress and owner, made sure everything looked perfect . Alana closed her eyes until the zipping and tying was done. Then she permitted herself a small peek.

   Reflected in the mirror was a beautiful strawberry blonde she didn't recognize. The mermaid-shaped dress clutched itself beautifully around Alana's tiny waist and large hips. The pearl white brought out Alana's sea-green eyes along with her shimmering engagement ring. She looked like a goddess.

   "You ready to show husband?" Yolanda said with an accent Alana had trouble placing. Slowly and cautiously, Alana made her way out of the room and back into the lobby.

   "Holy shit." Mason's jaw dropped when he saw his bride-to-be.

  "Do you like it?" Alana asked as she twirled for him. He didn't say anything at first. He looked the dress all over and then proceeded to tear up.

   "I love it, "he concurred. Alana went nose to nose with him and gave him a tender kiss. Mason reached into her hair and adjusted the little blue flower Alana never left home without.

   Yolanda went on to explain that there was one more fitting a week before the wedding. Since Mason would be paying for the dress, he again would have to be present. Alana and Mason bid Yolanda good day and ventured outside to the parking lot where she had parked her pink buggy. It was nowhere to be seen.