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“oh, god, dot!”
dot blinked, turning away from the vanity mirror and looking over at the door, but wayne had already whipped around, his back to her now, his hands covering his eyes.
dot was alone in the bridal suite. her makeup artist had just left. she didn’t have any bridesmaids—not for lack of friends. no, she had plenty, now, from the social clubs, and the volunteering. but she and wayne had decided against a wedding party. it was his idea, really. just us up there, he said, that soft look in his eyes. you and me. and the words were so sweet from his mouth that all dot could say was alright.
(lorraine had approved. “can you imagine if one of those gorgeous girl friends of yours upstaged you on your own wedding day,” she said, her eyes roving over dot with disdain. “what a pity that’d be.”
lorraine was bankrolling the affair, of course. she’d taken wayne’s chin in her hand and told him not to worry about a thing. “are you mad? i didn’t accrue these millions just to sit around counting them,” she said. “it’s my only son’s very first wedding. even if he is marrying low.”)
“well, what’re ya doin’ here, hon, didn’t you see the sign?” it was hanging off the door, an ornate little thing in calligraphy that said bridal suite. she wouldn’t be surprised if he missed it.
“i got lost! this place is so darn big—”
the venue was a sunflower farm. it was august, and they were in full bloom, their wide dark faces warm in the sunlight. wayne had let her pick it. no, no, he hadn’t let her—they chose it together, after touring a handful of places. they considered churches, a country club, a museum. barns were getting to be popular, but even the sight of a barn could send dot somewhere else, in her mind. somewhere far away. somewhere she didn’t want to be ever again.
dot couldn’t help her giggles. she wasn’t superstitious, hadn’t been since she was a girl—skipping over the cracks in the sidewalks became its own kind of religion to dot, back then, and she could find clovers with just one glance at a patch, even now—and wayne’s terror made her giggle, half-nervous, but more excited than anything.
“baby,” she said, “it’s just me.” she stood up, carefully maneuvering around the vanity stool in her big, poofy skirt and walking over to wayne. he must’ve sensed her closeness, because he cowered, as if he could just barely resist looking back at her in her splendor.
“i know, i know, but…”
“oh, but what? it won’t make a lick’a difference, i swear.”
“dot…”
“c’mon,” she said, bouncing from foot to foot in her heels and then twirling in place, full of energy, of expectation. wayne twitched as her skirts just barely licked his ankles. “don’tcha wanna see how pretty i am? i look just like a princess, wayne, it’s amazing.”
“that’s what the—what the whole walk down the aisle’s for, hon!”
“well, what if i wanna see you?”
wayne made a noise. dot smiled. it was hard for him to deny her, and maybe it was unfair of her to invoke that when he was so clearly distressed, hilarious as it was.
“how about… this?”
wayne turned back to her. his glasses were in his hand.
dot snorted and started to bust up. she covered her mouth. “can y’see me, hon?” she said.
wayne squinted. he was cute like that. he’s cute every which way, dot thought, smiling fond and dopey, every bit the blushing bride. “not so much,” he said.
“how d’you feel about kissin’ the bride before the nuptials, hm…”
“dorothy!” wayne said, scandal making his voice pitch all the way up.
“calm down,” dot giggled, “i’m just playin’ with ya.”
wayne smiled. he took a breath. “gosh, dot, i’m so…”
“excited?” dot said. he nodded. “me too. me too. i never thought i… you’re a dream, hon. wayne. you’re my dream.” and he would never know how true it was. she prayed he would never know how true it was.
“wait ‘til you hear my vows,” wayne said. he grinned. “they’re a doozy. in my opinion.”
dot patted his chest, careful of his buotonnière. “that’s what you think. wait ‘til you hear mine, mister,” she said, her hands lingering. “get outta here! gonna start soon, isn’t it?” she just about trembled with giddiness.
“okay,” he said. “can’t wait to see ya when you’re not a… a blob.”
“then get outta here!” dot said again, shooing him.
wayne turned and put his glasses back on and trotted out of the room, leaving dot alone once again.
dot shook her head, smiling as she walked herself back to the vanity and sat down. she tried to adjust her hair, even though it didn’t need it, just for something to do with her hands. soon, the wedding planner would be coming to fetch her for the walk down the aisle, holding her bouquet of sunflowers and baby’s breath in the hot august afternoon. she closed her eyes and smiled. the further she drove, the harder she had to squint to see nadine bump in the rearview. thank god, she thought, i’m going to be a lyon.