If Only

Fifty Four

His fingers ran down my spine kissing my neck and then pulling away "I'll see you tonight."

He stood smiling at us both. "What should I wear?" He retrieved his phone from his pocket. "You'll find out soon enough; Billie and Isla will be here soon," he winked, walking away before I could even question who they were.

Caroline soothed down and unlatched herself as she fell to sleep. "Let's put you to bed, hm?" I stood with her asleep in my arms. "My baby girl, I love you so."

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The pounding on the front door drew me from my thoughts, who the hell was trying to break my damn door down. I made my way to the peephole to see two people with a case and a rack of gowns. "Darling, we are waiting!"

I opened the door slowly as they flew past me into the house uninvited. "Excuse me?" they asked. They looked back at me and smiled.

"There she is! Our canvas," the man cheered as he took my hands and pulled me away from the door.

"I'm billie and this is Isla, your glam team" I scoffed, my glam team? I'd rather get ready alone.

"I need you to be a bit quieter so as not to wake my child," I whispered, and they simply nodded as Isla turned to me. "I'm thinking black gown, or maybe champagne gown?"

"Either way, she'll look stunning. I cannot believe you just had a baby. Would you look at the girl?" Billie said, cracking open a case full of makeup. Let's do something natural but out there."

"Black gown, it's flattering and figure-fitting; it's perfect for the event. All eyes will be on you, darling, in the best of ways. Now for hair, I say wavy curls?" Billie nodded in agreement as I sat, still having no say.

"Let's do it."

After they finished up and packed their things, I thanked them after they helped me into the dress. Their bickering at points was quite entertaining. It took them time, but it was worth it. I looked beautiful. It was the best I'd felt of myself in a long time.

Staring at myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in his closet kept me away from the doubting thoughts. It was my favorite mirror in the house and the most flattering.

His cleared throat took me away from my thoughts as I stared at him in a sleek black tux. "You look—" he said, taking a step closer to me and wrapping his hands around my waist.

"I look what?" I glanced down at my dress and back to him. "Stunned," he choked out. You took my breath away."

I reached my hands into his hair, playing with it. "You don't look too bad yourself," I said, taking my hand from his hair and placing it down to feel him. "You best keep yourself together tonight; we will be on display, Mr.Crawford."

"If it weren't for not wanting to ruin your makeup, I'd take you here and now, amore. Just know that." I stroked it once more, grinning.

"I know, bambino," I chuckled, pecking his lips and grabbing my clutch as I exited his closet.

"My mother and father are downstairs waiting. We have to go soon." I didn't want to leave her, but I knew I had to at some point.

"I'll go grab Care Bear."

As I reached downstairs, I saw him with both his parents waiting. "Sorry to keep you waiting," they said. They looked over. "Little Care Bear was fussy." Celine pulled me in for a hug first, making sure not to squish Care in the middle.