Sealed with a Kiss, Leeanna Morgan [black authors fiction .txt] 📗
- Author: Leeanna Morgan
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“Are you disappointed they haven’t arrived in time?”
The bridesmaid shook her head. “This is the best thing that could have happened. My sister has been acting like bridezilla all week. At least it’s given her something genuine to worry about.” She looked over her shoulder at the changing room door. “I’ll go and see what everyone’s doing.”
As soon as the door opened, Rachel heard the chatter of the sisters as they discussed the merits of each dress. While they were deciding what they’d do, she sat in one of the sofas and slipped off her shoes.
“I can’t believe you’re still wearing high-heels,” Tess said with a dramatic sigh. “It’s the middle of winter and Jimmy Choo was not made to be worn in the cold.”
“I can’t help myself. I bought them at a thrift store last year. We’re not all six-feet tall.” Rachel wiggled her toes against the thick rug under her feet. “I have to admit that I do have a slight fascination with heels that are higher than four inches. But these shoes may be too high, even for me.”
“Hold that thought,” Rachel whispered as the three bridesmaids and their bridezilla sister emerged from the changing room.
The bridesmaid who’d originally worn the hot pink dress stepped forward. “You were right. The soft pink dress looks better on me. Carly’s got her dress organized. Do you like Lottie’s dress?”
A woman with short black hair stepped forward. She was wearing a simple, pale blue satin dress. The only problem with the dress was the width of the skirt over her hips. It was way too wide and would need to be taken in at least three inches.
Lottie bunched the fabric in her hand. “I’m an awkward shape. I have no idea how I’m going to find a dress in time.”
Rosalind Smith, the bride-to-be, pulled out her cell phone. “Don’t worry. The dress looks almost perfect on you. I’ve got a dressmaker on standby to do any last minute alterations.” She pushed speed dial and moved away from her sisters.
Rachel looked at all three bridesmaids. “You couldn’t have chosen better dresses. You all look beautiful.”
Carly smiled. “We’ll look even better after our hair and makeup are done. Let’s go and get changed before Rosalind finishes her call.”
The bridesmaids lifted the skirts of their dresses and hot-footed it back into the changing room.
“It looks as though bridezilla has got them organized,” Tess whispered.
Rachel laughed at the twinkle in Tess’ eyes. “Shh. She might hear you.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. I’m allowed to be a bit naughty.”
By the time Rosalind finished speaking on the phone, all three bridesmaids had their dresses hanging in white plastic bags, ready to take to the dressmaker.
“Thank you so much,” Rosalind said to Tess as she gave her a hug. “We really appreciate both of you going out of your way to help us.”
“I hope your wedding is amazing,” Tess said with a smile. “We were happy to help.”
All four women headed toward the back door. Rachel handed them their coats. “It was nice meeting you. Be careful of the ice on your way out.”
After they’d gone, Tess put on the kettle. “I’m making a hot chocolate before I tidy up the mess in here. Do you want one?”
Rachel looked at the gowns lying over the backs of chairs and the spare shoes abandoned by the clothing racks. “That’s the second best idea anyone’s had all day.”
“What was the first?”
Rachel grinned at her friend. “Pancakes for breakfast.”
“I’m glad I could be of service,” Tess said with a cheeky smile. “Do you think Tanner wants a hot chocolate?”
“I wouldn’t say no, ma’am.”
Tess jumped a foot in the air. “You did it again. For such a big man you don’t make much noise.”
“Comes with the job. I’ve been admiring your husband’s cars in the garage.”
Rachel handed Tanner a bridesmaid’s dress. “He’s car crazy. While Tess is making the hot chocolate, you can help me hang up our bridesmaids’ dresses. We’ve got about a dozen gowns that need to be put away.”
“Why did I know you’d find something for me to do?”
“Because you’re wise,” Rachel said as she handed Tanner a hanger. “Just think how dull and boring your life will be when you don’t have to look after me.”
Tanner lips almost made it into a smile. “I’m looking forward to it already.”
Rachel sighed. So was she.
John’s eyes snapped open. He lay perfectly still, trying to work out what had woken him. He glanced at his alarm clock and squinted at the neon green numbers. It was five-thirty. He had two guards on duty outside and another one inside. His hand reached for the panic alarm.
“Dad?” Bella’s voice whispered across his room. “Are you awake?”
John relaxed as Bella tiptoed toward him.
“Dad?’ She shook his shoulder and he pretended to snore. “Dad, it’s Christmas morning. It’s time to get up.”
John opened one eye and peered at his daughter. Her curly brown hair was standing out at odd angles around her face. She was wearing her pajamas, the ones with blue cats that reminded her of Miss Snuggles.
“Do you know what the time is?”
Bella shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. We’re both awake so we could go and see what Santa left for us.”
John looked closely at his daughter. “Have you already been downstairs?”
Bella ran her hands over the edge of his blanket. “I was only there for a little while. Mr. Daniels told me I had to go back to bed.”
“What were you doing?”
“I thought I’d make it easier for us to find our presents. I sorted them into little piles.”
John rubbed his eyes. “Uncle Grant wants to be here when we open our presents. He won’t be awake yet.”
“We could call him and wake him up. Uncle Grant won’t mind.”
John had a pretty good idea that his brother would mind. “What if we choose one present each and then make breakfast? We’ll call Uncle Grant at seven o’clock.” His brother would still be sound asleep, but if John had to get up, it was only fair that his brother suffered the same fate.
“Can we call Rachel, too?”
John swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Rachel is probably spending time with her family today.”
“But can I call her? Mrs. Daniels knows her number.”
“Why do you want to speak to Rachel?”
Bella sat on John’s bed while he looked for a sweatshirt. “I like Rachel. She’s fun to be around and she teaches me really good things. I miss her.”
“Rachel was never going to stay here forever, Bella.”
“I know, but she’s pretty and smart. She knows lots of amazing things.”
John glanced at Bella.
“It’s true. She told me that otters sleep holding hands with their friends, and that a baby spider is called a spiderling.”
He smiled at the earnest expression on his daughter’s face. “Rachel is smart, but she also has her own life. She came here to teach you, Bella, not spend Christmas with us.”
Bella’s mouth set in a stubborn line. “She’s my friend.”
“We’ll talk about it later. Let’s go and open a present.”
Bella bounced off the bed and followed him down the stairs. “Santa ate his cookies.”
“Did Rudolph eat his carrot?”
“He ate most of his carrot. You can see his teeth marks in it.”
John held Bella’s hand as they walked through to the living room. The entire entrance was still smothered in glittery tinsel. It felt like they were walking through Santa’s magic cave, especially with the Christmas music he could hear coming from the kitchen.
“Mr. Daniels thought you might want to hear my music CD when you came downstairs. It’s the same carols that we sung in our Christmas play.”
John stopped inside the living room and stared at the Christmas tree. “Did Mr. Daniels turn on the Christmas tree lights, too?”
Bella shook her head. “That was me. Doesn’t the angel look beautiful?”
“She does.” John gazed at the tree. It reminded him of when he was a boy. Everything had been sparkly and bright. He’d thought Christmas would always be a happy, family time. It wasn’t until his mom and dad died, and then Jacinta, that he realized Christmas could be one of the hardest times of the year.
This Christmas, for the first time in many years, it almost felt like it used to.
Bella sat on the edge of the rug under the tree. “This is for you.”
John took the carefully wrapped
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