Once Within A Lifetime (36 page)

Triessa
and Todd decided to go up to the studio. They had really been neglecting it lately with all the things to do. They asked Phylicia if she would like to go see her work area and she jumped at the chance. As they entered, Triessa and Phylicia looked at the various areas and her set up of her materials. She was amazed by it all. Todd gazed out the window at the garden. Phylicia could now think of Triessa working here with her styles and it was understandable how she got so inspired. She decided to go back down stairs and let them be alone for a while. She said she would catch them later.

Todd
and Triessa sat at the little table where they ate sometimes and took some time to talk about their plans.

“
It is midafternoon now on the day before our wedding.” He smiled at her and squeezed her hands in his. “Oh, my precious, we are nearly there. How wonderful. I try to imagine it all and it is breathtaking.”

“
Yes, it truly is. I will probably find it difficult to sleep tonight because of the tension and anxiety. I try to be calm. It is just about impossible. I have not thought of myself as a designer for weeks, just a woman waiting to get married and to settle down to our wonderful life. Even though it will be wonderful the waiting makes it seem so difficult.”

They
talked some more about many things and soon decided to go back down and enjoy the dusk outside. They realized they should go down and be with the others; they had been neglecting them, though they were sure they understood. They may be holding up dinner. But when they got downstairs the family was already eating. Nancy told them she did not want to hold up their dinner and she knew they would be along when they got ready. So they sat down to eat and then went into the living room where they would have coffee and dessert later.

“
Well, you two, you must be getting nervous and tense about now,” remarked Matt to Todd and Triessa. “I can remember my jitters. Tomorrow will be the big day and then you two will be one forever. We remember it well. We will all be out of your way tomorrow and then you can get back to a somewhat normal schedule until you leave early Sunday for your honeymoon.”

Yes,
” replied Todd, “We are very tense and anxious. This time tomorrow we will be Mr. and Mrs. Todd Noble. It sounds strange but good to me.”

“
To me, also,” replied Triessa. “I know life will be so different but I cannot begin to imagine it at this time. I am sure it will all just keep on happening. We are so glad we can all be together at this time.”  

Dessert
and coffee were served and then they decided to scatter for the back to the cottage. Phylicia decided to go back to the studio to look around some more. Todd’s parents went upstairs. At last they were alone again on the last night of their single life.

“
It is awesome,” remarked Triessa. “I am so glad we will end this parting. It seems like forever that we have been doing this. It is really here and we will be joined forever by this time tomorrow and be spending our first night of marriage here. It will all happen here where we are getting married. Most people like to start their honeymoon away from home but it would be too hard to fly all night and not rest properly. By the time we arrived it would be like another day while waiting to be married.”

“
Yes, my precious love, it is almost impossible to comprehend. I know it will be a blissful thing and we will make a new life for ourselves between our two estates and our obligations, which will begin again as soon as we are back from our honeymoon.”

“
Well, my darling, why don’t I go on down to the cottage and let you go to bed. I will see you tomorrow at some point. No doubt, you will spend most of the morning getting ready and I probably will not see you until eleven o’clock when I will be waiting for you in the Rose Garden. Maybe we can meet for coffee on the patio before Leslie gets here. You will have to get up earlier than you have been so I really must go and let you get some rest. See you tomorrow, my precious princess bride. Goodnight, my precious love, I will see you in the morning.”

They
hugged and kissed and parted for their last night of being alone. They were so eager to be together forever.

He
went down and found Matt and Chantelle still up. They talked a while before going to bed. It was hard to get him alone these days. Then they all  turned in to be ready for the big day which would, at last, be here tomorrow. The dream was actually coming true very soon. All things were ready and Esther was feeling much better though she was still a little pale.

Phylicia
was still up in the studio for a while when Triessa went up to bed but she came down shortly. They lay in bed and talked about the excitement of the day getting ready and what they would do.

“
The hairdresser has many good ideas on what to do with all of us,” said Triessa. “I will keep my hair down; Todd likes it that way. Leslie had looked at my tiara and we got an idea what to do with my hair. Oh, it is nearly here; it is almost unbelievable. I will soon be a married woman with new joys and things I cannot begin to understand at this time. I cannot begin to realize what it will be like, except it will be truly wonderful and magical. I do want you to come back some time later so we can spend more time together when we will not be so involved in as many things. We can spend some time working together in my studio; it is truly magical.”

“
I certainly will, my dear friend,” replied Phylicia. “Let’s say goodnight now and get to sleep. I am suddenly tired once I have relaxed enough to realize and note how I feel.”

They
relaxed and both were soon asleep, ready to dream of tomorrow.

Triessa and Todd had both set their clocks for six o’clock. They wanted to be up and have coffee and be ready when Leslie arrived. They met on the patio. It was a glorious day.

“
See.”

They
both looked up at the beautiful sky and sun.

“
I just knew it would be a glorious day; it had to be. Oh, my darling, this is it, the big day. It is less than five hours away. Oh, hold me and calm my shaky nerves. Happy, happy wedding day, my precious prince.”

He
held her and whispered gently to her, “Yes, my darling, my princess bride, this is it. I am so glad it is finally here.”

Nancy
heard them and came to ask if they were ready for their breakfast.

“
I am sure you are not very hungry. The big day is here and I am so happy for you. I will leave you some prepared food in the refrigerator when I go. I will be in periodically to check on things while you’re gone. Do you want me here when you return?”

“
Yes, I think that would be wonderful,” agreed Triessa. “We will be happy to see you again. We will try to eat. Leslie will be here soon. I want to be ready to go up to the studio and get busy with the preparation. What will you do, my darling, while I am doing that?”

“
I do not know, but I will have to keep busy. I think I will go out and see the things going on in the Rose Garden as they’re preparing for the wedding. I may be able to be of some help though I do not imagine there is much to be done. Everyone is scheduled to be here early. I do not know for sure what we will do for the canopy. Will we need it up or not is the question. I think it will be fine for some time without it. We may set it up and if it is needed it will be easy to unroll it and provide some shade.”

They
finished eating and soon Leslie drove up. Todd helped bring her supplies inside. He told Triessa he would see her in a few hours for the ceremony. She and Triessa went up to the studio and she told Nancy to send the other up after they had eaten breakfast.

“
I think I should get you ready here as far as I can go and then you can dress in the bedroom afterward,” Leslie said as she thought about her hairstyle. “Don’t you agree?”

“
Yes, I do. The rest will be up later. It will be good for us to get things well under way to start with since it is the most important thing.”

They
went up and Triessa found a chair and sat down while Leslie began on her hair. She set it and while it was drying she worked on her nails.

“
What was the predominant color in your dress? Oh, I remember, it is a beautiful pink. That is the color we will go with. I have some beautiful pink blush that will work wonders on you. Though I expect your natural blush will be enchanting. You will be absolutely the most gorgeous bride ever.”

The
other women came up and she was thinking about how to deal with it. She would set and dry their hair and use the curling iron on some. Most of them told her they had already washed their hair in the shower earlier so that would save a motion. She found chairs for them, set their hair according to suggestions and then went back to Triessa. It was now nine-thirty and time would fly all too quickly as far as getting ready was concerned but not for the ceremony.

Leslie
looked at Triessa and stated, “You are done except for dressing and makeup. Let’s go down to your bedroom and start on that. Does your mother wish to be there with you and help you?”

Sheila
heard Leslie and said, “You bet; I missed buying the dress but I want to help her get into it. It was different when her brother was married. I could not really do much but this time I can.”

So
the three of them went down to her room to begin the dressing for the wedding.

They
got in the bedroom and Triessa got out the foundation garments first. They put those on and then put on the Bridal Belles Enchantress hosiery with the embroidered flowers on the top and outside above the ankle. They would be wonderful. They were white as were the shoes but the dress had some white on it so they would be fine. The stockings were the kind with the garter on top, very easy to use and wear. So much for the old garter tradition. The shoes would go very well with them. They had lots of beads on the top and outside in the design of flowers and leaves. There was some pink but it was mostly white. They were a perfect combination. The shoes were called Dyeables.

The
dress had a slip made into it so that was a very helpful feature. She laid the dress across the bed while Leslie fixed her makeup. It was a perfect blend of colors for Leslie knew her very well, had worked with her for a long time. Her mother was watching all this going on and passing her items as needed. She was mesmerized to see the transformation in her own already beautiful daughter. The flush of excitement was in her cheeks and blended perfectly with the blush and foundation. She already had a perfectly natural blush but they felt better to add a little more. Her mascara was expertly applied, very beautifully emphasizing and enhancing her long lashes and setting off the bright blue color of her eyes.

At
last it was time to put on the dress.

Leslie
said, “Why don’t I go up and check the other ladies to see how they are doing first? You do not want your dress on too long before the time.”

The
ladies were ready and had removed the curlers from their hair. She told them she would be back in a short time. It was time for Triessa’s dress to be put on and once she was already then she could concentrate on supervising the others. She went back down to the bedroom to help with the rest of the preparation.

Leslie
gathered the dress up off the bed. She and Sheila slipped it down over Triessa’s head very carefully so it would not mar the makeup or get it on the dress. She let out a large sigh and squeal. It was a perfect fit. It was a fitted dress with a flared overskirt mostly over the back and sides, leaving the front open to show the beautiful work on the dress. It had premiere rose pink satin underneath and was covered with beaded lace letting the pink show through in places. The sleeves were long and had the beaded lace over sheer fabric letting the color of her skin show through. They ended at a point over her hand and looked splendid and attractive and made her nails look elegant. The top of the dress had gathered pink satin that rounded up over the top of the bodice. Wide pink satin bands connected to this, going around the arm below the top of her shoulder. A beaded form like a large pin was located at the point on either side where the arm piece joined the front. It was truly heavenly. Below the waist was a piece of pink satin in a scalloped fashion from the hips across the abdomen. It was very striking. The back had a full pink net over it. The dress came to mid-calf and was decorated with cut out flowers and beaded lace down each side and across the bottom. It was elaborate work and certainly a work of art. She truly did look like a princess.

The
tiara was placed on her head with the pink lace veil flowing down behind nearly to the edge of the skirt. It had some lace on the edges to match the dress as near as they could get. The tiara was back on her head a ways so she had her hair combed in front of it and down the sides with soft tendril curls floating down by her face. Her hair was pulled back a little behind her ears to expose her beautiful dangly earrings. They were pink to match her dress color. Her fingernail polish was a perfect match, as well as her blush. They looked her over to see if there was anything missing but it all looked just perfect. She looked all finished and like a dream walking. She soon would be walking to her love and into his life forever. She had a whole squadron of butterflies flitting in loops in her stomach. She still had some time to wait and decided to stay here in her room so he would not see her until she was ready to come into the Rose Garden where he would be waiting for her. She wanted to be sure he had time to get up there and be ready and waiting for her appearance.