Somehow; over the sound of screaming infants outside, the murmuring of the guests in the audience, the gentle but resounding music of the small orchestra, and scrambling bridesmaids; I heard my name being called. “Celeste!” I glanced up and sighed. My two aunts had just snuck in from the audience seats, both on my mother’s side, both as nosy as she used to be. I looked up at the ceiling and prayed. Please, god, make them go away. Somewhere across the room a little girl was crying. My friend and designer, Danielle, was finishing adjusting and fastening the dress. I gasped. “Too tight! What happened? The dress fit fine the other day.” “Your bachelorette buffet happened, dear.” I heard a gasp and footsteps. “Celeste! There you are, baby you look beautiful!” I smiled, to disguise my frustration. “Thank you.” The dress was stunning. I had deviated from the traditional white color, in favor of a sky blue. White was supposed to be a symbol of purity and perfection, but I was not perfect, I was not pure, and I am not white. Plus, the blue perfectly complimented my dark skin tone. I glanced back up at my aunts apprehensively. There was a brief silence between the three of us, as silent as it could be with all the commotion persisting around us. It felt like the uncomfortably calm eye of a storm. Then finally, “Sweetie it’s not too late to change your mind.” I worked my jaw. She hurried to elaborate. “It’s not that I don’t think Yohan is a...decent man, but you’re both so young, and you may want to, you know, explore all of your options.” Danielle murmured something about their options, and I had to purse my lips to hide a smile. “Aunt Amelia, Aunt Dana, I appreciate your concern but I am marrying him, and there is about...” I checked the clock on the far wall. “Seven minutes until I’m going to walk down the aisle and say my vows. And,” I added to cut them off before they could say anything else. “If I’m wrong, and you’re right, and our relationship goes to hell in a handbasket, divorce is always an option.” I reasoned sweetly. “You two of all people should know that.” The expressions on their faces were worth every word. Danielle stood up after they had left, effectively stunned into silence. “All done.” He announced. “Just don’t get too generous with the wedding cake,and you’ll be fine, no....extraordinary.” I hugged him. “Thank you, I couldn’t have done this without you.” He grinned. “I know.” “Oh can you grab my mom’s pin, I have to wear it to—” “Celeste!” “—Here we go again.” A ball of chiffon and silk barreled into me. She wrapped her arms around me and began sobbing. “Celeste!” she cried. “You look so beautiful.” Someone in the audience shouted something about a wasp. “Thank you Quana. Danielle, can you find—” “Remember,” she continued, “When we used to get all dressed up in white and pretend to get married to the neighborhood boys?” My mind flashed back to standing in the driveway with a handful of snow-white dandelions, a flowing white summer dress, and two prepubescent boys. I cringed. “That was weird.” “It was.” She agreed with a smile and then she began to choke back sobs. “To think that now you’re doing it for real, with Yohan.” She smiled. “Your mom would be so proud of you—” “Quana.” I softened my voice a bit. “Thanks, girl, I know. But we have less than five minutes, and you’ve ruined your mascara.” Another voice. “Celeste!” “Jesus.” I hugged Quana. “I love you, go get yourself together ‘aight?” The wedding planner, Tiffany Swan, ran up to me panting. The music started increasing in intensity. “We have a problem.” I sighed. “Get in line.” She chuckled nervously. “I get it, but this is serious. Your father is being detained and he might not be able to make it. I stared at her. “What do you mean?” “He texted that he got pulled over on his way here, he’s not sure when he’s going to be able to make it.” The music started rising to a crescendo, preparing for the procession. I turned around, grabbed my purse and started tearing through it. Tiffany sighed. “Babe, what are you doing?” “I need to find my mother’s pin. I need her here, at least.” She gently took the purse from me and began rooting through it at a more methodical, controlled pace. “What does it look like?” “It’s a pink circular candy crush pin with all the little characters on it.” I wiped the lid of my eye before any tears could spill over. I laughed. “She played that stupid game all the time.” Tiffany nodded in response and checked the bag for a few more seconds before looking up. “It’s not in there.” “Here!” Shouted a resounding male voice from the entryway. The crescendo softened and the bridesmaids and groomsmen lined up. I spun around in disbelief as my father rushed across the room to me, and planted a kiss on my forehead. “I’m here baby girl.” I smiled. “Took you long enough, but where—” He took something out of his pocket and gently pinned it over my heart, it pricked my skin a bit. “Where did you—” “You gave it to me to clean.” Oh. “Now.” He hooked my arm with his. “Smile.” I did. He wiped my eyes. “Now we’re both here.” He smiled too, eye shining. “Now forget about us, and worry about that young man waiting for you at the other end of that aisle okay?” I nodded. “Okay.” And we walked. Just at the end of the end of the aisle I could spot him looking paler than my gown. But when we met eyes he smiled, and with my arm through my father’s, I let the gentle sway of the music carry me down the aisle.