do for Mom and Dad. It’ll change everything.” That was what I was afraid of.
“But—”
“You can do it, Aida.” She nodded, almost as if she was trying to do it for me. “I have an idea.” She smiled, the kind of smile that told me she was about to go rogue, but at this point, I couldn’t bring myself to care. My skin itched from the layers of material I was wearing, and the pins in my hair pulled on my scalp every time I moved. “Sit.” She led me over to the chair I’d sat in for hours as people had transformed me into someone I didn’t recognize.
“We don’t have time,” I huffed out as Noemi rushed across the room and came back with her bag. “It starts in ten minutes—”
“I only need five.” She stood between me and the mirror as she pulled a wipe from the packet. “If he wants to marry you, then he needs to see the real you, not the you they all think he wants.” She swiped the wipe over my cheeks and eyes, and I finally felt like I could move without cracking. I closed my eyes and let Noemi work her magic. She started with my face, then moved to my hair and pulled every pin out of my head. “There. All done.”
I opened my eyes and stared in the mirror, only this time I actually recognized the woman staring back at me. A light layer of foundation along with a swipe of mascara and lip gloss was all I ever wore, and Noemi had stripped me right back to that. My wavy dark-brown hair came to the middle of my back, covering most of the lace on the huge dress.
Loud knocking rang on the door, followed by, “Aida, they’re ready for you.”
“One minute, Dad!” Noemi shouted. She pulled me up and dragged me to the screen I’d dressed behind. “Mom got you this the day we went dress shopping,” Noemi whispered. She pulled a box from under the chair and placed it on top. “Today isn’t just about what he wants.” She put her hands on either side of my face. “Make it about you too, baby sis. Don’t let him decide the rest of your life.” I heard her words loud and clear.
“Get changed.” She undid the buttons on the back of my dress, winked, then stepped backward. “I’ll see you out there.”
The door clicked shut a couple of seconds later, and I reached down to open the box. My stomach rolled in excitement when I saw the simple dress I’d fallen in love with at the bridal shop. It only took me a minute to get out of the dress I hated and into the one I loved—a simple A-line with no sleeves, and intricate lace from my collarbone working down into the off-white material. It was a statement, one that I knew most of the people sitting in the church wouldn’t appreciate, but it was me. It was my style.
“Aida?” Dad called again.
“Coming!” I took one final look at myself in the mirror, pushed the comb of the veil into my hair, then stepped toward the door.
I worked on autopilot as we walked to the big, ornate doors of the church. This was it. This was the moment everything would change.
“You’re doing great,” Dad murmured from next to me. He was dressed in a perfectly pressed suit, something that I’d never seen him wear before. I was used to his usual T-shirt and jeans while he worked in the food store he owned. Even on Sundays, when we all came to church, he only wore a shirt with his jeans. But that wouldn’t suffice for today. Today I was getting married. I was about to promise vows to a man I barely knew. What the hell was I doing?
“I don’t think I can do this,” I whispered, glancing around to see if anyone heard. A few people were still milling about, but as soon as they went through the side door to the main part of the church, it was just my dad and me.
“Baby girl.” He turned to face me fully and clasped my shoulders. His brown-eyed gaze met mine, but I looked away, concentrating on his graying mustache that was perfectly combed and trimmed. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but as soon as I stared him in the eyes, I knew I wouldn’t have a choice. This wasn’t just about me. This was