Breaking Down

Chapter 9

9

Gabi

For a moment there—when I mentioned jail—I was sure Tyler would back out, and I would have to go pick up my suitcase and head to the airport.

I was surprised when he said yes.

Meu Deus, I had proposed and the guy had said yes! This was crazy.

“Okay, hm.” I smoothed my sweaty palms over my jeans. “We need to start moving. We need to dress up and go to the courthouse to get a license and the ceremony done.”

“Dress up? Ceremony? Aren’t we eloping?”

“Yes, but we need to show the pictures to the immigration officer when it’s time for our interview. It needs to look like we planned this, not like we were in a rush. So …” I got my iPad from the living room and placed it on the kitchen’s island. “We should check for stores where we can rent a dress and a tux and also what documents we need to bring to the ceremony.” I gasped. “Meu Deus, I’ll need a ring.”

His face paled. “I don’t … I can’t …”

I waved him off. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask any of that from you. I’ll rent our clothes, pay for the ceremony fees and pictures, and I’ll buy the ring. We’ll just pretend you got the ring for me.”

“More pretending,” he muttered.

“Tyler, for the next two years, pretending will be part of our lives. Try to come to terms with that now, otherwise this will be harder and harder.” I had to come to terms with that too. I had never lied to my family like this, and I still couldn’t believe I was going to do it now.

He let out a long breath. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s a lot to take in and I’ll need a moment to adjust, but I’m okay. I’m still in.”

I nodded once. “Good. Now let’s see where we can find our outfits.”

We browsed the internet and made a list of where we needed to go and what we would need.

Tyler left to go find his tux, promising to pick me up here in two hours so we could go to the courthouse together.

Meu Deus, I would be married in two hours!

Panic rushed through me, but I pushed it aside. No time to panic now.

I made a mental list of all the things I needed to do, shut the emotional part of my brain down—I could deal with that part later—and got moving.

First, I sent a message to my family, telling them I had a surprise for them tonight and wanted everyone at the apartment by six. Of course, everyone texted back asking what it was about. And my answer was: wait and see.

Next, I researched a local but good immigration lawyer, called the office, and scheduled an appointment for next Tuesday.

Then, I stopped by a nearby jeweler and looked for an engagement ring.

In Brazil, it wasn’t customary to get big rings. When a couple got engaged, they bought matching wedding bands and wore them on their right hands until their wedding, then they changed the bands to the left hand. That was it.

But since my husband-to-be—Meu Deus, that sounded so strange, even in my head—was American, I thought he would follow American traditions.

I felt lost while browsing. There were small rings with a tiny diamond and huge rings that could give Hannah’s humongous stone a run for its money. But then I remembered Tyler was desperate for money, which meant his financial situation wasn’t good and he couldn’t afford an expensive ring.

My gaze settled on a ring with two thin white gold bands and one small diamond set between them. The bands connected and turned into one at the bottom. It was modern, simple, and pretty.

The attendant, who had been asking nonstop which ones I wanted to try on, was happy when I finally told her to get a ring from the display. I tried the ring on and it was a little loose on my finger, but I bought it anyway. After all, I needed a ring for the courthouse and for my family tonight. I looked at the ring on my finger and a shiver slid down my spine. s**t was getting real, and as the hours passed, I was getting nervous about facing my family.

Before leaving, I picked a simple white gold band for Tyler—he would probably have to wear one for the ceremony today—and a matching thin band for me, to wear with the ring. I also scheduled with the store to come back to get the rings resized.

Next, I went to the rental store I had found online, The Dress Shop.

“Looking for something specific?” the attendant asked as soon as I stepped into the store. There were party gowns and wedding dresses crammed along the walls and some wire hangers in the middle of the store. It was overwhelming.

“Hm, I’m getting married in a few hours and I need a dress,” I said, feeling incredibly shy talking about my upcoming wedding.

She gestured to the back of the store, where the white gowns dominated the area. “Do you have a model in mind?”

I walked alongside her to the back as my eyes rummaged through the displays in the store. “I want something simple and light. No big, fluffy skirts, and no veils. But still elegant.”

“We might have something for you.”

She took me to a display in the back and started showing me the dresses. I had lost count of how many dresses she had pulled out for me when finally she held one that I liked.

I slipped it on and, even though it was a little big at the waist and hips, I loved it.

The bodice was made of lace with a nude fabric underneath, several thin straps of small white stones covered the shoulders, and the neckline dipped between my breasts. The white skirt was made of a flowing gossamer, but it didn’t have any fluff, and it went down past my knees. Lines of small white stones trickled down the skirt, shining bright when the light caught them.

The attendant, Sandra, brought over white stilettos and an elegant tiara made of the same white stones on the dress. I stepped into the shoes and she pulled my hair back, holding it precariously up with three bobby pins, then placed the tiara on my head. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and my eyes filled with tears.

Even though my hair was a mess and I was makeup-less, I looked pretty. The dress and the tiara, it was all pretty.

“We need to adjust this here.” She pulled the loose fabric on the waist and placed a few pins around the hem.

“I don’t have much time.”

She waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. Just go to the left.” She pointed her index finger to the store’s entrance, “and one block away you’ll find Vivid Hair Salon. Talia or Carla will get your hair and your makeup ready in no time. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the Pink Flower across the street on your way back. I bet the florists there can have a bouquet prepared for you in minutes. And by the time you’re back here, I’ll have this ready.” She smiled at me through the mirror.

And I smiled back at her.