Anna POV
My mother cries through the door, "Anna honey, wake up, or you'll be late for your appointment." It is ten in the morning. Man, I must have been weary of sleeping so long. It makes sense because Jake didn't depart until around one in the morning. For the past two months, Jake and I have been casually dating, nothing serious. Tonight at midnight, we want to wait and see whether we are meant to be. After getting ready and brushing my teeth, I go downstairs.
As I went to the kitchen, my , I left you a plate of food for you in the fridge."
I said, "Thanks, mom." I eat breakfast, st, and I hear a honk out front.
My mother remarks, "Oh, that boy has no manners."
I mind connecting with Jake and saying, "You better come in here. My mom hates that."
Jake enters. There's something about his entry that makes me think of all the times he's entered through the same door over the last ten years. He walks beneath the entryway and taps the opening with his palm. I giggle through the recollections.
"Sorry, Mrs. Rivers, I don't want An to be late. You know how she is." Jake replies to my mom I'm not standing right here. My smile widens.
When my mother speaks to Jake, her hard expression softens. "An' IS usually late. Isn't she?"
She remarks jokingly. "Well, she just woke up a few minutes ago."
"It's like 10 am. Why are you sleeping so late?" Jake turns to face me while feigning a shock. I approach him, strike him in the shoulder, take hold of his arm, and shoot him out the front door.
Jake laughs at my response and adds, "Bye, Mrs. Rivers." "Jerk, you know why I was sleeping so late," I reply as I climb into the car.
"Haha, I guess it's my fault," he says, kissing me. Over the last several months, we have found a comfortable rhythm with one another.
Jake says, "Let's get you to the hair doctor."
"You mean the salon, haha? I'm right.
"Dr. of hair. As I mentioned, Jake chuckles as we drive to the hairdresser, where he drops me off to pick up my dress and suit for the evening.
I think, "I look nice," as I glance in the mirror and notice that my blonde hair is suspended in curls that frame my face. My appointment goes well, and I even finish about ten minutes early. I'm excited to text Jake to let him know I've finished early, and we head to our favourite restaurant for lunch before heading back to get ready for the party tonight.
"I'm here, mom!"I yell as I enter the front door while holding my dress.
"Hey, show me your hair! As she enters the kitchen, my mother replies, "Oh, don't you simply look gorgeous?" We'll work out those curls before the party," my mother croons. "Oh, your outfit looks great! She replies as she removes my garment from my grasp.
"The celebration is in five hours. Do what you wish, but don't tamper with your hair!" My mom says as she walks to the spare room with my dress. I calculate how long it will *actually* take me to get ready, about an hour, and how long I have until I need to start, about 4. "Whew," I thought to myself, "I might get some time to relax today." I head upstairs and run a hot bath. I plop in a bath bomb to make it extra luxurious. Then I prop up my tablet and put on a movie. I need something distracting, so I opt for a comedy. I get out when I notice the water starts to turn cold, and my hands begin to prune. I pause the movie to dry off, and then I get comfy in bed to finish the film. I'm near the end when I hear a knock at my door.
I shout, "Come in."
"AN!" screams someone as it leaps into the bed beside me. It's my cousin Carol.
"Oh my god, I love the curls in your hair! It looks so cute!" I replied, "Thank you."
"Are you excited about tonight? Are you excited about Jake being your mate? You guys are so cute already. I always knew you to be the best couple." Carole constantly radiates enthusiasm.
Mary says to Carol at the doorway, "Breathe." Carol's sister Mary is a few years older than us. "Carol's mom wants to talk to you downstairs. Carol heads out, and Mary sits on the bed beside me. "Soo, How are you doing AN? Mary has a serene, comforting aura.
"Oh, you know," I say, pausing to conjure up a clever lie before giving in and telling Mary the reality.
"Mary, I'm afraid. I'm attempting to savour these few minutes of leisure before everything. You know, things change."
Mary takes my hand and says, "Oh, AN, it's a good change." I hesitate, considering what I should say next.
"However... What if my destiny isn't with Jake? What if we are not mates? Everyone will then be let down, I admit."
"And if he isn't, then it's not what the Moon Goddess desires and it will be her fault rather than yours."
The idea of blaming the Moon Goddess makes me giggle.
"You'll be happy. Don't worry. The only thing that matters is how you feel, not anyone else." Mary says, "It's predestined." Mary always has the perfect words to say. I grinned. After watching a few YouTube videos and finishing the movie together, my mom knocks on my door to remind me that it's time to start getting dressed. We go downstairs to the spare room, where Carol and my Aunt Becky are waiting. Mary and Carol begin doing my makeup while Aunt Becky zips me into my dress. My mom works on my hair. I hear the Packhouse filling with occupants as they arrive. They keep doing this till the appropriate moment. I get dressed up and ready to go at about eight o'clock.
"Alright, ladies, I think our work here is finished." My mother responds.
My Aunt Becky says, "You look gorgeous, honey." Aunt Becky winks, Carol laughs, and Mary gives me a wide-eyed look as she says, "Jake's a lucky fellow."
As she leads Aunt Becky and Carol out the door, Mary adds, "How about we go make our way over to the Packhouse and give these two some Mother-Daughter time." My mother says, "You do look gorgeous." while shedding a tear. My mother starts telling me a story I've heard a thousand times, "I remember my fated ceremony," but then there's a knock on the door. My dad enters. I exclaim, "Looking good, Dad!" He truly does look excellent in his navy blue suit. Like me, my dad has broad shoulders, sandy blonde hair, and a towering build.
With a step back, he adds, "Thanks, kiddo. Now, don't you look beautiful?"
I say, "Thank you." My dad takes out a box from his pocket as I approach him and hug him. "Kiddo, your mom and I are so proud of you and the young woman you have become. We wanted to give you your birthday present early." He opens it, and the exquisite jewellery inside is shown. It's a dainty chain with a pendant. He gave me the package so I could examine it more closely. The pendant features a moon coated in diamonds and a wolf. Perfectly, I think.
"Oh, you guys, it's beautiful," I remark as my mom raises my hair so my Dad can place it around my neck.
I hug them and say, "You guys are the best. I love you."
My mom adds, "We love you too, dear."
"There's someone else who wants to see you." My dad teases. "We'll send him in," Mom and Dad say as they leave the room.
My mom tells me as she's leaving, "Half an hour until the party starts!" I hear a little knock on the door from behind as they go away.