Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

My mouth drops, “I-is this the entire dress shop?”

“Yes dear, your fiancé said you were a little nervous about other customers in the shop seeing some

burn scars, so he paid for me to close the shop for the day and bring everything here. That way you're

in the privacy of your own home. Who am I to say no if Bronx Mason personally calls says he is getting

married? This is a beautiful mansion by the way, So many employees!” :

“Oh, thank you, ma’am. They're like family. I can't imagine what we would do without them,” I say still in

awe as I look around my living room. She is clearly human, so we can't let on that we're werewolves.

I'm not sure why she is so impressed by Bronx personally calling but he is well aware that i don't care

anymore if people see my scars. It's just a cover story. |i am more comfortable with my body nowadays.

But it is such a sweet gesture by him. Now I don't have to have anxiety over the real reason | was

worried about going to her shop. | i don't even want to think about how much it cost Bronx to have this

sweet woman move her entire store inventory to my living room.

"No need to call me ma'am, dear. I'm Sheila. These are my assistants Lisa and Suzel,” she smiles at

me as she points to the younger women standing beside her, "Let's get started. Suzel will help the

bridesmaids select some styles for us to look at while Lisa and | help you find your perfect dress.”

Sheila turns to my three bridesmaids, “ Lenora, dear, are you due before or after the wedding?"

"Oh, before. In five weeks actually,” she responds, holding her plump belly.

"Perfect. We should be able to have all three of the bridesmaids wear matching dresses if that is what

you prefer, Miss Latmus. Now," she turns back to me, "my paperwork says your name is lokaste but

you go by Kas. So unique, what's the origin of such a pretty name?"

"It's Greek. My parents were both from there. It means violet."

"That's beautiful! Steeped in tradition, I'm sure."

"Oh, yes ma'am. I mean Sheila. Deeply steeped in tradition. Also, please just call me Kas," I hear the

girls giggle beside me.

"Alright then, Kas. We are going to have a good time today. Let's get started!" Sheila says in a sing

song voice. She seems like the type of woman that likes to give hugs to strangers, "Now, what type of

dress did you have in mind? What do you imagine looking like on your big day?"

"I'd like to look like a goddess, Sheila. I have some clippings from magazines," I pull out my binder and

start flipping through. To my surprise, she didn't bat an eye at my statement. I thought for sure it would

come off sounding conceited.

Sheila nods and taps her lips with a couple of fingers as I show her my ideas and even a couple of

sketches i did on my own. Suzel and Lisa also look over our shoulders murmuring about style numbers,

neck lines, and fabric choices.

As I get to my last inspiration picture, Sheila claps her hands and smiles broadly, "I have several

options in mind. Mr. Mason said spare no expense. So, at his request, there are no price tags here

today. Just choices.” I roll my eyes slightly at Bronx's power move. That sneaky snake. I look over to

my bridesmaids who are all avoiding eye contact with me. Okay. Now I know where he got the idea

from. A whole room of sneaky snakes. « Sheila turns her attention to her assistant, “ Suzel, I think open

backs for our statuesque bridesmaids. Empire style will look beautiful. It will go with the godess theme

we are creating here." +

I look at the girls with a genuine smile, "I agree. We should all look like the godesses we are.” >

I wink at my bridesmaids, who all giggle, but I do genuinely mean the compliment.

"No problem, follow me, ladies!" Suzel chimes, picks up a clipboard and takes Lenora, Ashley, and

Delilah to a rack of green dresses.

Lisa takes my hand and leads me behind a partition to undress. While Sheila pulls the dresses she has

in mind.

"Oh! These scars are from a fire?" Lisa says in disbelief, "I-I'm so sorry."

"Fire? Oh yeah, when i was young. | was lucky to survive. No need to apologize. I've gotten used to

them now that I'm older," | say, "Everyone who will be at the wedding knows and I kind of want it to be a

badge of honor, so if we can find a dress for me that has an open back like the bridesmaids, | i would

really like that."

"Don't worry, Sheila is a wedding dress wizard," she smiles just as Sheila comes around with three

dresses.

The first dress is beautiful, but everyone agrees, it is just not the one. The second one doesn't flatter

my figure. But the third one, feels different. Like it is meant for me, somehow.

"Miss Latmus, I think this one is the showstopper," Lisa whispers as she makes some final adjustments

to the straps, "Come on, let's see what everyone else thinks?"

I step out from behind the partition and onto the little platform. I look in the mirror at the women behind

me. I see Lenora gasp and then let out a sob. I see Suzel hand her a tissue. Ashley has her hands

covering her nose and mouth. Her eyes are wide and glassy. Delilah is standing, with her hands on her

heart, mouth agape, nodding.

I look back to myself in the mirror. The dress is exactly what Ienvisioned. There are clusters of metallic

silver olive leaves capping each shoulder, flowing sheer fabric begins where the leaves end on the

back of my shoulders, making it look like a long, sheer, pleated cape. The fabric extends to the floor

creating a beautiful, long train. The back of the dress comes to a V near the small of my back. The front

also has soft pleats starting at the shoulders and forms a deep V that stops just above my navel. A

silver belt that looks like a delicate rope is wrapped around my waist four times, creating a classic criss-

cross shape. The base fabric of the body is silk and hangs straight and long, using the belt to create a

sexy silhouette. The pleated chiffon is a delicate overlay that sets off the ethereal look.

"Kas, if you say no to this dress, we're gonna have a problem," Lenora sniffles from the sofa.

Even with my damp hair piled on top of my head, | look like | was always meant to wear this dress. I

look like a goddess. I mean, I am a goddess but now | see it.

"Hot damn, Kas. We look gorgeous," Lex whispers in my mind as Lisa and Suzel pin the bottom of the

dress for alterations.

"Yeah, we do," I smile to her, "Being a goddess never seemed real until now, Lex. It was all just an

abstract idea. But this is real. This is who we are.”

"We sure are. You look so much like her," Lex muses.

"Who? My mother?"

"Yeah. I mean, she is taller and she is blonde with blue eyes, but you can see the similarities in your

bone structre and skin tone," Lex smiles as she thinks about my mother. *

"Thanks, Lex. That means a lot,” I smile at her.

"Now dear, this dress also comes in gold leaves or pink leaves. Are you going to change your hair color

back to natural? And how about the contacts? Taking them out on the big day?" Sheila looks at me

through the mirror quizzically. She isn't asking in a judgemental way. She seems to want to make sure i

am taking all my choices into consideration.

"No, this hair color has grown on me and I don't want to be blind on my wedding day, so what you see

is what you get," I smile at her. Again, my bridesmaids giggle.

"Well then, I don't know how overt of a theme you want but I have a matching tiara from this designer,"

Sheila looks at me through the mirror with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, she's trying the tiara," Lenora commands while she rubs her belly from the sofa behind us. Ashley,

never at a loss for words is still speechless and just nods in agreement.

Lisa giggles and places a silver olive leaf tiara on top of my head. It is a traditional U- shape, open in

the front like you would see in ancient Grecian paintings except there are little crystals scattered on the

leaves making it sparkle against my already sparkly hair. As i look at myself in the mirror, I feel a

breeze come through the room and swirl around me. It is warm and comforting and makes me feel like

I am being hugged by invisible arms. The Goddess Selene, my mother, is surrounding me. I can sense

it. I hear a whisper in my ear 'My beautiful lokaste’, filling my heart with more love and warmth than I

have ever felt in my life. My mother just gave me her approval of my wedding dress.

I let out a yelp, that surpises even me and start bawling, "Can you feel her? My mom is here! She's

here! Oh my Goddess. Thank you for your blessing, Mother! Thank you!"

Tears are streaming down my face as I sob. My knees suddenly feel wobbly. All three girls rush over

and start hugging and crying me, agreeing they can feel the presence of my mother as well. Ashley

wipes my tears so I don't stain the dress. While Delilah and Lenora take my hands and rub my back,

soothing me and supporting me through the emotional moment. 2

The sales ladies look confused but stand back and give us our moment and time to compose

ourselves.

I'm finally helped out of the dress and back into my regular clothes.

"Alright, Kas. Let's see what Suzel and your bridesmaids have come up with," Sheila smiles.

Ashley and Delilah try on several dresses that coordinate with mine, while Lenora and I watch from the

sofa. We pick one we all think will be pretty on all three of them and wrap things up. Ashley and Lenora

sign any paperwork that needs handled and make payment arrangements, while Delilah and | mark off

check boxes in my binder. 7

This is the way things are supposed to be. No fear, no attacks, just surrounded by love.