NARRATOR''S POV


    ONE YEAR LATER


    The wedding preparations were in full swing, and Sydney rushed into the dressing room like a whirlwind, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the center of the room where Grace stood, resplendent in her wedding dress.


    "Grace!" Sydney eximed, her initial frown melting into a beaming smile as she took in the breathtaking sight in front of her.


    Grace turned away from the mirror, surrounded by a swarm of cloth. fitters, each one of them pinning and adjusting the folds of her wedding dress, and the manyyers of the ivory satin andce flowing around her like a dress from a fairy tale.


    Grace had designed the dress herself, because she wanted something that would be the best of the best. An epitome of both elegance and sophistication. Indeed, it was a masterpiece, with six seamstresses and fitters carefully tending to every detail on her body.


    A few hairstylists also hovered around Grace''s head, working their fingers around the strands and twisting and curling everything on her hair that they couldy their hands on.


    "Oh my gosh, you look stunning!" Sydney eximed. Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she stepped closer and pped her hand over her heart to show how awed and grateful she felt for finally seeing Grace in that dress she''d dreamed of.


    Grace blushed proudly. She was also unable to contain her


    excitement. She did a little dance where she stood.


    "I know, right?" she giggled. Her joy was really infectious.


    Sydney let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head in amusement.


    "Yeah, back to work," she said, turning her attention to something else. "The makeup artist has just reached out to me. She says she''s held up in traffic."


    A groan escaped Grace''s lips as she rolled her eyes dramatically.


    "Goodness, not today..." shemented, her shoulders sagging slightly.


    Sydney could see the disappointment on her friend''s face and God knows she understood better than anyone how much all of this meant to Grace. Sydney wanted to rmend that they find an alternative artist since they didn''t have much time to the church wedding. But she was also aware of how much Grace had been looking forward to having this particr makeup artist work her magic on her face on her wedding day.


    ULSI


    "Where''s my phone?" Sydney asked, ncing around the cluttered dressing room.


    Grace turned her head, "Check that bag over there," she said, nodding towards arge tote bag in the corner.


    Following Grace''s direction, Sydney located the bag and rummaged through its contents until her fingers brushed against her phone.


    "Yeah, thanks," she acknowledged as she took it out then she said, "I''ll be back in a bit," before stepping out into the hallway..


    Grace''s expression melted into a warm smile, her shoulders visibly rxing. "Okay," she replied.


    When she walked out into the hallway and had walked a few paces away from the door to the dressing room, Sydney put the phone to her ear. "Mark, it''s me."Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Yeah, I know it''s you," Mark replied with a chuckle and his usual


    sarcasm.


    Sydney rolled her eyes dramatically


    "Um, I need a quick favor. And before you ask, no, it''s nothing too crazy this time."


    "Which is?" Mark prodded curiously, "I''m already on my way to the


    venue."


    "I need a helicopter." Sydney blurted out.


    There was a beat of silence before Mark spoke again.


    "A helicopter? Are you nning a grand entrance or just trying to show up the bride?"


    "Quit the jokes. Grace''s makeup artist is stuck in traffic somewhere on Canbury Lane. We need to get her out of there, like, yesterday. It''s really important for Grace. I don''t want her to panic on her big day." Mark''sughter subsided, reced by a dramatic sigh.


    "Is there a way you can prepare this...for me?" Sydney asked, emphasizing thest two words and hoping Mark would pick up on the gravity of her request.