Love is a Sweet Poison

Amelia closed her eyes and then sat up slightly. She picked up the embroidery that she started and continued to work on that. She finished the flowers on the handkerchief and now was adding the stems and leaves. She heard a knock on the door. "Come in."

Irene came into the room and rushed over to Amelia. "How are you feeling. I should not have let you go out to the garden alone yesterday." She kneels and starts looking over Amelia.

"Mother, I am sorry that I scared you. I wanted to come to you but I was not exactly well. The air is nicer so I seem to feel a lot better. I just need to be careful and remember just because the air is nice does not mean that my body is completely better." Amelia gave her mother a small hug. 

"No, you have nothing to apologize for. That is not your fault. I wish that you had better health and that you did not have to suffer the way you do but that is the cards you were dealt and it is your father and I that kept you alive while you suffered again and again. Will you forgive your foolish Mother?" Irene held on to Amelia.

"Mother, I never once thought that I hated you or Father. You both love me and I love you guys. You fought to keep me alive and I will live as long as my body will allow it." Amelia smiled and let her mother go. "Do you think that this is too girly?" There was another knock at the door. "Come in."

Edna came into the room and looked at Irene. "Good morning, I brought you some tea. I thought that it would be a good idea. My morning classes are all done so I can come and accompany you as well."

"Good morning, Mother Edna. I saw Father Clarence. He is concerned and asked that I say inside today. So I will comply. Do you think that this is too girly?" She holds out the embroidery for Edna to see.

"I think that it is lovely. I am not sure about it being too girly but I am sure whomever receives this will be happy." Irene beamed at Amelia. 

"Oh my. Is this a gift for Gabriel? I think that it is lovely. I do not think that he will think that it is too girly." Edna looks at the care of each stitch. "The colours will really suit Gabriel." 

"Okay, thank you. I feel reassured that this is the right design now. I want to know how you are doing?" Amelia looked back and forth between the two ladies. 

"Concerned for a certain girl that is to be my Daughter-in-law. I am good other than that. I am impressed with your embroidery skills." Edna smiles and pours a cup of tea for Amelia. 

"I am fine but like Edna, I am worried that you will push yourself too hard." Irene looked at her daughter and smiled. 

"Thank you for the tea." Amelia takes the teacup and sips on the tea. She looked out the door. "Will you both be busy today?" 

"This is going to be your wedding. So we are only helping you out but you get the final say. I had wanted to play dress up if you are up to it. We need to see which of those wedding garments will suit you best. There are many different styles." Edna smiles and gets excited. 

"I will try the dresses on today. It is better that we try them on while Gabriel is away. We do not want him to see the chosen one before the big day." Amelia sets aside the embroidery and slowly gets up.

Irene gets up and offers Amelia a hand. "Come then. We will all head to the banquet room together." 

Edna walks to the door and opens it and begins walking to the banquet room and she waits until they are all gathered at the door. "Welcome to the wedding lair." She opens the door and along the walls are serval shiromuku*. 

Amelia steps in and looks at the different shiromuku and is instantly drawn to a few. "I thought that there would be only three maybe five but Mother Edna there has to be at least thirty here!" She goes to the first one and touches the fabric. "As much as I like this one I want to wear something that is all white." There was a red line around the edges of the shiromuku.

Irene looked at all the dresses and looked at Edna. She walked over and lowered her voice, "some of these are brand new aren't they?" 

"Mmmmmmm, yes, I did not want Amelia to choose an old one when there are so many designs out there but I made sure that they are all here. I did not purchase the designs. I am borrowing them and I will return them once I am done. I did not want her to have to leave the house and this was the easiest solution." Edna nodded her head and watched Amelia walk from shiromuku to shiromuku.

Amelia walked up to an ancient-looking shiromuku. She reached out her hand and touched the white fabric. "I think that I would like to try on this one?" 

"Alright, that is the one your will try on." Edna helped Amelia put on the layers while Irene brought each layer out. Once it was tied properly Edna sighed. "My, my. This is simply divine."

Amelia looked at her reflection and saw that it looked amazing on her. "Is this really okay for me to be wearing. I feel that I should not be wearing something so amazing." 

*Brides traditionally wear white kimonos called shiromuku.