TND: Wedding Attire
August 13. Emmy wrote the date down on her calendar, and drew two stick figures holding stick hands. Stick veils over their stick heads. They'd picked the date, sooner than later, and there were preparations that needed to be made.
"I texted Mom, Dad, Rob, and Priya," Emmy reported to Juliet over tea that afternoon.
"I texted Gerald," Juliet said, "Are we missing anyone?"
"Mags?"
"She knows already," Juliet said without a hint of sarcasm. Mags had an amazing way of finding out news in Crestfield that defied logic, and Juliet wasn't going to try to pull that apart until she'd finished her doctorate and was properly prepared.
"I'll mention it to her, just in case," Emmy said as she checked off Text everyone we know on the list.
"What is next on the list?"
"You helped make the list, I know you've memorized the list," Emmy replied. Juliet smiled. Emmy was right, but Juliet found that from time to time it was nice to let other people think they held the files.
"I believe we discuss attire for a small civil wedding."
Except it was more than just a small civil wedding. The attire for a small civil wedding between two women who had been dating for just under a year but had known each other for several years as friends. During which time they hadn't been two women but more one woman and one man was… uncertain.
"I could wear a suit," Juliet said, "White, tailored."
"Given your history with getting dressed, I was genuinely prepared for anything," Emmy said. Juliet rolled her eyes.
"But seriously, you're saying that because you know I want to wear a dress," Emmy replied.
"How would I know you wanted to wear a dress?" Juliet asked. It was a test.
"Because I went through that whole stage my first year of college looking at Pinterest wedding gowns and I made you sit there and comment on them," Emmy shot back. Test passed.
"I was hoping you'd forgotten about those never-ending pins."
"I'm past that stage, but yes… I do want to wear a dress."
"Then wear a dress, I'll wear a suit."
"You don't want to wear a dress?"
This question was fair, in that since becoming a woman, Juliet did own and wear dresses.
"No."
Emmy shot her a look. A simple direct No without elaboration. On one hand, Emmy had the outcome she more or less wanted. She wouldn't have minded Juliet in a dress — truth be told, Juliet could wear anything and Emmy would still marry her — but a nice white suit sounded like a good match. On the other hand though, Emmy was curious why Juliet was so adamant. If she pressed the issue, would she overplay her hand and perhaps convince Juliet to jump back into a dress? It was worth the risk.
"OK, you'll wear a suit… But why not a dress?"
"You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"No, I'm committed," Emmy grinned.
"Fine, I'll give you the Juliet answer," Juliet began, "When I became a woman, I began exploring clothing options I'd never considered. This included dresses. I found that the right dress was a freeing experience. Put on one garment, and all of the work is done. It was easy."
"OK, so wedding dresses typically aren't considered 'easy', but I see where you're going."
"Yes, and for an event as formal as committing to my person for the rest of my life, I don't want easy. I want… formal."
Emmy sat with that for a moment. It was definitely a Juliet answer. Precise, logical, symbolic. Then while processing, she received a surprise.
"And… when I was a little boy, I imagined wearing a white suit on my wedding day," Juliet added, softly.