The Bridal Appointment

"Good morning! So many lovely ladies here today, who's my bride?"

"That's me. I'm Megan."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Justine, I'll be your consultant today. Have you done much shopping yet?"

"No, but I know what I like -"

"She needs a traditional gown."

"Are you mom?"

"Susan, yes, and I know what's best for her."

"She's not a nun, Susan."

"As if you know anything about nuns."

"Mom!"

"Am I wrong?"

"Mom, you can't talk to Chloe like that -"

"I'm paying for this, I can talk how I like."

"Shall I give you ladies a minute?"

"No - sorry, Justine, I'm coming. Mom, please be nice. For once."

"Susan...Susan....Susan, we're the only two people on this couch while Megan's trying things on."

"Keenly observed."

"It's been twenty-five years...aren't you used to me yet?"

"I've been patient for twenty-five years because I love my daughter."

"Do you?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"We're shopping for dresses... for your daughter's wedding..."

"Oh you noticed. Good for you."

"And you're not happy."

"She should be grateful I'm here. As should you, and you shouldn't even be here."

...

"Do you think I should have left them alone out there?"

"I don't think you want my opinion."

"Why's that?"

"Because my opinion usually gets me in trouble."

"Surely not if I asked you for it?"

"Weddings and dress shopping can get stressful. What people want to hear, and what people need to hear often blur lines."

"Okay, well, I want your honest opinion. Do you think they will at least be civil?"

"I don't know your family that well. I should hope they would, they both love you don't they?"

"Yeah..."

"Alright, let's focus on something fun. I never got to ask what you wanted for your dress."

"I..."

"I know what your mom wants. I want to know what you want."

"I'm not traditional. Not even close. You'd think she'd realize that...but she can't even wrap her head around Chloe."

"Oh so Chloe is -"

"My fiancé."

"And she doesn't want to wear a dress?"

"Never! Haha. Chloe is customizing a suit. I've seen the design, it looks great."

"So..."

"Yes?"

"Never mind...so you want something sexier? Edgier?"

"Not exactly, I want something more ethereal. I'm a big fantasy fan, I love fairies and vampires and supernatural aesthetics."

"Ohh...I know exactly what to pull for you! Give me a minute."

"Justine -"

"Yes?"

"Were you about to ask if my mother was homophobic?"

"Of course not."

"No?"

"No, I just wanted to be sure you were okay with Chloe seeing the dress before the day. But - she's here, and you've said you're not traditional."

"Right...maybe grab one boring dress to placate my mother. I'll try it once to play nice."

...

"You could at least pretend to care about tradition."

"Who wants to pretend on their wedding day?"

"A couple who's already pretending that they're normal."

"Ugh..."

"Don't you roll your eyes at me as if you don't know I'm right."

"This is why Megan wonders if you really love her."

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind."

"No, what did you say just now?"

"I'm not repeating myself. Either you heard me plain, or you didn't, either way, I promised I'd play nice with you. It's really hard by the way."

"Oh has it?"

"Yes - Megan and I were friends long before we actually started dating. We technically had a wedding already - it just didn't exactly count since we were in kindergarten, and our bouquets were all dandelions, and the preacher was my sixth grade reading buddy."

"That's when I knew you were trouble."

"Ted thought it was cute."

"Ted didn't know what harm you'd bring."

"What harm Susan? What terrible thing did I do that makes you hate my guts?"

"You turned my little girl gay. And now her only hope of resembling a real bride is through me."

"I - you think - you're so - how fucking da - I need fresh air."

"Why don't you take a long walk off a short pier."

"Mom? Where's Chloe? What happened?"

"She's off having a temper tantrum - but oh... this is so much better. It's just you and me, like it should be."

"Mom, what did you say?"

"Hush now, just look at you... like a proper princess. Justine, this is excellent."

"This isn't Megan's choice now, she tried this one on for you."

"Oh but you don't need to try another... Sweetie, you look just like Cinderella."

"I don't want to look like Cinderella -"

"She's not into the princess look, Susan -"

"She doesn't know what she wants -"

"Yes I do! I'm not buying this dress, and I want to know exactly what happened with Chloe!"

"She picked a fight and lost, what more do you want to know...you know, you could get this dress and save it."

"Wha - what would I save it for?"

"Your real wedding."

"Oh - my - fucking - God! You said something like that to Chloe didn't you?"

"Megan! Wha - where are you going?"

"I hate to side with your mother - "

"Excuse you?"

"- but you can't wear the samples out of the store!"

"Chloe!"

"Hey Meg. You look gorgeous. It's not exactly your vibe though is it?"

"Come back inside. Please? I got a hint of what she said to you..."

"I tried. I tried to be nice, that's why I'm out here."

"I know you did. I can't apologize enough..."

"You didn't say that crap!"

"Is it crap if it's true?"

"Enough! Mom, that's enough! I can't take it anymore!"

"Alright - alright - let's all take a deep breath. Chloe, why don't you go have one of your little vapes so I can talk to my daughter -"

"You don't have a daughter anymore."

"...Megan...what are you saying?"

"Get out. Get out of my appointment, get out of my wedding, get out of my life!"

"Megan - "

"I don't know you. I don't love you, you're not my mother. You can't be. Because you don't know or love me. If you did, you wouldn't be so cruel to the woman I love. The same woman who I learned to cook with to make breakfast in bed on fucking Mother's Day! The same woman who helped me study through university! The same woman who was the first to sign my cast when I broke my arm! My mother should know that's a good person! If I was a guy, you'd be thrilled to see me marry someone so wonderful!"

"Yes...I would. Because then it would be a real marriage."

"I'm glad I'm not a guy. Because this way, I don't live in delusion. I know exactly what kind of person you are, and it's no one I want in my life."

"Very well. Just know, that when you eventually come to your senses, I will be there for you. Because you will need me."

"Meg? Oh Meg, please don't cry...Oh God, you're literally shaking. Come here, it'll be okay. It'll be okay...you've been feeling like this a long time. You just did the hard thing. It was brave as hell, and you did it."

"S-sh-she's my m-mother! H-how can I get married without my mom?"

"The only thing you're going to miss is her paycheque for the dress. When was the last happy memory you had with her?"

"I...I don't know."

"Shhh. Breathe. Remember to breathe."

...

"Justine! You need to get her back inside."

"I know."

"The sample could get ruined out there."

"I know, Claudia, I know."

"So what are you just staring out the window for?"

"It's not everyday you see someone cut their mother off so deftly...even if it was deserved. I want to giver her a moment to catch her breath."

"Ha! This is bridal. We see more family drama than a shrink's office. Surely you know that by now."

"It's also not everyday you see history repeated."

"Your own mother?"

"You'd think things would have changed in thirty years."

"There's always despicable folks in every generation...it's what reminds the rest of us to be better. Now you need to remind this girl why she's here - and you know damn well it's not for her mother."

"You don't think she's really going to buy anything now?"

"Maybe not...but at the very least, you need to get her, and the one-of-a-kind sample that she's wearing, and we know she doesn't want, off the pavement, and back into the store."

...

"I-I had another dress I wanted try...she would have hated it."

"Then there's never been a better time to try it on. It's finally a judgement free zone."

"Excuse me ladies..."

"Oh! Justine, I'm sorry. I kind of forgot I was still wearing this."

"I gathered that. I know this is a bit of a sore moment, but perhaps you'd be more comfortable if you came inside, and got out of it. Maybe you'd like to reschedule for another appointment, when you're less stressed?"

"No."

"She's got a point Meg..."

"No! I want the judgement free zone."

"Apparently there's another dress in the room? Could she try that one?"

"Not until we get this one back inside."

"Meg?"

"I'm okay....I will be anyway."

...

"I'm sorry you had to see all that."

"I wish I could say it was the first time...or the last."

"I hope I didn't wreck that sample."

"It just needs a little cleaning."

"Oh God...so much for the happy bride. Look at me, I'm still all red and puffy."

"You know, even in the happiest of families, brides get jitters. They stress, they panic, they cry. And then...they put on their dream gown."

"Ohh...this is perfect...I look like pure starlight in this."

"And then they take a little walk out to where the love of their life is waiting."

"Oh Meg! This has to be it!"

"You think?"

"If I had my suit, I'd marry you right now!"

"And suddenly, none of the stressful stuff matters."

"I'm so glad you're here Chloe...I can't wait to marry you."

...

"Justine... didn't I hear the mother of this morning's couple say she was paying?"

"Yes, Claudia, she did."

"So if she's been kicked out of the appointment...and the wedding...and the bride's life...who's paying now?"

"The couple is doing an instalment plan, it's right there in the invoice."

"Yes I see that...but why is there an employee discount on it?"

"Oh didn't I tell you? The bride is my goddaughter on her father's side."

"Is she now?"

"Do I need to prove it?"

"Well no..."

"Well then. While this Cinderella's real mother may have failed her, her fairy godmother came through."

"Making fairy tales come to life are you?"

"Not at all. But the only way we fix our parents' mistakes, is to do things differently than they did."