Free Dear Meredith by Belle Kismet Page A

thank-you gift to them for attending. Warmth fills their faces, flushing them a healthy pink. They smile at me, looking like flowers themselves in their best wedding clothes.
                Another vibrant wave of colour steals my attention, this time coming from right below me. It is the bouquet of flowers in my hands, which were pure white and utterly bleached of colour just minutes ago.
                Now, they're a riotous bloom of every imaginable shade possible, a stark contrast against my still-white gloves.
                The church organ suddenly strikes up the wedding song, and I begin moving forward with barely a thought. My timing is perfect, and I place my hand in Mike's and take my place beside him as the last chords die off.
                I look up at the man I am about to marry, seeing the goodness emanating from him. But something is wrong. I look at the altar again and see a mirror there.
                We and all the guests are reflected in it, a jewel-like sea of creatures... but I am the only one who is still completely white. My hair, lips and even eyelashes are white. Only my green eyes are still mine.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 8
     
                "And, here's to Dog-Eared Books & Café!" Laney cries as she pops the champagne expertly. The cork shoots off somewhere and Janet, Avery and I let out a cheer, while Bandit joins in with a series of barks.
                I feel giddy with excitement as I cross over to the front of the bookstore and flip the sign from CLOSED to OPEN. That done, I turn around to survey the place, beginning with the wooden countertop supporting our ancient cash register, to the discreet opening into the kitchenette and toilet. Rows and rows of bookshelves stand to my left, of differing heights, all painted white to go with the warm grey walls.
                Halfway across the store, the floor raises onto a platform, which hosts yet more bookshelves, as well as eight squashy armchairs which we had reupholstered into vibrant, solid colours to bring life into the place. They face each other cosily, two to every little coffee table.
                And of course, the books, our main stars, are all compiled neatly into genres and broken down by their authors in alphabetical order, their worn and creased spines looking thrilled to be displayed out in the open again.
                The weather outside is just perfect for our first day of business and the morning sun shines into our store through the huge glass display and onto some of the armchairs.
                I've added some potted plants and a few hanging ferns, and the final effect makes me hug myself. Oh, Mike, I wish you were here to see this, I think silently.
                "Hey, come on over here," Laney calls from her perch on one of the armchairs, holding up a glass of champagne. I take it from her and clink glasses with them, feeling a surge of love as I see the same happiness and pleasure in their faces.
                Janet jumps up - "Oh, I nearly forgot about the brownies!" - and heads off to the kitchenette. She's incredibly graceful and I admire her silver hair which she tucked into a sleek French chignon. I wish hard that I'll look that good at fifty-four.
                Avery smiles at us, his open, good-humoured face broadcasting his thoughts before he says a word. He's good-looking, in a geeky sort of way. I am not very close to him, but he's still a good friend and a good boss to Laney.
                "This is brilliant, you guys. I don't know much about this decorating thing, but I certainly feel like I could get a lot of work done, just sitting here with my coffee," he says.
                I laugh. "That's the idea, Avery. And you're very welcome to come and hang out here with your laptop anytime."
                "As long as it isn't to bug me to