supported herself by shampooing hair in salons in the evening. After she graduated from high school, she pursued and received her cosmetology license and started working to build her clientele. Her goal was to be one of the most sought-after stylists in Houston. It was what she would work for in all the years to come.
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Raquel looked around the suite again and smiled. She had succeeded.
It was time to take her wedding gown out of the garment bag. She wondered if she had made the right decision, excluding all of her bridesmaids from the room. The silence in the room, along with the beautiful gown, was starting to remind her of prom night. All the other girls had mothers who took them to the mall or to the seamstress to pull together that perfect prom ensemble. The hours before prom, mothers and daughters primped and giggled before the mirror.
Raquel remembered fighting back tears as she dressed and put on her makeup alone in that garage apartment. She had invited her mother to go shopping with her for her prom dress, just as she had for her wedding dress. Both times, her mother had declined.
Raquel had desperately wanted to tell her mother about the grandeur of her wedding day, but she decided it was best to wait. Her mother would walk into that wedding and know that Raquel was worthy, that she was a success. She had worked to make sure every detail of her wedding made a statement. After today, everybody would know that Raquel was to be admired.
She would have it all: a wonderful husband, a beautiful family, and a lucrative career. Once she walked down that aisle, she was going to be Mrs. James Reynolds, and there was nothing anybody could do about it. James was a good man, and Raquel was thrilled to have him. Yes, there had been other women in the past, but she was Jamesâs future. James was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and the only man she had ever loved. Life simply wasnât worth living if she couldnât have him.
All she ever wanted in her life was a family and nice things to share with them. She couldnât have that with Randall. He was a total loser. He may have been able to supply her body with pleasure, but that was it. In no way did he compare to James.
Raquel smiled. She was only moments away from completing the ultimate dream. Most weddings were attended by supportive family and friends, but that was not the case at this ceremony. Today, all of the people who said she was crazy for staying with James after he got Joan pregnant would be there. All of the people who saw her standing on the street corners handing out flyers in the blistering heat would be there. All of the people who said she would never get married, and all of the people who said she couldnât manage her own successful salon, and especially her mother, who thought she would end up like her, would see her shining brightly today, glowing like the star she always knew she could be.
Raquel slipped into her gown and stepped into her shoes. She glanced at the mirror. She wanted to cry at her stunning reflection, but there was no way she was about to ruin a $1,000 makeup job.
Raquel heard a knock at the door. She answered without looking through the peephole. She knew it was her wedding planner, Anna, checking up on her.
âHello, my dear,â Anna gasped. âYou are a sight to be seen.â Anna handed Raquel her cell phone. âYou left this in the other room. Your hubby-to-be is on the line.â
Anna walked into the hotel room and stepped away from Raquel to give her some privacy.
âHi, James.â Raquel used her sexiest voice as she answered the phone.
âHello, my love. Me and my boys are en route. I was a little late because I was making the finishing touches to your surprise. I want to make sure you have no intentions of coming back home until after the wedding, or you will spoil the surprise I have for you.â
âOh, James, you are so sweet. I canât wait to see
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Â
Raquel looked around the suite again and smiled. She had succeeded.
It was time to take her wedding gown out of the garment bag. She wondered if she had made the right decision, excluding all of her bridesmaids from the room. The silence in the room, along with the beautiful gown, was starting to remind her of prom night. All the other girls had mothers who took them to the mall or to the seamstress to pull together that perfect prom ensemble. The hours before prom, mothers and daughters primped and giggled before the mirror.
Raquel remembered fighting back tears as she dressed and put on her makeup alone in that garage apartment. She had invited her mother to go shopping with her for her prom dress, just as she had for her wedding dress. Both times, her mother had declined.
Raquel had desperately wanted to tell her mother about the grandeur of her wedding day, but she decided it was best to wait. Her mother would walk into that wedding and know that Raquel was worthy, that she was a success. She had worked to make sure every detail of her wedding made a statement. After today, everybody would know that Raquel was to be admired.
She would have it all: a wonderful husband, a beautiful family, and a lucrative career. Once she walked down that aisle, she was going to be Mrs. James Reynolds, and there was nothing anybody could do about it. James was a good man, and Raquel was thrilled to have him. Yes, there had been other women in the past, but she was Jamesâs future. James was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and the only man she had ever loved. Life simply wasnât worth living if she couldnât have him.
All she ever wanted in her life was a family and nice things to share with them. She couldnât have that with Randall. He was a total loser. He may have been able to supply her body with pleasure, but that was it. In no way did he compare to James.
Raquel smiled. She was only moments away from completing the ultimate dream. Most weddings were attended by supportive family and friends, but that was not the case at this ceremony. Today, all of the people who said she was crazy for staying with James after he got Joan pregnant would be there. All of the people who saw her standing on the street corners handing out flyers in the blistering heat would be there. All of the people who said she would never get married, and all of the people who said she couldnât manage her own successful salon, and especially her mother, who thought she would end up like her, would see her shining brightly today, glowing like the star she always knew she could be.
Raquel slipped into her gown and stepped into her shoes. She glanced at the mirror. She wanted to cry at her stunning reflection, but there was no way she was about to ruin a $1,000 makeup job.
Raquel heard a knock at the door. She answered without looking through the peephole. She knew it was her wedding planner, Anna, checking up on her.
âHello, my dear,â Anna gasped. âYou are a sight to be seen.â Anna handed Raquel her cell phone. âYou left this in the other room. Your hubby-to-be is on the line.â
Anna walked into the hotel room and stepped away from Raquel to give her some privacy.
âHi, James.â Raquel used her sexiest voice as she answered the phone.
âHello, my love. Me and my boys are en route. I was a little late because I was making the finishing touches to your surprise. I want to make sure you have no intentions of coming back home until after the wedding, or you will spoil the surprise I have for you.â
âOh, James, you are so sweet. I canât wait to see
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