With a last stitch, I step back from the dolly that’s currently wearing my dress and sigh with contentment. Maybe I was always meant to be a wife, but I don’t know if it was supposed to be Colby, who I marry.
I love Daddy, but I don’t like that he’s become a monster. His handsome face is all wonky now. Colby is still handsome, even though he has an issue with his eye. I wonder what’s under that patch?
I flare out the skirt of my dress and pout. There wasn’t enough material to make my train long, so I had to use Heidi’s old wedding dress for the skirt. An ode to a mother who was a fucking cunt. Everything I will wear today would have come from her.
Isn’t it ironic?
“How does the saying go?” I ask my dolly. “Something new, something old, and something borrowed? Well, this dress encompasses all of that.”
“Oh!” I snap my fingers. “I made a dress for you too, Dolly.” I run into my mother’s old closet and pull out the dress, my fingers lovingly running over its surface. “You will look beautiful.”
I walk by my mother’s old dresser—now mine—and the blonde hair resting on its surface is shining in the bright sunlight.
“I guess I have something borrowed from Lil’s, too,” I snicker. “In a way, she’ll be marrying Colby with me. That was her dream. See? I am a wonderful mother, Heidi!”
The sudden outburst startles me, but it’s been festering inside of me for so long. I would make a wonderful mother, and I can’t wait to show Colby. Only, we cannot have daughters. I know the temptations fathers have for their young and supple daughters. That just will not do.
Only boys for Colby and me.
The noise from outside grows louder as more people come to witness a wedding. It had to be today since the Four Regencies have decided they can leave this town to Colby. They need to witness our union to ensure I won’t be a future problem.
“Idiots,” I mutter. “I’m not the problem.”
I sit in front of my mirror and braid my natural brunette hair down, so my new, silky blonde hair sits nicely. As I’m humming along, I can hear Colby outside speaking to our guests.
“Dolly.” I take a deep inhale. “Do you smell that?”
My mouth stretches into a large grin as I look at my face in the cracked mirror. Saliva pools along my tongue and my stomach rumbles loudly.
“I even made my husband-to-be and all of our guests a meal to die for.” I rise from my chair and grab the blonde, braided hair. “Oh! Don’t you worry, Dolly. They won’t actually die. The sacrifice was already made for us.”
* * *
The townsfolk are all seated in broken chairs or wooden stumps as I peer out of my window. Colby is standing on a platform with the Four Representatives standing behind him.
“Dolly, they’re all waiting for me,” I giggle. “Let’s get you in your dress too!”
After dressing Dolly, I begin the process of putting on my dress. The ribcage corset is sewn with white ribbons Heidi had stashed in her closet, and when I pull on the ends, the bones crush into mine, making my breasts spill from the top.
“Look, Heidi, wherever you are. It’s like we’re hugging,” I snicker. “I got as much of your skin as I could, but it wasn’t enough, so I used some material from your wedding dress. Now I have something from when Daddy got married. My rightful husband,” I spit out the last bit.
I head down to the kitchen, and stand at the backdoor, taking a deep breath. This is it. This is where my life changes forever, and I will no longer be a girl.
I will be a married woman.
I step outside, my bare feet hitting the red sand. The collective gasps around me pull an enormous grin across my mouth. I bet they like my new hair. My hand instinctively runs over it as I look up to find my almost-husband’s one-eyed rage.
He doesn’t like the dress.
A few more steps into the yard have people all turning. Some have disgusted looks, while others look terrified. I think I like them both.
“What is she wearing?” One of the four asks my husband as I step up on the platform, a wide smile on my face.
“This looks like the boar skin and ribs,” Colby says with a grimace. “Bevie was very proud of that kill, weren’t you?”
That eye of his is glaring at me, forcing me to agree, and even though I don’t want to, I know it’s the only way to get through this shit in one piece.
“Why, yes,” I nod. “I love boar hide.”
They seemingly relax, but as the ceremony begins, I don’t miss the sidelong glances. They think I’m crazy, but I’m not even crazy in the slightest. I’m just intelligent, more developed than these heathens.
“You are now husband and wife,” one of the four murmurs while scattered claps sound around the backyard. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Colby.”
“Are you still wearing Tanner’s hair?” Colby grits through his teeth as he leads me to a table.
“I love blonde hair. She no longer needs it anyway.”
“The first thing we’re going to work on is this behavior of yours.”
“Okay,” I shrug as I sit in my seat. “I made our wedding meal today.”
He relaxes a little, but his jaw still ticks as he looks out over the guests. “Where’s Lils?”
“She’s tired,” I tell him as I lift the cover off the dish. “We’ll see her later. She’ll want to celebrate with us alone.”
I point to a lady sitting nicely in the front row, her pretty blonde hair sparkling in the sun. Not as pretty as mine. “Could you cut and distribute the meal?”
Colby is so distracted by the thought of his little daughter, he doesn’t pay too much attention to what’s put on his plate until he puts a piece in his mouth. His eye blinks, and when he turns it to stare at me, I smile sweetly, with a mouthful of savory Heidi.
“What meat is this? I thought we ate the rest of the boar last time?” His jaws work to chew.
“We never had boar.” I roll my eyes and fork another piece into my mouth. “You all ate my dad’s second wife, Tanner. The bitch whose hair I’m wearing.”
He discreetly moves to the side and spits his mouthful of meat to the ground. That’s a waste.
“Who is this, then?” He sounds angry.
I stand from my seat and hold a hand in the air. “I’d like to make a toast!” I call out.
“Sit down, we need to talk.” Colby pulls on my elbow.
I firmly yank it away and smile at the guests as they all eat their meal, all of them savagely biting into the meat. It’s a delicacy now.
“I want to thank all of you for coming to see me wed today! Most of you have watched me grow, and it’s really nice to have you here for the biggest event of my life!”
People clap, but then their attention slams back to the roast on their plates. Pigs.
“I also believe my new husband will lead you all much better than my father ever did, and as for my mother,” I hold my hand to my chest, “she always did want to see me married. I’m sure she’s here with us today, inside each one of us.”
A growl erupts from Colby’s throat at my words and he grabs the back of my dress, hauling me to my seat.
“Are we eating Heidi?” he snarls into my ear.
“Why do you have a patch over your eye?” I inquire, ignoring his question.
“The wedding is over!” he snaps to the guests as he rises from his chair. “Please go back to your homes. We have spent enough time out in the elements today.”
“Come, take the leftovers home with you!” I call as Colby drags me inside the house.
“Will you ever change?” he bellows once the door is shut behind us. “Will I always be concerned about what you’re doing?”
“I swear, Husband, there’s no more Heidi to eat. It was just my last screw you to the woman who left me in the hands of my predator father.”
I’m saying the right things because those thick shoulders relax and his eye softens. “It’s time to let the past go. You, me, and Lils will be a family now.”
“Oh!” I clap and drag him toward the stairs. “Lils is waiting for you. I even gave her one of my old dresses to wear!”
A small chuckle escapes him as we ascend the stairs, my excitement for his wedding present coursing through me. I open our bedroom door, and he pokes his head inside, his eye quickly roving around.
“Where is she?”
“Have you lost both eyes?” I exclaim as I pull the blonde hair off my head, heading toward my newest Dolly. “Right here!” I place the wig on Lil’s head and smooth it down. She really is the prettiest Dolly I have ever made. “You’re awfully quiet.” I pout and turn to see him staring at the doll in shock. “Do you not like our daughter?”