Mabel arrived at Daniel's house a little after four.
She stepped out of the car and looked up at the familiar building.
She had been here enough times that she no longer needed anyone to show her where to go.
Still, something about the place felt different lately.
Maybe it was because everything was happening so quickly.
Mabel adjusted her dress and walked inside.
The house was unusually quiet today. She found Daniel in the sitting room, sitting with his phone in one hand and a glass of wine on the table in front of him.
He looked up when she entered. "There you are."
Mabel gave him a small smile. "Miss me?."
"You know I do" Daniel sat upright, taking in her view.
She dropped her bag and sat down beside Daniel, snuggling him.
"You came straight from the bridal house?" Daniel ask creasaing her hair
"Not exactly. I dropped Jane and Miriam off first."
"How was it?" He asked
"The fitting?"
He nodded playing with a strand of her hair.
"Good."
"Just good?"
Mabel smiled. "You've been asking too many questions about this dress."
"I'm curious."
"You'll see it when everyone else does."
Daniel leaned back. I'm not everyone else and besides that's still weeks away."
"You'll survive."
He laughed quietly.
Mabel watched him for a second. "You sounded serious on the phone."
Daniel's smile faded a little. "Did I?"
"Yes, you did" she replied sitting up straight.
"I didn't mean to." He said patting her head lightly.
"But still, you did."
Daniel picked up the glass and took a sip. Mable waited patiently.
"I wanted to see you."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"
He looked at her. Do i need permission to see my fiancée?"
Mabel tried not to smile. "You don't but still…." She let her words thrail off
"Then why are you interrogating me?" He arced a brow looking at her.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She laughed softly. "Maybe a little."
Daniel smiled. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Mabel looked around the room. There were still a few wedding cards stacked neatly on the side cabinet.
She pointed at them. "Why's there still much invitation cards?"
"Well they just got delivered today and it'll be sent off to their respective address tomorrow"
"Ohhh…"
Daniel shook his head. "You've become very nosy."
"I've always been nosy and besides I thought printing was over couldn't help me curious as to why there's still a lot of cards."
Danile smiled, "well miss curious cat those are for my extended relative and business partners"
"If that's how you put it I guess I don't need to think too much about it, just hope everything goes smoothly"
"That's what I'm afraid of.
She turned towards him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"Daniel." She probed a slightly warning in her tone.
He laughed. "I'm joking."
Mabel narrowed her eyes at him before smiling slightly . "You'd better be."
He reached for her hand creasesing it softly. His thumb brushed lightly over her fingers as he looked down at the ring on her hand.
"It's almost time, we'll finially be married."
Mabel followed his gaze. "I know."
"You're very happy?"
She looked at him. "Why wouldn't I be?" She asked but didn't get any response from him,
"Daniel!."
"Hm?"
"You've been acting strange."
He looked at her. "Strange how?"
"Like something is bothering you."
He was quiet, Then he sighed. "The wedding is becoming a lot."
Mabel's expression softened a bit in quite understanding but she let him continue sayin nothing.
"I thought I'd be more prepared, I know you're a celebrity and there's no way we can avoid attention but…."
She smiled."Hey i understand if you want me to call it all off i can"
"No you don't have to."
Mabel shifted closer. " What happened"
"Nothing happened." He replied
"Then why are you worried about the attention?"
Daniel looked away for a moment. "There's just been a lot of people involved lately. Family, planners, the press…"
Mabel nodded. "I know, thats why i insisted, if it make you uncomfortable we can keep it on a low"
"No there's no need, beside you're career will be at stake if you call it all off "
"I know. I know what's at stake but regardless we're about to start a new life I won't want complications"
He looked back at her. "I just don't want all of this to become bigger than us."
Mabel was quiet. That, she understood. She had spent the last few days watching their wedding grow from something personal into something almost everyone wanted a piece of. Her phone had barely stopped buzzing. People wanted pictures.
Brands wanted appearances. Fans wanted updates. Even strangers had opinions about what she should wear, where they should hold the wedding and who should be invited. She had learned to enjoy the attention. She needed it and so was her career.
But she understood what Daniel meant. "It won't," she said quietly.
He looked at her. "How do you know?"
"Because when all of this is over, it'll still be you and me."
Daniel chuckled . "That's a nice way of looking at it."
"It's the truth." She said glaring at him.
He smiled lightly enjoying her little temper tantrum. Eventually he had to appease her.
"Have you eaten?"
Mabel grumbled. "Yes."
"Really?" He smiled teasingly
"Yes."
"What did you eat?" She hesitated. Daniel stared at waiting patiently for her response.
Mabel sighed, not saying anything.
"Don't start." This time it was his turn to be angry. "You didn't eat."
"I had something."
"What?"
"Coffee."
Daniel couldn't help but laugh. "That's not food."
"It had milk." She defended
"Mabel." His tone was warning
She smiled. "Fine. I didn't really eat."
"I knew it." He picked up his phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Ordering something."
"I'm not hungry." Mabel protested.
"I didn't ask."
She watched him for a moment, then shook her head. "You've become really bossy."
"And you've always been stubborn."
"That's different."
"How?"
"I'm allowed to be."
Daniel smiled. "I guess you are."
A few minutes later, the room settled into a comfortable silence again. Mabel leaned back against the sofa, watching him scroll through his phone. She liked moments like this. They weren't particularly exciting, but perhaps that was what she liked about them.
There was no audience, no need to act perfect or look perfect. She just had to simply sit beside him and exist.
Daniel looked up. "What?"
She blinked."What?"
"You've been staring at me."
"I wasn't."
He argued back "You were."
Mabel rolled her eyes."Maybe! But I was thinking."
He raised and eyebrow. "About?"
She smiled. "Nothing."
"That's not reassuring."
She rolled her eye playfully "You ask too many questions."
He simply laughed.
Mabel looked down at her ring. She still remembered the first time Daniel had put it on her finger. There had been so many emotions that day. Excitement, relief, happiness.
A certainty that, after everything, she had finally gotten what she wanted.
Now, with the wedding getting closer, that feeling had changed. It wasn't the same rush anymore, it felt quieter more settled.
She looked at Daniel. "I'm glad we're doing this."
He didn't joke this time his tune serious. "Me too."
Mabel smiled. Then her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, it was a message from Ava. She didn't open it.
Daniel noticed. "Work?"
"Probably."
"You should check it."
"I'll do it later." She put the phone back down. Edging closer to cuddle him. For once, she didn't want to think about work. There would be plenty of time for that. Right now, she wanted to enjoy this.
She rested her head against his chest, she closed her eyes for a moment. The wedding was coming. Her career was moving. And the life she'd spent years imagining was finally beginning to look real.
For now, she was content to sit there and let herself believe it.