The Bridal Shower
By Lonelyrider

In this story, newly engaged bride-to-be Lonely is bestowed with many lovely gifts from family, soon-to-be-inlaws, and friends and even anonymous donors alike, as the kindly mare's good deeds come back to her at her bridal party.

Story Highlights:
Mule
Human angels
Avian
Bridal shower
Gifts
Wealth
Mansion
Competition
Rivalry
Drama
Slights
Gratitude
Mothers
Women
Apology

Lonely smiled her characteristic kindhearted smile, amid the beautiful pink party room her fiance's mother Anna had rented for her & arranged a fine bridal shower for the relatively young mare, there at the esteemed Brocade Mansion; a few miles from Lonely's fiance's own beautiful country manor.
"Anna, oh, Mrs FeatherQuill, thank you so very much for organzing this delightful party! Oh, it's just adorable! & ma, I'm so glad you're here, welcome." Lonely grasped her mother Joan's avian arms and the two nuzzled; they were close, Lonely visited her mother weekly for tea and sleep-overs.
"Yes, this is all very exciting, isn't it, now?" Joan quipped with a birdlike chirp, folding her arms formally and shifting her beautiful golden wings; her face had an air of seriousness and disapproval she tried her best to conceal, as she was happy that her child was happy; the eagle librarian had made it clear when she'd agreed to the marriage request of her daughter's now fiance that she preferred another suitor to him, but as that suitor was now unavailable, Joan allowed it, not wishing to condemn her cherished daughter to spinsterhood despite her reservations at the family she would be marrying into. Joan watched with piercing eagle eyes as Lonely excitedly opened box after box with happy little squeals of delight, Anna handing Lonely the boxes cheerfully and gossipping up a storm as Anna's two well-groomed big poodles sniffed about the big party room; Joan secretly hated the attention her impending in-law was monopolizing from her daughter, but she said nothing; for the moment.
"Ahem, Anna, that's all grand, but I'd like a moment to show Lonely what I have brought to her bridal shower." Joan requested, her gaze fierce yet polite. Anna quickly got the point and scoffed gently, fanning herself quickly as Lonely apologized to Anna and went to her mom with a smile. Joan withdrew a large light purple box and unwrapped it; Lonely gasped in wonder, to Joan's satisfaction.
"I thought you'd like this one. It's a size 16 plus, from a fine women's designer in Mossy City. It has lots of lace and bows, just like you like, see? It will look perfect on you, sweetie. Hmm, yes, now, you enjoy." Joan purred as Lonely rubbed noses with her and hugged her tight.
"Oh mommy, it's simply delightful, oh! I simply must try it on, oh, may I?"
"Yes, that is just as well. Let's ensure it fits." Joan said with an approving nod, she and Anna put aside their rivalry for a moment as Lonely carefully changed behind the provided floral blind and stepped out wearing the dress; it had a high collar with many bows and much flowery lace, and was shorter in front with a long elegant train in back, as well as having lots of ruffles & bounce. A pretty lace veil completed the look. Joan and Anna both felt over Lonely's curvy waist and hips at the dress, checking the zipper and fit all over.
"Yes, you chose well, it fits her nicely." Anna agreed; the mother of the bridegroom was planning on having her way at the wedding, and was pleased that she liked the dress Joan had selected and now she wouldn't have to dictate this issue; after all, Anna thought to herself, Lonely needed to look ravishing when she would be marrying Anna's precious boy, for nothing else would do for the mother of the groom. The women were still nodding and watching Lonely smile and jump a little in nervous excited joy in her beautiful gown when a young slender boy came into the room; the door was ajar and still packed with a mountain of gifts for the mare, many of them sent without noting who from; Lonely volunteered as a Christian charity worker as well as being very kindhearted overall, so the contributions to her bridal shower had been astounding.
The boy softly blew a little harmonica.
"Telegram, for Miss Lonely Rider, from The Esteemed Father Dixon of the Red Crusade Mission and God's Holy Dark Cathedral. It reads;
Please accept these flowers as a token of my good will to you, and only you, on your occasion. I send them with my sincerest apologies to you, & though what I have said stands, let it be known to all present I have no quarrel with the lovely bride; only the marriage. I am here for you if you ever need me, and so is The Holy Church, and Him, of course. Bless you, and only you, my child. All my deepest love,
Father Jacob Dixon, Battle Priest Supreme and High Minister of Morals, The Red Crusade & Holy Church."
The boy tapped his heels as he finished reading Jacob's telegram and handed Lonely the beautiful rainbow nosegay of assorted rose colors, baby's breath & a lovely ribbon and colored wax papers, which she took with a gasp and a happy smile; Anna looked incensed, though she covered it politely with her ornate fan, and Joan went to her little corner chair and smirked; Joan had always liked Lonely's priest friend very much, like Lonely's knight old flame, and would have preferred she had married one of them over James, but she kept it to herself, as her daughter had accepted the angel brute's proposal and seemed very happy, if nervous.
"Well, then. How very kind of Father Dixon. Ahem. Anna, let's see what you have there." Joan clicked with her sharp beak, steering a happy Lonely, who clutched the nosegay to her chest with big wet eyes and a moved look; her male friend in question had made her cry days ago when he'd angrily refused to marry her to James, going on a tirade about how foul he found his rival. Lonely inhaled the roses and let Anna and Joan do so as well; now it was Anna's turn to conceal her disapproval, as the priest's letter had been highly insulting to her.
"Well, here we have a lovely set of blue beads, for something blue." Anna gifted Lonely despite her annoyance at Jacob's writings, who gasped happily and took them gently, carefully putting them on with a gushed thank you.
"You're welcome, child. Here we have one of my bracelets, that I had enlarged for you, for something borrowed." Anna went on, clicking a snap band of pure gold onto Lonely's wrist.
"Oh my, it's simply beautiful! Thank you ever so much, Mrs FeatherQuill, I promise to take very good care of it!" Lonely gushed.
"Yes, that's a good girl. Now then, something new. Here is a bridal fan, all the way from the distant east. It has flowers and birds upon it, see? & much lace." Joan eyed Anna jealously but said nothing, crossing her legs and arms as Lonely gasped in awe at the beautiful white and pink lacy fan. "& finally, we have this. My ex husband sent it, of all people. Evidently, it has historical roots to a great great grandmother on James's paternal side, the human wife of a horrid brute of an ogre chieftan. James said the chieftan was a scholar, or some such other nonsense. I think it's perfectly hideous, but Abaddon sent it, to fulfill the something old." Anna showed Lonely a huge women's brooch in the shape of a long animal tusk, a black dragonfly perched on its corner, incidently matching the many bows on her wedding dress.
"Oh my, it's so very unique and cool! Oh thank you Mrs FeatherQuill, I shall pin it to my collar, just like this." Carefully Lonely tried to, Joan and Anna stopped her and she watched with wonder as the women withdrew a long thick black ribbon and tied it about Lonely's neck to protect her dress, which they then affixed the primitive brooch to instead.
"There, yes. As a historian, I see the angle James and his father are coming from, it is rather interesting." Joan admitted, despite agreeing with Anna that it was ungainly.
"Ugh, it's horrid, like that whole side of my dear boy's bloodline. If I'd known my ex husband was part ogre, I might have had more sense not to marry him. Should have known better with a huge brute of a man that size...oh, but ah, this does not apply to Jamesey, of course." Anna finished delicately, sensing her faux pas. Joan smiled with a quiet sinister little smirk and Lonely closed her eyes and nodded in solemn and respectful agreement with Anna's last statement. Lonely loved James's big size and his father's too, and she, like her mother, found his ogre bloodline fascinating & to be a source of pride and amazement. She'd also seen her fiance use it to his advantage and calm down full-blood ogres who were up to harm, utilizing his clever wit and shared blood to encourage better ways in them.
"Now then, let's finish opening the rest of Lonely's presents. I'll be sure to put the donated checks into a special fund for Lonely's dowry, along with the dress and my own contributions." Joan stated.
"Oh, yes, thank you so very much, ma, Mrs FeatherQuill." Lonely said sweetly.
"Lonely, honey, what are you making today?" Joan asked, smiling seeing Lonely was taking a brief moment as she listened to the older women talk to work on her latest embroidery hoop project. Lonely turned it around sweetly and showed the two orchids she was embroidering to the mothers, who nodded their approval.
"Ahh yes, very nice indeed. That sounds well, Joan. Remember, we shall spare no expense for the wedding. My husband will take care of everything I want." Anna boasted, fanning herself.
"Must be nice." Joan muttered lowly, Anna shot Joan a look as Lonely politely placed her embroidery hoop by her little doll collection she'd also brought to play with and waited politely with a sweet smile for the women to resume handing her the presents they wanted her to open next. Lonely swallowed audibly with a look of kind concern, saying nothing politely and keeping her hands folded ladylike as the two mothers eyed each other.
"Yes, well." Anna finally said, putting her chin in the air and petting her poodles as she kept fanning herself.
"Yes, well." Joan echoed, and the women went back to handing Lonely presents, who opened each one with excitement and gratitude, despite her worry about the uneasy chemistry between her mother and soon to be mother-in-law, Lonely had a wonderful & much appreciated bridal shower that she was so touched & grateful for with the three of them there in the lovely pink room that day.






A big ty & photo credit to the photographer 📸
https://unsplash.com/photos/white-a.....es-p7v6X41PP4w