Water dripped from my chilled skin as I climbed out of the bath and wrapped a towel around myself before joining Loretta in the bedroom where she was waiting.

"Now that you're all clean, how about we get you in some clothes? Where on earth did I leave that dress?" she held a finger against her chin and the other on her hip while her eyes scoured the space. "I bet I left it in grandma's room."

"Grandma?" I asked, drawing my brows together. That must be who I saw in the room next door when I was with Bubba the other day.

"Oh, that's right, you haven't met her yet, have you?"

"Can't say I've had the pleasure," I said, drying my hair with a holey towel.

"Well, it's time you had. Come on, I'll introduce you." She crossed the room and grabbed the door handle.

"I can't go out there, I'm in nothing but a towel!"

"Don't worry about it. The boys aren't here. Nobody but us girls will see you."

I relented and followed her into the hall, clutching the towel tighter around myself and peering over the railing in search of the boys. I really need to find Bubba right now. If I could just talk to him I might be able to get this whole thing postponed.

She slowly creaked the door open. "Grandma, you awake?" she whispered, tiptoeing into the room and kneeling beside the woman. "I have someone special here to see you." she waved her hand for me to come forward.

I inched into the dark room bathed in shadow, the only light coming from the sun shining through the window the woman was facing. The floorboards creaked beneath my bare feet, my wet footprints visible through the thick layer of dirt on the floor. White paint peeled from the walls in ribbons, cobwebs caked each corner. The room was nearly empty except for some old trunks, boxes, and the broken-down chair the mystery woman sat in.

The closer I approached her, the more flies seemed to be swarming the air and the stronger the smell- good God, what is that smell! I froze dead in my tracks, my heart dropped to my stomach when I laid my eyes on Grandma...or what was left of her.

A rotting corpse, gray skin stretched tightly over bone, sat in a tattered dress hanging loosely off its frame. The eyes nothing more than hollow sockets, the lipless mouth hung open bearing the few teeth she had left in her mouth. My stomach heaved as my nostrils filled with the stench of rotting flesh. I threw a hand over my mouth, turning away to mask the smell along with the look of terror on my face.

"Grandma, this is Tilly. She's gonna marry Bubba today." She paused for a moment and stared at the corpse, nodding her head as if it were speaking to her. "That's right, she's gonna be a Sawyer!" she said with a laugh. "Tilly, dear, don't be rude. Say hi to grandma."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," I stuttered out, half gagging, the smell foul enough to sting my eyes causing tears to swell in the corners.

"I know, isn't she just the prettiest peach you ever seen. She's gonna make a good wife to Bubba. She turned her attention towards me, "Grandma wants you to shake her hand, Tilly."

Alrighty then, she's officially lost her marbles. I glared at Loretta like she was a mad woman, which she is if she's expecting me to shake hands with a dead body. And to think I thought she was the only moderately sane person here. Boy, was I wrong!

" Go on, honey. She don't bite." She brushed the few sprigs of gray hair left attached to the scalp out of the corpses face.

I reached down, everything in me screaming not to, and with two fingers picked up the boney hand, giving it a slight shake, any harder and I'm sure it would've dislocated from the socket. I kept my eyes on Loretta, avoiding the empty stare of the corpse and trying my hardest to plaster on a believable fake smile.

"Why don't you keep Grandma company while I go find that old weddin' gown. I know it's in one of these trunks somewhere." Loretta said as she left to rummage through the boxes.

I know 'grandma' isn't alive anymore and doesn't even have eyes, but I can't help but feel like she's staring right at me. A fly buzzed out of one of the hollow eye cavities making me fly back against the wall with a shriek.

"Ew, ew, ew, ew," I muttered to myself, wiping my hand against the towel around me as if it was going to scrub off the germs and nastiness.

Realizing I forgot myself for a moment, I glanced over at Loretta, praying she didn't notice my reaction, but she didn't pay me any attention and continued digging through the old trunks. Thank God, she didn't notice.

"Ahha! Here it is." she held up a box big enough to fit a pair of shoes. "I found it! Now we can finish sprucing you up."

I eagerly ventured back into the bedroom with Loretta, leaving grandma to 'rest' as she called it. She sat the box on the bed and lifted the lid off and pulling out a silky slip dress, yellowed through the years. It's the exact one from the photograph of Bubba's grandparent's wedding. That stupid picture! If only I'd never found it then I wouldn't be going through this bullcrap right now.

She slipped it over my head and let the silky material cascade down my body, the hem puddling on the floor in a pool of aged silk. It looked more like a nightgown than anything, just a simple slip with thin straps, a rather revealing plunging neckline, and a narrow silhouette that clung to my every curve. I can't go out there in this! It's practically see-through!

"Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! You remind me of myself on my weddin' day. If people could see us now they'd think I'd birthed you."

I sat at the vanity while Loretta combed out my hair and pulled it back into a half up half down style. My face was thinner than I remembered it, my hair so much longer; it nearly reached my waist now. How long have I been here? A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts making us both look in that direction.

" Who is it? " Loretta called out.

No reply came except for the doorknob jiggling and another series of knocks. She called out again, but like before the only answer that came was a stream of raps. I have a sneaky suspicion I know who's at the door. Loretta huffed, throwing down her comb seemingly carved from bone and stormed towards the door, opening it just a crack and peering out.

" No, you can not come in!" she hollered at whoever was in the hall, "I told you it's against tradition to see her before the weddin'! "

Soft whimpers echoed out from the hallway like a whine of a lost puppy. Yeah, that's Bubba alright. I could see her struggling to keep him out of the room as he fought to get in, his groans growing louder by the minute. If I don't do something now he's liable to break the door off the hinges.

" Hey Bubs!" I spoke out, my voice seemed to gain his attention. "I need you to do as your mother says and I'll see you in a bit, okay?"

He gave his usual grunt which I assumed meant 'yes' and ceased pushing against the door, much to Loretta's relief. She gave me a grateful smile before yelling at him, "Go get dressed and make sure Nubbins looks halfway decent," then slammed the door in his face.

She sighed and strode back to me, smoothing down the stray hair poking out from her bun. Opening a tube of bright cherry red lipstick, she swiped it across my lips, blending a touch into my cheeks as well to act as blush.

"He means no harm. He's a good boy, really. Just very protective of what's his. That's why I know he's gonna make a good husband to you. Who knows, maybe before long, there'll be some little feet runnin' around here."

Hold up! Kids? Now she wants me to have kids with him! This is all moving way too fast for me. This time yesterday I had no idea they were going to force me to marry him and now we're already talking about kids.

"You stay put while I go check on the boys and make sure everything's all set." She winked and slipped through the door leaving me alone.

This is my chance! It's time! I raced around the room and pried the window open, poking my head out and staring at the ground below. Holy crap, that's a long way down. It's got to be at least a 15-foot drop. If I jump, I could break my legs or even my neck, but then again, there's the chance I won't. Should I risk it? I guess I have no choice. If this goes badly, I could always say Nubbins pushed me. I'm sure Bubba would believe me.

A cold hand on my shoulder causes me to nearly jump out of my skin. Nubbins shoved me to the side and slammed the window closed barely missing my fingers. This is the first time I've actually ever seen him without dirt covering his face and somewhat clean clothes on.

"You weren't trying to run away, now were ya?" He interrogated, pointing a finger at me and squinting his already beady eyes.

I rubbed the back of my neck and made up a lie as fast as possible. "No, of course not! I was just, um, I was just getting some fresh air. "

"Oh really? Cause I was beginnin' to think ya had cold feet or somethin'. " he raised an eyebrow in accusation.

I rolled my eyes exaggeratedly and crossed my arms over my chest. "Did you need something or did you just come up here to bother me?" I said, hoping to change the subject.

" Mix of both, I guess. Momma said since you don't have a daddy I gotta walk you to Bubba. Somethin' about tradition, I don't know...but don't you be gettin' any ideas about me! I'm only doin' this 'cause momma's forcin' me! "

"Of course, I would never think you'd do it out of the kindness of your heart." I took a seat on the edge of the bed, twisting the ends of my hair around my finger.

He tried to stifle a laugh, obviously trying to hide the fact that I, the one whom he hates the most, could ever make him laugh. " Oh yeah, I almost forgot, this is for you." he rummaged around in his pants pocket and pulled out a bracelet with tiny white stone strung through a piece of braided twine.

" For me? You made this for me? " I asked taking the bracelet from his outstretched palm.

" No! I made it for me, but I screwed up and now it's too small. I know you've got those tiny little baby hands so I just thought I'd, you know, give it to you. "

"Wow, Nubbins, I never thought I'd say this, but that's actually really sweet of you. "

His cheeks turned almost as red as the scarlet birthmark on the side of his face. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked away, kicking up the dust on the floor.

I turn it over in my hands and examine the tiny white beads- wait a second! These aren't beads, they're...teeth! Human teeth!

"What's wrong? Don't like it?" He smirked as if he expected me to flip out, but I refused to let him get a reaction out of me.

I smiled sweetly, batting my eyelashes and slip it on my wrist. "Thank you, Nubbins. I absolutely love it."

He snapped his brows together and huffed probably frustrated that he couldn't get a rise out of me. "Well, let's get this show on the road." he slapped his thighs and hopped out of his seat. "I've got better things to be doin' today than sittin' here with you.

"Like what? Digging up graves? Bleaching bones?"

He glared at me, "Would you just shut up and let me take ya to Bubba before Momma starts pitchin' a hissy fit."

"I don't know, I think I'd like to stay here for a little while longer. It might be kinda funny to see Loretta fuss at you."

" You little- either you're gonna get up and walk your lazy butt down there or I'll drag you by the hair of your head. It's up to you, woman 'cause either ones okay with me.

"Alright, alright! Geez, I'll go. learn to take a joke, will you!" I snapped, giving him a dirty look.

He opened the bedroom door and dramatically flourished his hand, gesturing for me to pass through. I hesitated in the doorway, dreading what I'm about to have to do. Just play nice and stall them for a little while longer, Tilly. Who knows, maybe this won't be so bad after all. Play their game, but use my wit to outsmart them. Pretend to be the doting bride and when they least expect it, run for it.

"Ready, Babydoll?" He asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be" I answered back as I followed him to the living room where my future husband was waiting.