It's Better This Way(75)

“That tells you how badly he feels about this mess, doesn’t it?” Julia said, letting her daughter draw her own conclusion.

Hillary didn’t respond. She reached for her fork, and her phone pinged, indicating she had a text message.

Marie’s pinged at the same time.

    Julia knew the text was likely from Laura.

Hillary reached for her phone and so did Marie. They read the message and their gazes immediately went to each other.

“What is it?” Carrie asked.

“It’s from Laura,” Marie explained.

“Mine, too,” Hillary said.

“Another joke?” Carrie asked.

“No. She asked if Marie and I would come to dinner.”

“Will you go?”

Julia continued enjoying her meal, when all three faces turned to look at her as if seeking out her advice.

“Mom? Should we?”

“Don’t look at me,” Julia said. “This is your decision.”

“But…”

“But nothing.”

“If anyone wants my opinion,” Carrie said, “you should, and I’ll go with you.”





Chapter 30




Carrie wasn’t sure what had led her to insist on accompanying her two cousins to dinner with Laura. As soon as she offered, she’d changed her mind, and then Hillary and Marie claimed they wouldn’t go without her. She apparently was to tag along as moral support.

Hillary sent a return text to Laura, stating Carrie would be joining them. She must have phrased the reply in such a way that indicated it was a package deal. No sooner had she sent the text when the okay came through claiming Uncle Eddie insisted he wanted to be there, too, and instead of meeting at a restaurant they should come to the house. Following that message, the three had a long discussion and decided to agree, seeing that Laura was happy to include Carrie.



* * *



—

    Early that same evening, the three rode together, with Hillary driving. Blake had also been invited, but unfortunately had other plans that couldn’t be changed on such short notice.

Or so he said.

Carrie got the impression Blake wanted Hillary to make peace with her dad first before adding him to the mix. She could understand his reservation, given the history between father and daughter.

When they arrived at their father’s house, Hillary parked at the curb in front of the upscale one-level home. Carrie knew neither Hillary nor Marie had set foot inside before tonight.

Hillary turned off the engine, and no one made a move to climb out of the car.

“You ready for this?” Marie asked no one and everyone.

“I don’t know,” Hillary admitted, sounding uncertain.

“Is Laura a bad cook?” Carrie asked, hoping to lighten the mood. “Is that why you’re hesitating?”

“Oh, for the love of heaven, this isn’t about food, Carrie,” Hillary snapped.

Carrie giggled. “I know. Come on, I think I saw your dad pull back the drapes and peek outside.” She hadn’t seen any such thing; she feared her cousins would remain in the car all night if she didn’t prompt them to move.

“You’re right. We need to go inside.” Marie was the first to open the car door.

“Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this,” Hillary muttered under her breath. She continued to sound apprehensive.

Carrie had the feeling her cousins badly wanted to repair the relationship with their father, but pride and a sense of betrayal had blocked them. They’d both come a long way since Hillary and Blake had announced their engagement.

    As they approached the front door, it flew open before they had a chance to ring the doorbell. Uncle Eddie was in the entry, his eyes wide and smiling.

“Hi, Dad,” Marie whispered, and her voice cracked with emotion.

Uncle Eddie held his arms open and Marie walked straight to him, slipping her own around his middle. Carrie’s uncle embraced his daughter and then slowly closed his eyes, as if he’d been waiting and praying for this moment for the last six years.

He released Marie, who stepped away. Then he looked to Hillary, and with tears in his eyes, opened his arms to her.

Hillary paused, and while it might have been wrong of her, Carrie nudged her from behind, pushing her in the small of her back.

Taking a halting step, Hillary went to her dad and allowed him to hug her after Marie.

When her uncle and cousin parted, Carrie noticed Eddie had tears in his eyes. He wiped the moisture from his face, smearing the tears over his cheeks. With another sniffle, he offered them both a huge smile.

“I thought I’d never get the chance to hug my daughters again,” he said, and his voice shook as he whispered the words.

“You didn’t make it easy, Dad,” Hillary reminded him.

“I know. I know. I’m sorry. I never—” He didn’t finish, because Hillary cut him off.

“Please, don’t say anything more.”

Surprise widened his eyes. “Why not…I want to tell you how sorry I am.”

    “I got it—you have regrets, yet every time you open your mouth it seems you make everything worse, so let’s go with you’re sorry and leave it at that.”