The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(64)

“Hey, if the shoe fits wear it.”

I’m not even touching that one.

Grabbing the bags of food, we head inside to immediately be greeted by Winnie and Binx. I let Winnie out back and set out the food on the counter.

“I didn’t think I was hungry, but this actually smells really good.” She picks up a fry, biting off the end.

After I let Winnie inside, we sit down to eat and head upstairs to bed.

I pull her into my arms, burying my head into the crook of her neck. I inhale her scent, thinking about how I could’ve lost her today. But I didn’t.

I hold her that much closer.





CHAPTER 41





SALEM





“Your cast is going to be a unique accessory to your bridesmaid dress,” Lauren says with amusement, signing her name to the hard pink arm cast.

“I know,” I sigh, frowning at my reflection in the mirror of the dress shop. The light pink of the cast seems to stick out like a blinding light against the sage color of the bridesmaid dress. “I’m sorry. It totally clashes.”

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t care about the cast. I care about you.”

“I know, but I feel bad.” I frown at my reflection in the massive floor length mirror. The cast is thick and bulky, sticking out like a sore thumb.

“Stop.” She waves her hands through the air, flapping them in my face. “Nuh-uh. We’re not doing this. None of this feeling bad shit. No moping. I mean it.”

“Okay.” I paste a smile on my face. “As long as you’re okay with it, that’s all that matters.”

“You act like I’d kick you out of my wedding for a broken arm. Do you think so little of me?” She jokes, heading behind the curtain so the seamstress can help her into her dress for the final fitting. Two weeks from now we head to Vegas for the bachelorette party and her wedding is the weekend after that.

So many things are happening this summer. The good thing is, between the birth of Victoria and Lauren’s wedding it’s been a nice distraction from losing my mom.

Stepping off the riser, I take a seat on the couch by one of Lauren’s other bridesmaids named Holly. She works with Lauren. On her other side is Elizabeth, Anthony’s sister. The wedding party is rounded out with two other friends—Kelsey and Sabrina whom she met through an art gallery she loves.

When Lauren steps out from behind the curtain, we all collectively gasp.

Lauren is stunning. Her dress is sleek and form fitting, modern and yet classic at the same time.

She grins at our reaction. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

She went with only her mom to pick out her dress and ended up having something custom designed since nothing suited her taste, so it’s the first time any of us are seeing it.

“You look stunning!” Holly cries.

“So beautiful.” Elizabeth wipes a tear from her eye.

“You’re an absolute looker,” this is from Kelsey.

Sabrina adds, “Anthony is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”

That leaves me for last. “You’re beautiful, Lauren. You’re a … well, you’re a bride.”

She beams from ear to ear, clapping her hands together. She launches into a detailed description of what she has planned for her hair and makeup. I love hearing her so happy and excited for her wedding. Anthony’s the perfect guy for her.

When the fitting appointment is over, we all head to brunch at one of Lauren’s favorite restaurants in the city.

After our orders are placed, Lauren turns to me. “Tell me, how are things going with Caleb?”

“The usual, I guess.”

Her eyes narrow and she picks up her mimosa, taking a sip. “You guess?”

I sigh, not really wanting to get into it, but Lauren is like a dog with a bone, and I know she won’t let this go easily.

“It’s just hard trying to figure out custody. Neither of us really wants to get a mediator involved, but with school getting ready to start I want her to live with me during the week and I’d like to have her some weekends too, but Caleb is arguing that her school is in Boston, and she’s used to it so we shouldn’t change her.”

Lauren squeezes my hand sympathetically. “No offense to Caleb, but you’re her mom. I don’t just mean that in the DNA sense. You’re the one who’s stayed at home with her and all that. Besides, he works long hours. I don’t think he can be as stable for her as he’d like to think he can be.”

I pull my hair back into a ponytail, more from the need to busy my hands with something than an actual need to get my hair out of my face. “I think he assumed I’d move back to Boston and none of this would be a big deal, because even if I moved out of our place I’d still be in the city, but with me staying in Hawthorne Mills that puts us a few hours away.”

“I know you probably won’t like me saying this, but honey, he’s being selfish. Seda needs to be with you, and he can have her some weekends.”

She makes it all sound so simple, but there’s nothing easy about sharing custody of your child. It doesn’t matter how well things ended, it’s a complicated situation.

“We’ll figure it out,” I say evasively.

“I’m not letting this go.” She wags a finger. “If she’s going to be with you, she has to get enrolled soon. You know this. Stop being a wimp and tell him like it is.”