Jenny
Igiggle at Raffe. He’s darting between trees on the other side of the lake. I knew he would follow me. I’m okay with that. I’m still proud of myself for going without his help, even though he was near.
Lexie and Kelsie are waiting for me on the patio when I return to the warehouse. Raffe comes around the side of the house and skids to a stop. The girls jump to their feet, saving him from having to talk to me … he’s a bit winded.
“Oh, good you’re here,” Kelsie says. “I hung my dress in the meeting room. We’ll have more room in there.”
“And privacy,” Lexie adds.
I look at Raffe, and he waves his hand, urging me to follow them. He’s still trying to suck in a full breath. It makes me chuckle.
“I’ll see you in a bit,” I tell him, and he nods.
I follow the girls into what looks like a boardroom.
When Kelsie unzips the bag with her mother’s wedding gown in it, I suddenly can’t breathe. I shouldn’t have laughed at Raffe. That’s karma for you.
“Oh, Kelsie. It’s beautiful.”
“There is a picture of Mom in her dress here somewhere,” she says, stepping over to a wall filled with pictures. She points to one. “Here it is.”
I walk over to it. It’s of Lily and my father on her wedding day. He’s walking her down the aisle. My heart equally rejoices and weeps. I’m happy she had him. I just wish I had a similar photo.
“She looks so happy.”
“Oh my god. Her and Dad are so in love. It’s quite sickening sometimes. He still picks her up and tosses her over his shoulder, you know?” She pauses to smack her own ass. “Yep. He smacks her ass and all. He doesn’t even care if my brothers and I are in the room.”
“Well, at least you won’t be having to witness that for a few months,” I tell her.
Both of the girls bust out laughing. Lexie smacks Kelsie’s butt. “That’s how all these babies be starting around here.”
We continue to laugh and joke as I measure her. “I think we just need to let the waist out a bit and then shorten the hem. How can you be shorter than your mom?” I ask, teasing her.
“I know, right?”
Raffe told me Kelsie was trafficked by a family member, and that Dan and Lily adopted her. She’s so sweet. She reminds me a lot of Lily.
“This will be an easy fix. I just need to find some sewing supplies.”
“Oh, I think Rachel had a whole box of sewing stuff at her house,” Lexie says. “I’ll go ask Raffe if we can borrow it.” She jumps to her feet and rushes out the door before I can stop her.
Kelsie hugs me around the neck. “Thank you so much. Mom is going to love this!”
Raffe peeks in the door. “I’m going to run over to the house. I’ll be right back.”
I give him a hesitant nod. He walks over and gives me a kiss … a good one.
“It’s okay,” he assures me. “It’s just a sewing kit. She’d want to help.”
I give him a tiny smile.
He winks at me and then disappears. Kelsie and Lexie both giggle.
“What?”
“Raffe is to die for,” Lexie says, pretending to faint in her chair. Her friend nods in agreement.
“Girls, you’re both getting married in two weeks,” I say, shaking my head.
