Page 7 of Finding My Forever

I cringed. “Oh boy.”

“Yeah. Plus, Grandma said I wouldn’t meet my true love until I had the necklace, so I’m just waiting on you.” She batted her eyelashes at me while I rolled my eyes.

She’d been holding that over my head since we first learned about the necklace. It’s passed down through the women in our family based on age, so we’ve always known she would get it after me. It drove her crazy and brought me just a little bit of joy.

“I’ll work on that.”

“Would you? I’d really appreciate it if you could hurry up.”

I stuck the last rose into the vase before leveling her with my gaze. “We’re eighteen. What’s the rush?”

“My mom was in high school when she met my dad. It’s not that crazy.” She pointed out.

“It will happen when it’s supposed to. Isn’t it nice knowing you don’t have to worry about it right now?”

As much as I wanted the necklace when it belonged to my sisters, now it felt like a weight around my neck, reminding me it could happen at any time. There was pressure to find him fast, so Skylar could have her chance. There was also making sure I didn’t miss the moment like Elise did. No way could I let that happen after mocking her for it. Anytime I meet a new person, I checked my necklace. It was ridiculous and I was pretty sure it was making me slowly go insane.

“I guess. It’s just…what if I meet him before I have the necklace and I don’t know.”

“It hasn’t happened.” I walked to the table with the ribbons and selected a red to match the roses. When I was back, Skylar leaned forward until she had my attention.

“No one had missed it change either. Things are possible.”

I giggled. “That was different. Elise is just a ditz.”

Skylar focused on her arrangement for a moment before looking back at me. “Just hurry up, okay?”

I let out a giggle. “I’ll try.”

We finished the rest of the day’s orders without discussing the necklace again, thankfully. Just after six Mom came back into the room.

“We’re meeting everyone for dinner at seven, so you need to go home and shower now.”

I nodded to her back since she was already gone.

“Do you want help sweeping?” We already cleaned the tables and restocked, but I felt bad leaving Sky when there was more cleaning to do.

“No, I’ve got it.”

“Okay, I’ll get it next time.” I pulled my apron off and hung it back up. “See you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

I showered and was ready in record time to be able to ride with my parents to the restaurant. It wasn’t my favorite place, which was weird considering it was my celebratory dinner, but the Italian restaurant was one of the few places that could handle our whole family without days’ notice.

Grandma was sitting at the table with my sister, Beth, and her husband, Finn. Grandma looked as sophisticated as ever in a cream blazer with a navy top under. She was one of the few older ladies I knew that hadn’t lost her fashion sense. That was one of the things that made shopping and spending time with her so fun.

Beth looked more relaxed than I’d seen her in a while. She was normally dressed in strictly professional attire, even though she owned the essential oils business she worked at. She could wear sweats or leggings to the office, but she was a mini version of Grandma. Tonight, however, she was wearing a casual dress with her long, red hair straight around her shoulders. I smiled at her and she winked back. She had something to tell me. I could feel it.

I peeked a glance at Finn and he, too, seemed more relaxed than normal in a plaid button-up. He looked much more handsome now than in his normal suit and tie with a stressed expression. What were those two up to?

I hurried to Grandma first and gave her a hug. “Hi Grandma! Thanks for coming.”

She squeezed me tightly back. “Of course, I’m here! I’m so proud of you, April.”

I took the seat across from her and greeted my sister and brother-in-law while my parents took their seats. There were two more vacant spots.

“Are Elise and Dallin coming?”