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Avery types something on her phone, and a second later, it rings. She puts it on speaker. “Everything okay with you guys?”
Josh’s voice fills the kitchen. “We’re doing great. Don’t worry, baby,” Avery’s husband says. “Miles is fighting with some of the decorations, but otherwise, everything’s under control. I told him to let me handle it, but your brother is a little stubborn. Did you know that?”
“You’re the stubborn one who keeps asking me if I want help when there’s so much to do,” Miles argues. “I would be more helpful in the kitchen.”
“Honey, be nice,” Riley chimes in as she walks by and rolls her eyes, whispering, “Worse than children” to us.
“All right,” Avery chuckles. “We’ll be there soon. Love you.”
“Be safe. Love you,” Josh says and hangs up.
“On a scale of one to ten,” Avery says as she closes another box, “how much should we be worried that we left them in charge of setting everything up?”
“Probably ten if Lola wasn’t there to supervise them,” I say, laughing nervously. I pick up my phone to text Matt.
Charlee
ETA?
Matt
We’re packing things up. Will bring him back to you on schedule, boss.
Charlee
Thank you. See you there.
I set it down. “We should get going in thirty minutes so we have plenty of time before James and Matt come back from their camping weekend with Oli.”
Avery smiles. “We’ll be ready. It’s gonna be perfect, Charlee. Go on, go change. We’ll finish loading the boxes in the car.”
I blow out a sharp breath. “Okay. Thanks, Ave.”
“No worries.”
I climb the stairs two at a time, trepidation seeping through my every pore. I haven’t been able to stand still for the past week, but the last two days have really done a number on me. Luckily, Oliver wasn’t here to see me lose my mind.
I make my way upstairs to the walk-in closet, where I arranged all my clothes after moving in, and fumble through the few dresses I own. It’s rather warm for April, and I can’t help but think that this is a sign that Carol and Jerry are looking down on us, warming us with the pride I know they’ve always carried for their grandson.
I pick out an outfit I haven’t had the heart to look at in a long time: a steel-blue midi dress that hugs my narrow waist in soft satin and highlights the curve of my breasts, thanks to the plunging neckline. Emotion claws at my throat at the memories of the last time I wore it and how different things are now from that doomed day.
“Everything is going to go perfectly,” I tell my reflection as I dab some mascara on my lashes and shake my hair into place.
“Char, we’re good to go!” Riley calls from the kitchen downstairs.
“I’ll be right down!”
I draw three deep, slow breaths and let the air fill my lungs and cool the heat drumming in my veins.
I’ve spent the last six months planning, scheming, and organizing. It all comes down to today.
I still can’t believe I’ve managed to pull this off.
So far, at least.
Riley didn’t hesitate when I called her right after I stormed out of Rob’s office and asked her for something I’d never asked for in my entire life: money. I’m sure she had a ministroke over the phone when that happened. Her sister, asking for help. When she shared my plan with her husband, Miles texted his sister, Avery, right away to see if she’d be available to immortalize today’s event.
And then came James, Matt, and Lola, who all heaved a sigh of relief when I told them my idea and asked them to embark on this project for Oliver—and to pitch in however they were comfortable.
