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“Why do you—” The door closed behind her and it was too late for me to finish my question. “I wonder what that’s about,” I shrugged.
Deciding not to dwell on it, I sat back down, glancing at the clock. It was close to lunchtime, and there were still hours until the wedding, but suddenly I wished I could make time go faster…even though I was going to have to say my own vows. I still didn’t have any plan for what I would say, but I wasn’t nervous about it anymore. Once I got up there and saw him it would come to me then.
The door opened again and Cecilia entered with a tray of food for everyone and a small girl clinging to her legs.
Wide dark brown eyes met mine and I crouched in front of the girl.
“Hi,” I said softly, “are you, Ella?”
She nodded her head slowly, looking up at Cecilia for reassurance. I held out a hand and she placed her smaller one in my palm. “I’m Olivia. Do you know who I am?”
She nodded again and let go of Cecilia. “Daddy says you’re my cousin,” her voice was quiet. She was the cutest kid I had ever seen. She couldn’t have been much older than five.
“That’s true,” I smiled warmly.
“What does that mean?” She asked.
“It means,” I ran a finger over her soft cheek, “that my daddy and your daddy were brothers.”
“But daddy’s brother isn’t here,” she tilted her head questioningly.
“No, he’s not.” I didn’t elaborate, since I was unsure of how much Ella knew about Derek.
“You’re pretty,” she touched the side of my face with her small hand, then touched a piece of my hair. “I want to look like you when I grow up.”
“Well, thank you,” I laughed. “That’s a very nice compliment.”
“Do you know where my grandma is?” She looked around the room.
“She left for a bit but she’ll be right back,” I explained. “Would you like to wait with me?”
She nodded, clutching my hand tighter.
She looked over at Avery as Nikki pulled her hair into a bun with braids on each side.
“Can she make my hair pretty?” Ella asked me.
I looked to Nikki for confirmation before I said anything. “Sure sweetie.”
“I want my hair to be pretty like yours,” she gently grabbed one of the springy curls.
“I can make that happen,” Nikki smiled at the little girl.
“Thank you,” Ella squeaked, hiding shyly behind my legs.
“You want to meet my mom?” I asked her.
She nodded and let me lead her over to the bed. “That’s my mom, Nora, and Trace’s mom, Lily.”
“Hi, Ella,” my mom smiled kindly at the little girl.
“Ella is such a pretty name,” Lily said.
“Thank you,” Ella poked her head out from behind my legs. “Who’s Trace?”
“Trace is going to be my husband,” I explained.
“Oh,” her small lips formed an O. “Can I see your dress?”
