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But I don’t want the fear of public speaking to take anything from me.
So we’re doing this. We’re having a wedding.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I breathe out, trying to relax.
“Done,” Daisy says. “You can open your eyes now.”
I do, and my reflection stares back at me. It’s blurry. Go figure. I grab my glasses. Nothing fancy for today. Just a new pair I bought a few months ago with dark rims.
When I put them on, everything is clear. My brown hair cascades over my shoulder in soft waves. Shimmery subtle pink on my eyes looks pretty with the warm blush on my cheeks. Daisy is a miracle worker because I look…stunning.
My lips part. “I look beautiful.”
Daisy smiles brighter than the sun, her green eyes on mine through the mirror. “You’ve always been beautiful. You’re just even more radiant today.”
I could totally volley that back to her and say, no. She’s the radiant one, but I believe and feel her words. I am Willow Hale. I am radiant.
And I’m about to get married.
My eulogy will change by tomorrow. And I know just what it’ll be.
There was that Willow Abbey, how radiant she looked. How in love she was. How beautiful her life has been.
A happy laugh escapes me, and my eyes mist. “Oh crap.” I wave a hand at my eyes, trying to stop myself from crying. “I’m gonna mess it up.” While I don’t care too much about imperfections today, I really don’t want to walk down the aisle with mascara streaking my cheeks.
Daisy wafts a magazine towards my face, trying to dry my eyes. “Tears be gone!”
I laugh again.
Daisy smiles. “If Lily said tears be gone, it might actually happen. I have a theory she’s the most magical of us all.”
“I believe that one.” We talk about Lily using the alohomora spell to get a Pop-Tart to pop out of a toaster faster. Did it work? Kind of. More than anything, I think it’s sweet that Daisy believes her sister is magical.
Daisy sets down the magazine, and when I catch another glimpse of my refection, something heavy weighs my shoulders.
My smile morphs into a frown, and a wave of sadness just…pulverizes me. Tears develop for an entirely different reason.
“Willow,” Daisy whispers in concern. “What’s wrong?” She plucks a bunch of tissues from a box and passes them to me.
I dab at the corners of my eyes, trying to stop myself from truly crying.
If I dig deep enough, I know where the brunt of my anxiety lies. Where my hurt has been planted like a seed, and it blooms today into an ugly tree right inside my heart.
“I should have tried harder,” I whisper. “To contact them. What if they didn’t get the invitation and that’s why they never RSVP’d?” My mom and Ellie changed their phone numbers, so there was no way to call and invite them to the wedding. A formal invitation by mail was the only way to reach them, but I’m not sure if they still live in the same house.
“I could have driven out to them,” I add. “Invited them in person.” I try not to cry more. “I’m a horrible daughter. Horrible big sister—”
“Hey, you’re none of those things,” Daisy refutes. She puts her hands on my shoulders, gearing me up for an amazing Daisy Meadows pep talk. “It takes two to tango, Willow. Your mom should be the one putting in the most effort to bridge this gap. Don’t put that on yourself. Especially not today.”
It’s hard not to feel like this is the moment where I finally lose them. Where I shut the door on the idea of a relationship with my mom and sister ever again. Then again, Garrison’s family isn’t here either. He didn’t want them to come, and I understand why.
Maybe it’s good that my mom and sister aren’t coming too.
There’s too much baggage. Too much damage.
For us both.
A knock sounds on the door. “Mommy!”
The door to the dressing room cracks open and a four-year-old bounds in. Her wild brown hair coming undone beneath silver clips, Sullivan Meadows races to her mom’s side. I just see a brief glimpse of Poppy, who gives me a short wave and bright smile before closing the door to offer us privacy.
Daisy makes a playful noise. “Well if it isn’t the most beautiful mermaid in the whole wide sea.”
“Mommy!” Sulli bellows again. “Aunt Poppy says that it’s time for me to get the flowers.”
“Aunt Poppy is correct on that one.” Daisy collects the basket of blue hydrangea petals off another vanity.
“I like your dress, Sulli,” I say as I stand, white tulle flowing around my feet.
Sulli spins to me and then gasps almost like an imitation of her mom. “Whoa, you’re pretty. Like Elsa. No, like Cinderella. No, like Ariel!” Sulli goes on to list every single Disney princess. And I mean it, she names every. Single. One.
