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“He’s going to love it.”
She looked absolutely stunning in her flirty black dress.
“I always wanted a moment like this. Like a real mom-and-daughter moment,” she clarified.
“That’s the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.” Mom fanned her face.
“Why don’t we leave Izzy and Bridgette alone for a minute.” Charlotte grabbed Mom’s hand to usher her out.
I was grateful for my baby sister.
Ophelia went to walk out the door too, but she stopped and stared, making sure I saw her clearly. She gave me a slight nod before disappearing through the door. Maybe someday I would fully win her over.
Once everyone was gone, Bridgette turned in her chair to face me. She gave me an uneasy smile. “It’s just weird; you’ve been more of a mom to me than my own mother. Like, how is that possible?” her voice hitched.
I knelt next to her on the marble tile, not caring that my knees would pay for it later. “Honey.” I smoothed her creamy cheek. “I know this is hard for you and Rory.”
“That’s the thing—it’s not. You make it easy.”
Oh, that got me right in the feels. I smiled wide. “You and Rory are easy to love.”
“Then why didn’t our mother love us?”
I fell back on my heels and let out a deep breath. “I don’t know that she didn’t love you. It’s that she didn’t love herself. And when you don’t love yourself, sometimes you take that out on other people. Have you ever heard the sayingmisery loves company?”
“I think so.”
“Well, I think your mother was miserable, and so she thought everyone else should be too. I’m sorry that included you and Rory and your dad.”
“I cry because I don’t miss her.”
“I think you miss what should have been, and that’s okay.”
She nodded her gorgeous head. “But you’ll be here, right?” she begged to know.
“Always,” I promised.
She threw her arms around my neck. “You’re the best, Izzy.”
That was getting pretty close toI love you. Regardless, I would take it. “I think you’re pretty great too. Now, should we go out there and knock this boy’s socks off?”
Her eyes lit up. “Yeah. But, wait. I don’t want to have sex for a long time, but was that stuff your mom said true? Can you tear like that?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But it’s highly unlikely. We can talk more about it later if you want.”
“I’d like that. It’s kind of weird talking to my dad about girl things.”
“I get that. But he is a doctor.”
She rolled her eyes. “Believe me, I know. He gets out charts and uses all these scientific names I can’t pronounce.”
I laughed, thinking I would definitely be teasing him about that later. “I promise no charts, and only names you know.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Izzy.” She gave me a quick hug before we walked out to find Cruz had arrived.
Poor kid probably wasn’t expecting an entourage. He stood near the cottage door in a dark suit and tie shaking and holding a clear box with a gorgeous red rose corsage. Cruz took one look at Bridgette and dropped the corsage, while his eyes popped out of his head. “You look beautiful,” he stammered.
Patrick, too, couldn’t keep his eyes off his baby girl, who looked very grown up. The wistfulness in his gaze was apparent.
