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Vada glanced down and smiled, lifting her arm. “It arrived this morning with your note.”
Gloria looked up, completely bewildered. It was an odd reaction. Gloria had sent it to Vada. It couldn’t have come as too much of a shock that she’d actually worn it.
“My note?”
“Yes.”
Gloria hiked her brows. “I sent you this bracelet with a note signed by me?”
“Yes.”
Gloria smiled and angled her head to Vada’s mother. “Really?”
Vada was completely lost. The only person who didn’t seem confused was her mother. Vada watched the silent exchange between the two women. While Gloria seemed amused, her mother appeared to be issuing a warning. One that Gloria completely ignored.
“Sweetheart, I didn’t send you the bracelet.” Gloria hooked her thumb, aiming it directly to her right. “Your mother did.”
What? Vada jerked her head to her mom, who remained silent, scowling at Gloria.
“Can I see it?”
Vada was so shocked she barely heard Allie. All she could do was stare back at her mother, who refused to meet her gaze. Vada felt a warm hand wrap around her arm and tug gently. It yanked her out of her trance. Her aunt stepped forward, grasping her arm. Allie stepped closer for a better view.
“This bracelet has been handed down through the family for four generations. All the brides wore it and passed it down to their daughters. It was offered to Vada’s sister on her wedding day, but she declined.” Gloria cocked her brow and curled her lip.
“Why?” Allie asked.
“Oh, ’cause that one is high maintenance, and since it isn’t an expensive Zink heirloom, she wasn’t interested.” Gloria’s mocking tone got a scolding sneer from her mother.
Vada flattened her lips, knowing her aunt was speaking the truth.
“It didn’t go with the rest of her jewelry.” Her mother may have been excusing Vada’s sister, but something was off in her tone. Hurt?
“So what? It’s the meaning behind it. Our mother wore it, and her mother wore it. It’s a tradition.” Gloria looked up at Vada, smiling. “I wore it at all three of my weddings.”
Her mother sighed heavily, rolled her eyes, and playfully nudged Gloria’s arm. “Don’t tell her that. She’ll think it’s bad luck.”
Vada chuckled. Seeing the banter between the sisters made her mother seem all the more real. Not a carbon copy of all the women in her charity group or society events. Not Carolyn Zink. Simply Carolyn.
“Well, you wore it too, and you’re still married.”
Vada furrowed her brows. “You did?”
It was hard to envision her mother in anything this subtle.
Her mother nodded, a soft smile on her lips as she stared down at the bracelet.
“It’s really pretty,” Allie said.
“Someday, you’ll wear it if you’d like,” her mother said, smiling down at Allie.
“I want to wear it.”
Vada wrapped her arm around Allie’s shoulder and took her in for a hug. Someday, you will.
“Alright, Allie, come help Aunt Gloria find some snacks for the road and a favor. I heard you helped make them.”
Vada watched her aunt and Allie walk hand in hand over to the favor table. It was interesting to see a bonding relationship form so quickly. Gloria didn’t have that with any of Vada’s siblings’ children. She’ll have it with mine.
