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The door that leads from the kitchen to the backyard opens and Amelia asks, “Who’s excited?” a smile taking over her face.
“I am!” Izzie shouts.
“Hi, Charlotte,” Amelia says, stepping forward and giving her a hug. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” she replies, pulling back, her gaze tracking from Amelia’s feet up to her face. “You look beautiful.”
I roll my eyes, she would say that, she’s wearing one of her designs. The green colored dress hangs off one shoulder and flows down to below her knees.
Amelia’s face turns bright red as she clears her throat and turns to face me. “Can I get a ride with you and the kids?”
“Of course,” I answer, frowning at the dress she’s wearing. “You need to get a coat.” It’s meant to come out like a question but sounds more like a demand.
Amelia is like the little sister that I never had, and as such, I try to look out for her.
“No.” She rolls her eyes. “I don’t.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to reply because she’s flitting off toward Izzie, admiring her dress and pulling her hair into a braid as she tells her that she looks pretty.
Mom smirks and takes the cup of coffee that I offer her and Edward’s, handing it to him before turning back around and leaning against the counter next to me; watching Clay and Izzie as they eat their muffins.
Izzie asks Edward if he likes her dress and he nods, telling her she looks just like a princess.
“Daddy said he liked this one the best, so I picked it.” She then gasps
and looks at Amelia. “We’re matching!”
“Would you look at that, we are!” Amelia says, her voice rising an octave and I chuckle at their dramatics.
“Are we ready?” I ask several minutes later.
Mom walks over to Clay and Izzie, standing between them and hugging them both at the same time. “I can’t wait to see all of your artwork.”
Clay’s face is unsure, but Izzie is very obviously excited.
They jump down from their stool and walk out of the kitchen and I follow behind, all of us heading toward our cars.
Edward starts walking to the car he drives me around in and I call out to him, “Wrong car.”
I smirk as he looks up at me and chuckle as he shakes his head. “Sorry, force of habit.” He walks away with Mom’s laughter behind him as they walk to his car.
I go to strap Izzie in but Amelia has already beaten me to it so I slide into the driver’s seat before I start the engine, ready to see what they’ve been making at the art class for the last six weeks and excited that I finally get to meet the elusive Miss J.
I pull into the first space that I can find outside the studio, which took a while because the street is full of cars for the gallery night.
I slide out of the car before opening the back door for Izzie to get out. She steps onto the sidewalk and pats her dress back into place as Amelia opens the door for Clay, walking with him over to where we’re standing.
I hold my hand out for Izzie and she leads the way, pulling on my hand as we get closer to the studio.
I hear Mom’s intake of breath as she walks up behind us with Edward. “It’s beautiful,” she whispers, her eyes filling with wonder as her gaze flits around the building.
I know exactly what she’s feeling. It’s as magical now as it was the first day I pulled up to the beautiful studio.
“Come on, Daddy!” Izzie squeals, pulling me with more force than a girl her size should have.
We walk along the cobblestone path, stopping at the line that is forming at the door. Once we’re there and waiting, I look down at Clay, frowning at the worried look on his face.
My gaze catches Mom’s and I tilt my head down to Izzie, silently asking her to switch places with me. She flits her gaze down at Clay then back at me, smiling and switching places with me without a word said.
