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ChapterTwenty-One
Andrea was panicking. Why had she allowed her sisters to talk her into accepting the date with Donny? She wasn’t ready for a relationship, not right now when the most important one was broken. She needed to be focusing her energy on reconciling her relationship with her daughter.
Her mother and sisters had counseled her to give Rory time to process her feelings. She understood that, but it didn’t make it any easier to have her daughter so close and yet so far. Rory was still staying by the inn, and though she ate meals with the family, she barely exchanged more than two words with Andrea.
“Andrea, you’re overthinking it,” Cora said above her head as she styled her hair. “All you need to focus on is having a good time, not where it will lead.”
Andrea sighed sadly. “But how can I enjoy myself knowing that my daughter won’t even speak with me?” she bemoaned.
Josephine was crouched down before her, painting her nails, when she looked up at her. “As much as Rory is not speaking to you right now, that girl loves you very much, and she wants you to be happy,” she told her with assurance.
“You neglected your own personal happiness to make sure your daughter had everything she needed and was happy without the help of her father. You can’t keep neglecting your own happiness, Drea.” Cora gave her a meaningful look. “Do you remember the dreams and aspirations book you had back in high school?” she asked.
Andrea nodded, remembering all the dreams she had. One of them was to be married and raise a family.
“This is your chance to tick off some things from that book, Drea. Don’t let this be a missed opportunity.”
“I love you guys. I don’t know what I would do without you here,” she expressed. The sisters hugged, feeling their bond being strengthened by their shared experiences.
The sisters resumed what they were doing earlier: Cora putting her hair up into a high bun and Josephine painting her nails. They helped her into the baby blue silk dress they had chosen for her and her strappy heels.
A smile of appreciation graced her lips as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
“You look absolutely breathtaking, Drea. I’m pretty sure you’re going to give Donny a heart attack,” Cora spoke, coming up to her.
Andrea laughed at her sister’s overgenerous compliment.
“I thought the aim was to get him to take me to dinner, not for me to take him to the hospital.”
“In any case, we would still know it had the right effect,” Josephine chimed in.
“I love you girls so much,” she cheesed.
The doorbell rang fifteen minutes later, and Cora went downstairs to let in Donny while Josephine assisted Andrea down the stairs.
She saw him before he saw her. She felt butterflies stir in her stomach as she felt warmness travel up her neck before settling in her cheeks. When he saw her, his eyes widened in amazement before shuttering in appreciation.
“You look beautiful. Wow,” he expressed, offering her the bouquet of purple and yellow tulips and daffodils.
“Thank you.” She blushed, taking the flowers from his hand and bringing them to her face to smell their soft fragrance.
“I’ll take these and put them in some water for you,” Cora offered, taking the flowers.
“Hi, I’m Josephine. We haven’t met yet,” her sister greeted Donny with a wide grin.
“Hi, Josephine. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You didn’t tell me he was this handsome.” She turned to Andrea with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Thank you, I guess?” Donny said, unsure as the statement had been directed at her sister.
The two left shortly after her sister grilled him and warned him not to make their sister cry, much to her chagrin.
“Did I mention that you look absolutely breathtaking?” Donny asked, briefly looking over at her before turning his attention back to the road.
“I don’t mind hearing it a few more times,” she encouraged.
“Oh, I plan on it,” he returned.
