Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
She laughs, then fills my lips with pink lipstick.
Damaris taps on the door. “May I come in, ladies?”
Pippa steps back and assesses her work. “You’re done and insanely beautiful. Check you out, hottie.”
She steps away from the mirror so I can see myself. Wow. I look like I usually do, just elevated. I’m … pretty.
“Bianca?” Damaris asks.
“Oh, yes. Please, come in.”
I don’t know why I suddenly have an overwhelming need for approval, but I do.
I stand, smoothing out the flattering white sundress Astrid found at Halcyon. The tiered-ruffle empire-waist design is finished with self-tie shoulder straps and hosts a swingy hem. With the smocked back panel, it gives me a breezy silhouette that’s simple and elegant.
Damaris’s hands clasp in front of her. “Bianca. Oh, my gosh. You are stunning.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. That dress is divine.” She bumps her hips with Pippa. “And you did a tremendous job on the makeup. You can barely tell she has any on, and the way you brought out her beautiful eyes? Amazing.”
Pippa beams.
Damaris takes a tissue and dabs her eyes. “Okay. I came bearing a gift.”
“You didn’t have to bring me anything. If anyone owes anyone a gift, I owe you for putting this whole day together.”
“Nonsense.” In her hand lies a small blue ribbon, only about four inches long. “This is a bookmark from Foxx’s baby book. I thought you may need something blue.”
I’m unsure what to say as I take the satin fabric between my fingers. She was planning on giving this to Foxx’s actual wife. This doesn’t feel right, but I can’t say no. “This is so precious, Damaris. You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to, sweet girl. Now, do you have the rest of the rhyme? Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?”
“This is something old,” I say, holding out my right hand. “This pearl was my grandmother’s.”
“Perfect.” Damaris smiles. “Do we have something borrowed?”
Ashley knocks before entering the room. “I’m not late, am I?”
“No.” I laugh. “The ceremony doesn’t start for another half an hour.”
She takes my hand, turns the palm up, and then drops a thin gold bracelet in the middle of it. “It’s taken me the better part of the last hour to find this. Maddox helped organize my jewelry the other day—which means I can’t find anything.”
“What is it?” I ask, admiring the delicate piece of jewelry.
“It’s your something borrowed,” she says. “I mean, if you don’t want to wear it—”
“Of course, I want to wear it. Will you help me put it on?”
Ashley smiles and helps clasp it in place.
My emotions are teetering, barely held together by grit and defiance. I don’t want to cry in front of them. I don’t want to cry at all. I want to be the steeled version of myself I use in the conference room. Impenetrable.
Thankfully, like so much of the past few days, I don’t have time to get lost in the details. There’s only a moment to appreciate the kindness shown me.
“Oh!” Pippa says. “I have something for you, too!”
There’s a hint of mischief in her grin. There’s an air of excitement in her tone. Combined, they cause my blood pressure to rise as I watch her walk to the door. Before she opens it, she pauses and turns back.
“I have a message for you,” she says, and then twists the knob.
Jason comes in, stopping when he sees me.
He came. I hold my hand over my mouth, blinking back the stupid tears I’ve tried so hard not to shed.
“Wow, B,” he says. “You’re gorgeous.”
My lip trembles as he pulls me into a hug. I didn’t know just how much I really needed someone in my family here until this very moment.
“Everyone wanted to be here to witness this momentous occasion,” he says, winking as he pulls away. “Especially Renn.”
I laugh, knowing what he means. Renn got married while drunk in Vegas, and I’m getting married under threat in Florida. I grew up thinking he and I were so different. Maybe not.
“But I have the plane, so I won.” He hands me a small pink box with the coveted Siggy logo etched in delicate white script. “We couldn’t have you here alone.”
“I really appreciate that, Jason.” I hold up the gift. “What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
I untie the thin white ribbon and discover a filigree heart charm dangling from a safety pin.
“Siggy Mason had this at her pop-up shop,” he says. “Ripley thought it was perfect, but we didn’t know what you would do with it. Renn got Blakely’s opinion, and she said you could pin it to your flowers or on your dress somewhere if you liked it.”
“I love it.” A lump forms in my throat. “Thank you.”
He tucks me against him and whispers, “I’m sorry you have to do this.”
Emotions water my eyes. Again. “I’m glad you’re here.”