Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Is everything okay?” he asks, the worry filling his voice. I just nod my head because I don’t trust myself to say anything with the lump filling my throat. “Okay,” he agrees, “tomorrow.”
He slaps my shoulder before he walks away, leaving me standing in the middle of the field. My eyes are on my family on one side and my daughter on the other. “Tomorrow,” I repeat before I make my way to my family.
addison
The door closes behind Stefano, and I swear it’s like everything in me just leaves. “Oh my God,” I declare, trying to get to a chair before I collapse on the floor, which will make an even bigger scene.
“Oh my God,” Sofia says, putting the blue box down and looking around the room to make sure no one saw what just happened. All of the women are too busy getting ready to even care what just went down.
I put my face in my hands as the door opens again, and for the second time today, I think my heart stops. I look up expecting to see Stefano storm back in here and make a scene, but instead it’s Clarabella. “Okay, everyone but the bride,” she announces, “it’s time for pictures.” I let out the biggest sigh of relief and literally hang my head when the women slowly trickle out of the room. One of Sofia’s cousins comes over and takes Avery with her, as Presley and Shelby walk into the room and take a look around.
“What is going on?” Presley asks.
“Oh my God,” Shelby says, “did someone get shot?”
“Was it a horse?” Clarabella gasps. “I told them doing a gun salute was not a good idea.”
“Wait… what?” Sofia says and then shakes her head. “Forget it. I need to focus on one thing at a time.” She turns and looks at me. “Are you okay?” Her voice goes soft.
I shake my head, looking to see if there is any sweet tea around. If there was ever a time for sweet tea, it would be now, at this moment.
“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Shelby asks softly, coming over and sitting next to me. The tears now come out of me, but I quickly wipe them away. The four of them have been the closest thing to family I’ve had in five years.
“I just saw someone I haven’t seen in five years,” I say, and my voice cracks at the end.
“Oh, that’s weird,” Clarabella says, sitting down in the chair. “Who was it?”
“Five years, that’s a long time,” Presley states as she sits on the arm of the chair Clarabella is sitting in.
“How are they not getting this?” Sofia shrieks, throwing up her hands in the air and looking at each of the girls.
“I think I need to sit down,” I say, forgetting that I’m actually sitting down.
“Oh my God!” Clarabella yelps, as if she solved the biggest mystery of the world.
“The baby daddy?”
I nod my head, and Shelby flies out from the seat beside me. “Code Purple.” She starts to look around frantically. “We have a Code Purple.”
“We’re all here.” Presley throws up her hands. “Who else are we calling?”
“We do not need a Code Purple,” I say, though I need a Code Purple. Actually, come to think of it, is meeting your baby daddy five years later with his girlfriend not considered higher than a Code Purple? “This is not the time or the place.” I get up and smooth down my dress. “This is Sofia’s day.” I look at her, and everything in me wants to fall apart, but this is her day, so I need to put my emotions away and do my job. I have to show them I can do this job. “Let’s get Sofia married.” I force a smile on my face as Sofia looks at me. “I need you to pretend it didn’t happen.”
“Okay,” Sofia gives in, “but we’ll have to discuss this.”
“Oh, I don’t think you are the only one I’ll have to discuss this with,” I finally say. “Did you see his face? He knows.”
“I mean, are men that intuitive?” Presley asks, and I just look at her.
“Oh, he knew right away,” Sofia chimes in. “They have the same eyes. It took me a total of two point six seconds to put it together.”
“Well, let’s hope no one else puts it together,” I mumble, “especially his girlfriend.”
Clarabella gasps. “He has a girlfriend, and this is information you lead with?”
“Excuse me?” Shelby butts in. “Can we know who he is?”
“Stefano Dimitris,” Sofia fills them in, and now gives me the last name I will most likely have to add to Avery’s birth certificate. I feel my stomach getting sick and push down the thought, you are fine. Well, you will be fine. It will all be fine. I don’t even think I believe myself this time.