“What’s wrong with Jacks?” I ask, a little frantic, turning to look her in the face. “See?” mom says, sitting up with a grin and pointing her finger at me, poking me in the chest. “The fact that you keep assuming something is wrong with him tells me that you know something is up too.” “That’s no
And my heart sinks, thinking of the reality of that. Thinking that my sweet Jacks – he’s really got no one in his life to hold him and coddle him and be his safety net. Well, almost no one. “He’s got us,” I whisper, looking into my mom’s eyes, which I know are precisely the same shade as mine. “Wh
“I know, I know,” mom says with a sigh, flopping down next to me on her stomach. “I am willing to wait. And if you decide you don’t want kids, Ariel, that’s fine too – I’ll badger Rafe and Junie and Mark, because one of you will have to give in. I just…” she shrugs, and I look over at her seriously
“Seriously, Daph, good job,” I say, giving her a thumbs up and wandering over to my wardrobe to sort through the dresses with Juniper. “Now come help me pick out something for me to wear – I have to look at least half as good as you tonight.” “You don’t even know what you’re going to wear!?” Daphn
“Be our guest,” mom says, gesturing towards the selection in front of us. “Actually, what I’m thinking of is in my room,” Daphne says, a huge smile on her face. And then she skitters away. “I like this new friend,” mom says, nodding as she watches Daphne dart out the door. “She’s got moxy. She’s
“Do you think we can darken her eyebrows?” I ask Daphne, eager. “To match her hair more?” “Oh, good idea!” Daphne says, and then gets started. Excited, I jump off the bed as Daphne ushers Juniper over to my vanity. Very quickly Daphne loosely pins Juniper’s hair up and then uses a very light bit o
I beam in particular at the thought of Daphne, who envisioned me in this dress tonight. Daphne, my dear friend who knows the intricacies of my story, and my personality, so completely that she…made this dress. And instantly, I know that she made it. And that she made it for me. Because it fits lik
Downstairs, where we all gather by the door and wait for the cars to come around to the front of the palace, is the best kind of chaos. I’m beaming ear-to-ear, a cheeseburger in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, as I chat with my family, greeting everyone and exchanging compliments.