Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
I laugh. “Yes, we have.”
Nikki starts barking. “She wants to go out, doesn’t she?” he asks.
“Yes, she does.”
Like the good man he’s proven he is, he rolls off of the bed, scrubs a hand through all that sexy blond hair and pulls on sweats. When he’s dressed and he and Nikki are gone, I think again about his “daughter” comment. He’d be a good dad. He’d be such a good dad.
I’ve just dressed in a blue suit and finalized my look for the day when Smith arrives to drive me to pick up Cat at her apartment. She climbs into the backseat of the SUV and settles her hand on her belly over her pink dress. “I grew like ten sizes overnight,” she declares.
“Okay, you’re tiny and so is your baby bump, but ‘baby’ is the key word.”
“There must be two babies with the way this kid kicks. I’m talking to the doctor. She’s wrong. It’s two babies.”
We laugh and talk as Smith pulls us onto the road and once we’re moving, Cat’s mood shifts. “How is he?”
Of course, she means Reid. “He’s actually really good. I think the fact that he’d already told all of us really mattered. And furry babies tend to heal. We picked up our dog last night.” I tell her all about our new family and we laugh to the point of tears.
“Reid with a dog and a cat. Pretty soon you’ll shock me with a baby.”
“We said we didn’t want kids, but he’d be an amazing father.”
Cat’s eyes warm. “And my mother would be so very happy right now.” She hugs me. “Thank you, Carrie, for loving him. You gave him back to me.” I tear up and I have a brief moment of thinking of my mother that I shove aside. She won’t be at my wedding and why would I want her to be? She hasn’t even been in my life. But my father will be. I need to call him and I know despite everything that has happened, he really will be happy for me. I believe he and Reid will eventually make true peace. Reid’s father is another story.
I pull back from the hug and look at Cat. “He’s going to feel the loss of your mother at the wedding. I wish there was some way to honor her. Do you have any ideas?”
“Actually she left a letter for Reid and Gabe for their wedding days. And don’t worry, it’ll be special and perfect because our mother would never do anything but make a special day more special and perfect.”
I start to cry. Cat then starts to cry. Happy-sad tears that are all about a new day and a new life, complete with marriage and babies.
Mia turns out to be a stunning brunette who is as sweet as can be when she greets us just inside the shop and hugs us like old friends. “I’m so excited for you and me. Grayson and I are taking the plunge in March.”
We chat about her lighthouse beach location for her wedding and then our location. “Have you seen the actual location?” Mia asks as we’re all handed mimosas, or rather me and Mia are. Cat toasts us with orange juice.
“I haven’t,” I say. “But it’s overlooking the tree and skating rink, which is perfection.”
“Oh well, I can take you after this,” she offers. “I just settled the case I was on, so I’m free for a few days. It’s a perfect location with a wall of windows.”
“Thank you, Mia,” I say. “And I owe Grayson a huge thank you as well.”
“He’s happy to do it. He’s told me all about the event center deal. It’s incredible. We’re going to go see it while we’re on our honeymoon.” She motions us forward, through rows of gowns that have my stomach fluttering with excitement, and toward a lounge area.
We all sit down, with about a half dozen standing mirrors surrounding us. A pretty woman named Jessica, that I guess to be around forty, greets us. We chat a few minutes and then she gets right to it. “Before Elaine comes to meet you and talk about your custom gown, I want to get some idea of what you like. Therefore, I have samples for you to try on.” She motions toward a room and I stand up, ridiculously nervous. Cat and Mia clap. “This is so fun!” Mia exclaims. “I’m so excited to be a part of this.”
“Me too!” Cat adds. “This is amazing. I can’t believe you made this happen for her.”
My gaze means to turn to them, but it catches on a dress hanging to my right. My eyes go wide and butterflies erupt in my belly. It’s full length with incredible, sheer long sleeves that match a sheer, flared bottom with a deep V-neck, but what I find stunning is the nude finish and delicate flowers all down the front. It’s like a fairytale dress. Mia steps to my side. “It’s an incredible dress. Do you want to try it on?”