Chapter Forty-Two
Vicky
“I’m not tryingto tell you what to do, but I think it’s time you called him, Vicky,” Grace says. I look at her in the mirror, but she’s busy removing imaginary lint from her gown, obviously trying to avoid my gaze by seeming busy. “It’s been far too long.”
“Absolutely not.”
“But…ouch.” She shoots me a murderous look when the crochet hook pokes into her back.
“Sorry,” I say and proceed to pull the loops over the tiny buttons.
“Tell him how you feel about him, now that he’s awake. You heard Chase. The physical therapy’s going well. He’s recovering. He can walk.”
I shake my head vehemently. “Not happening, Grace. Please respect my wishes that I need to move on.”
She drops her shoulders with an exasperated sigh. “I know that, and I respect your decision. But I just want you to know that I’ve noticed the way you look at that book he gave you, and I wish you’d finally confess.”
I stop for a moment to shoot her a wary glance. “Confess to what?”
“That you’re deeply in love with him. I know that. Everyone does, but you keep denying the obvious. Now, I don’t know whether you’re just lying to us or trying to convince yourself, but it’s getting old. Like, last week old. Besides, look at you.”
She shoots a meaningful look at my belly.
I groan inwardly.
After Kade woke up from his coma, I left. It was hardest thing I ever did, but it was the right decision. He needed the distance to help him heal without the emotional baggage and pressure that comes with finding out your rehab hook-up is pregnant.
I wanted him to be able to focus solely on himself, and I could only achieve that by disappearing from his life.
“Why don’t you focus on your life? In case you don’t remember, today’s your big day.”
Grace pulls a face. “The beauty of being happy is trying to spread the joy.”
Rolling my eyes, I finish the last row of buttons and slump onto the sofa, exhausted. “You’re good to go.”
She spins in a slow circle, swiveling her Claire Pettibone wedding gown. “What do you think?”
She looks like a princess in her flowing, cream gown with a tiny waist and her glossy curls cascading down her naked shoulders. I dab at the tears in my eyes, struggling not to mess up my makeup. I’m so proud of her and have no doubt the backyard wedding at our mom’s house will be both beautiful and memorable.
“You look beautiful,” I whisper and blink in succession against the onset of tears.
This is the moment we both dreamed of ever since we were little girls.
I’m happy for Grace, and yet I’m afraid. In less than two hours, I’m going to lose the closest person in my life My childhood buddy. The person who always cheered for me and laughed when I tumbled. In spite of our differences, we remained close through the years, so finding out that she’s moving to Sacramento after the wedding hit me hard.
“I’m going to miss you, Grace,” I say, choked. “Both you and your ugly, silly, handmade sweaters.”
“Admit that you secretly love them.” She laughs and then tears gather in her eyes. “Stop it or else I’m going to cry, too. I can’t ruin my makeup.”
“I’m not crying. I’m just amazed how much you have grown. That’s all. Can you believe that used to be us?” I point to the pictures on the wall.
Grace must have been about five years old, her face painted in blue because she wanted to be a Smurf, just like her favorite TV show.
“I had real aspirations back then,” Gracie says, laughing.
“And now you’re getting married. It’s a little hard to grasp.”
“Those were the good times.” Her voice softens as she peers at my belly. “You know I’ll always be there for you, right?”