Page 59 of Always a Bridesmaid
“You’re a hottie with a naughty body,” Addie said, flashing her a smile that showed off her pearly whites. “Seriously, maybe a penchant for settling down would scare men in the city, but here, you might end up gettin’ hitched before me.”
The girl Violet used to be might want that.
“And if Ford was the guy I told that to?”
Lexi and Addie glanced at each other, their wordless exchange saying a lot. Then Addie said, “It doesn’t mean he’s not a good guy. Tryin’ not to cross the line here, but he had a rough family life, and I think he needs someone to show him it doesn’t have to be like that. I think even seeing Shep, Tucker, and me settle down will help.”
It was what Violet expected. Disappointing yet not surprising. She’d already made the mistake of thinking that if she showed a guy she loved him for him, eventually he’d do the same for her, flaws and all.
As much as she hated labels—and don’t get her started on the phrase “daddy issues”—the lack of a father figure had impacted her. After Dad’s failure to make an appearance at events like her sixteenth birthday, high school and college graduations, and a dinner where he was supposed to meet Benjamin, she wanted someone who’d show up.
Someone who didn’t only spend the required minimum with her out of obligation.
Benjamin had shown up in the beginning. During the past couple years, though, they’d fought over him promising to be at her events and then canceling because he was too tired or too stressed.
She’d settled for his excuses, giving extra weight to the previous times he had managed to show up. Crumbs of affection she’d gobbled up like the starving girl she was.
While Ford seemed like a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, she worried that in the end, he’d end up only giving her crumbs, too.
Chapter Twelve
“Look at me, beautiful.” Violet jiggled the rattle, catching Isla’s attention. Despite the size of her cheeks, her niece managed to lift them along with her smile, and Violet raised her camera and depressed the button.
The satisfyingclickfilled the air, and Violet snapped a few more. Squeeing over the dimpled cheeks was necessary, as was zooming in on her niece’s legs.
“Enjoy this phase of your life, when people adore the rolls on your thighs. No one praises me for my chubbiness anymore.”
“That’s because you’re hardly chubby,” Maisy said as she entered the room, her wet hair twisted up in a towel.
“Well, I’ve got more junk in my trunk after spending so much time at the bakery.” Accepting her curves had never been easy, especially when the rest of the Hurst clan were naturally thin. Maisy could eat twice the treats and remain the same size.
While it was easy to tell other women to embrace their bodies as they were, Violet had always struggled to do the same for herself.
“Maybe you can work on making your pastries less delicious?”
“Oh, sure. That’ll be great for business.” Maisy poured herself a mug of the coffee Violet had brewed. “Thank you for getting Isla. I didn’t even hear her wake up, and I feel more rested than I have since before she arrived.”
“I hope it’s okay that I warmed a bottle from the fridge and used it.”
“You could tell me you used my entire reserve of pumped milk and I’d forgive you—sleep makes me nice like that.”
Violet laughed. “You’re already one of the sweetest people alive, with your ‘have a sweet day’ and cheery attitude. If you get any nicer, you’ll need to apply for sainthood.”
“Pfft.Hardly.”
Maisy reached over the arm of the couch and drifted a knuckle over the cheeks Violet had captured on her memory card.
Isla curled her hand around Maisy’s finger, and Violet lifted her camera and documented the quintessential motherhood moment.
“I see you have your camera out,” Maisy said.
“My niece is an irresistible subject.”
“I agree. But if that picture of me in my robe gets printed, I’m gonna shove your fancy camera where the sun don’t shine.”
“Taking back that sainthood comment now,” Violet teased, and Maisy stuck her tongue out at her. Since she was far from saintly, she took another couple pictures as Maisy headed toward her bedroom.
“The only reason I’m not killing you is because you let me have an extra hour of sleep,” Maisy called.
