Page 12 of Amelia and Her Prince Charming
Amelia
Rosie
I bought wrap dresses for all my bridesmaids to wear today, but Lia can’t come until tomorrow, so it’s not going to get used. It looks like your size, if you’d like it.
Amelia
That’s so sweet! Are you sure?
Rosie
Absolutely! I’ll drop it off this morning.
You could wear it to the barbecue today! That would be so fun.
Amelia
It wouldn’t be weird for me to wear the same dress as your bridesmaids today?
Rosie
Nope. Not weird at all!
In fact, I insist.
ElmandAnitaBlairewere two of the kindest people I had ever met. It was easy to see where Shiloh and Hudson got their good hearts from. Hudson took after his dad—quiet and reserved, but always willing to help. Shiloh had taken after their mom—extroverted, friendly to everyone, and the first person to build you up. I was the surprise child of two older parents who had never planned on having children. I’d had a lonely childhood, and an even lonelier adulthood after my mom died and my dad moved to Hawaii with his new wife.
Elm and Anita had welcomed me with open arms into their family, and they’d taught me what it meant to really be there for your kids, even when it was hard, and they were spread so thin.
After breakfast this morning, Quinn had begged Hudson to push her on the tire swing out back, so he was doing that while Anita and I cleaned the kitchen from breakfast. I watched them through the kitchen window as I washed the frying pan I’d used to make omelets for everyone. Hudson spun the tire swing tightly on the rope, then released it as it wildly unwound. Quinn’s squeals of delight came through the open window as she tilted her head back and her hair spiraled behind her.
It was an idyllic scene.
Elm had taken his camera outside and was capturing pictures of the duo, a soft smile on his face.
“Hudson will be a good dad,” Anita said from behind my shoulder as she approached with a clean towel to help dry.
“Yes, he will.” He’d been incredible with Quinn her whole life, but especially after Shiloh had died. I’d fallen asleep to him singing last night, and it had the best night sleep I’d had since … well, since Hudson had moved away.
Sometimes, he used to fall asleep on the floor of Quinn’s room, and when I knew he didn’t have to work that night, I wouldn’t wake him up. I’d feel kind of bad for leaving him on the floor, but I always slept better when he was in the house. His low voice, especially when he was singing, was the perfect kind of soothing.
Last night, though, was a first. Having him accidentally crawl into bed with me? Feeling his warm, lean body pressed against mine? I huffed out a breath and extinguished the memory.
“Have you thought about dating again?” Anita asked. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and tried to read her tone. It was casual, but was ittoocasual? Forced casual? How did she want me to answer this question? The panic must have shown on my face, because she turned fully toward me and held me gently by my elbows with her damp hands. “It would be good for you. For Quinn too.”
I stared down at my feet. “I’ve thought about it.” My stomach twisted as I waited for her response.
“Good. You’re young and beautiful. Any man would be lucky to have you. And Shiloh would want you to be happy.” Her eyes went moist at her son’s name.
“I know.” Shiloh had been many things—competitive, focused to a fault, impulsive. But he was never the jealous type. And he always put mine and Quinn’s happiness first. I didn’t know quite what to make of this conversation, but I couldn’t deny the relief that went through me. I hadn’t even realized how stressed I wasabout what Elm and Anita might think of me being in a new relationship someday until her words lifted it.
“Look at those two.” Anita squeezed my arms and then dropped her hold on me to turn more fully to the window. She let the tears run down cheeks that were crinkled with a smile. I turned to find Hudson with Quinn on his shoulders, and she was reaching as high as she could to pull leaves off the tree and then stick them randomly in his thick hair like a wild leaf garden.
“She adores him,” I said. I could watch Hudson and Quinn interact all day long.
“He adores her,” Anita said. The cheerful duo came toward the house, and Anita set her towel down to go meet them. “And you too,” she said before they came into the house loudly. I blinked.
“Do you like my hair? It’s a new style.” Hudson asked, and Anita approached him with a brilliant smile.
