Page 55 of The Heart That Breaks
“I know,” I say, the words barely more than a whisper. “You are.”
Shelaughsa soft laugh and says, “I hear you were supposed to go toHomecomingtonight with a friend of my husband’s. He asked me if I could try to convince you it’s still a good idea.”
“Oh. Wow.”
“Is it all right if we come in?” she asks, waving a hand at Hank Juniorwho is trying to peer around the open door atHenry.
“Sure,” I say,steppingback so quickly that I nearly trip overHenry.
CeCewalksinside,HankJunior walking afterher, histaildoing a lazy wag. He andHenrysniff noses, assessing each other with a playful stance beforeHenrydoes his puppydanceand takes off for the kitchen,HankJuniortrotting afterhim.
CeCelooks atMamaandsmiles, and I suddenly remember my manners. “This is my mom.”
“Oh, my goodness, I’m such a fan,”Mamasays. “I so love your music.”
“That’s so nice to hear,” shesays, againsmilingher beautiful smile. “I was wondering if you andAnn-Elizabethwould like to come to our house and get ready for thedance. I have all kinds of primping stuff, and to be honest, I never went toHomecomingin high school. I’d love to be a part of helpingAnn-Elizabethif that’s okay.”
Mamalooks as floored as I feel. “That’s just amazing,” she says.
“I don’t know what to say,” I manage, feeling as if I’ve stepped into some kind of time warp whererealitycannotpossiblybereality.
“We’ll have fun,”CeCesays. “All you have to say is yes.”
I want to tell her what I know to be the truth. That none of this will change the fact that I am not a girl who will ever fit into Nathan’s world. But Mama’s looking at me with such hopeful expectation that I can’t say anything other than, “Thank you so much. That sounds wonderful.”
*
WE ARRIVE AT CeCe’s house withHankJuniorandHenryin the second back seat of the Escalade, my borrowed dress hanging on the hook above my window.
CeCemakes chitchat withMamaand thedriverwhile I try not to think about the flock of butterflies in my stomach and the extreme unreality of what is happening.
The house is beyond incredible.Mamaand I both stare out the windshield as if we have landed on an unrecognizable planet. Which I guess we kind of have.
The front door opens, and out stepsHoldenAshford. In real life. Holding the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen.
She has one arm around his neck, a pink stuffed dog under her other arm. She spots the vehicle, and her face lights up with the fact that hermamais home.
CeCegets out, indicating we should too.
Shewalksover and kisses her on the cheek. I don’t know who’s more starstruck.Mamaor me. But neither one of us can find a word until hesmilesat us and offers his free hand toMamaand then to me. “I’mHolden,” he says. “This is Giovanna.”
It’s all completely surreal, the fact that we somehow find the ability to make small talk with him, and thenfollowthe three of them into the house whereCeCeleads us up a wide set of winding stairs and to a room she calls her getting-ready room.
“I like to keep a few secrets fromHolden,” she says. “Men don’t need to know all the work involved in us making ourselves presentable, right?”
“Right,” I say,smiling.
“So let’s get to it, shall we?”
*
Nathan
I’M SO NERVOUS I’M nearly sick.
Holden has assured me Ann-Elizabeth has been at the house getting ready with CeCe directing the whole thing, but I feel like I’ve forced her into agreeing to go and am now doubting the wisdom of it. I mean how could she really have said no with her favorite country music star forcing her hand?
I pull into the circular drive of Holden’s and CeCe’s house, turning off the ignition to my mom’s BMW and wondering if I’m going to be able to find the courage to knock on the door.
