beside me anymore. I turn to find her stopped dead in her tracks, staring at Leena.
“Come on,” I say, reaching back to take her hand. “It’s your wedding day. You can do this.” Her wide eyes dart to mine and I can see in them that she’s not convinced. “You won. Just remember that. You. Won.”
I tug on her hand, pulling her behind me as we make our way to the waiting limo. All the other girls pile in and, before we can duck inside, Leena makes her way to Cami. I start to let go of Cami’s hand and get into the limo to give them some privacy, but she tightens her grip, urging me to stay. So I do.
Leena jumps right in, not giving Cami the chance to say anything. “Cami, I’m not trying to ruin your wedding day and I’m not trying to make your life harder by showing up like this. I just…I just wanted to talk to you beforehand. Without Trick.” She pauses and I see her take a deep breath, like she’s gathering courage to do something she doesn’t want to do. “I love my son more than you can imagine, but I’m not ready to be around your family just yet. I don’t know if that will ever change. I’m working on seeing you for you, not for the mistakes of your family. And that’s why I wanted to come today. I’m sorry I didn’t come to any of the other events. I just didn’t think I could be around…everyone that much just yet. I want to be part of your life, part of my son’s life and the lives of my grandchildren, but I can’t promise much more than that right now. Just know that I’m trying. And that I’m here for Trick.” She pauses, looking away again. “And for you.”
Cami cups her hands over her mouth and squeezes her eyes shut. I see her fingers tremble. I can’t imagine what she must be feeling. But, to her credit, she recovers quickly, dropping her hands and taking Leena’s in both of hers.
“Thank you, Leena. I’ll take whatever you can give.”
Leena glances up, obviously uncomfortable, gives Cami a small smile and then steps away, gesturing toward the limo.
“You’d better get going.”
“Won’t you come with us?”
Leena’s smile is more genuine this time. “That’s no place for an old lady, much less the groom’s mother. You go. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy this day.”
Cami smiles sweetly and nods her head before she turns her glistening eyes on me. “Ready?”
Tears are streaming down her cheeks and she’s not even trying to stop them. But she’s smiling. She doesn’t have to say it, but her wedding will be perfect now. This was all she needed to be the happiest bride on the planet. And I’m glad she got it. I’m glad Trick got it, too. I know it’s been weighing on him more than he’d ever admit. I nod, swallowing the lump of emotion in my throat as we climb into the back of the waiting car.
The ride to the church is pretty… enthusiastic. We ladies chatter and giggle and tease Cami about the pervy gift set we hid in the trunk with her luggage. Since there was no dedicated “bridal shower,” a couple of the girls took it upon themselves to make Cami a bridal… survival kit instead. It’s a lovely cloth covered, keepsake box full of lotions and candles. It just also happens to contain edible body paint, crotchless panties and a few more creative things, some of which involve batteries. In short, it’s a box full of shit that will make Cami’s face turn eight shades of red when she unpacks it in front of Trick.
“Maybe he’ll spank you for being such a naughty girl, Cam,” I taunt playfully.
“Ohmigod, Jenna!” She’s already turning the shade that’s one step up from “beet.”
Such fun being a girl and having a delicate best friend!
When we arrive at the church, all the guests are inside. The neighborhood is quiet and the lawn is empty, as are the steps leading up to the front doors.
Within seconds of our arrival, Xenia The Wedding Planner, much like
“Come on,” I say, reaching back to take her hand. “It’s your wedding day. You can do this.” Her wide eyes dart to mine and I can see in them that she’s not convinced. “You won. Just remember that. You. Won.”
I tug on her hand, pulling her behind me as we make our way to the waiting limo. All the other girls pile in and, before we can duck inside, Leena makes her way to Cami. I start to let go of Cami’s hand and get into the limo to give them some privacy, but she tightens her grip, urging me to stay. So I do.
Leena jumps right in, not giving Cami the chance to say anything. “Cami, I’m not trying to ruin your wedding day and I’m not trying to make your life harder by showing up like this. I just…I just wanted to talk to you beforehand. Without Trick.” She pauses and I see her take a deep breath, like she’s gathering courage to do something she doesn’t want to do. “I love my son more than you can imagine, but I’m not ready to be around your family just yet. I don’t know if that will ever change. I’m working on seeing you for you, not for the mistakes of your family. And that’s why I wanted to come today. I’m sorry I didn’t come to any of the other events. I just didn’t think I could be around…everyone that much just yet. I want to be part of your life, part of my son’s life and the lives of my grandchildren, but I can’t promise much more than that right now. Just know that I’m trying. And that I’m here for Trick.” She pauses, looking away again. “And for you.”
Cami cups her hands over her mouth and squeezes her eyes shut. I see her fingers tremble. I can’t imagine what she must be feeling. But, to her credit, she recovers quickly, dropping her hands and taking Leena’s in both of hers.
“Thank you, Leena. I’ll take whatever you can give.”
Leena glances up, obviously uncomfortable, gives Cami a small smile and then steps away, gesturing toward the limo.
“You’d better get going.”
“Won’t you come with us?”
Leena’s smile is more genuine this time. “That’s no place for an old lady, much less the groom’s mother. You go. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy this day.”
Cami smiles sweetly and nods her head before she turns her glistening eyes on me. “Ready?”
Tears are streaming down her cheeks and she’s not even trying to stop them. But she’s smiling. She doesn’t have to say it, but her wedding will be perfect now. This was all she needed to be the happiest bride on the planet. And I’m glad she got it. I’m glad Trick got it, too. I know it’s been weighing on him more than he’d ever admit. I nod, swallowing the lump of emotion in my throat as we climb into the back of the waiting car.
The ride to the church is pretty… enthusiastic. We ladies chatter and giggle and tease Cami about the pervy gift set we hid in the trunk with her luggage. Since there was no dedicated “bridal shower,” a couple of the girls took it upon themselves to make Cami a bridal… survival kit instead. It’s a lovely cloth covered, keepsake box full of lotions and candles. It just also happens to contain edible body paint, crotchless panties and a few more creative things, some of which involve batteries. In short, it’s a box full of shit that will make Cami’s face turn eight shades of red when she unpacks it in front of Trick.
“Maybe he’ll spank you for being such a naughty girl, Cam,” I taunt playfully.
“Ohmigod, Jenna!” She’s already turning the shade that’s one step up from “beet.”
Such fun being a girl and having a delicate best friend!
When we arrive at the church, all the guests are inside. The neighborhood is quiet and the lawn is empty, as are the steps leading up to the front doors.
Within seconds of our arrival, Xenia The Wedding Planner, much like
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