Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
She quickly pulled a tissue from the pocket in the dress she wore and dabbed at the moisture before any more could fall and ruin her makeup. “Crap,” she said on a sniffly laugh. “I knew this was going to happen.”
Lauren chuckled, too, before turning serious once again. “Everyone makes mistakes. None of us are perfect, and all I truly want is for you to be happy,” she said, and meant it. “And if Greg is the one who makes that happen, then that’s all that matters.”
“He does,” Ashley said, and the way her eyes lit up told Lauren just how much her sister did love Greg. “He really, really does.”
Ashley gently wiped at her nose so she didn’t smear her foundation, a small frown pulling between her perfectly plucked brows as she met Lauren’s gaze. “There’s… more, since I’m being honest with you,” she said, her tone a bit hesitant.
Lauren wasn’t expecting more in terms of another confession from Ashley, and she braced herself for whatever was about to come next. “Okay.”
“Growing up… I know we were never close, and that was my fault, too,” she began, a pained look in her eyes. “I’ve never told anyone this before, but I was always so jealous of you.”
Lauren felt her jaw drop open, and had to snap it shut as she digested her sister’s unexpected, and startling, announcement. “Jealous of me? Why?”
Ashley winced in embarrassment. “Because everything came so easily to you. Fishing and riding horses and playing softball, and anything else you did. You were so talented and smart and self-assured. I’d hear that from the kids in school and the people in town when they talked about you. In comparison, I was uncoordinated and awkward and just… pretty.”
Lauren’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth but was unable to catch the burst of laughter before it escaped her.
“What’s so funny?” her sister asked, almost indignantly.
Lowering her hand back down to her side, she gave her sister a compassionate smile. “Ashley… pretty is not a bad thing to be. There were times, growing up, that I envied how pretty you were, and hated how much of a tomboy I was.”
It was Ashley’s turned to look shocked. “Why? Your beauty is understated. And you’re so confident,” she said, complimenting Lauren in a way she never had before. “You’ve never cared about other people’s opinions. And I cared too much about what people thought of me. So, since I couldn’t do those things that you excelled at, when a friend’s mother said I should be in beauty pageants, that’s what I did. I wanted to show you and Mom and Dad that I was good at something, too, even if it was something that was superficial and frivolous.”
Oh, wow. Lauren stared at her sister, seeing her in a whole different light. Finally seeing all the insecurities and vulnerabilities Ashley had lived with, that Lauren never knew existed.
Reaching out, she grabbed Ashley’s hands and gave them an affectionate squeeze. “I think we just need to accept and love each other for who we are. No expectations. No comparisons.”
Ashley nodded, and smiled, her expression filled with relief. “I agree. See, you’re so smart.”
Lauren shrugged, then grinned. “Sometimes I am,” she said, lightening the moment.
A jingling sound rent the air, and Ashley reached into the same pocket as she’d gotten a tissue from earlier and withdrew her cellphone. She checked the text message and a flash of panic passed over her features.
“That’s Maggie, my bridesmaid,” she said, her eyes wide. “I didn’t mean to be here so long and she’s letting me know that the photographers will be at the church in half an hour. I need to go so I can finish getting ready.”
“Yes, you do,” Lauren agreed. “Come on, I’ll walk you out front.”
They headed out of the gazebo and followed another pathway to a side gate that led around the house, instead of going through the inn. When they reached the street, Ashley stopped beside a light blue sedan parked by the curb.
“Thank you,” her sister said again, the words and her tone heartfelt. “For forgiving me for how stupid and selfish I was, and for hurting you. Having you in my life is so important to me because not only do I want my sister back, but someday I’m going to have kids and they are going to need their aunt to spoil them rotten.”
Lauren grinned, loving the idea of being an aunt, and being a part of Ashley’s life again. “You can count on that.”
Ashley took a step toward her car, then stopped, casting Lauren a curious look. “So, Mom said the date you brought for the weekend, Chase, is a very nice man.”
Lauren nodded. “He is.”
Her sister’s gaze searched Lauren’s face. “Are you… happy?”
She knew Ashley was insinuating her being happy with Chase, which made Ashley’s question difficult to answer. In this moment, this weekend, she was very hopeful when it came to Chase, but there was no telling what the future would bring, if anything.