Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
“Oh, God. Please. Don't take her from me. Not now.” I am dialing the girls' numbers one after the other, but no answer. What the fuck. Come on, baby. Answer the phone. My car phone turns on, and I call in the cavalry, then continue trying to reach the girls. When I still cannot reach either of them, I call Cillian.
“Julio. Is my flower alright?”
“Have you heard from her?”
“Yes, a few minutes ago. She is in the car on her way home. Right?” Fuck. If Daf has left, then…
“Click. Go.” I answer the other line when I see it is Scar calling.
“I am five minutes out. How close are you?”
“Two minutes. Is anyone else closer?”
“No. Lola was in a meeting. She left, but she won’t make it.” Shit. Fuck. Damn it. Please be ok. Please be ok. If something happens to her, I will check out, much like what Dario tried to do last year, but now, I get it. When someone is so far inside of you that your organs don’t work when they are not around, the thought of living without them is like being on a transplant list with no donor match. God let me make it in time.
FOURTEEN
LILY
This day has been amazing. When Daffodil got to the house this morning, it was like a reunion even though all of us are new friends. You couldn’t tell. Her and Jewel hit it off, and of course, baby Lorelei was the center of all attention. I watched as Jewel talked to Daffodil about her pregnancy, giving her advice about do’s and dont’s and offering her information on creams and such to use for stretch marks. She really is like a big sister, although it didn’t hit me until she mentioned her age that she is only a year older than me and Daf. My jaw dropped open. I know I looked like a moron, but I was stunned. She seems so mature and worldly that nineteen never crossed my mind.
We spent two hours swimming and laughing and hanging out. It was kind of sad to leave the fun, but Jewel assured me we would have a good time at our next destination. When we pulled up to The View, which is a posh place for the upper class where you book the venue and the designers you have called upon can come and have you view the items. Talk about beautiful. This place is amazing. The ceiling is covered in rose gold chandeliers, coupled with the mirrors on the walls, and it feels like you are walking through a ballroom. We were welcomed by a nice lady covered in gold and diamonds with a French accent. Once seated, we are offered glasses of champagne and a fruit platter. I could hardly express my excitement to finally have a drink. Of course, Daf declined, and so did Jewel. It felt weird to be the only one, but then Jewel stated she is still nursing. Makes sense.
Now, here we are, two hours in, and I am a bit tipsy… I think, but I am also having a blast. “Oh Lily, what about this Vera Wang gown? I think with your hair up and those gorgeous boobs you have, this would be perfect.”
“Daf.” I gasp, a bit scandalized to have her mention my boobs in this posh place.
“Girl, please. If they say anything to us, I will have Dario buy this place.” Jewel scoffs and smiles. Baby giggles fill the room, and I can’t help but feel warm and fuzzy. So far, we have picked out four dresses, and all of them are hanging on the rack to my right. The one thing we all agreed on almost immediately was the wedding night lingerie and the shoes. The color scheme was easy. It is white and blush.
“Ladies,” I start trying to hide the emotion inside of me. This moment is nothing like I thought it would be because I always pictured my sisters here with me doing this together. They both turn to look at me. “I want to thank you both for doing this with me. It has been hard being this happy and having all of this without my sisters with me. When Julio slid this ring on my finger, as happy as I was, it was overshadowed by the fact that I am here alone with no family to join me in picking out my dress, shoes, a venue…none of the fun stuff. I was dreading this, to be honest, but the two of you have made this special, and I..” The tears flow free, and now I feel like an idiot. Head down, I hide my pain only to be touched when they both wrap an arm and a baby around me.
“You are so welcome, Lily. I understand. I thought I wouldn’t have any girlfriends to go through this pregnancy with. No one to invite to a baby shower and no one to talk to. But now, I have a new sister and a new friend.”