Chapter Twenty-Six
Evie
Today is the day. I’ve officially turned eighteen and am now an adult.
Penny has spent the last few days working with my parents and Easton and Dani Knight to throw me a party at the Knight mansion tonight.
Supposedly, it’s going to be epic. They’ve invited our closest friends and relatives, but since this is a cause for major celebration, the invite list has expanded to include more people.
Like more kids from school, plus Penny and Hannah are bringing dates, and of course the band is invited.
Since it’s a Friday night, I’m sure there’s a party going on somewhere.
But Hannah told me that some kids from school who haven’t gotten an official invitation said they might pop in just to check it out.
It’s no secret that every single person in Edenbury wouldn’t mind hanging out at a place like the Knight mansion.
It’s like a palace, and Dani’s mom, Vivian Wood, is catering.
She makes the most delicious food on the planet.
Now I’m sitting at my vanity in my robe, waiting for Aunt Amanda to finish styling Mom and Lily’s hair. She claims she’s leaving me last because she wants to take her time making me look amazing.
Aunt Amanda is Mom’s older sister and she’s a professional hair stylist and makeup artist. She sometimes gets annoyed with the females in this family because none of us share her enthusiasm for fashion or styling or makeup. What can I say? Lily and I take after Mom.
Speak of the devil…Lily walks into the room, also still in her robe, but her hair is styled in such a beautiful updo, and her makeup is flawless. “How’s it going, birthday girl?”
“Wow, you look great!” I tell her.
“Good,” she says as she drops down on my bed. “Aunt Amanda poked and pulled and brushed and applied…ugh, I thought I was going to die in there.”
I groan. “I’m dreading her doing me.”
“Well, she’s working on Mom now, so I think you have a few more minutes of peace.”
We both laugh.
“Are you nervous?” she asks.
I lift my shoulders. “Why should I be nervous? It’s just like my previous parties, just more extravagant and with a few more guests.”
“I meant about being an adult.”
“A little,” I admit. “I mean, eighteen is just a number, but I’m nervous for the next stage in life.
Change is scary, but it’s also exciting.
I’m still anxious about moving all the way across the country for college and being so far away from you guys.
But Noah’s going to attend a music school only an hour away. So maybe it won’t be so scary.”
My eyes widen. Why did I say that?
“Lucky,” she says. “Xavier and I are already discussing what colleges to apply to because we want to go to ones in the same vicinity so we could be close to each other. But I know that’s not very realistic. Who knows what will happen?”
“Well, Mom and Dad managed to attend colleges in the same area. Maybe you and Xavier will have the same luck, too.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Knock, knock!” Aunt Amanda waltzes into my room with all her supplies. “Is there a birthday girl in need of a gorgeous hairstyle?”
“That’s what they tell me,” I say.
Aunt Amanda looks way too eager to get her hands on my hair. She, of course, looks amazing in her elegant updo, stunning dress, and impeccable makeup.
I sigh like the world is coming to an end. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“What is with you Hastings girls?” Aunt Amanda grumbles as she puts her stuff down on the vanity and gathers my hair. “Other kids would kill to have a professional like me work on their hair and makeup. But with you? It’s like someone’s holding a knife to your throat.”
“You know we take after Mom,” Lily supplies.
Aunt Amanda groans. “Ugh, you have no idea how difficult she was when she was your age. She wouldn’t let me touch her hair or put makeup on her, and the one time she did, she freaked out. She’s only slightly better now.” She shakes her head. “Sometimes I still question if we’re related.”
“Where are Uncle Alejandro and Alex?” Lily asks her.
“Downstairs watching something.” She lifts my hair and frowns. “Evie, there’s so much paint in your hair. Didn’t I tell you to wash it all out?”
“You did, but why bother? I’ll just get paint in it again.”
Aunt Amanda groans again. “I swear, you girls live on a different planet than me. You’re the woman of the hour, Evie. Do you want all your guests to see you with paint in your hair?”
I shrug. “Doesn’t matter to me.”
“It’s so you,” Lily says with a smile. “And we love that about you.”
I return the smile. “Thanks, Lily. That was so sweet.”
Aunt Amanda groans again. “Fine. I can work with this. Multicolor hair can look cool, I guess.”
It takes some time for Aunt Amanda to figure it out, but soon my hair is pulled up similarly to Lily’s, with the different color strands weaved into the other strands in a beautiful design.
“Wow, Aunt Amanda!” I say as I study my reflection. “I love it. You’re kind of an artist, too.”
She gives me a look. “You just figured that out now?”
I grin at her. “I guess we do share some genes after all.” I lift my hand to my hair to touch a light purple strand that looks so pretty, but my aunt whacks my hand away and threatens to cut it off if I dare touch my hair. “Geez,” I mumble.
“Now for your makeup,” she announces.
I mouth, “Help me” to Lily, and she giggles.
Mom enters my room when Aunt Amanda is halfway finished with my makeup. I try to get a good look at her, but my aunt keeps bothering me with all the stuff she’s putting on my face. From what I can glimpse, Mom looks so stunning in her elegant black dress, gorgeous updo, and perfect makeup.
“Looking good, Mom,” I tell her.
“Thanks.” Her face softens as her eyes rove over me. “Oh, honey. You look so beautiful. I can’t believe how grown up you are.” Her voice quivers.
“Are you crying?” I ask her.
“Tears?” Aunt Amanda whips around to Mom. “No tears! You’ll ruin your makeup.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Mom says as she walks over to me.
“I’ve heard this tune before.” She stops before me and her eyes soften again as she gazes at me through the mirror.
“I can’t believe our first Musketeer child has turned eighteen.
It feels like just yesterday that I was telling my Musketeers I was pregnant and they all freaked out.
” She rubs my shoulders. “I knew my life would change forever.” She presses her hand to her lips before resting them on the top of my head.
“You’ve changed my life, Evie. I’m so proud of you.
You’ve grown up to be such a lovely young woman. ”
Her words bring tears to my eyes. “Thanks, Mom.”
Mom laughs lightly. “I’m supposed to say that in my speech at the party. Oh well. You just got a preview.”
“Time certainly has flown like the blink of an eye,” Aunt Amanda says as she applies the last bit of makeup to my face. “Soon you’ll be a grandma, Ally.”
Mom’s eyes widen in horror. “Not that soon!” She wags her index finger at me and then Lily. “Later, okay? Much, much later.” She rubs her forehead. “I can’t even imagine being that old—”
“Don’t touch your face!” Aunt Amanda yells at her.
Mom drops her hand to her side like she just committed the gravest sin.
“Is everyone decent?” Dad’s voice calls from the doorway.
“We’re all good,” Mom assures him.
He steps into the room, dressed in a shiny black suit, his hair styled in a way that makes him look so handsome. No doubt Aunt Amanda’s doing.
Mom walks over and tugs him by his tie. “You clean up nicely, my dear husband.”
He grins at her. “Why thank you, my lovely wife. And you look absolutely divine.”
Mom yanks on his tie, forcing him to bend toward her, and steps on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips. Considering Mom is so short and Dad is pretty tall, there’s quite a bit of a height difference between them.
Lily swoons at their display of affection while I groan and Aunt Amanda rolls her eyes.
Then Dad steps over to me, looking me over just like Mom did. Tears and all. “Oh, Evie. You’re the most beautiful girl on the planet.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You look so grown up. I remember the day you were born vividly. You were so eager to enter the world that Mom almost had you in the car.”
Mom chuckles. “You’re exaggerating, Zack. We made it to the hospital with enough time to spare.”
“But as soon as we got to the delivery room? Bam! Out she came. And remember her cry? It could have woken the dead.”
“Are you guys going to say this at the party with all those people around?” I demand. “Because if that’s the case, I hereby ban you from attending.”
Mom and Dad chuckle. “Don’t worry, sweetie,” Mom says. “We promise not to embarrass you.”
“Seriously, though,” Dad says as he bends to kiss the top of my head. “Your mom and I are so proud of you.”
“Thanks. Now are you done, Aunt Amanda? I think I’ve endured enough of this torture.”
She holds up her hands. “Done.”
“Sweet!” I jump out of the chair.
“You girls continue getting ready,” Mom says as she takes Dad’s hand and leads him to the door. “We’ll need to be at the Knight mansion in an hour.”
After our parents and Aunt Amanda leave, Lily and I get changed. She’s wearing a light pink dress while I’m wearing a royal blue dress. We meet everyone else downstairs, including Liam who looks so grown up in his black suit.
“Oh my gosh, Sibling One,” I say as I wrap my arm around him. “You look like a man.”
“Uh, thanks?”
“Since when did you grow up?” I glance from him to Lily. “Since when did both of you grow up?”
“Right after you?” Lily says.
“Please stop,” Mom says as she grabs a tissue and dabs the corners of her eyes. “You’ll make me cry and my sister will murder me.”
Aunt Amanda nods from where she’s fumbling with her son’s tie. “I sure will.”
“What’s with me?” Mom says as she fans her eyes. “I blame Kara. She and I spoke earlier today about how grown-up Noah and Evie are, and she was bawling her eyes out. It must have been contagious.”