Chapter 62
SIXTY-TWO
Jada
I stand in front of the full-length mirror in the lingerie Kari purchased for me. The attention to detail that went into this astounds me.
We had a wine-fueled conversation about what to wear beneath a wedding dress a few weeks ago, and I didn’t realize it was more than a random discussion.
She found exactly what I said I thought I’d wear.
It’s feminine and delicate, a pure white with the lightest of blue embroidery, just like Cane’s eyes.
“You ready to put on your dress?” Kari asks, walking up behind me. “It’s about time to get downstairs.”
I look at her in the reflection. A lump forms at the base of my throat, and I try to swallow it back. I am ready, but I need to ask her something first.
“Do you think Mom would’ve liked Cane?”
Kari smiles softly. “I know she would’ve.”
“How do you know?”
It’s a question that has been weighing on my mind. I knew when I married Decker that my mother wouldn’t have liked him. Kari and Dad both didn’t. I shouldn’t have either.
Although Cane seemed initially to be so much like Decker, he really isn’t.
Not in my eyes. I know Dad gave him his blessing, and I know Kari likes him, but I wonder what my mom would’ve thought.
I know I’ll never really know, but it’s important to me to think I’d have her blessing this time.
Because in my heart and soul, I know this is the last time I’ll ever do this. Cane is it for me forever.
“I know Mom would’ve loved him because he loves you.”
I smile back at her and feel the sting of tears again. I laugh, hoping they’ll retreat, but they don’t. “Am I gonna be trying not to cry all day?”
“Yeah.” She laughs, choking back her own. “Probably.”
“I should call Dad. Not that it will help this tear situation, but I hate that he’s not here.”
Kari picks up her phone and hands it to me. “Call him. Cane talked to him about this before we left, so he knows it’s happening.”
“Were his feelings hurt?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Dad just wants us happy, Jada.”
I dial his number and wait for him to answer, but he doesn’t. It goes to voicemail. I feel like such a baby, such a little girl, but I can’t help it. I just wanted to talk to my dad.
“Daddy? It’s Jada.” My voice cracks, and I watch Kari, trying to gain some sort of strength from her. This is so much harder than I thought it would be. I sniffle back tears and realize that I only have a few seconds before the recording ends. “I love you.”