Page 40 of Going All In

Judy twirls in front of the mirror with the grace and giddiness of a twenty-something girl. “What do you think?”

“Perfect!” Addison claps her hands.

She does look perfect. The dress is white of course, but knee-length. It’s modest with a high boat neck and elbow-length sleeves. It’s not a traditional wedding dress other than the color, but as Judy and my dad keep reminding me, this is the furthest thing from a traditional wedding.

“It’s gorgeous, Judy. Dad’s going to love it,” I say.

Josie is refilling her champagne glass with sparkling water across the room but gives us a thumbs up.

“How about a veil?” The salesperson circles around Judy. “It would pull the whole look together.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Judy looks at Addie and me. “This isn’t a first marriage, obviously. I don’t want to be too flashy.”

“Why don’t you try it on?” I suggest. “You don’t know until you try. And the only thing that matters is that you and Dad are happy. It can be as flashy or un-flashy as you want.”

She beams at me and ducks her head so the salesperson can put on the veil. When she stands up straight and looks at us, the effect is stunning.

“Oh, Mom,” Addison gushes at the same time that I say, “Oh, Judy,” both of us in the same breathy tone of voice.

We look at one another and dissolve into giggles. So, this is what having a sister is like.

Josie plops back on the sofa next to Addie. “I think it’s better without the veil.”

Addison elbows her. “It looks good. And it only matters what Mom wants.”

And I suppose this is the other side of having siblings.

The two start to bicker while I pretend to be extremely interested in something on my phone.

“Girls, stop it. I’m going to get the veil. Thank you for your opinions,” Judy says firmly, stopping their squabble as she steps down from the dais and pulls the veil off. She hands it to the salesperson before walking back toward the couch where the three of us are sitting. “Addie and Josie, go get more drinks for all of us. They need to do the final alterations before I take this off.”

Josie holds up her half-full glass, but Judy waves her off to refill. As the two girls walk across the room away from us, Judy settles herself next to me. “Now, Holly. Tell me. How are things in your life?”

I was not anticipating a heart-to-heart. I’m not really prepared for one right now. I go for the work angle. “Things are good. I’m happy with my job. My roommate and I have been best friends for years, so it’s good to still live with her.”

She nods. “How about your love life?”

Damn, Judy. Cut right to the chase, why don’t you?

I shrug. On the one hand, bonding. On the other, she probably doesn’t want to hear about the dirty things Maddox and I have been doing.

“It’s… okay. I’m working on finding a date for the wedding.” An appropriate date. A date who’s not my future stepbrother.

I don’t think Judy would care, honestly. She doesn’t seem like the type to judge. And maybe after this whole wedding thing, I can work my shit out and be okay dating Maddox. Maybe.

She nods sagely, like she knows more than she’s saying. “Well, that’s nice. Anyone in particular you’re interested in?”

I shrug again. She’s going to think there’s something wrong with my shoulders. “Sort of, but it’s… complicated. He’s not someone I should be dating, so…” I trail off, spreading my hands wide.

Judy tilts her head. “You know, I met your father almost two years ago.”

This is news to me.

Addison and Josie return, each carrying two glasses: champagne for Addie and me, sparkling water for Josie and Judy. Addison hands a glass to her mother, and Josie hands one to me. I take a sip, enjoying the feel of the bubbles in my mouth.

Judy sips at her glass, then sets it on the low table in front of us. “Robert and I only started actually dating about eight months ago, though. Even though we were attracted to one another when we first met, I felt like it was wrong initially. We were both fairly recently widowed. It seemed like I was cheating on my husband. It felt like people were judging me for moving in on someone who’d lost his wife so recently.” Judy pauses to take a sip of her sparkling water. “The point is, Holly, that sometimes things are right even when they might seem wrong from the outside. Society tells us one thing. But we have to follow our hearts.”

She stands up and moves back to her position on the dais, glass still in hand.

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