Page 28 of His Willing Wife

“My dear, what on earth for?” Bellaasked.

“Sucking, not wanting to do the whole beautypageant thing, and you know, ruining our friendship.”

Bella frowned. “Excuse me?”

“I know you’ve not liked me since, and we’ve kind of had adifficult relationship after the whole beauty pageant thing, and Iwant to say I am really sorry.” She was just vomiting words rightnow and didn’t have a single clue what to say about any ofit.

The waiter came, and his presence was awelcome relief and a distraction. Tillie thanked him and part ofher wished she could get him to stay, but her mother was looking ather strangely. The reprieve left and Tillie nibbled her lip.

“Honey, you think I don’t like you?”

Tillie opened her mouth and closed it.“We’ve always had a difficult relationship.”

“And hold on a second, you thought you werethe one to cancel the whole beauty pageant thing?” Bella asked.

Now it was time for Tillie to be confused.“I told Dad and Grandmaand Grandpa were there, and then Dad said we were never doing itanymore and I thought it was because of me.”

Bella threw her head back and laughed.“Oh, my, it would seem,Tillie dear, you and I have been at lost purposes.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I love you, Tillie. You’re my daughter,and I will always love you, just like I love David, but I was the one who went toyour father and told him I couldn’t stand the beauty pageants. Asfar as I was concerned, my daughter was full of talent and I didn’tneed to find it. I also hated having to dress you up like aprincess. I loved seeing you in your muddy jeans and stainedclothes. It filled me with so much joy.”

“It did?” Tillie asked.

Bella sighed and reached for her bag,pulling out her purse,and then she presented Tillie with a picture she didn’t realize hermother had. It was one of her, alone, but covered in mud. Herponytail was falling to the side, and her clothes were a mess.Tillie remembered that was the day she and David were out in thegarden, playing football or something. It had started to rain butit was also so warm that neither of them wanted to go inside. Shedidn’t know her mother took pictures.

“I had no idea you took pictures. I thoughtyou hated that day.”

“No, I loved it. I was worried. You were a feisty younggirl, and I feared you’d break David’s arm, but you two have alwaysplayed well together. It was an awesome day.”

“If you’re the one who told Dad about the pageants and thatyou hated them, why did you make me go?”

“You don’t remember?”

Tillie shook her head.

“One of them was on a documentary or it wasa movie or something, Ican’t remember. You constantly talked about it for a whole summer,and you wanted to go. I couldn’t ever say no to you, and that’swhen it all started.” Bella took a deep breath. “I love beauty andmakeup, and clothes, but that was too much for me. I thought youhated me for stopping it.”

“No, I thought I was the one to stop it andthat you were angry with me.”

Bella reached across the table and Tilliedidn’t even hesitate toput her hand into her mother’s.

“I love you, Tillie. I am so proud ofyou.”

“I’ve done nothing.”

“I know going to Luca Winters couldn’t havebeen easy. I know your father feels a lot of guilt about youputting your life on theline for the company.”

“My life? Mom, it wasn’t like that. I’m notdying or anything. It was no great sacrifice.”

Bella squeezed her hand. “That’s thething, Tillie, it was. We know that all you ever wanted to be was like your grandparents.They found a rare kind of love. Your father and I, we love eachother very much, but it isn’t the same. I know that, and as amother, all I ever want for my children is for their wishes anddreams to come true. Instead, you married a man you don’t know, andI don’t know if he is capable of love. He is the complete oppositeof you.”

“Mom, please, you don’t have to worry. Lucais an amazing guy.”

“He is?”

“Yes, I mean, I know he has a reputation fordoing what he does to companies, and there is a chance if I hadn’tagreed to marry him, he might have done the same, rather than findout where the problem was, but I like being married to him.”

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