Page 85 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

“It’s a locket,” she smiles, eyes the same warm brown as her brother’s, twinkling. “Open it up and look inside!”

Mom, Lexi, Sam and Elena all lean in as I slide a fingernail into the locket’s tiny clip and fan it open to reveal two baby photos. The one on the left is of me. On the right is one I’ve never seen before — a boy in blue with a mop of brown hair and matching eyes curiously staring back at me. “Oh my goodness! How adorable is this! It’s my Tom!”

Elena nods, eyes welling up. “My brother doesnotknow I did this.”

“Thank you, Elena! I love it! And I know he will, too!” I give her a hug, “I’m so excited I’m going to finally have a sister!”

“Me too, Zoe!”

Lexi and Sam shift their weight. “Ahem” “We’rekindof like sisters.”

“You’re my cousins! And you’ve already gotsistersin each other!”

They laugh, and Lexi rolls her eyes, “Fine. Now you finally get a sister. We’ll give it up.”

Samantha mutters, “I can live with cousin. I’ve already got the best sister in the world.”

Lexi bumps hips with Sam. “Yeah, you’re covered.”

Mom stands back, gazing at me as Elena fastens the locket around my neck. “Honey, you look absolutely beautiful.”

I turn to the mirror as soon as Elena finishes, telling them all, “Because of you guys.” It’s not only their gifts, or Lexi doing my hair, but they were all with me when I chose this wedding gown,one like those I’ve seen in fairy-tales. Off-the-shoulder sleeves. A flattering push-up bodice. Enormously wide skirt complete with petticoat. And, to top it all off, a train that could reach the next county if we let it.

Mom whispers a shocked, “Lexi… are you crying?”

“I can cry!”

“I’d just expect it more from Samantha.”

Lexi sighs, “Ever since I got married I’m a big mooshy head. I can’t help it. That man! He changed me.”

“In the best way,” Samantha smiles, bumping hips with Lexi again, this time gently.

Aunt Sarah, their mom, pokes her head in. “Almost ready out here! Are you…” She stops talking, gasps, hurries in and closes the door behind her. “Zoe, you are a walking dream!”

“I’ve been feeling like I’m living in one.”

“I felt the same way, when I married your Uncle Jason.” She turns to her daughters. “And my girls! You both look beautiful. You all do! Your bridesmaids gowns are so elegant! Purple looks fabulous on all of you. Especially with your red hair, Lexi.” She turns to her sister-in-law, my mom. “And Meagan! I’m never going to let my girls live it down that neither of them asked me to be their Maid of Honor.”

Mom laughs, “I was very surprised when Zoe asked me. It’s notsupposedto be the mother of the bride.”

I shrug. “I don’t see why I have to do what everyone else does.”

I couldn’t have ever chosen between Samantha and Lexi, one over the other. No way. And while Elena is going to be my sister-in-law, it felt like it would be a slight to my cousins if I’d have asked her. I grew up with Sam and Lexi, and we shared an apartment together, our first as adults, for years!

Asking Mom to be my Maid of Honor was the perfect choice. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for her! And she wept whenI asked her. I knew I’d done the right thing. Some traditions are meant to be broken under the perfect set of circumstances. These were those.

Aunt Sarah asks the room, “Ready?” We all nod. She scurries out, calling behind her, “I’ll tell the band!”

“So amazing,” Elena smiles, and I know she means about the band. Gabriel gave Tom and I the best wedding present — the band he tours with is playing our wedding, and he said he’ll sing some of our favorite songs at the reception. Elena couldn’t believe it.

Mom takes a deep breath and opens the door. “Okay girls, let’s go.”

She lets us walk out ahead of her, takes possession of my train, and the five of us head out into a hallway generously adorned with framed pictures of my father and his five brothers, the notorious Cocker Brothers, during the many stages of their youth. Among them is also a wedding photo of Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Michael, prominently displayed. And a black and white photograph of Grams and our Great Grandpa Jerald who I never had the chance to meet. I pause in front of it and tell her, “Grams, I wish you were here to meet Tom. I know you would’ve approved, but it would’ve been so fun to see you smiling at him. And Grandpa Jerald, I wish I’d had the chance to meet you. I know Grams loved you very much, so you must’ve been amazing. Thank you for our family.” Leaning closer, my eyes widen as I spot it. “Mom! Is that the same hair comb I’m wearing?”

“The very one.”

Nicholas, Wyatt and Nathan appear at the bottom of the stairs with Nate drawing our attention by announcing, “We’re ready to escort the bridesmaids!”

---