Page 17 of Accidental Love

“If you don’t want us to keep talking about you and him, why don’t you let me and Sophia pick something out for you?” Candy suggested. I stared at her, watching as her eyes flashed with mischief. She shared a look with Sophia, and I knew they were planning something.

“No, that is okay.”

“Fine, so what position do you—” Candy started but I instantly cut her off.

“Fine,” I bit out. Handing her my credit card, I sent them both a hard look.

“Don’t go full out or get something really bad.” I pointed a finger at them.

“Why would you ever think that?” Sophia put a hand on her chest like I had hurt her.

“Okay, off you go.” They started pushing me out of the store. “Sky, be good for Jenna,” Candy yelled, then disappeared with Sophia. Terrible idea, giving them my credit card. I led Sky over to a bench across from Victoria’s Secret. All around me were multiple benches and chairs, definitely put there for men to sit on while their wives shopped at VS. Sky sat next to me holding the same stuffed bear I had gotten her a while back.

“Can we go wee Liam after dis?” Sky asked, looking up at me. Her blue eyes were wide, almost as if she were trying to hypnotize me.

“Well, if it is okay with your mom we can,” I answered. “He said he really missed you.”

“He did?” she practically yelled as she got up on her knees, putting her little hands on my shoulders.

“Yes, he did,” I said, giggling softly. “He wanted to know how his princess was doing.” I watched as her grin somehow got wider, and her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. This five-year-old was clearly smitten with Liam. If she weren’t so young, I would be scared that she really felt something for him. Everyone had a crush when they were little, Liam was just Sky’s.

I still remembered mine. It was on a boy that was in my school. It was right after my mom had left me and I joined a new school closer to the home. His name was Andrew. We had the same teacher. Ms. Smith put us together as table buddies, but I was too shy to really talk to him, or anyone, for that matter. He was the first person to make an effort to say something, and from then on, I grew a small crush. Of course I didn’t know that was what it was called. Andrew was my first real friend, and he slowly became my sun. Everything I did evolved around him, honestly. He was the light in the darkness of my life. The only time I was really happy was when I was at school sitting next to him, or when we were playing on the playground together. That, of course, came to an end not long after our friendship had blossomed.

Someone had heard their parents talking about my mom leaving me and started to pick on me. And because I was friends with Andrew, they did it to him too. After one day when some kids got too bad by throwing rocks at us, Andrew got hurt. A rock had hit the side of his head and he had to get stitches. His mom was so angry and instantly blamed me. Two days after being hit, he came back to school but was transferred into another class and made sure he wouldn’t get near me again. From then on I was friendless until high school.

“Are you going to marry Liam, Wenna?” Sky’s voice brought me back to the present.

“I…yeah I am, sweetie,” I replied, smiling at the thought. Only a few months ago I was hell-bent on not marrying anyone let alone Liam, but now…things had changed. I was finally happy and in a good place in my life. I didn’t want anything to ruin it.

“Can I be there?” she pleaded. She put her hands together and gave me puppy-dog eyes.

“Of course, Sky. You can be the flower girl.” I actually hadn’t thought about having her in the wedding, but now, thinking about it, I knew it was the perfect decision.

“What’s a flower girl?” she asked, although she messed up the word “flower”.

“It means you get to walk down the aisle dropping flower pedals before me. And you get to wear a pretty dress.”

“Like a prinwess dress?” she asked excitedly.

“Yes, just like a princess dress.” At Sky’s excited face, I grinned.

“Okay, where to next?” Sophia interrupted. Looking in her and Candy’s direction, I noticed they had a few bags in their arms. I don’t even want to see what’s in those.

“If we see a store we pass by, we can go in. How does that sound?” I suggested, holding Sky’s hand as we got off the bench.

“Sounds good to me,” Candy agreed.

We spent the next hour going from store to store. I mostly stayed with Sky, but I still had fun. Sophia, Candy, and I talked about everything under the sun. I was glad they got along great. We made sure to look at things for Sky, which made her happy. Sophia and Candy still hadn’t let me see what they bought at VS for me, and I kind of didn’t want to look with them or Sky around. If I knew them like I did, the stuff they got was going to be embarrassing.

Passing by Build-A-Bear, Sky started pulling me toward it, talking animatedly. For a little five-year-old, she sure had some strength in her. Walking into the store, I saw there were a few little kids there with their parents but it wasn’t busy at all. I had never been in here before, so when I looked around I was struck with how many different things you could do. I felt like I was the same age as Sky as we went over to the un-stuffed animals.

“Sky, honey, I don’t think you need another stuffed animal,” Candy said, trailing in after us.

“Wes I do, Mommy!” Sky replied, not even glancing back at her mom. I shook my head and held back a laugh. Such sassiness. Definitely her mother’s daughter.

“Sky, no.”

“No, it’s okay. This will be my gift to her for dragging her along with us,” I said, waving Candy off. I couldn’t say no to Sky, especially not after she had already seen all the animals she could stuff.

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