Page 67 of Call It Home

“Can I try on my dress again?” Lexi begged. “It’s got sparkles, too.”

Bristol beamed at her soon-to-be stepdaughter. “Absolutely.”

“Come on, Lex. I’ll help you.” Mama Rae held out her hand, and Lexi skipped off with her.

She looked at me. “Okay, it’s your turn.”

I finished the champagne we’d been served when we arrived and accepted the dress the attendant handed me. “Let’s hope it fits.”

“There’s plenty of time for some alterations if needed,” she promised.

Moments later, I returned, feeling pretty in the silky material that flowed easily around my calves. Paige, Emalee, and I were Bri’s only attendants, with me as her maid-of-honor. We would all wear the same color of light blue and the same basic style of dress, but we’d each chosen different necklines. Em’s was a sweetheart one, Paige’s was strapless, and mine had spaghetti straps with a cowled neckline.

“I think it fits perfectly,” I announced, taking my turn to swirl around the dais.

The attendant stepped forward and gave me a once-over, eyeing every inch of the dress. “Lucky us. I think it’s perfect.”

Bristol joined me, still in her wedding dress. “Look at us Allen girls. We clean up pretty damn good. But then, you always did like to dress up. I was the tomboy.”

I chuckled because she was right. But right now, she looked like she should be a model. “You look beautiful, sis.”

Her smile was soft. “I wish Dad could be here. I’m not sure he would believe this was happening,” she said, her voice laced with emotion.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and leaned my head on her shoulder. “He’d be so happy for you,” I assured her, my own voice catching in my throat. “But I know what he would say if he were here.” Bristol’s eyes caught mine in the mirror. “He’d be so damn proud of you, Bri.”

“You think so? He wouldn’t be disappointed I left the racing world?”

I shook my head adamantly. “Iknowso. He’d love that you followed your heart to build something of your own. And even more, he’d be so damn proud you found your heart in Reid, who’d he’d love. I bet those two would have become thick as thieves. And Lexi? He’d absolutely adore her and spoil her rotten. He’d also have her behind the wheel of some kind of fast car.”

Bri’s eyes misted over, but she laughed at the last part. “That might be where Reid would have a heart attack. It’s hard enough to get him to breathe through a soapbox derby.”

We both laughed.

“But you’re right. Daddy wasn’t selfish. Not like our mom.”

I was surprised she brought our mom up. She never talked about her. Not that I could blame her since she couldn’t even be bothered to come make sure for herself that Bristol was okay after her horrific accident.

“Have you told her about the wedding?” I asked hesitantly.

“Not a chance. She doesn’t deserve to know a thing about me at this point.”

“You’re right.”

“She only calls when she wants something,” Bri continued. “I know we’re missing some family now. I miss Gramps and Grams terribly, too. But we’re also building a new family. We’ve got Zach and Olivia. Now Reid and Lex. I’ve got all the family I need, right here.” She nudged me with her elbow. “And maybe someone else soon?”

I pretended to play innocent. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Cammy. You played it low-key at dinner that night, but we all saw how both of you kept looking at the other. I don’t think a lighter was needed to start that fire outside. All anyone had to do was put you two next to the logs and let your eye-fucking be the spark.”

I choked out a laugh. “That’s…that’s quite…I…”

Before I had to worry about saying anything more, Lexi returned with Raelyn. I watched Bristol’s eyes glow as she turned to look at Lex. “Aw, honey, you look even prettier than you did the last time.”

Her words made Lex grin. “I’m going to look so good that even Ms. Pettigrew is going to have to say so.”

My horrified look swung to Bristol’s. “She’s not going to be there, is she?”

Eliza Pettigrew was an ancient, old-fashioned former debutante who ran a program to teach kids manners, including what to wear, how to sit, how to eat a formal meal, and the steps to formal dances. Our grandmother had enrolled Bristol when we moved in with her, thinking it would balance out the tomboy in her. Bristol took pride in being the only one who’d been asked to leave the program. Reid had attempted the same with Lex, trying to find a feminine balance for his daughter after his wife died. It had created a great bonding experience for Bristol and Lexi, who had fared better at the school than my sister had.

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