Page 108 of Always a Bridesmaid
Violet glanced around, as if she expected another Violet who happened to have her same biological father to step forward.
“Can you come up?” Dad motioned Violet forward, and a light drumming began beating at her temples.
Slowly, she made her way to the podium. She made a fist and then released it—opened, closed, opened, closed. Ford was supposed to be here to hold her hand. To provide support.
What if I make a fool of myself in front of the entire town?
Is Dad extending an olive branch? Or is he about to pull the rug out from underneath me?
I really wish Ford was here.
I’m about to pass out anyway, so maybe someone will call 911, and he can resuscitate me after he fixes whoever he’s helping now.
Maisy stretched out her hand, offering a much-needed anchor in the storm, and Violet took hold. Just like that, her inner turmoil calmed. “I want to thank the entire community for their patience as we were remodeling and for coming here today to celebrate. I couldn’t have done any of this without my sister.” Maisy gave her a quick squeeze, and a boulder-sized lump formed in Violet’s throat. “And now, without any further ado…”
Maisy gripped hold of the string affixed to the canvas fabric hiding the new sign. She tugged, and the fabric slipped free to reveal a cupcake-shaped sign with the wordsMaisy’s Bakery.
Everyone cheered, and people rushed forward to congratulate Maisy and head inside. Violet hung back, lifted her phone, and composed a reply to Ford. Yes, she’d been dismayed upon receiving his apology text, but the important thing was, he’d choose to be here with her if he could.Thatwas what mattered.
Violet:No worries.I have Isla to protect me. I’ll make sure to save you a cupcake and check in later. XOXO
She snapped a quick selfie of herself and her niece and sent it along, too.
“Hello there, little angel.”
Everything inside of Violet froze, much the same way it’d done at the bazaar when she’d heard Cheryl’s voice.
Violet plastered on a smile and held on to it for dear life as she pivoted toward her dad’s wife.Oh, holy crap. Dad just publicly acknowledged me in front of most of the town.
With too many emotions firing through Violet at once, she still hadn’t sorted out exactly how she felt about it, but she worried Cheryl would be more upset than usual and searched for a way to placate her. “Did you want to hold Isla?”
“Always.”
It took a bit of finagling, but Violet managed to get Isla out of her carrier and handed her to her grandmother.
“Guess I’ll head inside and—” Violet was moving past Cheryl as she spoke, but she stopped her with a hand on her arm.
Dad walked over, too, going against the flow of traffic, and Violet’s heart attempted to beat out of her chest.Never mind,she wanted to text Ford.Whatever emergency you’re taking care of, mine is bigger, so get over here!
So what if she was being as melodramatic as Ford once teased her of being?
“I wanted to apologize,” Cheryl said, the words clipped. “I haven’t treated you fairly. Not only the other night at the bazaar but since the beginning.”
Dad took the last few steps, closing the distance between them. “I also want to apologize for not being there for you more through the years.” He struggled to meet Violet’s gaze. He cleared his throat, and she realized he was attempting to rein in his emotions. A soft smile curved his mouth as he grabbed Isla’s hand.
It was weird, thinking they were grandparents to the baby she’d spent so much time with.
“Maisy’s been so happy this past month, and I thought, ‘oh good, she’s finally through the baby blues.’” Cheryl brought a trembling hand up to her mouth. “But whenever we talk, she mentions you, and today it hit me that it’s mostly thanks to you.”
Violet tucked her hair behind both ears. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. All I did was help her decorate and provide a little company.”
Dad’s hand came down on her shoulder. “We haven’t given you nearly enough praise through the years. Let us tell you how wonderful we think you are. Please.”
A floaty, surreal-yet-happy sensation brewed underneath her sternum, slowly spreading to other parts of her body.
The next half hour was filled with apologies, tears, and cupcakes.
While it stung to be snubbed for simply existing, the fact of the matter was, Violet understood how hard it must’ve been for Cheryl to accept her. Being cheated on hurt you right down to the core of who you were. It made you doubt yourself and your worth and was hell on the self-esteem.
