Page 110 of If My Wishes Came True
My eyes fill with tears as Christy and I run over to them. “Mom,” we both say, throwing our arms around her.
Ingrid Andersen looks amazing. She’s always been beautiful, but the sadness in her eyes that weighed on her so heavily seems to have lifted.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I tell her. “I’m so happy.”
“You have your boyfriend to thank. He was relentless,” she says, winking at him. “But I’m so grateful. Now that I have my first solo trip under my belt, the world is my oyster.”
I wipe a tear from my cheek. “Thank you so much,” I say, pulling Charlie close while Christy talks to our mom. “How did you convince her?”
He smiles, looking dashing as ever in one of the tailored suits that will soon be hanging in my closet. “I just told her how important it was for you to have her here. Eventually, she came around. But her flight was delayed?—”
I laugh. “Of course.”
“I’m lucky I didn’t get a speeding ticket, the way I was driving from the airport to make it here on time,” he says, wiping his brow.
I kiss him like there aren’t dozens of people walking into the gallery to see my artwork.
When we part, I look over at my mom, whose wide eyes are scanning the room—from my collection of portraits hanging on the far wall, to my landscapes displayed opposite them.
“Oh, Jenna,” she says. “I am so, so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I reply, my heart fluttering.
Then the spark of wonder in her eyes turns into something fiery. “I’m so angry at myself for not standing up to your fathersooner. I never should have allowed him to keep you from painting.”
Christy tilts her head. “Sooner? What do you mean? Did you actually stand up to Dad?”
Mom sighs. “Well…”
Christy nods. “It’s about time you gave Dad a piece of your mind. Way to go, Mom.”
Ingrid Andersen grins, a mischievous glint in her eyes that reminds me of Christy. “I did better than that. I kicked that brute to the curb. We’re getting a divorce.”
My sister jumps up and down, then wraps her arms around our mother, who’s crying tears of joy. It makes sense that the sadness she’s carried around for years has lifted.
“That’s wonderful, Mom,” I say, taking my turn to hug her.
But while I’m thrilled my mother just rid herself of a lot of dead weight, I’m surprised I feel so numb about the man she’s leaving. Christy despises him, and for good reason. And I could easily say the same, but I must have stopped caring at some point. He severed our connection a long time ago—if we ever had one to begin with. I mean, he’s never supported my dreams. He isn’t here for one of the most significant nights of my life. I guess Simone Sutton made a good point about her husband. William won’t be winning a Father of the Year award anytime soon, but at least he cares enough to show up.
“And the best part is,” Mom goes on with a victorious smile, “he’s so helpless without me, he had to move in with your grandmother.”
Christy cackles. “Well, it’s her fault for raising a numbskullwho can’t even do his own laundry.”
“Maybe I’ll move here, so I can be close to you girls,” my mom muses. “There’s nothing tying me to Beachwood anymore. Wouldn’t it be fun? Christy, we could even go looking for love together. Two single gals, out on the town, searching forthe one. What do you say?”
“Yes, Mom, please!” I exclaim. “That sounds great, doesn’t it, Christy?”
My sister tilts her head, considering my mom’s offer. “It sounds like a cute premise for a romance novel. I’d read it.”
“Then, it’s settled,” my mom says, her green eyes sparkling.
“Perfect!” Christy exclaims. “Well, I’d better get to work. I mean, these paintings could sell themselves—but that takes all the fun out of it for me.”
“I’ll come, too,” Mom says, following her.
I turn to Charlie. “I don’t think this night could get any better.”
He kisses the top of my head, then puts his arm around my waist. “Let’s go meet your adoring fans,” he says, leading me into the crowd.
