Page 77 of Choosing Forever
Abbie grins and taps Bryce on the shoulder. “Can we make bracelets now?”
I swear I can see Bryce’s skin crawl as she digests the question, thinking and thinking . . .
“You don’t want to do them later with your dad?”
“Nope. You said we could do them together here if I stopped asking.”
Poppy swallows a laugh and cocks her head at Bryce. I take a bite of my turnover and pretend to look out the café window.
“You know, I think Delaney would be interested in bracelet making. Why don’t you ask
her?”
Hiding my panic is impossible. Bryce meets my wide-eyed stare with crooked lips.
“Oh, I don’t think I even know how,” I ramble.
Abbie reaches beneath her chair and suddenly plops a giant pink bag onto the table. “I can teach you. It’s easy with practice.”
“Oh, you brought your entire collection with you,” Poppy jokes.
“I wanted to make lots and give them to Dad’s friends at work.”
Of course, she’s thoughtful too. She’s pretty much the perfect daughter.
“Are you really up for teaching me? I might slow you down. I’m sure you’re a professional at this point,” I say.
Abbie replies by gripping her sack of supplies on both sides and tipping the entire thing upside down. The contents spill all over the table, all neatly organized into clear baggies and neat rolls of clear elastic. A small pair of scissors hits the side of Poppy’s empty coffee cup before sliding toward me.
The array of beads is a bit staggering. There’s everythingfrom pearls to sparkles, neon and pastel. Abbie starts sorting through the mess and pushes aside three containers of gems and charms and letters. I’m overwhelmed just from looking at everything.
“How long have you been making bracelets for?” I ask, almost in awe.
“A while. I don’t like to colour much. Watching TV is boring.”
“That’s fair. I’m not much for those things either. Do you like flowers?”
Abbie cocks her head, lips pushing out as she thinks. “I think so.”
“I like to take care of mine when I’m bored. Maybe I’ll take to bracelet making after today.”
“What is your favourite colour?” she asks, already sorting through the bags of colour-coordinated beads.
“I’ll go with green.”
“Here! I’ll show you how to tie the string first.”
I nod and wait while she starts unrolling some clear elastic from the first roll on the table. Someone nudges my foot under the table, and I look to my right, catching Poppy’s soft expression. I freeze, worry building in my chest before she shakes her head, reading me instantly.
A few simple words from her soothe my anxiety.
“She likes you.”
25
DELANEY
My arm is weigheddown by seven beaded bracelets by the time Bryce interrupts and excuses herself to answer a call. The moment she’s gone from the table, Abbie juts her bottom lip out and gazes up at her aunt.
