Page 59 of An Unexpected Everything
“When do you think he’s going to propose?” I asked.
“You know, he is your brother. I could have you ask for me.”
“There is not enough champagne in the world for me to ask my brother anything along those lines,” I said dryly.
“True. Though maybe I should be the one to propose to him,” Blakely teased.
“Please do it. When you’re ready, please get down on one knee and just startle him.”
Blakely threw her head back and laughed. “As if he would let me get away with that.”
“He might,” I said softly.
“I don’t know, I think he has a plan. He’s being secretive, but in a fun way.”
“I’m so happy for you. And Phoebe, and Sophia. My family keeps growing.”
“If our family continues to grow, we’re going to run out of room even at Aston’s place,” Emily said dryly. “As it is, the new big brothers haven’t even been to my apartment. Our immediate family can’t even fit in my apartment,” she said with a laugh.
“You’re just starting out,” Mom said, clucking her tongue. “And do not compare yourself to the others. They had a different upbringing.” Mom went back to her conversation with one ofSophia’s friends, as if she hadn’t just dropped another bomb, reminding us of everything that had happened.
I drained my glass of wine, knowing that no matter what happened next, I was going to have to find a way to get along with my mother. Because I loved her, even if I didn’t like her in that moment.
“So, what is this I hear you’re dating a man from Cage Lake?” my mom asked, and I froze, wondering how on earth she could have heard that. Of course, the rehearsal had been that day so it wasn’t as if I had hidden my relationship. But I had barely seen him all day. I’d had wedding things to do, and he had hung out with my brothers. Cale had his own set of friends, so none of them were in the wedding party. But they had taken Weston and his siblings in as their own.
So while I wasn’t hiding it, I hadn’t come out and said I was dating anyone to my mother.
And we were dating. He was my boyfriend. Which sounded like such a trivial word because I didn’t know what I was doing. We had been so good at not talking about labels, that we had foregone the idea of a label altogether. I didn’t know where we were going in the future, because it wasn’t as if we lived similar lives. They were parallel to the point I wasn’t sure when else they could cross.
But panicking like I had in the past wasn’t going to help anything, so I let out a slow breath, allowing Blakely’s hand on mine to anchor me.
“His name is Weston. We knew each other from before,” I said, hoping my voice sounded pleasant, and not as if I was on the verge of another panic attack. Because I wasn’t going to be. Damn it.
“And what does he do?” Mom asked, and I wanted to narrow my gaze, wondering exactly why she was asking. It wasn’t as if I talked to my mom anymore.
“He owns his own mechanic shop. It’s a family business.”
My mom studied my face, and I was ready for some judgment. “Caldwell’s. He’s Weston Caldwell?”
I froze, those in my family going silent as others in the room talked amongst themselves.
“You know Caldwell’s?” I asked, my voice pleasant.
Mom set down her knitting and nodded. “Yes. Your father took me to Cage Lake a couple of times. But it was long before Weston would have owned it. I probably met his father then when I had a flat tire.”
“You went to Cage Lake. With Dad.” I hadn’t known my voice could be so emotionless while anger, despair, and confusion warred beneath the surface.
My mom’s eyes tightened. “Yes. Your father and I loved each other very much. And we had five beautiful children from that love. We might not have had our marriage blanket or wedding, but we loved each other, Isabella. Much like I hope you love Weston.”
I had wanted to ask her why she wanted to compare us. Why she would allow herself to be the other woman. But I didn’t understand my mother. Perhaps she had the relationship she wanted, and it had worked well with Melanie. I didn’t know the ins and outs of that. The only thing in this moment that I cared about was her lies. That she had hidden so much from us. But then I looked over at Sophia, at the way she swallowed hard, and I knew I wasn’t going to ruin today.
No matter the tightening in my chest that returned.
“Cage Lake is stunning. It’s relaxing there. The view of Champagne Peak alone takes your breath away. I’ve enjoyed staying at your house, Blakely,” I said, putting on a smile that I hoped reached my eyes.
My best friend patted my hand and looked over at Sophia. “If you don’t want to use one of the rentals, you’re welcome to stayat our place too,” Blakely said to Sophia. “I know you have your honeymoon coming up, but I know Aston would love everybody to spend more time in Cage Lake.”
“I have plans on doing so,” Sophia said. “Especially because Dorian gave me a couple of ideas.”
