Page 75 of Everything We Thought Was True
He lifted my face gently. “Lena, you don’t have to be like them. You can make a different choice.”
Kevin was right. I didn’t have to be like my mother. But it hurt so much. I felt like I was betraying her.
“I always admired your mother. She was a strong woman in so many ways. More than just what happened with your father.” He let that sit between us for a moment. “You take after her. You’re also strong. And you’re more than what happened with your family.”
“Thank you,” I said, managing a small smile. “And I know one choice I never have to second-guess.” I kissed him on the lips then rubbed his nose with mine. “I married the right person.”
Chapter Forty-Four
LENA - RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA
October 2015
Icouldn’t believe that after months of preparation and anticipation, the wedding day was finally here. I looked in the mirror and took stock of my outfit and jewelry: a purple dress because that was my mom’s favorite color, the earrings she’d given me on my wedding day, my wedding ring, Mom’s pearl ring, and the bracelet Kevin had gifted me on our fifteenth wedding anniversary.
“You okay in there?” Kevin appeared in the bedroom doorway.
I smiled at him through the mirror. He looked so handsome in his olive-green suit, the one he knew I loved that set off the flecks of gold in his amber eyes.
“I’m going to take Atticus for a walk before we leave. I made some coffee. Anthony’s having some now. Donna and the kids are still getting dressed. They may be a while. He said he’ll wait for them and drive over in the rental car so you and I can get there early and check on things before the ceremony begins.”
“Okay, thanks, hon. I’ll be out in a minute,” I said, smoothing the front of my dress. A few minutes later, I walked into the kitchen area and saw my brother sitting at the island, sipping coffee.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded and caught sight of his purple tie.
He looked down at it and then back up at me and smirked. “Do you like it?”
“For Mom?”
He smiled. “Her favorite.” He looked me up and down. “Love your purple dress.”
I hugged him, and my eyes teared. “Don’t make me cry. I’ll have to do my makeup over.”
Anthony laughed.
“Is it strange that we both wore her favorite color to our father’s second wedding?” I asked, slipping onto the stool beside him.
Anthony shrugged. “Nope. Not at all. Not for us.” There it was—that nonchalant attitude.
“I wanted her with me today. I miss her,” I whispered.
“Me too. But she’s here. She wouldn’t miss it.” Anthony wove his arm around my waist and pulled me into him.
I rested my head on his shoulder. My big bro. He was my oldest ally, my other half. Without him, I was less defined. Less myself. Lena without Anthony was like a brain without a heart. A yin without a yang. It was the two of us against the world. And once Anthony came to his senses and stopped blaming Mom for our parents’ split, it became the three of us against the world. The three musketeers, she’d called us.
I looked at my big brother, so handsome in his suit. “Anthony, I want to ask you a question.”
“Sure, shoot,” he said.
I smiled to myself. That was a typical Anthony response. He had such a straight-shooter, no-nonsense style. I found it refreshing. I always knew where I stood with him.
“I’ve been asked to give a speech to an organization in LA in a few days. They want me to talk about LGBTQ law. It’s an organization for people with gay and lesbian parents.”
He nodded, taking in what I was saying.
“I made friends with a woman who does some volunteer work for them and serves on their board. She recommended me.”
