Page 28 of The Vineyard Bride

Audrey grimaced.“I have no idea.”

“Probably Amanda feels the same way about you right now,” Lola offered.‘Terrified that you’re about to start the rest of your life.Terrified that this cozy world you’ve built together is about to end.”

Audrey slid her teeth over her lip.Her eyes grew distant as she considered this.“I just realized that I sound like Valerie at your bachelorette party.”

Lola’s stomach tightened.“Gosh.That was so terrifying.All I could think about was the old days when she was my greatest confidant, a woman I could trust with anything.Now, she wants to insult my dearest family members?It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around it.”

Audrey tilted her head.“I would never go as far as Valerie did that night.But if Amanda ran off the island and went off to build another life, I could see myself getting ridiculous about it.Asking her if I was ever important to her at all.”

Lola dropped her chin to her chest.“I know you’re right.I’ve thought about calling Valerie, talking to her.But every time I consider it, I get so angry.I can’t overcome it.”

A few minutes later, the sound of an engine came from the front driveway.Lola leaned forward to glance out the window as she muttered, “Ah, just the mailman.”A moment later, the mailman appeared on the front stoop and shoved a selection of letters into the attached box before waving a hand goodbye.Lola and Audrey waved back.

Lola placed her soggy burrito on its wrappings, cleaned her hands, and stepped into the sliver of sunshine on the front porch.She leafed through the mail as Max sang a song in the kitchen, one that he’d been writing the past week or more.“Da da da da,” was what he had so far.

“Oh my gosh.”Lola lifted a dramatically large and thick envelope, upon which The United States Journalism Association had stamped their official mark.

“What’s up?”Audrey called.

Lola stepped back into the house with the envelope lifted.All the color drained from her cheeks.“I think this might be important.”

Audrey leaped to her feet, scrubbing her fingers with a napkin.“It’s certainly big enough to be important.Why don’t you open it?”

Lola grabbed a knife and tugged it across the top.She then removed the cardboard certificate within, upon which the USA Journalism Association had written her name.

LOLA SHERIDAN

A CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM

“Audrey!”Lola cried as shock fluttered through her.“This is huge.I had no idea my editor was putting my name in.”

Audrey grabbed the attached letter and read it aloud as Lola continued to stand in shock with the thick certificate in her outstretched hands.

“Dear Lola Sheridan,

It is our pleasure to announce that you are a recipient of the Journalism Award of Excellence at this year’s United States Journalism Association Annual Gala, which will be held June 11that the Abigail Adams Ballroom in Boston, Massachusetts.”

As Audrey read, her voice bubbled with excitement.Lola leaped forward and hugged her daughter joyously, overwhelmed.On the floor, Max smacked his palms together, grateful that finally, his mom and grandmother had caught on to how amazing he thought everything in the world was all the time.

“This is insane, Mom,” Audrey said, grabbing a napkin and dotting it beneath her tear-filled eyes.“But so well-deserved.You worked tirelessly as a single mother and a journalist, inspiring me with your incredible attitude and your creativity.I don’t even know what to say...”

Lola’s heart swelled.“Say that you’ll be my date to this thing.”

Audrey blinked with confusion.“Don’t you want to take Tommy?”

“No way.You were with me from the start of my career.Tommy had nothing to do with all those years back in Boston.You were my real partner-in-crime, the reason I could do everything I went on to do.If you’re not there with me, I don’t know who else would go,” Lola affirmed.

“It would be my honor to be your date,” Audrey beamed, lifting her chin.“I’ve always felt terribly proud to be Lola Sheridan’s daughter.This night will be no different.”

“Except we’ll need fancier dresses,” Lola quipped.“I think it’s about time to go shopping.Don’t you?”

Audrey shrieked excitedly as Max began to perform his new song again.“Da da da,” he wailed as Audrey lifted him into her arms and spun around.His baby laughter welled through the kitchen.Lola collapsed at the kitchen table to continue to nibble at her burrito distractedly, entirely grateful for everything she’d worked so hard for and everything she’d been given.It had all been for a reason.She felt sure of that now.

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