It was gorgeous. I had all but forgotten about the theme Gabby had told me about at the hospital. With Ronny’s accident happening at the same time, I hadn’t gotten the chance to come and see what she had done to the room next to Tate’s childhood bedroom.
Gabby had taken inspiration from Cara’s name to decorate the room. Daisy, her middle name, was taken from The Great Gatsby. The room was a reflection of that. Everything was black, white, gold, and sparkly. The walls were painted with sharp, gold lines in an intricate pattern over a black background. The curtains were swooping and dramatic. Everything about this room screamed roaring 20’s. I was breathless.
“Wow, I-” stumbled over my words as I walked around the room, admiring everything. Tate’s mother laughed.
“I know, it’s phenomenal, isn’t it? I had a designer come in to do it, obviously. I am not this talented.”
When I didn’t reply she came over and tapped my arm ever so softly. I turned, holding a teddy bear dressed in pearls. The designer hadn’t spared a dime on details.
“I hope this was alright. I know I’m just her grandmother. At the time we thought she’d be spending more time here than anywhere else. I can have the furniture and decor taken to your home if you’d prefer.”
I shook my head, baffled that she’d think I was upset.
“It’s fine. I think it’s beautiful. You did great. We haven’t settled on a place, so I haven’t decorated her space yet. I don’t know if I can compete with this though,” I laughed. “I want this room for myself.”
She smiled again and visibly relaxed.
“Oh good. Okay, let’s get you and her dressed. I did the shopping myself. I wanted her to match her daddy, so I think I can find some stuff to match you too,” she winked. I was hesitant, but she blew my expectations out of the water with Cara’s wardrobe. Much like the room, the amount of clothes and style of them was extravagant.
I was surprised to find little pink and yellow. Most of the onesies, dresses, and accessories were either black, white, or red. They screamed punk rock, but not cheesy.
“I refuse to put my granddaughter in one of those tacky onesies with the sayings on the front. ‘Punk rock rules’ or whatever they say. ‘Lock up your sons’.” She stuck out her tongue as if she had just sucked on a lemon. “Those make me want to gag. You can still have your own style and look chic doing it.”
“You sound like my mom,” I laughed as I went through the racks of tiny dresses. “She has a similar style to this.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. The ‘other’ grandma,” she exaggerated the words with a giggle. “How does she feel about the situation? I never thought to ask.”
I frowned.
“I haven’t really talked to them in a while. They are on vacation right now. Well, my mom is. My dad’s doing a European tour. My mom and my aunts are there enjoying being tourists.” I turned around, plucking a striped dress from the rack. Gabby peered curiously at me over from the hat rack she was looking through. I gulped.
“Can I be honest? I haven’t officially told them that Tate and I were going to stay married. They haven’t asked, so I didn’t bring it up.”
“Oh,” she frowned and looked away. Guilt reached up and tugged at my insides. “May I ask why? Is it because of Cara’s biological mother?”
“No! Not at all. Cara really has nothing to do with it. I love her, I do.” I looked down at the dress in my hands. I owned something that would match it. My eyes started to shine, thinking about my life without her in it. She had only been here for such a short time, but the idea that I wasn’t part of her life was hard to consider. I pressed my lips together and looked back up at Tate’s mother.
“The reason Tate fought with Ronny the other night is because he said that I wasn’t her real mom. I’m still struggling with the concept that Tate wants that. That it’s okay to love her as my daughter.”
“Oh darling, no.” She dropped a large, black sun hat and hurried over, throwing her arms around me. “You are Cara’s mommy, don’t let anyone tell you any different. I can see your love for her whenever you look at her. And her for you. She lights up so fast when you are around.” She took a step back, her hands still on my arms. She looked me in the eye, her gaze firm and so sure of herself.
“Tell your parents, and we’ll all have dinner. They can meet Cara, and they’ll love her just as much as we do. I mean, how could you not? She’s adorable!”
I laughed as she dropped her hands and returned to the hats. I shook my head, laughing with her. Cara, much like her dad, took most of her features from Gabby. Of course, she’s adorable.
I returned to finding clothes that matched something I had in my own closet and was easily able to find a half dozen outfits and accessories to go with them.
“I actually have these exact same Bobby socks,” I told Gabby as she picked up a black, frilly pair from the basket of socks and stockings.
“Great! Okay, so if you leave now, you’ll have plenty of time to get your clothes, wash your face clean, and come back for hair and makeup. I’ve got my stylist coming at one. Okay, go, go!” She urged me out of the closet with a handful of baby outfits.
Tate and I left, leaving the baby to continue her nap at Grandma’s. Quickly I grabbed my clothes and soon enough we were back in Carbon Beach, getting ready for the photo shoot.
Gabby’s stylist freshened up my hair and curled it slightly, letting it fall in romantic rolls down my head. My makeup was done in such a way that I still looked like the spooky goth chick I loved being, but more upscale. Nothing was overpowering, but it still enhanced my normal look.
My first outfit was a long-sleeved white lace blouse paired with a high waisted, black skirt. The skirt was loose and swayed around my legs in such a way that made me look much taller than I really was. Cara had a black dress on with white lace tights, and a thin black headband on her tiny head.
There was a half dozen people in the room as we shot the photos. It was quiet for a few minutes except for the click of the camera. Everything felt awkward and stiff as Cara and I posed under the lights.
