Page 142

CHARLOTTE

The sunrise on the morning of the wedding had been one of the most beautiful Charlotte had seen. She took it as a good sign as she waited in the cafe tucked into an east-facing corner of the resort, waiting for Sasha.

Her hair was still tucked into a satin bonnet when she appeared. A sight Charlotte had never seen, but Lizzie spoke of like it was the most adorable thing. And dammit, it was pretty cute.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me last-minute,” Sasha said, settling into the seat across from her and taking a long pull of her coffee.

Charlotte nursed the cream to sugar ratio in her own cup, her face carefully neutral.

“I wanted to apologize.”

Charlotte stilled, glancing up to the warm eyes swimming with sincerity. “For what?”

Sasha sighed, nails clinking against her mug. “For not cutting Victoria loose sooner. For taking her side when I shouldn’t have.”

She could only stare for a long moment, her anger and resentment when it came to Sasha’s role in the Victoria of it all quelling.

“Why did you?” Charlotte asked after a long moment of holding her breath.

“Our fathers worked together. We were the same age. And when things were too much at home, I would go to her house. It felt safer there.” Sasha’s tone was clipped, and having met the late Mr. and Mrs. Pryce, Charlotte could see why. “But her house really wasn’t much better. But at least we had each other.”

“I’m sorry⁠—”

Sasha waved her off, taking another sip of her coffee. “I didn’t want to admit she wasn’t the same girl. I didn’t want to believe she turned into her father… but that was wrong of me. And I’m sorry for what she did to you… and to Lilah.”

Brown eyes misted over and Charlotte knew she meant it. She reached out a hand and waited for Sasha to take it. “I’m sorry you lost her.”

“I think I lost her a long time ago.”

“I’m still sorry.”

“I’m sorry too,” Sasha said, her tone rough with emotion and Charlotte knew she meant it. “I wish I had handled things differently.”

Charlotte squeezed the warm hand in hers before pulling back with a sigh. “It might take me a bit to fully forgive you, if I’m honest.”

Sasha nodded, full lips pressing together.

“But I will,” Charlotte promised.

Those same full lips twitched into something like a smile. “I appreciate that. More than you know.”

Charlotte flashed her own smile, drawing in a quiet breath. Maybe there was hope they wouldn’t always feel like sandpaper rubbing together. Maybe someday, they could even be something like friends… or sisters.

Lizzie’s long hair spilled over the edge of the sofa she lay sprawled on like a contented, unbothered cat.

The mountaintop venue was a dream. Sweeping views in every direction. Valleys flecked with autumn color, giving way to evergreen forests that crept up the sides of snow-capped peaks. Through one specific window, the arbor waited at the edge of an overlook, dressed in Lizzie’s wedding colors, the mountains rising behind it like something out of a painting. The pictures would be amazing.

Charlotte had planted herself in front of that very window, arms crossed, determined not to sour the morning with her mood.

She wasn’t angry exactly. It was more that something felt unfinished. She needed… she didn’t know what she needed. Her arms tightened around herself, an unconscious attempt to stay grounded.

Earlier, she fussed over Lizzie, who refused to move from the couch until absolutely necessary. She tried to talk to Lilah too, but while things were better between them, her little sister wasn’t ready for another serious conversation. Instead, Lilah escaped to the playground outside, with Ali, Zuri, and Natasha taking turns on the swings. Natasha snapped pictures on the snazzy digital camera Ali had brought.

“Cindy,” Lizzie began from her sofa, addressing her other bridesmaid, another doctor at the hospital where she worked. “Could you and Imani see if you can find my mom? I need to ask her something about the reception.”

They left, the door clicking shut behind them.

Fabric rustled and bare feet padded softly across the carpet.