My mom pulls me into a fierce hug. “Thankyou.”
I wrap my arms around her. “You’rewelcome.”
She releases me. “Now, I’m a mess.”
“No, you’re beautiful.”
“I have a few things I need to check on,last minute, but I will be back.”
“Okay, will you send Jill up here? I’dlike to see her.”
My mom nods and leaves. I rummage throughmy bag and pull out a box and an envelope for her. The door clicks and I turnaround.
Jill has her mouth open, ready to saysomething, but she shuts it, staying silent.
“Hi, wow. I like the dress. I thought itwould be fun for each bridesmaid to have a slightly different dress, but yoursis my favorite.”
“Thank you. You have a new dress.”
I peer down at my dress, smiling again.
“I like it better than the other one.”Jill states matter of fact.
“Thank you, me too.” I hold out the bluevelvet box to her. “This is a thank you for being my bridesmaid. It’s nothingtoo fancy, just your birthstone and your initial.
“Thanks,” Jill says, opening the box.
“But here. This is my actual gift. It’sfrom Cole too.” I watch as she opens the letter and reads it, tears streamingdown her face.
“I don’t deserve this.”
“Jill, if this is your dream, then yes,you do deserve it.”
“Not after all the stuff I said and did.”
“It’s all forgiven. Water under thebridge.” I need for Jill and me to have a clean slate if we are ever going tobe friends; we need a fresh start and this is it.
She looks at the paper again. “I’ve beenaccepted to law school.”
“Yep, and your first semester’s tuitionis paid.”
Jill plows me over with a hug, sobbing.“Thank you so much. I really am truly sorry for what I said. I’m jealous. Lookat you, Kate. You already have your Master’s and you married pretty much thehottest guy on the planet, and he’s rich, to boot.”
“I am pretty lucky. But even if Cole wasa plumber, I would still love him just as much.”
I ask Jill to have Annie come up next. Myheart beats a mile a minute waiting for her. It takes forever, and I’m almostafraid she won’t come. But then the doorknob turns and she slowly enters theroom. Annie’s dress is floor length with an empire waist to fit her baby bump.
“Hi big sis,” I say, trying to ease thetension, but it doesn’t help. Annie stares past me like I don’t exist. “Annie,will you please talk to me? At least tell me what I’ve done to hurt you so thatI can try to make it right.” But she doesn’t say anything. I don’t know what todo. If Annie won’t talk to me, then how can we fix things between us? Iremember what Cole said earlier, to step back and look at the positive. Anniecame up here. Even if she won’t talk to me, I can talk to her. “Okay well, thisis for you.” I stretch my hand out, holding a small blue box. She looks at itfor a minute and then finally takes it.
“Thank you,” she says stiffly. “Is thatall you wanted?” My heart sinks. I want to grab her and slap her and tell herto snap out of it.
“I want you to know how grateful I am tohave you as my older sister. I’ve always looked up to you and tried to be morelike you. Mom used to always scold me and say: Why can’t you be more likeAnnie? And I would say something like: Why would I want to be a skinny, prissyloser like her? But secretly, I really wanted to be more like you. I love youAnnie, and I’m sorry for whatever I’ve done to hurt you.” I reach into myovernight bag, pulling out my gift for Annie. “Here, this is for you.” I handher the baby doll wrapped in a tattered old blanket.
Annie reaches out her hand but then putsit down, not taking the doll.
“Please Annie, it’s your turn to have thedoll. I want you to have this. Mom told me you and Mark found out you’re havinga girl. It can be for her.”
Annie tenderly takes the doll from me,holding it in her arms.
