“If you want her there, invite her.”
“And you?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You always say that.”
He laughed softly.
“That’s because I usually am.”
Chloe knew better.
Still, she invited Elena.
Partly because some small piece of the six-year-old girl inside her still wanted to see whether her mother could walk through a door and stay.
Elena replied immediately.
Thank you. You won’t regret it.
Chloe hoped that was true.
The wedding day arrived.
Her sisters came early.
Maya, now fifteen years older than the baby who had been left behind, helped with flowers.
The oldest sister cried before anyone else did.
Their father stood outside the bridal room wearing a suit that looked slightly too formal for him.
When Chloe stepped out in her dress, he froze.
Then covered his mouth.
“Dad?”
“You look like your mother.”
The room went still.
He immediately shook his head.
