Lib Novel Page 61
Congratulations on your special day. You’ll be an amazing wife and mother.
With all of my love…Mom.
Becca folded the letter and put it back inside the envelope. She removed her mother’s wedding dress and gingerly placed it in the box, which she put on top of her desk.
She ran downstairs and found her father grilling burgers and hot dogs.
“Hey, I know you eat all that healthy stuff, but for old times, how about you have a dinner without vegetables for once.”
Becca’s smile was wide and her eyes sparkled with love and gratitude for her parents. She threw her arms around her father and whispered, “Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for everything.”
When she pulled back and looked at him, her father had tears in his eyes. “You’ve always made your mother and me proud. It’s the least we could do for your special day.”
The weight of pain, worry and indecision vanished in that moment. Everything she felt had been missing throughout the days leading up to the wedding had been returned to her.
It was her mother all along. Believing that her mother would be with her as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, wearing her mother’s wedding dress, Becca’s wedding was complete, and she couldn’t wait to get home to Boston to tell Christopher everything.
CHAPTER 22
One Week Before the Wedding
“I’ll be darned,” Maggie said as she looked at her comb. “I don’t think I’m losing my hair anymore.”
Pulling her hair back from her forehead, she called to Paolo, “Look at this. I think my hair is growing.”
Paolo ran his fingers through Maggie’s hair and then looked closer as he made several parts with his hands.
“Why do I feel like we’re two gorillas in a zoo? What are you doing?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing? You wanted me to look at your hair so that’s what I’m doing.”
“I didn’t mean for you to explore my entire scalp. Anyway, am I right? There are little hairs growing, right?”
“It looks that way to me.” Paolo answered.
Maggie jumped up from her chair and started to dance around the bedroom. “Woohoo. I knew it would come back eventually.”
Maggie pulled Paolo into her arms and together they waltzed around the room.
“I’m so happy. I had hoped it would fill in more than this by wedding time, but I’m glad it finally kicked in.”
A knock sounded at the door downstairs followed by Sarah yelling, “Anyone home?”
“Come on up. Paolo and I were just dancing.”
“Oh, that’s nice. What are you celebrating?” Sarah asked.
“My hair. I’m celebrating my hair growing back.”
“That is good news. I think you both need to continue that celebration down in the center of town. You won’t believe your eyes.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know how they did it, but the islanders got together and spent the last two days decorating Andy Rosse Lane and several businesses. They’ve even erected a Christmas Tree right in front of The Mucky Duck. Everyone is planning to sing carols and walk toward the water to welcome Santa Claus.”
“You’re kidding. I thought it was off this year.”
“I thought so too, but Ciara told me that Linda St. James has been running around town for days trying to get enough people to participate. She’s been telling islanders that it will lift spirits and get people back in the holiday spirit. Tourists have even started coming back. I’m thinking they’re probably from the Southwest Florida area, but they’re coming to celebrate Christmas on the island nonetheless.”