Daughters Of The Bride(56)

She reached for a strawberry. “Your father was just so handsome. I was totally smitten from the first moment I saw him. Neil took a while to grow on me.”

“Were you always happy with Dad?” Rachel asked. “I don’t remember much, but I feel like you fought a lot.”

Maggie looked startled. “We had our issues, of course, but...” She paused. “I never know what to say,” she admitted. “About your father. He’s been gone so long. He was a good man, and he loved you, but he wasn’t all that concerned about taking care of us. The lack of life insurance for one. I still can’t believe we lost our house.”

“You took care of us,” Rachel said quickly. “Look where you are now.”

“I know, but it was so hard. I was terrified every second of every day. I was just a secretary at the company. He was the accountant. When he died, nearly every client left. The bills piled up. If Joyce hadn’t taken us in, I don’t know what we would have done. It was horrible.”

Courtney reached for Maggie’s hand. “For what it’s worth, I don’t remember much about that time. So I wasn’t traumatized.”

“I loved the hotel,” Sienna added. “It was so much fun. Everyone looked out for us. You didn’t fail, Mom. It wasn’t your fault.”

It had been their father’s fault, Sienna thought. Although she’d heard bits and pieces of the story all her life, she’d never much thought about how hard everything must have been for Maggie.

David wouldn’t do that, she told herself. He wouldn’t leave her destitute with three children. He would take care of her.

Maybe she should learn from her mother’s story. The fact that Neil hadn’t blown her away at the beginning of their relationship. That love at first sight had turned out to be, if not a mistake, then problematic.

She glanced down at her engagement ring. The ugly setting was growing on her...at least a little. Maybe she would learn to love it.

Courtney looked at her phone. “We should get back to the dresses, Mom. You want to have as big a selection to choose from as possible.”

“You’re right, darling. Let’s head back to the salt mines.”

Maggie stood and motioned for Courtney to lead the way. Sienna thought about how Courtney had had so many ideas for the wedding itself. As if she was handling everything. It wasn’t bluster, either. Courtney seemed to know exactly what she was doing. How strange.

“Sienna?” Betty put a hand on her arm. “Your fiancé called this morning and talked to me about dresses.”

Sienna honest to God didn’t know what to say. “David?” she asked weakly. “I told him what I was doing, but...” She swallowed. “I’m sorry. What did he say?”

“We talked ideas.” Betty looked pleased. “He’s very interested in your wedding plans. That’s so unusual. Most grooms simply want to show up. You’re a very lucky bride.”

Was that what they were calling it? “Ah, thank you.”

“There’s one dress in particular he would like you to try on. I happen to have it, so if you’re game...”

“This is my mom’s day,” she said quickly. “I don’t want to take away from that.”

“I’m sure your mother will enjoy sharing the fun. I’ve put the gown in the other dressing room. If you’ll follow me.”

She didn’t know what to do. Saying no was the obvious solution, but then when David asked, what was she going to tell him? Knowing her mother, she knew that Maggie would be delighted to have company. As for what her sisters would think, well, she had no idea.

She walked into the dressing room area. Rachel and Courtney were already sitting together on one of the love seats. For a second Sienna felt a familiar stab of envy. They’d always been the closest two. Despite their age difference, or maybe because of it, they were the ones who looked out for each other. She was the odd sister out.

Now she paused and shifted her weight. “There’s a, ah, dress I’m going to try on.”

Her sisters exchanged a look.

“That will be fun,” Rachel said. “Is this a dress you picked out?”

“David did.”

Courtney pressed her lips together as if trying not to laugh. Rachel covered her mouth with a failed cough. For one unexpected second, Sienna felt her eyes start to burn as anger blended with a sense of betrayal. Damn them both, she thought grimly and raised her chin.

But before she could say anything, Courtney stood and hugged her. “Invite everyone you hate to the wedding, because you will cause them physical pain with how beautiful you’ll be. A wedding may not be a traditional time for revenge, but you should so go for it.”