Page 94 of The Other Side
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, it’s a no.”
Amanda turned and rummaged around a drawer in her closet for a moment before returning victoriously with something small pinched between her fingers. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a vintage hairpin, adorned with mossy gemstones artfully scattered across the length of the pin.
“They’re green sapphires,” Amanda answered my unspoken question. Taking a front piece of my hair, she twisted it in her fingers and used the pin to secure it at the side of my head. “I won’t be argued with; they match your eyes perfectly, and I’ve had the pin for ages and never worn it. Green isn’t quite my shade. I’d much rather you have it.”
When she was done, Amanda pushed me toward the full-size mirror mounted to the wall next to the large ornate door, where I got the first real look at myself. I felt the air leave my lungs in an audiblewhoosh.
How was it possible that in a matter of minutes and with three simple items, she had completely transformed me into a different being entirely? I felt like a stranger was staring back at me in my reflection, not the mousey and diminutive history teacher from Montgomery.
Sensing my awe at her work, Amanda smiled behind me. “Chance won’t know what hit him.”
I met her gaze in the mirror. “And what about your parents?” I asked nervously.
“You’ll make a good first impression, but they’ll know this is borrowed.” She tugged on the dress. “Mom picks out all my gowns.” Her tone was conciliatory. “But all that should matter is that you make Chance happy, and I know that you do.”
I sighed. “I’m not sure that will be enough for them.”
“Why do you say that?” Amanda’s brow furrowed.
“Because Chance was never enough for them,” I replied as if it was the most obvious thing.
Amanda’s shoulders slumped. “I won’t defend them, but I think they did the best they could. Some people just aren’t cut out for parenthood.”
I nodded, my eyes again falling to the floor.
“Do you love him?”
My eyes shot to Amanda’s.
I was frozen.
She gave me a soft smile.
Love?
That was a big fucking word. It had already been such a battle to get as far as we had. That was a large enough step that I hadn’t even fitloveinto the realm of possibilities. It was far too complicated to bring that into the picture so soon.
“But you’ll take care of him?”
I nodded emphatically.
Her smile grew, and she slipped her hand in mine. “That’s more than anyone’s done for him before.”
She opened the door, ushering me outside. Our heels clicked as we strode down the hall, going the opposite direction from the way we’d first come.
“You ready for this?” Amanda asked, just before we turned the corner.
“I have to be—for him.”
As we began our slow descent of the grand staircase, all eyes in the room suddenly swinging to us, she squeezed my hand in solidarity and whispered, “I’m glad he found you.”
