Chapter Twenty
“Mother.” Riley smiledand gave her a polite hug. Nothing too tight that might wrinkle the satin of her mother’s dress or stress her skin.
Riley relied on every ounce of willpower she had to maintain her composure for Kenzie’s wedding. It had been almost a week since she’d talked to Zane, and despite her resolution to leave him be, not seeing him made her miserable. However, she’d do almost anything for her sister, including smile and nod at each of Mother’s passive-aggressive comments.
Her mother’s hair—blonde, like her daughters’—was piled on top of her head. She held Riley at arm’s length, gaze raking over her appraisingly. “You look good, hon. Kenzie picked a nice dress for you.”
Riley clenched her jaw. She gave her mother a tight smile. “Thank you.”
Mother—Riley and Kenzie weren’t allowed to call herMomorSharonor anything else, alwaysMother—smoothed something on the side of Riley’s head. “You really could have done a better job with your hair.”
Embarrassment flooded Riley, and she hated the flush rising to her skin. “Sorry.”
“No one will be watching you anyway.” Mother waved a hand and turned back to the bride.
Riley sank against a nearby wall, arms crossed over her chest.
“Don’t slouch, hon.” Her mother never looked up as she moved the flowers woven through Kenzie’s hair a fraction of an inch. “Do I get to meet your date?”
Riley’s gaze met Kenzie’s in the mirror, and Kenzie gave her an apologetic half-smile. Riley loved her mother dearly, but at times like this, she remembered exactly why she’d gone to live with her father after her parents’ divorce, when she and Kenzie were in their late teens.
“Riley’s a strong, independent woman,” Kenzie said. “She doesn’t need a date to attend a wedding.”
Mother’s sniff said she felt otherwise. She turned her attention back to Riley. “Maybe your sister can hook you up with one of the groom’s guests. He seems like he knows a number of respectable people.”
Riley bit back her snort, trying to keep her dry amusement off her face. She knew she didn’t completely succeed. “Maybe.” The majority of Scott’s friends made Riley’s look positively uptight by comparison.
Shaking her head, Mother peeked outside at the guests streaming into the wedding hall. “At least you didn’t bring one of those boys who treats you like one of them.”
Riley’s gut clenched at the reminder of Zane and Archer. Mostly of Zane.
“Mother, will you grab my shoes?” Kenzie asked.
“Of course, dear.” Mother looked at Riley again. “There’s a handsome young man out there who looks like he might be military. Maybe your sister can introduce you to him.”
“I think they’ve met.” Kenzie stood and slipped into her heels, growing by four inches.
Riley swallowed back the sick feeling. If the reminder of Zane didn’t hurt so much, she might tell Mother that’s who she was talking about. She’d seen him come in, and that he looked incredible in his tux was one thing she agreed with her mother about.
A knock interrupted the interrogation. “Are you ladies decent?”
Riley yanked open the door enough to let her father in.
He threw his arms around her, lifted her in a bear hug, and squeezed her. “Hey, baby.”
“Daddy.” At least there was some comfort there.
He started toward Kenzie, pausing when Mother glared at him. Instead of hugging her tight, he settled for a kiss on the cheek. “You both look lovely.”
The organ music started. Mother extracted herself from the group, shooting one last glare at Riley and her father. “Make sure my baby girl makes it to the altar okay.”
“It’s a room away, Sharon. They’ll both survive.”
Mother didn’t look as though she believed him but left to lead the wedding procession.