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Miranda kissed her on the head. “You keep being sunshine and joy, my sweet girl. Don’t worry about your sister. She’ll find her way. Everyone does, eventually.”
“I just hope it’s before she really messes things up with Summer.”
Her mother squeezed her tight. “Summer seems to have a lot of patience when it comes to Natalie.”
“Probably because she’s had to deal with her mom all these years.”
“I suppose so. That’s why I’m not worried. Summer will find her way past Natalie’s defenses eventually. I wouldn’t be surprised if Natalie learned to be a little more like Summer in the long run.”
“It’s easy to see why Cody likes her.”
“I hope the two of them figure things out, too. I’d hate to see their relationship fall apart and that having an effect on the family.”
Haley stepped away from her mom. “Why can’t things be easier?”
“Then we wouldn’t grow and learn.”
Haley shrugged. “I guess so.”
Haley grabbed a packet of Pop-Tarts from the pantry, looked at the clock. “I’ll go grab my stuff and rattle Natalie’s cage. We’re going to be late for school.”
She dashed off, wishing Summer had grown up with them. Then everything would be different. It would all feel normal.
She stepped up to her sister’s door and said under her breath, “I can’t wait until everything is normal again.” She knocked, knowing as long as things were changing, everything would feel unsettled.
And that would only rile Natalie more.
Chapter Thirty-Three
That evening, Summer met her sisters in the glass-enclosed foyer. She put her hand to her mouth and stared at them. “You guys look amazing.” She’d finished Haley’s updo an hour ago, keeping it young and fresh with several braids and twists to make it fun.
Natalie did her own hair, curling the long locks into chunky waves. She’d done a small twist just above her right ear, pinning back a section with a pretty crystal clip.
“Natalie, your hair. So sophisticated. I love it,” Summer gushed.
Natalie did a little sweep with her arm, showing off the dress, her heels, and a lot of leg. “Your hair looks really cool.”
Summer had gone with a similar updo like Haley’s without the braids and more twists in her hair, giving it a sleek and sophisticated look.
Natalie eyed Summer’s dress. “It’s the perfect color on you. And the fit...” Natalie looked at her own dress, very similarly cut to Summer’s. “It’s perfect.”
“Not too much. Not too dowdy.”
Natalie raised a brow at that term.
“Sorry, I sometimes sound like my grandfather.”
“Oh, wow. Look at you.” Miranda joined them in the foyer, hergaze sweeping over all of them. “So beautiful.” She waved for them to gather together. “I need a picture.”
Natalie handed over her phone. “Remember what I told you.”
“I know. Not too far away. Center everyone.”
Summer stood between her two sisters and hooked her arms around their waists, joy and a riot of other emotions getting to her that this was her family. They were going out for a special occasion and taking photos to remember the moment. So ordinary. So normal. So not something she’d done growing up. Her mother had always been the center of attention.
Miranda got into position. “Say, ‘Sisters.’”
“Sisters,” they said in unison. Haley’s much more exuberant than Natalie’s but at least she agreed to the picture.
