Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) Read Online Free PDF

father
were already asleep, leaving three-quarters of a cake reading ‘appy
rthday CeCe’ on the kitchen island. She had left early for work
that morning before CeCe woke and didn’t get home until ten o’clock
after everyone was asleep. She had been so immersed in a settlement
she’d been working on for weeks and was nearing an agreement for a
very important client. She had forgotten but not CeCe. She filed
that one right along with the others. The next morning when she
awoke she found a beautifully wrapped rectangular box with a bright
pink bow. Inside it CeCe found her first American Girl doll. About
a foot and half tall with curly, long blonde hair, blue eyes, and
wearing a pretty sundress the doll was something CeCe had wanted
for quite some time. Next to the box was a pink envelope. Opening
the card carefully to not rip it, it read only six words, ‘Happy
11 th Birthday Cecilia, Love Mom’. No I love you or I’m
sorry, just Happy Birthday. CeCe was deeply hurt for her lack of an
apology or at least an acknowledgement that she had missed her
daughter’s Birthday. CeCe felt abandoned by her mother’s work
often. That night when her mother got home she did her usual
routine and treated this day like any other. When she went to
CeCe’s room to check in on her, she asked her if she liked her new
doll. CeCe was writing in her journal and without looking up she
replied, “You can’t buy my forgiveness.” Not sure what to say, Bev
walked out and neither said a word to each other for the next few
days. Secretly, CeCe had hoped that her mother would have stuck
around that night to attempt an apology or at least ask her about
her day so she could have felt like it was only by mistake that she
missed her Birthday. Later that year when CeCe started her period,
she came to our house and confided in my mother to find out what to
do. My mother hugged her, smiled, and told her that she had
officially become a young lady before taking her to the store to
buy some pads. And so it went like this during all of CeCe’s teen
years that she preferred our simple but cozy farmhouse than her
marbled mansion.
    As we glided down the grand staircase, I saw
Jersey standing beside Bev, waiting for our company. Smugly talking
to Mrs. Crawford, he smiled and winked at me as I came closer. Most
adults, unless they knew Jersey, were impressed with him because of
his ability to schmooze, in addition to his talents on the football
field that won many a trophies and banners for our school. At the
moment, I was very unimpressed and annoyed by his consistency in
being an inconsiderate prick of a boyfriend.
    “Girls, what took you so long? CeCe, I told
you that dress would look good on you.” Bev said straightening out
an invisible wrinkle in CeCe’s dress.
    “You didn’t say anything about it looking
good. Besides, you barked at me to go put it on mother
dearest.”
    “Cecilia Kathryn, do not call me that,” Bev
said, sipping her champagne. “And I don’t bark. Now, go stand by
the doorway so you can greet your arriving guests.” She snipped
back.
    Pleading with her eyes not to leave her too
long with her mother, I promised CeCe that I would come back in a
little while after I gave Jersey a talking to. CeCe walked off with
her mother towards the front porch. Still turned towards CeCe with
my back facing Jersey, I felt a sudden pinch on my butt, springing
me quickly back around. Appalled, I slapped Jersey in the chest. He
laughed and pulled me close to him.
    “Baby, you can’t be mad at me,” he said in a
soft playful tone. “I invited you to come with me.”
    “No, you didn’t. You pawned me off on CeCe
because I was an inconvenience to your plans to get wasted before
graduation.” I said firmly as I pulled out from his embrace.
    “Baby, I wanted to get wasted with you but
since you’re a bit of a prude, I hung with the guys.” He said
placing his hands on my upper arms.
    “You’re still drunk Jersey. I can smell it
on your