"She wants us to go to her house tomorrow?" Annie asked me after I told her about mine and Bella's conversation.
I nodded my response, my mouth full of pizza. Swallowing, I replied, "She's excited to meet you." And anxious. And scared.
Annie eyed me carefully. "Is she really, or does she feel obligated because we came all this way?"
I put my pizza down and took Annie's hands in my own. "She loves you," I said. "Of course she wants to see you."
"Okay," Annie nodded. "But is her fiancé going to be there? Has she told him about me?"
"Yes, of course she's told him about you," I said, although I wasn't sure that was true. But I didn't want Annie to think that Bella was ashamed of her. I knew that Bella wasn't, but Annie was a self-conscious teenage girl, she need all the reassurance she could get. "And no, he won't be there. He's in New York for work."
"What if she doesn't like me?" Annie's timid voice whispered.
"Annabelle McCarthy, you are the kindest, sweetest, most loving girl I know. Bella already loves you, but she is going to fall more in love with you when she sees what a gorgeous girl you've grown into."
A tear slid down Annie's cheek. "I love you…dad."
