The Bachelor's Unexpected Family by Lisa Carter

Author:Lisa Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2017-10-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Kristina held the hanger under her chin. “What about this dress, Jade?”

At Jade’s surprising request, she’d taken the girl to a secondhand boutique near the waterfront in Onancock. The shop specialized in exclusive party wear consigned by wealthier ‘come heres on the Shore.

Jade tilted her head, studying the cocktail dress. Kristina’s third attempt. With its swirling geometric colors, the dress had a retro ’70s look. And gave Kristina a slight headache.

The teenager’s gorgeous green eyes narrowed. “No.”

Kristina held back a sigh and replaced the hanger on the sale rack.

“It’s not right for me.” Jade’s hands fluttered. “I’m sorry to be a pain. But the dress doesn’t feel like me.”

Which encapsulated both the joy and trouble of the adolescent journey. Defining yourself. Once she married Pax, she’d defined herself as a military wife and later as Gray’s mother.

Or had she simply become the woman Pax needed her to be? She’d lost herself when he died. Who was Kristina without him?

Jade perused the other items in her size. “It’s not easy deciding who I want to be.”

Again, Kristina could relate. Her life with Pax was over. The military wife she’d been—and she’d been a good one, if she did say so herself—was finished.

Time to step into a new persona. Do a remake of herself—of the person she wanted to be. But easier said than done.

Jade held out a soft chiffon concoction. “I kinda like this one... What do you think?”

A moss-green color. “It matches your eyes.”

Jade worried her lower lip with her teeth. “Do you think it will make me look like a girl?”

Kristina blinked. “You are a girl, honey. A beautiful girl.”

“I don’t want to look trashy.” Jade fingered the cold-shoulder neckline. “Like Brandi.”

Kristina’s stomach clenched, saddened for Jade’s lack of relationship with her mother. “I think it’s elegant and classy. Like you, Jade.”

“Do you think Gray would like it?”

So that’s how the wind blew these days. Kristina smiled. “I think he would.”

Jade raised her chin. “He hasn’t asked me to go to the dance. What do you think he’s waiting for?”

Uh-oh. An adolescent land mine. One false step and kaboom.

“Gray’s shy around girls.”

Jade rolled her eyes. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Kristina moistened her lips. “He feels very inexperienced when it comes to you.”

“Gray thinks I’m experienced? Like Brandi?” Her nostrils flared. “That’s not who I am.”

She thrust the dress at Kristina.

Kristina sucked in a breath. “That’s not what I meant, honey.”

Jade’s eyes narrowed to emerald slits. “What did you mean, then?”

“I meant that because you’re older than him, you’re more sophisticated.”

“True.” Jade sniffed. “He’s only a lowly freshman. And a geek, no offense. If you know what I mean.”

Jade’s mouth quirked, taking the sting out of her words. Reminding Kristina of Canyon with his endearing grin.

She decided not to take offense. “I do know what you mean, Jade.”

A full-fledged smile, teeth and all, blazed. Granting Kristina a clear vision of why her son was so fascinated by the intriguing Jade Collier. Colliers possessed an abundance of charm.

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