Chapter 322

"Be our guest," mom says, gesturing towards the selection in front of us.

"Actually, what I'm thinking of is in my room," Daphne says, a huge smile on her face. And then she skitters away.

"I like this new friend,” mom says, nodding as she watches Daphne dart out the door. "She's got moxy. She's also...talented, and organized, and precise, and ambitious."

"I know, she's the best," I say, looking at the empty door that Daphne just skittered through.noveldrama

"You and me, we need people like her," my mom says, looking over at me with a grin as she darts a finger rapidly between us. Because we're just big-hearted chaos on wheels."

I burst into laughter, tilting my head back for the joy of it. Mom laughs along with me. "What?!" she says, grinning. "It's true!"

"Not completely!" I protest, bringing my head back in and grinning at her. "I mean, we're ambitious! And I'm organized, when I want to be!"

<<

"Oh, sure, sure," mom says, flapping a hand like it doesn't matter. "But selective organization and ambition are easy execution is hard. We need Daphnes in our life to help us along. And Dominics and Rafes. Practical, organized, precise."

"Which team am I on?" Markie calls from his spot on the couch, flicking through his phone as he does, only half paying attention. "Team benevolent chaos, baby!" Mom calls over to him with a big grin. "The fun team!"

Markie gives a whoop, happy to be included, and I laugh again, losing myself to it. But then I pause, my eyes drifting over my mom as she laughs along with me. "Wait mom, what are you going to wear?" I ask, gesturing towards her very high-end but completely leisurely leggings and sweater.

"Oh my god!" mom gasps, and then she, too, runs off for the door. "See? Chaos! I'll be back, twenty minutes! I have a dress! I'll be back, don't do anything fun without me!"

I'm still laughing when she's gone from the room, swinging the door shut behind her. I head over to my bed to sit with Mark and wait for mom and Daphne to come back.

"Can you help me with this?" he asks, staring baffled at the two ends of his bow tie that has, somehow, come undone already. "Should have just gotten you a snap-on," I murmur, leaning close and fiddling with the ends, trying to remember how to do this. "Definitely," Markie agrees, lifting his chin so that I can see what I'm doing.

It takes us awhile and a couple of internet videos to get Markie all fixed up again, but we get there. Not long after we do I hear the click of two doors - my bedroom door as well as the bathroom door - as they open almost simultaneously.

My head first moves to Daphne, who comes in with a length of black fabric draped over her arm, but when I see her wide grin looking towards the other end of the room I snap my head around to Juniper, who shyly pecks around the bathroom door, only half stepping through.

Mark and I gasp in tandem when we see her in the dress and I get up to my knees, excited. "Junie!" I say, my voice soft and referent as I wave her into the room. "Let me see you! Oh my god!"

Juniper laughs a little, anxious, as she steps fully out of the bathroom, but I can tell by the smile she can't keep off her face that she knows she looks good - and that she's really enjoying it. But good - the word doesn't cut it.

I clasp my hands beneath my chin as I beam at my little sister, who looks...ethereal. Something about the shimmering silver of the dress against her newly-black hair makes her emerald eyes sparkle - and the way the dress hugs her petite form to pool on the floor at her feet...

"Junie, you look so pretty," Mark says, and I can hear the happiness in his voice.

"You really do!" I squeak, my throat tight as tears spring to my eyes. Because my little sister - I've never seen her so grown up! The dress is very innocent with its sweetheart neckline and slim straps - it's not sexy or provocative at all. But still, she doesn't look like our family's little girl - she's a beautiful young woman, and I feel so proud.

"Guys," she moans, half laughing, her shoulders slumping forward as she sees the way that we're all staring at her. "Stop! I mean ...is it... is it good?" She looks down, spreading her hands out over the dress.

"It's perfect," Daphne breathes, tossing what I assume is my dress onto the bed and moving swiftly over to Juniper. "What do you think about..." she hesitates but then reaches out to softly gather Junie's hair up behind her head in a delicate twist. I nod eagerly as Daphne and Juniper look to me, because sometimes Junie hides behind her hair, but this really allows her pretty face to come forward and take center stage.