The lightest sun

Chapter 9

Jane
"I hate dinners."

Two weeks flew by quite quickly.
For all of us.
Amy likes the kindergarten so much that I can't imagine how in a few months I will tell her that we are returning to the city.

Because after the recent Cole-haze, inspiration has returned to me and soon new sketches will be ready.
This means that there will be more work opportunities.
At least I hope so.

Cole's and my lives barely intersected thanks to his busy playoff schedule and numerous projects at the firm.
Until this day.
The day that unfortunately has finally arrived.

Dinner with the Cannings at our family house.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror where a stranger was looking at me.
A red satin dress with a cutout near the hip and a fairly deep neckline with red sandals and red lipstick made me the devil of the evening.
Red is my mother's color.
And who am I to refuse to annoy this bitch?

I straightened a lock of my hair and reached for the earrings and heard the fabric still rustling below.
Cole had been straightening his tie for an hour waiting for me. The smell of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of jasmine coming from the potted plants by the window.

I spent almost two hours upstairs, thinking about my choice of dress. Well, then I had doubts like any normal girl. And then I thought about whether to wear heels or not. Do I look good? And can I outdo my own mother without ruining my sister's life?
I'm afraid Cole, who got dressed in 15 minutes, is already going to look like a mummy.

I looked at my watch and smiled, realizing the significance of the upcoming evening. Tonight was more than just a family dinner; it was about strengthening something new.

I quickly walked barefoot into the hallway. "Cole, do you think Amy will be okay? I left her with Mrs. Thompson." My voice carried down the stairs.

Without seeing his face, he replied, "Mrs. Thompson has 5 grandchildren, I don't think one child is a hindrance for her, right? She'll be fine. Besides, Amy adores her."

I remained standing at the top of the stairs, a mixture of worry and anticipation on my face. The red dress flowed gracefully down to my knees, emphasizing my delicate features, and my brown hair made me even more uneasy. "I know, but I still worry. She has never been away from me for so long."
Perhaps I just exaggerated a little.
But I myself can worry about my own child, okay?

Cole walked up to the stairs, smiling encouragingly as I ran back into the room to get my shoes, hearing his voice from afar. "Jane, everything will be fine. Amy is in good hands. And tonight is about celebrating your sister and my brother. Let's try to enjoy this."

I nodded, taking a deep breath and fastening the clasp. With an exhalation, I stood up and my eyes sparkled slyly.
"You can't break me, mommy."

"You are right. Thank you, Cole. I just want everything to be perfect tonight." I thanked him as I went down to him.
He opened his mouth but didn't make a sound and just continued to look at me.
"Everything is perfect now, angel."
My heart stopped the same second I touched his outstretched palm.

Here you go.
Just a few moments in the space of this....person and my mind again went in the other direction.
"Come on, queen of the evening." I took him by the elbow and smiled.
"I am always the queen."
"Damn right, my angel."

When we left the apartment on a fairly warm summer evening, I was amazed at how quickly our friendship developed. The initial awkwardness of our first meeting gave way to a comfortable camaraderie. Only we could overcome the challenges of our unique situation with humor and grace.