Page 70 of When You Wish Upon a Wideout
“Some things never change.”
Grabbing his helmet, Beau mounted his bike.Yeah,he wanted to tease Henry.Like how much I’m still in love with your sister.
love you no matter what
Dear Mom,
My first Valentine’s Day with arealvalentine didn’t exactly go as planned. Beau was going to take me to dinner—just at the diner, nothing fancy. We haven’t gone on a real date, like dinner and the movies. I don’t mind, but Beau does. He was insisting all week. His closeted romantic side is actually kind of cute.
Since we were only going to the diner, I couldn’t exactly go all out with the outfit and makeup, but that’s not really my thing anyway. I wore a simple blue dress and a pair of short brown boots. I knew Beau wasn’t going to show up in a suit, and that’s fine, even though I wish he would one day. But no tie though. I like the look of an open collar.
I was walking back to my room after trying to fix my hair in the bathroom when Dad spooked me. We bumped into each other, but then he kept staring.
“What?”
Dad placed his hands on his hips.
“What?” I asked again. The dress wasn’tthatshort or even low cut, but I was getting ready to lecture him on men policing women’s outfits when he spoke.
“I just can’t believe how much you look like your mother.”
I looked down. I know I look like you—tall and blonde, green eyes. I have your nose, and thankfully,notDad’s.
The air between us grew a little heavy, and Dad cleared his throat. “You’re pretty dressed up for Sunday Scrabble.”
My stomach dropped. Because I had mentioned to Dad that we should start playing again, but I completely forgot what this Sunday was.
“It’s Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh,” he said as if he had forgotten.
And then I realized that maybe he didn’t forget. Maybe he just didn’t want to remember. Because this was the first Valentine’s Day he would spend without you—his forever Valentine.
“You’re right. Beau taking you out?”
I nodded.
Dad leaned against the wall of the hallway. “He’s a good kid. He’s treating you right?”
I rolled my eyes because I didn’t want to get into the sex talkagain—and quite frankly, it’s a moot point. Even when I push him, Beau won’t budge.
“I don’t... he should treat youright,” Dad told me. “It’s not only about that stuff. I see he makes you happy—”
“He does.”
Dad nodded. “I see the difference, Sienna. But don’t make all your happiness all about him. You’re too young for that.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
I know I’m young, Mom, obviously. But it’s hard not to make all my happiness about Beau when he was the one who didn’t just turn the light on when I was living in a dark room—he merely stepped into it, and suddenly I saw that I didn’t want to be in the pitch-black anymore.
Dad straightened. “You make your happiness all about yourkids, not your boyfriend.” He gave my shoulder a squeeze as he walked by. “One day, you’ll understand that.”
I turned, watching him walk into his room, and went quickly to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The doorbell rang, and I knew it was Beau. But it also was the moment I saw that Dad had already put Scrabble on the kitchen table.
“Henry let me in.” I didn’t look away from the box. “Sienna?”
Mom, I wish somehow you knew that I wassohappy, even on hard days, like the day we moved from Nashville. You never let a sad day be an actual sad day. There were only sad moments, and you made sure to sprinkle happier ones throughout. I wish I had known when you were struggling. I’m so sorry I didn’t give you more reasons to smile. I’m sorry for the Scrabble nights I missed because I wanted to be with my friends. I’m sorry I didn’t know justhowhard it was for you. I wouldn’t have let you worry about my happiness for one second longer. I would’ve tried to give you some of it.
