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“I am well aware CeCe did not intentionally keep me from meeting you, Alexis,” Christine began. “I knew she would introduce us when the time was right for her.”

“I may have interfered with that. She didn’t know I was coming by this afternoon,” Alexis explained.

“She hoped you would,” Christine said.

“Oh?”

“She told me about your date last night and how beautiful the night sky was from that rooftop.” Christine took a sip of her wine. “She promised me that if you didn’t come by today that we would meet soon.”

Alexis took a sip of wine, letting Christine’s words sink in. She knew CeCe had had a good time last night, but knowing she’d shared it with her mother meant more to Alexis than she’d thought it would. “I’m very glad I came by today.”

Alexis could feel Christine’s eyes look her up and down, measuring her next words. “From the way you look at my daughter, I can tell you like her very much.”

“I do,” Alexis agreed.

“For CeCe to even mention you, much less tell me about your date, means you two have spent time together.”

Alexis wasn’t sure exactly what Christine was implying, but she hoped this was an opportunity for CeCe’s mom to help her.

“We have been spending time together and you may be able to enlighten me about something,” Alexis began.

“What’s that?” Christine replied, taking another sip of wine.

“CeCe is going with me to a small get-together with a few friends from my clinic and the hospital. I know she’s a little nervous about it, just as I am about meeting her mother,” Alexis said, looking into Christine’s familiar blue eyes. “CeCe has made the comment to me a few times about being out of her league or not fitting in. I know that CeCe has no idea how truly amazing she is. She is one of the most interesting, generous, thoughtful people I’ve ever met. I can’t seem to make her understand, if anything, that she’s so much better than the people she’ll be meeting.”

Christine nodded. “I’ve been telling her for years that there is no one who is better than she is unless she lets them be. But for my sensitive sweet girl, sometimes that’s hard.”

“I want her to know how amazing she is,” Alexis said.

Christine smiled. “When CeCe was in elementary school there was a girl who loved to make it known that her family had money. They were members of the country club and we weren’t. In the summer, my girls went to the public swimming pool, but this little girl bragged about the pool at the country club. She would invite other little girls to go with her as her guest, but she never invited CeCe.”

“I can’t tell you what that makes me want to do to that little girl,” Alexis said, surprised at the emotion filling her heart.

Christine reached over and patted Alexis's arm. “I know. When CeCe was in high school she went to the country club with another friend and her parents for dinner. She came back home and the first thing she told me was that the swimming pool at the country club was small and they didn’t even have a slide,” Christine said. “I think that’s when she realized the grass wasn’t always greener, but it still bothered her that she wasn’t included. That little girl made her feel less than. I tried to instill in her that anyone who would make someone else feel that way wasn’t worth another thought. I think that’s why she makes such an effort for every one of her clients to feel special.”

“That’s just it, Christine. CeCe is the one who is special.”

Christine looked into Alexis's eyes and smiled. “You make her feel special. Keep doing that and she’ll believe you.”

“Oh, I hope so.”

“Hope what?” CeCe said, throwing her arm over Alexis's shoulder.

“We hope you’ll buy the next round,” Christine said.

“You do have to drive home, Mom.”

Christine scoffed. “I have three daughters that own this place. Surely one of you can drive me home.”

“CeCe and I will drive you home. Hey, Cory. We need another glass,” Alexis said, looking towards the end of the bar.

Cory brought another glass and emptied the bottle of wine.

“We’ll take my mother home?” CeCe said softly into Alexis's ear.

“Yes, we.” Alexis grinned. She turned to Christine. “Now, tell me more about when CeCe was a kid.”

“Please,” CeCe said, standing between Alexis and her mother. “There is nothing you need to know about awkward, shy CeCe.”