Page 7 of Free to Live

The first full wedding I shot was for close to three hundred guests. I was twenty-two years old. While today I might look back and cringe at some of the photos I took because of how my work has matured, each year the couple still comes to me to have their pictures taken.

It was Ava and Matt’s wedding.

Every year since their wedding, I’ve refused to take money from the people who have essentially become extended members of the Freeman family. And each year, I have to insist they take whatever they would pay me and donate it to their charity of the month at The Coffee Shop.

Because how do you thank people for giving you a chance to live your dream when you don’t really deserve it?

After that first assignment, I overcame my final self-doubt I wasn’t ready to take my rightful place at Amaryllis Events. I became as driven as the rest of my family to make a success of our business. And over the years, I began to understand life wasn’t going to be ripped away from me. I could have this life, this family, and be as happy as I could be.

No one was coming to take it from me. Not anymore.

Leaning forward, I start clicking through my computer.Enough about the past. No good comes from spending too much time lingering on it. Think about how to visualize your today, Holly.

And right now, I smile broadly, wondering about how Ali’s going to break the news to Keene that she’s pregnant again.

3

Holly

“Any word on when Ali plans to tell Keene?” I’m on the phone with Corinna as I drive into the center of town two days later.

“No. She and Keene have a parent-teacher conference for Kalie this week she’s been ranting about. Something about the teacher is always hitting on Keene in front of her.” Corinna’s voice, a honeyed Southern drawl, peals with laughter. “Our sister is a barracuda on most days. Pregnant and another woman hitting on her man? This should be interesting for the family dinner.”

“You think she’ll hold out that long?” I navigate the windy roads of Collyer as I look for a spot near Shimmer, our favorite hair salon.

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s not Ali I worry about saying anything to Keene…” Corinna’s voice trails off.

“I agree. It’s Phil.”

“Right? Who was it whoever said women can’t keep secrets? They obviously have never spent any time with big brother.”

I laugh.

“It’s true, Hols. I mean, come on. I can’t even ask him to come to see the dress we chose for my wedding because you know he’ll open his mouth and blab something about it to Colby. If he didn’t need to know the color and material for the flowers, I wouldn’t have even had Em give him a sample of the material. “

I manage to find a spot near Shimmer. “You are not wrong,” I mutter. “Has he asked about it?”

“Asked about it? I swear to God if I am asked by big brother one more time about it…” Corinna leaves off her implied threat of bodily harm. But it gives me an idea.

“So, show him a dress,” I say impishly.

“Say what?”

“Show. Him. A. Dress,” I repeat. “It doesn’t have to be…”

Suddenly, Cori understands. “It doesn’t have to be the actual one I’m wearing. Oh, Hols. You’re a genius.”

“You know, if you find a hideous one, we could make a bet on how badly he reacts to it.”

Corinna’s howling laughter must have her doubled over as I can hear her pounding the worktable in her kitchen. “Yes,” she gasps out. “I’ve got to get the others in on this.”

I slide my sunglasses to the top of my head after I park the car. I mimic Phil’s deep voice. “Laura could have designed this.” I refer to Cassidy and Caleb’s almost-four-year-old daughter.

“It looks like your college toga,” Corinna tosses back at me.

“There’s no cleavage. You have a rack, for God’s sake,” I counter.

“Hold on, I’m writing these down.” I hear the mad scribbling as I slide out of my car and walk the half a block to Shimmer. “It looks too much like Cassidy’s dress,” Corinna volleys back.