Page 110 of Made for Wilde

“We did it, baby girl,” I whisper. “Your mama won.”

My mother’s voice echoes in my memory. You can do anything you set your mind to, Charlotte. I proved her right today.

Sarah pulls me into another hug. “I told you we’d crush it!”

“You did.” I’m laughing and crying at the same time. “I can’t believe we actually won.”

“Believe it, Palmer. We’re champions.”

Koda reaches us and sweeps me into his arms, spinning me around. When he sets me down, his hands frame my face like I’m something precious.

“I’m so proud of you,” he says, his voice rough with emotion. “You were incredible up there. Absolutely incredible.”

“We won,” I say, the words still not feeling quite real. “We actually won, Koda.”

“I know, baby. I watched the whole thing. You were perfect. So calm, so confident. Like you were born to do this.”

This moment is perfect. Standing here with him, having just accomplished something I worked so hard for, knowing my daughter is right here experiencing it all with me. This is everything.

The baby gives me a particularly strong kick, and Koda’s hands drop to my stomach, feeling the movement.

“She’s celebrating too,” he says with that smile that makes my heart flutter.

“She kicked the whole time I was working. I think she was as nervous as I was.”

“Well, she can relax now. Her mama is officially a champion hairstylist.”

People keep stopping us to offer congratulations. Professor Lowell tells me how impressed the judges were. Other students ask questions about our practice routine. Sarah fields most of the questions, letting me bask in the glow of success.

Eventually, the immediate chaos starts to die down. The crowd begins to thin as people head to the reception area where champagne and appetizers await.

“I’ll meet you there in a few minutes,” I tell Koda, suddenly very aware of the pressure in my bladder. The baby has been pressing on it all morning, but the adrenaline kept me from noticing.

“You okay?” Koda asks, concerned.

“Fine. I just really need the bathroom. Pregnancy glamor at its finest.”

He laughs and kisses my forehead. “Go. I’ll save you some champagne. Well, sparkling cider for you and actual champagne for everyone else.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Sarah is already heading toward the reception with Jade. I wave them on and turn toward the hallway that leads to the main bathrooms.

I weave through the backstage area, past clusters of other students and their families still buzzing with excitement. The hallway stretches ahead of me, quieter than the chaos behind. My heels click against the polished floor. Everything feels possible right now. Everything feels perfect.

The bathroom door closes behind me with a soft whoosh, immediately muffling the distant celebration. I press my palms against the cool porcelain sink and stare at my reflection in the mirror.

First place.

The words still don’t feel completely real, even though my cheeks are still flushed from all the excitement. My mother would have been so proud. The thought makes my eyes sting again. I wish she could have been here. I wish I could have seen her face in the audience, seen her pride reflected back at me.

But maybe she was here in her own way.

I smooth my blonde hair and adjust my uniform top, making sure I look presentable. Time to get back out there and celebrate. Time to find Koda and bask in this incredible feeling of accomplishment a little longer before reality sets back in.

The hallway is quiet when I step out of the bathroom. Most people have moved to the reception area. I turn toward the main exit, already imagining Koda’s face when I finally let myself fully celebrate with him.

And then I see him.