Read Online Ask Me Why by Marie Force - Free Book Online

all.”
    â€œWe love you, too,” Ella said for all of them.
    Regan poked her head into the crowded bedroom. “Cameron, your dad is here.”
    Cameron suddenly felt light-headed and anxious about her big surprise. While she was excited for him to see her in the dress, she had no idea what to expect.
    â€œWe’ll give you a few minutes alone with him,” Hannah said, ushering the others from the room.
    Cameron took a series of deep breaths, trying to find some inner calm while she waited for her dad. Will had decided that the men in the wedding party would wear white shirts with khaki pants and brocade vests that matched the gold bridesmaid dresses. They’d gone round and round about ties or no ties, and in the end, Will had gone with no ties because he just wasn’t a tie kind of guy.
    Seeing the ensemble for the first time on her dad, Cameron had to agree that the no-tie look worked perfectly for the casual vibe they’d wanted for the wedding.
    Patrick came through the bedroom door and stopped short at the sight of her. He’d been about to say something that died on his lips. “You . . . That . . . Your mother’s dress,” he said on a long exhale.
    Until he said those words, Cameron would never have admitted how badly she wanted him to recognize the dress. “Yes.”
    â€œAli . . . God, Cam, you look so much like her.” He rested a hand over his heart, scaring her for a second until he recovered his composure.
    â€œI wondered if you’d recognize the dress.”
    â€œRecognize it? I see her in it every day when I look at our wedding picture in my office. Yes,” he said gruffly. “I recognize it. How did you get it?”
    â€œWith a little help from Lena. I hope it’s okay.”
    â€œCameron,” he said with a sigh as he wiped tears from his face, “of course it’s okay. It’s an amazing gesture.”
    â€œI wanted her to be here today in some way, and it was the only way I could think of.”
    â€œIt fits you like a dream, and you look as beautiful as she did wearing it.” He withdrew a velvet box from his pocket and held it out to her. “I gave this to her on our wedding day, and I’ve been saving it for you.”
    Cameron’s hands trembled as she took the box from him and opened it to reveal a diamond solitaire necklace. “It’s beautiful, Dad.”
    â€œI used all the money I had in the world at that time to buy it for her, and after the wedding she said we should sell it because we needed the money more than she needed a diamond necklace.” As he spoke, he helped Cameron put it on, securing the clasp and then resting his hands on her shoulders to look at her in the mirror. “I told her I planned to make plenty of money, and there was no way she was selling her wedding gift.”
    â€œShe loved you so much. I’ve always known that because of the way she looked at you in the wedding pictures.”
    â€œI loved her, too. I always will.”
    â€œI’m sorry about the way you lost her.”
    â€œI’m not, and she wouldn’t be either. We wanted you very much, and she’d never want you to feel guilty about something that wasn’t your fault. It was a terrible tragedy, but this isn’t the day for feeling bad or guilty. This is your big day, and you’ve honored your mother every day of your life, but never more so than today.”
    She hugged him. “Love you so much.”
    He kissed her forehead. “Love you more.”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œYes way.” He looked down at her, his blue-eyed gaze softer than she’d ever seen it. “Ready for this?”
    â€œI’m so ready.”
    He held out his arm to her. “Let’s go.”

S EVEN

    NEVER HAD A day gone by slower than this one had. Every minute had felt like an hour as Will waited for the appointed time to go home and get married.