Her mom.

Because their situations were so different, that was why. All her mother’s children were grown, and once her husband was gone, he was gone. She didn’t even speak to Lucy’s dad. Hell, no one did anymore, not after the stunt he had pulled with Jace. Trying to buy him off so he wouldn’t speak to any of them? Please, Jace was the baby. He needed them, and even if he didn’t, he couldn’t give up his momma. He was the biggest momma’s boy in the world.

So really, Lucy couldn’t even put them in the same category. She needed to be happy for the woman who had given her life and supported her no matter what. She was being an ungrateful, selfish brat and she needed to suck it up. And she also needed to let Benji go. Things would never work.

“I just hate him. I mean, how hard is it to let me get a picture to make a copy? I’ll give it back! I’ve always been nice to that little brat, even when he doesn’t deserve it. I’m done. No more Mrs. Nice Guy,” her mother seethed, shaking her head as she moved each dress out of the way violently.

“Mom, those dresses did nothing to you.”

She glared back at Lucy. “Shush. And also, don’t they have a section for women who are older and getting married for a second time? I mean, jeez! I don’t have the boobs for this.”

Lucy giggled as her mother hung up a low-cut dress that had no back. She, in fact, did not have the boobs nor the back for that dress. Lucy did, though.

One day.

Lucy set her with a look. A bored one. “I mean, I don’t even know why we’re here. You two haven’t even picked a date.”

That made Autumn smile, which in return made Lucy breathless. It was a sight, seeing her mother smile. She was so happy now, so in love, and it meant the world to Lucy. Her mom was her best friend, and she wanted nothing more than for her to be blissful. River was really good to her mother and loved all her kids like his own. Hell, he stood up to her father many times in the past year they had been together. He was something, and she was glad he was with her mother. So really, she didn’t know why she was so bitchy when it came to her mother getting married.

“We have set a date. Christmas.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped. “Christmas, next year?”

Autumn shook her head, her hands coming to her chest like some kind of Disney princess. “Nope, this one.”

“Mom! That’s in, like, two months.”

“I know!” she squealed, doing a little jig. “All the boys will be home, there is a small break in hockey for Christmas, and it just feels right. It’s gonna be so small, just us really, and Pastor Dwayne from our church. Nothing crazy or big, just nice and sweet. Us, our family, you know?”

Lucy’s lips curved, tears gathering in her eyes. “Yeah, Mom, that sounds nice.”

“Oh, it will be. Angie will be my little flower girl. You and the boys will give me away, and Baylor will stand up with River. It’s gonna be a tearjerker, I’m sure.”

Lucy was fighting back her own tears at the moment, so no telling what she’d do when they actually had the damn wedding. “I’m sure it will be.”

“I’m excited.”

“I am too,” Lucy said, and she wasn’t lying. For the first time since she found out, she was genuinely happy for her mom. Standing up, she went to her mom, leaning her head on hers. She sucked in a long breath as Autumn’s hand came up to rest on her cheek.

“I love you, baby,” her mother whispered and Lucy’s eyes fell shut.

“I love you too, Mom.” Clearing her throat free of emotion, she stood up and then clapped her hands together. “Now, let’s find you a dress. Excuse me, do y’all have an older bride wedding dress section?” Lucy asked the dress consultant who had just come into the room.

“Oh, yes, ma’am. This way,” she said cheerfully, and they followed her into the other room. “My name is Shawna, and I’ll be helping you. I’m sorry to keep you waiting. My daughter is home sick, and I’m trying to talk my husband through it.”

“Oh, you’re fine. We were man-bashing my daughter’s ex,” Autumn said and Lucy rolled her eyes.

“Oh, my mom and I do the same. Thankfully, I only had kids with the second guy,” Shawna laughed, bringing them into another room.

“Lucky. She didn’t,” Autumn added and Lucy gave her a look.

“Really, Mom?”

“What?” she asked innocently as Shawna laughed.

“It’s fine. Okay, so what are we looking for?”

“I don’t know.” She eyed all the dress, and Lucy’s throat was thick with emotion at the look on her mother’s face. She was giddy, almost like this was her first marriage, her first love, and it was beautiful. “Baby, you think I can pull off a short dress?” she asked then, pointing to a gorgeous, tea length, off-white A-line dress that had a lace bodice and pearls all over it.

“I think you can,” she said simply. “It’s pretty.”

“But what about my legs?”

Lucy shrugged. “What? They’ll show?”

Autumn gave her a stern look. “No, I mean, do you think that’s okay? It’s a Christmas wedding,” she said to Shawna and she nodded.

“You might be chilly. Do you want a poofy dress?”

Autumn laughed. “Oh, Jesus, no. I’m fifty-four!”

“What! I wouldn’t think you were a day over thirty,” Shawna said with a wink, and Autumn’s laughter filled the shop. Lucy giggled as she leaned back against the puffy white couch, watching as Shawna went back and forth, showing them options, with Autumn having the final say. When they finally had four dresses picked out, Shawna took a very thrilled Autumn to the dressing room to start trying them on.