Sophia
My mother insisted on hosting the engagement party herself, and by the time the evening arrived, her backyard had been transformed with the same string lights from her own wedding, borrowed back from wherever Daniel had stored them, warm golden light strung between the trees over tables crowded with food and flowers.
“You didn’t have to go this big,” I told her, finding her in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on a cake she’d insisted on making herself despite Daniel’s gentle suggestion that they simply order one.
“Of course I did. My daughter’s getting married. I get exactly one engagement party to throw, and I intend to enjoy every second of planning it.” She wiped frosting from her hands, studying me with warm, unguarded pride. “You look beautiful, by the way. That col
