Penelope looked up, and Daisy continued, “I’m not asking you to accept me, and I don’t fully accept you either. We’ll continue our separate lives. However, I didn’t invite you to my wedding, which I regret. If I don’t attend your wedding, one day, you might feel the same as I do.”
Daisy had been blessed at her wedding, but she couldn’t spot a single family member in the crowd.
Penelope turned back, and tears welled up in her eyes. She smiled softly and opened her arms, saying, “Come here.”
Penelope continued, “When we were kids if I had candies, I always shared half with you. But later, you stopped liking candies. You went off to find bigger, sweeter ones and left me behind.”
At those words, Daisy’s noble facade crumbled. She moved slowly and embraced Penelope. “Oh, my sister…” Her voice quivered slightly.
“Hey.” Penelope cried and hugged her back.
Standing beside them, Grace wiped away her tears, happy to witness such a heartwarming reunion.
****
As soon as Warren returned, he found himself faced with two identical women in the living room. Daisy appeared excited, while Penelope remained calm.
“I want to live here. Why won’t you let me?” Daisy asked, clearly frustrated.
“We haven’t lived together for many years. Are you sure we won’t argue all the time?” Penelope replied.
“We will. Aren’t we arguing now?” Daisy retorted.
“I’ll take you to a hotel, the best one. You’ll be happy there,” Penelope offered.
Daisy stubbornly insisted, “No need. I have money.”
Grace squatted down to play with Chris. She was tired of their constant arguing, which was getting on her nerves.
The sound of boots on the flagstone floor caught Penelope’s attention, and she turned around. Warren stood there, his hair tousled by the wind. “Is this your younger sister?” he asked.
Penelope nodded and said, “Daisy, come over here.”
Daisy walked up to Warren and remarked, “You look good, but I don’t know whether you’re the real deal or not.” Her movements were different from Penelope’s. She swayed her hips and slinked her shoulders as she got closer to Warren, like a predator ready to pounce.
Penelope pulled Warren to her side and positioned herself between them. “Don’t tease me like that. Please, just keep your distance.”
“Then let me live here,” Daisy suggested.
Penelope rolled her eyes. “If you want to live here, then go ahead. I’m tired of arguing with you. You can leave anytime if you can’t get used to it.”
Daisy smiled and snapped her fingers. The driver brought her luggage inside, and she followed him upstairs.
“So, that was your sister?” Warren asked again.
“What? You don’t believe it?” Penelope poured herself a glass of water, feeling thirsty after the long argument with Daisy.
“Is everyone in your family so wild?” he asked.
Penelope paused and looked down, saying, “Yes, everyone except my mom.” His hand brushing through her hair reminded her of something sad.
Penelope smelled his shirt and pulled back. She took a step away and said, “Quick, go take a shower. You smell like Daisy’s perfume.”
Warren suggested, “You too. Why not take a bath together?”
Penelope bowed to smell herself and realized… Meanwhile, Grace smiled and repeated to herself, ‘I didn’t hear anything, I didn’t hear anything…’
****
In the evening, Warren was asked to leave the master bedroom because Penelope wanted to try on her wedding dress. Daisy sat on the settee and looked up as Penelope emerged from the walk-in closet.
Penelope’s figure was similar to Daisy’s, so when she tried on the dress, it fit her like an old pair of shoes. But it wasn’t just that. The dress hugged her body, enhancing her curves and making her bum and cleavage appear more prominent. The dress design complemented her graceful figure.
“How do you like it?” Penelope asked, placing her hands on her waist.
Daisy touched her chin and replied, “Before you even say anything, it’s perfect.”
Penelope turned to look in the mirror and was left speechless.
“Do you like it?” Daisy asked with anticipation.
Penelope responded, “Well, it’s not bad, I suppose.”
Daisy snorted. “I’ve offended a dozen designers because of this wedding dress, and you say it’s just ‘not bad’?”
“Offended? What did you do?” Penelope asked.
“I made them rework it about seven or eight times,” Daisy explained, smiling as she admired her polished nails. They were beautiful and dazzling, just like her.
Penelope wasn’t particularly fond of the wedding dress. If she weren’t marrying Warren, she might have just picked one at random from any store.
“Have you prepared the bridesmaid dresses?” Penelope asked.
Daisy responded haughtily, “If I do everything for you, what will you do?!”
Penelope turned back to the mirror, admiring her reflection, and remarked, “You’re so strict about other people’s wedding dresses. Will you be even pickier when it’s your turn?”
Daisy asked, “Are you saying you want me to be your bridesmaid?”
“You’re my younger sister. Shouldn’t you be?” Penelope replied.
“Really?” Daisy questioned.
“Forget it if you don’t want to,” Penelope sighed, relaxing her shoulders. Holding the pose in the dress was too challenging.
Daisy took a deep breath, stood up, and said, “I need to make a call first. You can take the dress off now.”
“A call?” Penelope frowned.
“I have to ask someone to send me a bridesmaid dress!” Daisy exclaimed in frustration as she stomped out of the room.
Penelope snorted and continued critiquing herself in the mirror. As she admired her back, a smile slowly crept onto her face.
Bump-bump! There was a knock on the door.
“May I come in?” a low male voice asked.
“No!” Penelope paused and then exclaimed. She rushed to the closet to change.
Ten minutes later, Penelope opened the bedroom door. Warren stood outside with Chris, both looking like they’d been kicked out of the house despite their well-tailored clothes.
“Come here,” Penelope reached for Chris. He was eleven months old and could say “mom” and “dad.” Penelope kissed his head, smiling.
Warren walked in and glanced around. “Where’s your wedding dress? Is it hidden?”
Penelope replied, “You’re not allowed to enter the walk-in closet for a month. You can’t even open the door.”
“But what should I do when I need to change clothes?” he asked.
“I’ll help you pick out what you want to wear,” she said as she placed Chris on the bed.