3D: Baby Girl

Julio outdid himself with the hotel accommodations. Every room was a ginormous, luxurious suite fit for the celebrities everyone regarded the Pruetts to be. Even Oliver had his own suite. Skyla had concerns about him being on his own, but Jonathan convinced her he would be fine and was a “big boy.” Whether he really believed it, she understood why he opposed her so strongly. He’d do almost anything to get her alone.

After the rehearsal dinner, and before retiring, Skyla meandered the corridors with a heavy spirit and butterflies in her belly. She struggled to stay present and enjoy the vacation but couldn’t stop thinking about her baby girl’s new life. Did she prepare her enough? Aubrey excelled in every area of life. Hopefully, she would excel in marriage too. Most of Skyla’s anxieties melted away when Aubrey answered the door with her classic, radiant smile.

“Hey, Mom!”

Having Aubrey in her arms again was like hearing an old, favorite song. Sweet embraces occurred less and less the older she and Maya got. Life was cruel that way for parents. They spent so much time teaching them and making sure the girls felt loved so they would go into the world with intelligence and confidence. If only she had more time.

“I wasn’t expecting you. Come on in. Have a seat.”

Skyla’s cheeks warmed like she’d heard an embarrassing secret. “Oh. If you were expecting Julio, I can just–“

“No, no! It’s fine. Stay, please. I’m not expecting anyone.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I’m glad it’s you.”

Aubrey favored her a lot, but sometimes Skyla caught glimpses of Jeannette in her face. It was her eyes and cheekbones. They were exactly like Jonathan’s mother. No matter whose face she saw when gazing upon her, she’d always see her sweet baby girl.

“So … Tomorrow’s the big day…”

Aubrey grinned and nodded.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yeah. A little,” Aubrey said shyly, sitting on the sofa.

Skyla thanked herself for not resisting the urge to check on her. “Anything in particular?”

Aubrey had trouble making eye contact. “All of it?”

Skyla chuckled. She wasn’t certain what the child meant by “all of it,” but she had advice on hand for her. “This experience is very similar to my own, you know.”

“Yeah?” Her voice was so hopeful.

Skyla nodded. “I was young, even younger than you, when I got married. I was poor and knew nothing about wealthy living. You’re more familiar than me, but you might still feel the same. Overwhelmed. Unprepared. Out-of-place even. But, don’t do what I did. When you have those feelings, talk to Julio. Don’t hold them inside. It’ll surprise you what your brain will do with that material.”

“Julio is my best friend, Mom,” she said confidently. “We tell each other everything.”

Skyla sighed, struggling to find relief in Aubrey’s nonchalance. She pat her knee and said, “I know, sweetness. I know. Just remember what I said, ok?”

“Sure.”

Her stomach churned as the next order of business floated to the surface. She cleared her throat. “Aubrey…”

The girl’s eyes widened upon hearing her proper name.

Skyla hoped she hadn’t alarmed her too badly. “How are you feeling? I know you wanted the whole family to come, but … Are you ok with that? Things probably won’t change, and …” She paused for a big breath. “Oh, sweetness, if this is too much to bear, tell me. I’ll take care of it.”

That wasn’t exactly what she intended to say, but the words tumbled out like a stream over a waterfall.

“Mom!”

The words lingered in the air like fog, and she couldn’t take them back. “Hear me out, Aubrey. You will deal with this tension between you and everyone for the rest of your life! There’s no shame in admitting you made a mistake. It’s better to get out now than decide you can’t handle it later.”

“MOM! Why would you…” Her glassy eyes threatened to break. “You tell me this NOW?? Do you think I’m making a mistake? Where is this coming from?”

Yes, it was a mistake. She couldn’t admit that to anyone, and Aubrey was right. It was too late, and she needed to close the can of worms she opened. “Aubrey, Aubrey, please … Listen … I’m your mother. I want what’s best for you. I’m not saying marrying Julio is a mistake. I only want to make sure you’ve considered everything.”

Aubrey sat there shaking her head staring at the ceiling.

“I know how it is being young and in love. You feel invincible like nothing will knock you down, but that isn’t real life. I just need to make certain you’ve thought about it rationally. You only want to do this once. Divorces are painful and messy, and I don’t want that for you. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Aubrey exhaled a long breath. “Yes.”

The confirmation only relieved her somewhat.

“Mom?”

“Yes, sweetness?”

“If I were Maya, would you have this conversation with me?”

A brief zing of panic zipped through her body. Maya and Aubrey’s relationships were like apples and oranges, but Aubrey wouldn’t understand right now. Skyla didn’t intend to upset her and wished she could take back her words. “Of course, sweetness. I want you both to make good decisions.”

Hopefully, her tone was convincing because she only halfway believed it herself.