Chapter 53: Chapter 53
Carlisle’s home was alive.
Soft jazz music hummed from ceiling speakers, mingling with bursts of laughter that spilled from the wide glass doors leading to the backyard.
String lights swayed above the garden, glowing amber against the velvet dusk. Balloons—silver and gold—hovered in the air like metallic soap bubbles, and the scent of roasted chicken, honey-glazed sliders, and buttered popcorn lingered in every corner of the house.
Amara’s parents had gone all out.
"You’d think it was our wedding," Amara muttered under her breath as she leaned into Celeste’s side near the foyer.
Celeste laughed. "If this is your wedding, I need to rethink what I’ll wear when I’m your maid of honor."
"You’re my maid of life. That’s bigger."
A woman in her late forties with sleek hair the same auburn as Amara’s made her way toward them. She wore a deep red sheath dress that hugged her frame, and paired it with diamond earrings that caught every glimmer of light.
"Girls," she said, clasping her hands together like she couldn’t decide whether to hug them or cry. "You both look absolutely stunning. Celeste, you’re divine."
Celeste smiled, cheeks warming. "Thank you, Mrs. Carlisle."
"Mom, relax," Amara said, but she softened into a hug as her mother pulled her in.
Mrs. Carlisle turned to Celeste, arms open. "Come here, darling." She kissed the side of Celeste’s hair, tears almost staining her face. "You did it,"
Mrs. Carlisle still remembered the frightened and alone teenager her daughter had brought back home on her first day on campus.
Mr. Carlisle appeared next, holding two champagne flutes and a mocktail. He handed the drinks over to the girls.
"Non-alcoholic," he told Celeste. "We remember you’re not big on wine."
Her throat nearly tightened. "You remembered?"
"Of course," he said, clinking his glass with hers. "You girls made it. We’re proud of you both. Tonight’s for celebration, and not forgetting the small things."
They toasted. Wild laughter rippled as someone inside called out Amara’s name.
"We have to take pictures," Mrs. Carlisle suddenly announced, clapping once. "The real kind. Not blurry selfies." She scoffed, a bit pissed the girls just sent her selfies from the event, and not one full body picture.
Celeste gave Amara a look, and Amara groaned.
"Let me guess," Celeste said. "Matching robes next?"
"Don’t tempt her," Amara warned, shooting a glance at her mother.
Mrs. Carlisle laughed. "Maybe next year. For now, let’s get you under the pergola. You, too, Celeste. No sneaking off."
The garden was already filled with guests like neighbors, old friends, and a few classmates they recognized from school. The pergola had been wrapped with more golden fairy lights and sheer white drapes. It was a perfect frame.
Celeste took her place beside Amara, the two of them grinning while Mrs. Carlisle flitted around directing people like a seasoned photographer.
"Tilt your chin, Amara. Celeste, turn slightly toward her—yes, yes, perfect. Gosh, you two are so splendid. Vogue should be knocking." She hyped with a beautiful smile.
Mr. Carlisle stood behind her, chuckling softly and shaking his head as his wife moved around, looking for more perfect angles.
"Look at that," Amara whispered out of the side of her mouth. "It’s not a party until Mom climbs a chair to get the right angle."
Sure enough, Mrs. Carlisle had climbed the garden bench.
The laughter came naturally when she climbed the chair, and Mrs. Carlisle took more multiple shots. Amara had the loud, melodic laugh that made people look over and smile even if they didn’t know the joke, and Celeste’s smaller one, folded with awe and real joy.
After the impromptu photoshoot, the girls sat under the pergola as guests mingled around them. Celeste kicked off her heels.
"I can’t feel my toes."
"Good. That’s proof you looked hot."
They clinked glasses again, mocktail and sparkling cider this time. Celeste had always admired Amara’s sense of humor.
Celeste stared up at the canopy of lights. The weight of the evening wasn’t heavy.
She had been to parties where she felt like an extra in someone else’s story. But here? This felt normal. Amara was the center of attention but she still had a place.
When Amara’s younger cousins dragged them to the makeshift dance floor by the garden fountain, they didn’t resist. Someone had cued a nostalgic playlist—early 2000s hits, R&B, and songs that made everyone scream lyrics they only half-remembered.
Celeste danced.
They twirled, jumped, bumped hips to Beyoncé, and laughed so hard their sides ached. Celeste barely noticed when her jumpsuit strap slipped off her shoulder or when her hair came undone.
At one point, Mr. Carlisle passed by and handed them both napkins. "Dab, don’t wipe," he said with mock seriousness. "You’ll thank me when you see the photos."
As the night stretched, the music softened. People filtered into the house, some gathering around the dessert table, others sprawled on the floor cushions by the fireplace.
Mrs. Carlisle reappeared with a tray of mini cheesecakes.
"Celeste, sweetheart, try the blueberry ones. Your favorite, right?"
Celeste blinked. "How do you..."
"I listen," she said with a wink.
It was such a simple thing. But it stayed with Celeste. She wasn’t used to adults remembering the little things.
She took a cheesecake.
Amara leaned into her shoulder again. "You okay?"
Celeste nodded.
Amara nudged her. "Welcome to the Carlisles. There’s no going back now."
Celeste let out a wistful sigh. She’d visit her mother’s grave tomorrow, immediately after seeing Nana.
That was a part of her she shows no one. Not even Amara knows about it. She told Amara she had no idea where her mother was buried because she didn’t want to let the memories surface again.
As time stretched on, the party died down to just family members and the neighbours gave the two girls one last hug before leaving.
Celeste kept her smile up until her chins hurt. She barely knew half of the people who hugged her, but it was fine. It filled her heart.
When they all settled into the dining table with cousins for dinner, the doorbell rang.
"I’ll get it," Celeste notified, as she nodded at everyone, and pushed her seat backward to leave.
Expecting it to be one of Amara’s cousins, her jaw dropped when she saw Dominic and Nana standing before the door.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth immediately spread into a big smile. This was her favorite part of the day.
"You didn’t think we’ll miss your big day for tomorrow, did you?" Domi ice asked softly as he pulled her closer from her waist, and locked their lips together.