Chapter One
Tabitha
“Hey Tab, I was wondering if we could talk.”
“Sure what’s up?” I respond.
I hardly hear from Hilary. I mean there’s five years between me and my younger sister, but we like each other. Well, for the most part. Okay, if I’m honest, I try to avoid my family. My family brings stress. I am a tightly organized person. I like control and with my family there is no control—only chaos.
Hilary is actually the worst. She’s a mini-drama queen who is beyond spoiled. I love her, but I also can’t be in the same room with her without wanting to choke her. It’s kind of a love-hate-hate-love relationship.
I moved out of Perryville, Ohio as soon as I could. I found my own place in a small suburb outside of Indianapolis, Indiana and I worked as a waitress while I put myself through school. I didn’t ask my parents for anything—though they do send money, even when I ask them not to. I wanted to stand on my own and be my own person. My mother says I’m too stubborn for my own good and way too independent. She might be right, but I’m building a life I’m proud of and I now have a career as a surgical nurse that I love.
My sister on the other hand graduated high school and has spent her life still living at home and helping mom arrange charity dinners and functions. If you even mention getting a job or her own place I’m pretty sure she would break out in hives.
These are just some of the reasons that my sister and I mainly only chat through texts and only every other week or so. That means, getting a call from her today and her telling me she needs to talk is setting alarm bells off in my head.
“I had some news and I wanted to tell you first, before Mom could.”
Yeah… I was right. This can’t be good.
“What news?” I ask, congratulating myself that I’ve managed to keep the fear out of my voice. “You’re okay, aren’t you Hil?” I ask her. I may not get along with my sister, but…
“Oh, yeah I’m fine. It’s just… Tabby…”
I cringe at the nickname she uses. My name is Tabitha, which I’m not crazy about in the first place, but I can handle being called Tab. I hate Tabby. It makes me sound like a fat, lazy cat that sits around and does nothing but lick my paws all day.
“What’s going on, Hil?” I prompt her again.
“I’m getting married!” she announces, I’m breathing easier. Still, I’m not sure why she’s making a production out of everything. Actually, if I think about it, it is surprising. I didn’t even realize Hilary was dating anyone.
“You’re getting married? I didn’t know you were dating anyone seriously.”
“Well yeah. I mean I have been for a few months. I love him very much. I just… I asked Mom not to mention it to you,” she says, and now she sounds cautious again—so much so that those alarm bells start ringing again.
“Why would you do that? You have to know I’d be happy for you Hil. I want you to be happy,” I tell her and I’m serious. I really do.
“Uh… Well… there’s no easy way to say this, Tabby.”
“Say what?” I ask, thoroughly confused now.
“I’m marrying Robbie.”
“Robbie?” I ask, still not understanding.
“Robbie Stedman,” she says, her voice quiet.
Her voice is too quiet to be delivering the blow she just gave me.
Robbie Stedman.
I hadn’t allowed myself to think of him in five years. Robbie was my high school sweetheart. He was the football quarterback to my cheerleader, the homecoming king to my queen and the yin to my yang for all four years we graced the halls of Perryville High. He was my first real kiss, my first real date and my first… yeah that first.
Unfortunately, he was also my first real heartbreak. When I told him I wanted to move away from Perryville, to start a new life on my own and to go to school… he dumped me. There was no discussing our options, there was no talking about continuing our relationship.
He ended it.
He told me that he wanted the best for me, but that he wanted to see what else was out there for him too. I guess I never realized what else was out there would be my younger sister.
“Are you there, Tab?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Don’t be mad, Tab. We didn’t mean for it to happen. It just… kind of did.”
“I’m not mad,” I tell her, and I’m not. I’m not sure how I feel. I don’t care for Robbie. He killed that years ago, but… I’m the older sister.
Shouldn’t I be getting married first?
Shouldn’t I already have a husband and kid?
I never thought about it. I’ve been busy establishing my career, but now I’m thinking about it. I mean, I don’t care. I’m happy with my life—or relatively so. Still, I know how my parents are. I know how my family in general is, and I know how my parent’s friends are. They’re all going to be looking at me and they won’t see a woman who has put herself through school. They won’t see a single, independent career woman who is happy. They’ll see Hilary’s older sister, practically a spinster at the ripe old age of twenty-six, showing up at her sister’s wedding single and alone.