“Again, Mom, why?”
Mom’s voice sweetened. “Because, darling, it isn’t too late.”
“For me and Skylar? Mom, it’s not only too late, it’s done. I’m not sure I even like Skylar. I’m not sure I ever did. We were always just to be. I love Van.”
“Your father can make a call. Your marriage license to Skylar was valid for thirty days. It hasn’t expired yet. That means it’s still valid.”
A scream was on the tip of my tongue as my bedroom door opened and Vicki bounded inside with a garment bag over her arm and a smile across her face. “Julia, I can’t believe you changed your mind and decided to get married here.”
Julia
“Vicki,” I said, opening my eyes wide at the sight of my friend.
Her smile dimmed as she closed the door behind her. It didn’t take her long, barely only seconds, to see the distress my mother had either failed to recognize or found worthy of celebration.
“Ana,” Vicki said, speaking to my mother, “Rosemary said not to tell you, but there’s a problem downstairs.”
Mom turned to my friend, her expression sober. “A problem?”
“Something about chairs and the caterer…I think she mentioned hot dogs.”
“Hot dogs.” Mom’s voice rose two octaves.
Vicki shrugged. “Short notice. Availability. I’m not sure. I only overheard.”
“Oh.” Mom turned toward the door and back as she wrung her hands. “Julia. I’m going to go downstairs…Vicki, you’ll stay with Julia, won’t you? Georgette is on her way. Maybe if you could help Julia get out of” —she waved her hand up and down— “that.” Mom pointed to the bed. “There’s no reason not to use this perfectly good gown. It was altered for Julia, after all.” She turned to me. “Do you want to shower and be fresh? It is your wedding day.”
I didn’t speak as I applied undue pressure to my already-gritted teeth. If I would have spoken, it would have been to ask which groom she wanted me fresh for. It was a conversation I wasn’t prepared to continue.
Vicki waved her hand. “I’m sure it will be all right. There was also some talk about the number of mustard packets. Do you think it matters?” She shrugged. “Not everyone likes mustard.”
Mom’s eyes grew two sizes larger as her head shook. Mumbling under her breath, she left the room, closing the bedroom door behind her.
Exhaling, I relaxed my shoulders. “Oh my God, Vic. I love you.”
Her voice sang out between laughs. “I figured if the hot dogs didn’t send her into a tizzy, the mustard would.”
“There’s not a discussion on hot dogs or mustard downstairs, is there?”
“There will be when Ana gets there.”
“Poor Rosemary,” I said as I sat on the edge of the bed. “This is a clusterfuck.”
Throwing the garment bag onto the bed, Vicki sat beside me. “Talk to me, Jules. What the hell is going on?”
“I don’t know.” I lay back and stared up at the ceiling. “I’m in an alternate universe.”
“An alternate universe with super-sexy Van. I saw him downstairs.”
I sat up and looked at Vicki. “Did he seem…the same?”
“I don’t know what the same is. He looked fine in his suit. He was in your dad’s bar with your dad, Skylar’s dad, and his uncle.”
Pushing off the bed, I stood. “Vicki, this isn’t right. Van hates the Butlers. He wouldn’t cozy up to one, much less two.”
“Maybe he’s just playing nice for the wedding before he goes all corporate apeshit on them.”
“What do you know about Van’s corporate anything?”