“You did?”
“That was the mess. He pretended to be Van.” I thought back to getting in the car, thankful the encounter didn’t end worse than it had. “Anyway, while I thought he was Van, I gave him my phone. As far as I know, Phillip still has it. He sent my parents text messages. Since they came from my number, they assumed it was me.”
Margaret’s expression dimmed. “The texts weren’t good, were they?”
I shook my head. “They said I was leaving Van and I was afraid of him. Something about him holding me against my will.”
Margaret picked up the empty box. “It’s none of my business, but I think you two should get married and shut up all the people telling lies.”
“We’re going to.”
“You are?”
“I mean the wedding isn’t planned except in my head. I want to marry in the cabin.”
Her eyes opened wide. “As in the cabin without electricity?”
A giggle preceded my answer. “That would be the one.”
“Let me guess, it’s a daytime wedding.”
“Probably. There is the fireplace for light.” I shrugged. “I told you it isn’t planned.”
“When do you want to do this?”
“Next Saturday.”
“A week from tomorrow?” she asked, her voice rising an octave.
I grinned at the absurdity of hearing my plan aloud. “I want the wedding small. We were hoping that you, Jonathon, and Paula could come. Oh, and your son.”
“You want us there?”
“Yes. I don’t know Jonathon, but Van thinks a lot of him, and you and your mother have been nothing but kind to me.”
“Will there be out-of-town guests? I can get the rooms ready. As you know, the doors mostly stay locked.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think there will be any guests unless my friend can get up here. I sent her a text and want to talk to her. She’s in medical school and can be busy.”
“I’m sure she’s not too busy for your wedding.”
“How many times do you think her professors will fall for the ‘my best friend is getting married’ excuse? I kind of have a track record.”
“Runaway bride,” Margaret said. “I saw the article.”
“You know it isn’t true. I didn’t leave Van. I left Phillip.” I wrapped my arms around my midsection. “I was so confused as to why Van would push to marry at my parents’. It felt wrong.” I exhaled. “It was wrong. Once Van caught up and found me at my parents’ house, we both left. Neither one of us wanted to get married in Chicago or at my parents’.”
Margaret shook her head. “I never take any of the news flashes about Donovan to heart.”
“Good.”
Margaret and I walked together back to the private living room and the remaining boxes and totes.
“What do we have left?” she asked.
“Mostly books, journals, and trinkets. I think we can stack the boxes and totes, and I’ll deal with them a little at a time.”
“Are you sure?”