“We both must have missed it.” He gestures toward everyone chatting. “Lucia’s family came in a week early. Luckily they booked hotel rooms because we don’t have anywhere for them to sleep.”
“Why would they come early? It’s not like there’s anything to do in this little town.” It’s not a lie. The closest city is over thirty minutes away. They are going to be bored out of their minds.
Jason nods, grimly. “I have no idea. But Lucia and Tonya are going to be the ones playing host to them. I only hope it doesn’t push Tonya overboard with all the stress she’s been putting on herself.”
“You’ve noticed it, too?”
“Yep. Maybe you can talk some sense into her. See if she’ll pass some things off. I know she gave your sister some things to do, but it’s not nearly enough. That child refuses to ask for help when it’s needed.”
“Do you know where I can find her?” I ask. “I’m sure she’s not taking this sudden influx of people very well.”
“Last time I saw her, she was heading to her room.”
“Thanks.”
He pats me on the back in solidarity. “Good luck.”
I weave through everyone, muttering hellos and stopping to answer questions from those that I know. How in the hell do this many people fit in this house? It’s not small by any means, but I know if this were a place of business, we’d be breaking fire code.
Finally, I make it to Tonya’s room. It only took me twenty minutes to get from one side of the house to the other. I knock and wait for a response. When there isn’t one, I know again, and call out her name.
“I’m hiding,” she calls out. But moments later she’s at the door opening it wider to let me in. Cami, Darcy, Charleigh, and Bianca are all sitting on Tonya’s bed with two bowls of popcorn in the middle. The buttery scent hits my nose, and my stomach growls.
“Come in,” she whispers. “Don’t let them see that you’re over here or they’ll make me come out and socialize.”
“I take it this,” I point my thumb toward the room I just left. “Is a surprise to you, too.”
“Do you think I would have invited everyone over to hang out if I knew over half my family was going to be here?” She scrunches her face so much her eyebrows are almost touching.
“Where are the guys?” I ask all the ladies on the bed.
Darcy is the first to reply. “Derrick is still on the road. I kind of hope they lose the next couple of games so he’ll be here for the wedding.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. From the little bit of time I’ve spent with Derrick, I know he’s living his dream. A loss would be a punch to the gut. Darcy’s face falls. “I guess that’s a little selfish of me. But dang it, I want him here with me.”
Cami reaches over and rubs her back. “He’ll be here. Even if he has to come in for the day and leave again. He won’t miss it.”
Darcy’s responding smile is small, but the reassurance is enough for her.
Bianca is the one to answer. “They are in the far back corner of the yard. Hiding from everyone like we are.”
“Why aren’t y’all out there with them?” It’s odd that they split off into groups.
“Because the popcorn is in here.” Cami points to the bowls and grins. “And who wants to hang out with a bunch of guys talking sports anyway?”
Charleigh begins to raise her hand, but Bianca pushes it down. “What?” She asks, shooting a glare at her friend. “I happen to be following basketball this year.”
Tonya grabs my hand and leads me to her bed, ignoring the bickering going on next to us. I gently squeeze her hand. “How are you holding up?”
“Okay, I guess.” Her eyes are looking everywhere in the room but at me. I pull her attention to my face, and she sighs. “I thought the dresses being the wrong color was the worst that could happen. But then family started showing up while I was outside with our friends, and I don’t know how I’m going to handle it. How am I supposed to finish the decorations, bouquets, and all of that while having to keep them occupied?”
Cami raises her hand as if she’s still in school, “You could pass on some of the tasks to us.” She waves her hand between herself and Darcy. “Hello, we’re the wedding party. Our job is to make this as easy for you as possible.”
Darcy gets up and rummages around Tonya’s messy desk. I’m not sure how she finds anything on that thing with papers scattered all over the place. Finally, Darcy finds a spiral and a pen. Sitting in the office chair beside the desk, she opens up the spiral and looks pointedly at Tonya. “We’re going to make a list of everything that needs to be done, and divide between us.”
“Oh, shit,” Cami mutters. “Darcy is in list making mode, run for the hills.”
Darcy balls up a piece of paper, throwing it at her, and misses by feet. Cami is laughing so hard she almost falls off the bed.