My sister’s face fell.
“But I wasn’t going to miss your wedding, right? He’s with his family. I’m with mine.” It had been a tough choice too. I had limited options – stay home alone, or drive across the island to a place I really didn’t want to see again.
“You’re married?” Jesse asked from the kitchen, holding up a glass with a creamy liquid inside as Eric added an amber mixture to it.
I didn’t want to spill the beansabout my failed marriage, not two days before Lily’s big day, so I did what any respectable person would do. I lied. “Yep.”
And guzzled down the sweet drink Eric handed to me.
“What happened to your ring?” Lily stared at mynaked hand.
Long gone was the natural indent that had occurred from years of wear; my finger filled out as it relished the idea of being free. It took longer for my heart and mind to reach the same agreement.
“It’s getting resized.”As it sat in the back of my jewelry box.
A smile stretched across her face and she rubbed my arm. “I thought you looked thinner.”
It’s amazing what getting rid of emotional and physical baggage could do for a person. “Thanks. Iam feeling much healthier these days.”
She nudgedmy shoulder and shot a knowing look at my tummy. “Great. Henry needs a little cousin to play with.”
My heartstrings vibrated with an ache, and I squeezed my empty glass between my hands trying to diffuse the pain.For a heartbeat, I chanced a glance over to Jesse, who was in deep conversation with Eric over tire repair.
“They’re the best on this side of the island.” Eric walked over and held his hand above my glass. “Can I get you another, Mona?”
“Sure? Why not? I’m not driving.” I needed to drown my sorrows but thankfully I was an upbeat drunk most of the time. A little more alcohol in me and my cares would blow away like dandelion seeds on the breeze.
Eric mixed another drink as Jesse sat in a chair beside me. “So, tomorrow, take your car to Lenny’s. I’ll leave you the address. He’ll get you a proper tire so you’re not driving back home on the dummy, and he’ll do it at a good price too.”
Eric sat beside his wife-to-be. “It may take him a day or two to order it inbeing the holidays and all.”
Lily laughed. “If it’s one thing I’velearned since moving here, it’s how everything runs onisland time.This ain’t no major city.”
“Will it be ready by time I need to get back home?”
The plan was to only be here a couple days beyond the big day, and even that was more than I was comfortablewith.
“Maybe.” Lily giggled.
“Maybe?” I looked between Jesse, Eric, and my sister.
“Let’s just say, it’ll be a race to see what gets fixed first – your tire or the furnace.” She shrugged without a care in the world. At least some things hadn’t changed.
I settled back into my chair. “How do you people live this way?”
There was enough of a smilein my words for them to know I was partially kidding. Back home, I’d have a new tire in an hour and a furnace repairperson would already be working on solving the issues there. It’s no wonder I never embraced such a laid-back lifestyle. I’d for sure go crazy!
But I was only a guest this visit, and I pitched forward a bit to change the topic.“So, tell me about your wedding plans. What can I do?”
Chapter Four
An hour later, with a couple more drinks poured into me, amazingly enough, I had all the wedding details memorized. It was going to be a simple beach ceremony in front of their place at sunset. Bonfires would spring up along their section of beach with food stations on Eric’s and Lily’s back patios, and music blasting from the speakers. It sounded more like a beach party from our teens years than it did a wedding ceremony on Christmas Day. However, it sounded perfect for them, and I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.
Henry’s sudden scream rattled down the stairs, and Lily popped out of her seat. “Sorry. I may be a while. He’s been getting these night terrors and it’s hard to settle him back down.”
“You know what, it’s late, Lil. You gotake care of your baby, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She gave me a look that was a dead ringer for how my mother used to look at me when I’d volunteer to go and locate Lily at some party. Instant relief. “Thanks, Mo. Night, Jesse.”