Chapter Thirty-Three

April 2019

Time seemed to crawl slower than the traffic outside the limo as raindrops streaked down the glass. It wasn't anything like a downpour, more of a light sprinkling, but it was enough to throw the entire pre-wedding plan into chaos.

Mandy didn't respond to the group messages flying back and forth among her family. Just thinking about it made her want to scream, or cry, maybe both.

Roger had taken a call, likely getting new instructions on where they were supposed to be headed, but Mandy ignored all that too. Now that she had time with nothing else to do and no one else to talk to—with the limo's AC pumping to help control her stress sweats—she reflected on the previous night's festivities. It all should've been a warning of how today was going to go. Because the rehearsal went off without a hitch.

Rehearsals were the time things were meant to go wrong, problems were supposed to reveal themselves so they could be worked out, but none of that happened. Dinner especially had seemingly been error free.

And all of that should've been a red flag to Mandy. Now that she thought about it, it seemed that Sophie had been trying to warn her.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Sophie had asked as Mandy stood outside the restaurant, needing some air between dinner and dessert. She had attempted to go to the car to get some last-minute gifts to distribute, but the valet seemed to be off somewhere, so she took the time to enjoy the night air. "Just say the word and I can get you out of here."

Mandy laughed. If she had chosen to have bridesmaids, Sophie would've been one of them for this very reason. She always seemed to know what Mandy needed to hear. Not that she was planning to run away, but because that was something she expected her girls to do for her—have her back and ask. "I'm good."

"Yeah. I know you are." Sophie leaned next to Mandy, shoulders touching. "It's nice to see you so happy."

Mandy hadn't really thought about it, but she was smiling—even there outside where no one else was, she had a smile on her face that when she tried, she couldn't stop. "I never thought this would happen. I guess it all sort of feels surreal."

"I knew," Sophie said. "Not the who, but I knew I'd be here one day with you, eating canapés and drinking expensive champagne. The champagne is excellent by the way."

"I'll let my parents know you approve." Mom had picked it out, and even though Dad had that look, gawking at Mom's expensive taste, it only flashed on his face momentarily, and he didn't say a word as he handed over his credit card. Knowing it got a compliment would make him feel better.

"He's something else. Your dad." Sophie wrapped a stray thread around her finger from the hem of her skirt and tugged. "He doesn't say much, but when he does…" She shook her head. "He's funny."

"?‘Funny' is usually not a word associated with my father," Mandy said.

"Well, I think he's bloody hysterical. He was in there with—who's the woman with the leopard-print top?"

"Aunt Mary."

"Oh my god, Aunt Mary." Sophie bent at the waist and started laughing. "That woman has had like three drinks too many. She's right pissed."

"I don't even know how she's my aunt."

"No way."

Mandy shook her head. "My dad's an only child, and my mom has two brothers—neither of which are married to Mary." Mandy lifted her head away from the wall to see if the valet had made it back yet. "I think she's like a family friend or something. Or like somehow related to one of Dad's business partners, but really no idea."

"That does help explain things." Sophie wrapped and unwrapped the rogue thread around her finger. "At first, I thought she was a crasher, but she was there nattering with your dad. Anyway, she's like the exact opposite of the stodgiest woman I've ever met."

"Yeah, she's a hot mess." It's funny how certain people had a way of sticking in your life. And it's funny that you never knew which ones those would be. There were times when you couldn't picture your life without someone in it, but then they'd be gone—things happened, you lost touch, you messed everything up. And then there were people like Aunt Mary who were always around even when you didn't expect them to be. Mandy smiled at Sophie.

"You can say that again. She started talking about her vibrator, and the look on your dad's face." Sophie laughed again. "Priceless."

"How did that even come up as a topic of conversation?" Mandy asked. Sure, Aunt Mary was a little out there, and she had the habit of saying inappropriate things at inappropriate times, but still it seemed a little much for her, especially with Dad around.

"No idea."

"Well, she does keep things interesting." Mandy shrugged. It was nice out here with Sophie. Mandy put her arm around Sophie's shoulder and pulled her in closer. "I've missed you."

"Don't get all mushy on me. I'm not making a mess of my mascara until the toasts." Sophie hip checked Mandy, but then rested her head on Mandy's shoulder. "I've missed you too. Finny is sorry he couldn't make it."

"He's about to have a baby. There's really no explanation needed." A few years after Mandy had left Europe, Finny and Leo finally made it official and tied the knot. Mandy had been disappointed they had eloped—she would've loved an excuse to go back out to Europe and see all her friends again—but she also understood why they chose to do it that way. As soon as Mandy had mentioned her engagement, her entire life revolved around the wedding and planning. So many people had come to town for the event—like Sophie—but she barely had time to see any of them.

"Leo is so excited. He's taking bets it comes out with red hair."

The idea of kids was something Mandy had been warming up to. Now that she was finally getting married, it seemed like the right time to think about having a family of her own.

"They're going to make great dads."

Sophie nodded.

A cool breeze ruffled the light fabric of Mandy's skirt, and she shivered slightly. At this rate the valet was never going to reappear, and as she'd been outside for a while, people would start to wonder what happened to her. The gifts weren't that important anyway. She could always give them out later. "Ready to go back inside?" she asked.

"Only if you are," Sophie responded.

Mandy pushed herself off the wall. "Then, shall we?"

"I really am so happy for you."

"I'm happy you're here," Mandy said.

"I wouldn't have missed it." Sophie took Mandy's hand. "I've always got your back." She pulled Mandy in for a hug and squeezed her tight.

But now that Mandy sat in the back of the limo, she couldn't stop thinking of that hug, or what Sophie had said. Did she know something Mandy didn't about today? Was Sophie trying to prepare Mandy for the worst, and let her know she had a shoulder to cry on when it all came crashing down?

Mandy traced the raindrops on the window and gazed up to the gray sky, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Maybe it was time to tell Roger to turn around.