Diane smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Rory. I appreciate the advice.”
“Anytime.” Rory returned her smile.
“Yeah, and be happy you don’t have in-laws from hell,” Cassidy added. “Where are his parents, by the way?” she quirked a brow and asked.
“They live in Italy. Derek’s not sure if they’ll be able to make it,” Diane explained. She quickly added, “But they are happy we’re getting married. They have been nothing but lovely when I talk with them.” Her fingernail dug into the flesh of her palm as she prayed that they wouldn’t ask her any more questions about the wedding or Derek. The truth was that she was no longer sure that she was making the right decision to marry him.
“Where’s Nikki?” Cassidy asked, turning her head from side to side as her eyes perused the crowd.
“I don’t know,” Diane responded, her eyes searching the crowd as well. She reached for her cell and sent Nikki a text.
“Hey. Where are you?”
Five minutes passed, and there was no response from her cousin. Another ten minutes passed, and still nothing. The women decided to search for her.
“Do you think she’s on the slingshot?” Sophia asked.
Diane’s eyes narrowed at the possibility. She knew she didn’t have the authority to tell her cousin what she could and couldn’t do, but after what happened to Erin on their last visit to the fair, she hoped Nikki wasn’t doing it. “Let’s go see,” she suggested.
The group set off in the direction of the ride advertised to target the most daring people out there. Sure enough, they found Nikki standing in line, waiting for the ride.
“Hey. What are you doing?” Diane asked, walking up to her cousin with her arms folded across her chest.
Nikki glanced at her before looking ahead once more. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m waiting to ride the slingshot.”
“I thought we agreed that we wouldn’t be trying any more extreme sports after what happened to Erin.”
“I didn’t agree to that,” Nikki refuted. “I love the adrenaline rush I get from this. Besides, I already did it once, and there was nothing to it.”
“Fine. Do whatever you want.” Diane threw her hands in the air before storming off.
“What is wrong with you?”
Diane looked over her shoulder to see her cousin following her with an angry expression.
“You’re acting like I’m going to die if I go on the ride.”
“That’s just it, Nikki.” Diane said and turned to her cousin, staring at her wide-eyed at her sudden about turn. “You didn’t die in the accident, but it’s like you’re trying to find a way to finish the job. I know you’re hurting. Your best friend died, and you didn’t, but that doesn’t give you the right to act like your life doesn’t matter. It matters to me and your parents and the rest of the family. Stop shutting us out, Nikki.”
The two stood inches apart, neither saying anything after Diane’s angry speech. A few tears slid down Nikki’s cheeks like a tap that had been dry for so long, finally running again. The tears came harder.
“Do you think it’s easy feeling the way I do? Waking up in the middle of the night screaming, feeling like there’s no air to breathe, like the weight of the airbag is about to crush your ribs, crush you to death?” She gripped the hem of her blouse and brought it up midway, revealing the long scar running from her sternum to her navel. Her eyes shut tight as she allowed her blouse to fall back in place. She opened them and stared at Diane in pain. “Every day I wake up, I look in the mirror, and I wish it were me who died in the crash and not Bailey. Doing the things I do is the only way I can keep sane and not throw myself off a cliff.” Her arms came up to hug her waist as her body shook from her heavy sob. “I’m barely holding on, Diane,” she whispered.
Diane felt her heart break for her cousin. Her own tears flowed freely down her cheeks as the weight of Nikki’s inner suffering tightened around her frame, threatening to crush her. She walked over to her cousin and wrapped her up in her arms, trying to console her. She wept bitterly because she also didn’t know how to help her.
ChapterSixteen
Diane
The cursor hovered over the send button.
“You have to do this…Nope. This is a big step.” Diane removed her hand from the mouse and released a sigh as she leaned back in the chair. She knew that the only way to expand the bistro was to take out a loan since her mother was still refusing to give her the money from the trust, but with a loan came the obligation of keeping up with the payments. As she stared at the computer screen, a war was happening in her mind. At the sound of the doorbell, she looked up to see Bev standing there.
“Hi, Bev,” she greeted the older woman, cocking her head to the side, and quirked a brow.
“Hello, dear. I know. I saw the closed sign,” Bev greeted her with a bright smile while answering her unasked question. “I was just wondering if you wouldn’t mind some company, even if it’s from a poor little old lady like myself.”
“You're always welcome, Bev.” Diane smiled welcomingly. “I enjoy your company a lot.”
