“I figured you could use some company, so voilà, here I am,” Nikki responded, throwing her hands wide and smiling at her cousin.
Diane’s eyes widened at her cousin’s words and the not-so-morose mood she was in. Usually, she would have to be the one to coax a smile out of her. It had been a while since she’d seen her cousin look so free of the ghosts of her past. “How was your therapy session?”
“It was okay. Why do you ask?” Nikki’s right brow jogged up her forehead as her eyes squinted with confusion.
“You look good today…happy,” Diane responded.
“Oh,” Nikki replied. Her eyes became downcast. At that moment, Diane wished she hadn’t brought it up. There was an awkward silence after that as Nikki’s eyebrows scrunched together, and she wrung her hands. Diane struggled to find something to say to reverse the mood.
“I have an appointment with my wedding planner today. Wanna come?”
“You want me to come to your appointment?” Nikki pointed at herself, a skeptical look on her face.
“Yeah, it’ll be fun. Plus, I’ll buy you an ice cream sundae,” Diane coaxed.
“So where’s Derek?”
“Derek can’t make it. He had a work emergency.” Diane avoided looking at her cousin.
“Hmm.”
“Nikki, please.” She sighed.
“What? I didn’t say anything.” Nikki held up her hands in defense.
“I know you want to say something, but I just need one day when we aren’t arguing about Derek. I need to have a clear head when I meet with the planner today.”
“Fine, I won’t say anything on our way there,” Nikki promised.
“So you’ll come?” Diane brought her palms together in relief.
“Yeah. I can’t let you do this by yourself. Besides, knowing you, you’ll probably pick the blandest food there is and the worst theme to go with it.”
“Hey!” Diane called out with offense. “I have style.”
“If you say so.” Her cousin snickered.
Diane reached over and playfully popped her on the arm. After locking up the shop for the day, the two made their way to Diane’s Peugeot 207, then toward SE Bayshore Drive. As they traveled along the coastal highway, Diane eased her window all the way down, enjoying the salty, fresh air. She loved being able to enjoy the town like this, especially with the sight of the rugged, snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Mountains off in the distance and their sharp contrast to the bright blue sky that gave the entire range an otherworldly appearance. With a view like this, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
“So this wedding planner, why couldn’t she meet you at the café?” Nikki broke the easygoing silence to ask.
Diane glanced at her briefly, noting the curiosity in her green eyes before she turned her attention back to the road. “She’s super-packed. I had to beg her to squeeze us in, so I suggested that I meet her after her last appointment.”
“Are you sure she’s going to have time to get everything done for your wedding if she’s focused on a bunch of other stuff?” Nikki pressed.
Diane considered the question. “I mean, I’ve seen her work before, and she came recommended by Aunt Kerry, so I want to trust she won’t mess this up.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I guess there’s only one thing you’ve got to worry about. Or should I say, person?”
Diane gave her cousin a warning look before turning her attention back to the road.
“I didn’t say any names,” Nikki said, her tone innocent. The ride to her appointment remained quiet for the rest of the time.
“Diane. I’m glad you could make it,” a tall, dark-skinned woman with the bone structure of a model greeted her with air-kisses by the terrace of the restaurant they’d agreed to meet at.
“Hi, Nara,” she greeted back with a bright smile. “This is my cousin Nikki.” She stepped to the side so the woman could see her.
“Hello, dear, it’s nice to meet you,” Nara said politely as she held out her hand.
