Maureen
By eight o’clock, the party was winding down. Guests still danced and picked at their plates, but the atmosphere remained decidedly low-key. The outdoor space heaters were no joke. Even with the December air and snow piled along the edges of the backyard, most folks had discarded scarves, hats, gloves, and even coats.
James danced with Mrs. Allen. I walked over to where the bride-to-be watched the scene fondly.
“Do you think she’s okay?” Marley asked me after a moment, pointing subtly toward our little sister. Miranda sat on a bench near the slider, her head resting against Leo’s shoulder. Heswung his arm around and pulled her against his side, giving her a chaste kiss on the forehead.
“I think she’s fine. Looks like Leo’s taking care of her.”
“You think something’s going on there?” Marley’s gaze turned inquisitive. “More than just future in-laws type of stuff?”
“Maybe,” I conceded. “But probably they’re just good friends. They are a lot alike.”
“True.”
We watched Leo coax Miranda into a smile as he waved an arm to the guests at large—apparently reminding her again that the snafu with the glasses hadn’t been a big deal, that the toasts and cake-cutting had eventually gone off without further incident.
I sighed softly under my breath. Thinking of the toasts brought Will’s to mind. I couldn’t get it out of my head in the hour since he’d said the words.
“Congratulations to my good friend James and the love of his life, Marley. It might have taken them a while to admit they’re perfect for one another, but now that they have, I’m sure they’ll have a lifetime of joy. Sometimes, the happiest destinations are at the end of the roughest roads. Cheers!”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out his words had been at least partially directed at me, even if no one else realized it.
Leo pulled Miranda onto the dance floor. She giggled as they executed a very uncoordinated head-bopping movement to the beat of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” It was odd how Miranda had been so hard on herself earlier. She wasn’t normally high-strung. Something seemed to have changed over the past few months.
“What about you?” Marley’s voice pierced the night air.
“Hmm?” I replied absently, my attention still focused on the dancing.
“I saw you talking to Will earlier. Looked like you were getting along.” She elbowed me playfully.
My heart rate increased even as my tone stayed even. “Obviously, we were talking. He’s a groomsman. I’m a bridesmaid. We have shit to discuss.”
I turned my head away, unable to stop a small half smile from forming as I pictured Will and I having heated debates about flower arrangements and wedding favors.
“I hate when you call yourself a bridesmaid,” Marley said. “You’re more like a second-in-command maid of honor.”
I barked a laugh. “That’s not a thing, Marls. But don’t worry, I’m totally fine letting Miranda have the glory of holding your flowers.”
Marley laughed and picked at some lint on her sweater. After a few minutes, she returned to what was apparently her new favorite topic. “So…how do you like Will?”
I huffed irritably. “Still on this? What do you mean ‘how do I like him’? He’s James’s friend. He’s fine.”
“Like, he’s fine, or he’sfiiiiiiiiine?” Marley waggled her brows.
“Jesus. Are you Oscar with his bone? He’s plain old fine. And I told you yesterday to stop playing matchmaker.” I shook my ponytail behind my shoulder. “He’s your good friend, not mine. To me, he’s just a dude I make small talk with sometimes because we have mutuals.”Was she buying this steaming pile of horseshit?
Marley went back to picking at her lint. “I’m just saying, if you got to know him better, you’d probably like him. You have a lot in common.”
Oh, sis, if you only knew.
I needed to get Marley off this topic, and the best way to do that meant bringing up the one subject I knew would distract her.
“So, I noticed Kasen didn’t make it here tonight?”
Marley frowned at the mention of her ex. “Yeah. He’s supportive and everything, and we’re trying to be friends. But I get how it might be a little much for him to come to something like this.”
“Maybe he’ll come to the wedding,” I said. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Kasen. He’d been like family when he dated my sister, and I hoped he’d find his own happy ending.
