Page 135 of Blitzing Emily

Tears glistened in Meg’s eyes. “I knew this day was going to come. I wasn’t expecting it so soon.”

Amy let out a snicker. “Ma, we’re adults. When did you think this was going to happen?”

Tears or no, it wouldn’t be a family occasion unless Amy said something completely sarcastic. Emily was surprised, though, to see Amy’s chin tremble. She wasn’t as unaffected as she appeared.

“Brian must be meeting us at the church.”

“He can’t make it today.” Amy turned away from her and picked up the tote bag with various items Emily was warned all brides needed desperately, like an extra pair of hose, bobby pins, industrial-strength mascara ... Something was wrong, but Amy wasn’t going to tell her what it was in front of their mom. Emily would get it out of her later.

“We’re going to be late for the pictures if we don’t move our assesnow,” Amy told them.

“Amy Margaret Hamilton, I didn’t raise you to use that kind of language.”

Suzanne put a comforting arm around Meg’s shoulders. “I can’t even tell you how many times I washed Brandon’s mouth out with soap for saying bad words when he was a little boy. He is just like his father ...” The two of them followed Amy and Emily down the hallway, chatting away about their children’s various misdeeds.

The bridal party hurried out to the waiting limousine for the trip to the church. Meg smoothed the skirt of her gown. “Are you nervous, honey?”

“No. I want to get there.” Emily twisted her hands in her lap.

It took only a few minutes to drive to the little church on the hill with the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Lake Washington. They all piled out of the car.

“Hey, it’s not too late to drive over to the burger place and get a shake,” Emily joked, but her stomach was full of butterflies. Her heart was beating a rat-a-tat-tat inside her chest. The moms bustled around them, and hurried inside the church.

Amy held Emily’s train up so it wouldn’t brush the sidewalk. She smoothed the skirt on her dress as well. “This is it, Em.” Her sister’s eyes swam with tears, and she took Emily’s hand.

“Don’t you start, or I’m going to start,” Emily warned.

“It’ll never be the same,” she said, her voice quavering.

“It’s going to be better,” Emily said. They hugged each other. “You’re not losing me, you’re getting a brother.”

Amy let out a snort.

“Fine, if you think that’s going to make me feel better.”

Emily burst out laughing. They pulled away from each other, and Emily touched the pearl bracelet around her sister’s wrist.

“Where’d you get this?”

Amy rolled her eyes.

“Brandon tried to buy me off earlier with something from Tiffany.” She rolled her eyes. “He probably thinks I’ll fall for it.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“I see you got pearls, too.” Amy observed. “I love him, even if he is a freak. You do realize you’re going to have to feed him. How many times a day does he eat?”

Just for a moment, Emily was six again, and Amy was five. They walked, hand-in-hand, to the first day of school. This was a different kind of school. Emily was going to learn how to build a family, and hopefully Amy would learn the same lessons, too.

Mark Hamilton waited in the foyer with Jack and Suzanne McKenna. Emily couldn’t hear what was being discussed, but Jack took her arm. “Are you sure you want to marry my son?”

“Jack McKenna, you behave yourself,” Suzanne told him with an indulgent smile.

“Never.” He winked at Emily. “My offer still stands,” but he kissed his wife’s cheek. “Ready, Mrs. McKenna?”

Jack accompanied Suzanne up the aisle and made sure she was seated, and then it was time for Mark and Meg to make their way up the aisle. She gave Emily one last hug, and took both her hands.

“I love you, honey. I’m so happy for you.”

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