Page 37 of The One Before

“I really enjoy her. I’m happy you were able to set it up.” My mind recalls Anne and her daughter, the reason it has been so long since she’s organized a wedding. I consider bringing it up, but I’m not sure how close she is to Josephine. My mother-in-law strikes me as the type of person to claim many friends, when in reality she has few. “We’ve made progress. After we sample cakes, there’s not much left.”

“I thought you wanted Nectar to cater the food?” asks Regina, clinking her fork against her plate.

“I do,” I say, taking a moment to wipe my mouth. “I mean, I’d expected you’d prepare the meal. I thought having you do the cake might be asking too much.”

“I’m a professional chef,” she says, crossing her arms.

“Exactly,” Roman says, stuffing his face with another bite of food. “You’re not a baker.”

“My mother always said people can either cook or bake,” Josephine sings, trying to lighten the mood. “It takes a real talent to do both.”

“What does that mean?” Regina asks.

“It means you’re a fabulous cook,” Coop says. Across the table, Roman laughs.

“It’s my brother’s wedding,” Regina says. “I can bake a damn cake.”

“I really wasn’t trying to offend you,” I say. Already it feels like this night is slipping through my fingers. For whatever reason, Regina has been on edge since she arrived, and her attitude is worsening. “I’d love for you to provide dessert, if it’s not too much work.”

“No,” Coop says, resting his glass. “Madison’s right. Having your crew be in charge of the meal is enough.”

Regina doesn’t respond. She stares at the fireplace in the living room, taking a slow sip from her drink.

“The food is tasty,” Josephine says. Mothering this lot for so long has made her an expert at putting out fires.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Wait until you try the dessert,” Coop says. Everyone snickers at the connection to the previous topic, except Regina. She keeps staring into the other room, as though it’s her mission to pretend we’re invisible.

“I was wondering if we could pick a date to go shopping, Regina,” I say. Her role as the black sheep of the Douglas family is obvious, and partially self-imposed, but I want her to see I’m trying to change things. I want us to become friends. “We still need to find your dress.”

“Just tell me when and where,” she says, reluctantly being dragged back into conversation.

“You’re the only bridesmaid, so it’s whenever suits you. My schedule is wide open.” I take a sip of my drink, unable to resist a response to her earlier insult. “As you’ve already pointed out, I’m not working at the moment.”

“Why aren’t you having more people in the wedding party?” Roman asks.

“We want to keep things small,” Coop says.

“But why?” Roman leans on the table with both elbows. “Between your local friends and fraternity buddies, you could have a slew of groomsmen.”

“You know how it is. Those friendships are artificial. We want the day to be about family.” Coop looks at me, his smile reaching out and calming my nerves.

“Why isn’t your family involved?” asks Regina. She’s no longer fascinated by the fireplace in the next room; her entire body has turned to face me head-on.

She’s not the only one. Everyone at the table is looking at me, waiting for a reply. Regina might have asked a rude question, but they all want to know my answer. This topic has been discussed before. Roman and Josephine’s lack of interference proves it.

“I don’t have family,” I say, hoping my blunt response will put an end to this.

“What about friends?” Regina asks.

“Enough, Regina,” Coop says, tightening his hold on the wine glass.

“Don’t you have some high school BFF or sorority sister you want standing beside you on your big day?” Regina asks in a false pitch.

“We want to keep things small,” I say. “Like Coop said.”

“But why? From what I’m hearing, it sounds likeyouwant to keep things small,” she continues, coiling her neck like a snake about to bite.

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