Page 68 of Not Your Basic Love Story

It would be beautiful.

But then, when I tried to imagine Graham’s face there, standing next to me, and I couldn’t do it. His soft, rounded features. His sandy-coloured hair, thinning on top. I couldn’t see myself sitting next to him on the couch, drinking tea and watching the evening news. Any time his phone would ding with a message, would I be wondering who it was? I remembered so vividly him looking down at his phone, an amused smile touching his face, before turning it over so I couldn’t see.

Friend from work was all he’d said. A funny meme. A joke.

It was sickening even imagining that scenario.

My phone vibrated with a call. Seeing Dev’s name and picture pop up brought with it a wave of serenity and a smile to my face.

“Hello fiancée,” he cooed.

I grinned. “Is there a reason why we aren’t FaceTiming?” A second later, an invitation popped up, and I was looking at him. “Hello, fiancé,” I echoed back.

“I miss you, beautiful. Did you speak to everyone?”

“Most everyone, yes. I still have to tell my brother. I haven’t talked to him in ages, though. I don’t know if he’ll even make it with such short notice.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s probably for the best, to be honest.”

“So, I have some bad news and some good news.”

My heart sank. “Bad news first.”

“The places I’d looked at for the reception are all full.”

“Well. Fuck.”

“But, the good news is, my parents have offered up their house.”

Panic rose in my chest again, realizing I had met his family exactly one time before agreeing to become one of them. I swallowed hard. “That’s good.”

“Yeah. Oh! And they want to have an engagement party. One month from now. Does that work? They’re taking care of the food and what-not.”

“Remember the last time I ate Indian food?”

He laughed, which made me smile. “I’ll get you some Pepto.”

“I’m being serious!” I pressed. “And my mom didn’t eat anything at that restaurant we went to. Can we have some food there that’s, you know, western?”

“You want some burgers and fries?”

“Ha. Ha. You know what I mean. This wedding is about both of us, remember?” Saying it aloud did nothing to stop the feeling ofbeing swept up into a tidal wave of things that weren’t for me, into a place where I didn’t belong.

“I’ll make sure there’s other food there, don’t worry.”

“Oh. Um. My mom has to be there for wedding dress shopping. It’s kind of a big deal for her. Do you know when that is? Do I book a place at a dress shop? I don’t even think they can have a dress ready in three months.”

“All the dresses will be rented. Priya’s very excited; she said she’s going to show you everything you need to know. I’m worried, but I’m trying not to be, you know? She has good intentions.”

I tried again, this time being very clear. “It is important to my family, tomyculture, to wear a white dress and have my mom and friends help me pick it out.”

He rubbed his beard some more, thoughtful. “The lehenga is kind of a big deal, Rebecca.”

“So is a white wedding dress.”

“Can you wear the white dress, too? We can get pictures with both, if you want. I’ll wear a tux. If you want your girls to wear dresses, then they can, too. We can do both, can’t we?”

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