Page 46 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“Hi, Ant. It’s good to hear yours, too.”

“Woman,” Si scolded. “You promised no more disappearing.”

“I didn’t,” I defended myself. “It’s just been… I got married… we ended up on CNN and TMZ… Then we had to join a press conference to support his brother’s bid for the presidency.”

“Yeah,” she said, “and what’s that about? Brockton Parker? Since when would my sweet, full of life and love best friend throw her support behind a man like him?”

“There’s a lot to unpack with that, but I don’t want to do it over the phone. Anyway, since then, we’ve been forced to attend all these luncheons and dinners in different states. It’s legit been weeks since I’ve slept in my own bed.”

“Okay, well, I’ll let it slide for now.”

“Blake and I will be in Detroit on Thursday. I was hoping we could all get together Friday night since you all get the weekend off.”

“Barbecue at our house?” Ant asked. “Does Blake eat barbecue?”

“Does he eat barbecue?” I asked, mock-affronted. “Do you think I’d marry someone who didn’t? I have my standards, Ant.”

As everybody laughed, he asked, “Is it okay if I invite Cormac and Wendy?” Cormac was a good guy. He and his wife, Wendy just had their first baby. Even though a McCain, too—Ant’s first cousin—only Ant ever invited Cormac to anything. Like me with the Parkers, the McCains felt that Cormac had married below his status. I now had even more in common with Wendy.

“Heck yeah, invite them. I haven’t seen Corm or Wendy in so long.”

“Remember Pete’ll be in town on business, too,” Pen said and I heard Sierra groan. What was that about? Pete lived out west in Oklahoma, I think. He was Ant’s best friend from Brown. He’d given Pen a little bit of trouble back when she and Ant first got engaged—you know, the protective friend bit—but they’d worked out their differences once he realized that Pen wasn’t Gretchen, and actually loved Ant, like herentire lifeloved him.

“Great,” Pen said. “Then we’ll make it happen. I’m so excited,” she squealed. “I get my Gloria back!”

“WegetourGloria back,” Sierra corrected her. And wow, that kind of made me tear up.

“I have to go now, guys. Blake and I have a stupid rally to attend.” I rolled my eyes. It made me feel better that even if they couldn’t see said eyeroll, they felt my pain.

“Hang on, girl. Friday you’re with family,” Ant said. Friday, Blake and I would be with family. Ant was so right. Not a born family, a made one. We were all misfits in one way or another and that bond made us closer than friends.

“I know you’ll just love Blake,” I said, hoping they didn’t hear the catch in my voice.

“I know we will, too,” Pen said softly, meaning she definitely heard the catch. I hung up when my husband entered our bedroom of the hotel suite where I’d been talking. He’d been on a business call in the office. Yes, this suite had bedrooms and an office.

“Ready to go, babe?” he asked.

“Just let me grab my purse.”

“You know how much I love you?” He pulled me in for a kiss. A romance novel special. My heart still speed, my toes curled and I wanted nothing more than to have him tell me to be his good girl right this second. Alas, our commitments beckoned.

After he let up, I told him about our plans. “You finally get to meet Pen, Ant, and Sierra.”

His smile lit up the room. “When?”

“This Friday. Pen and Ant are hosting a barbecue at their place for us.”

“Oh, man… I can’t tell you the last time I got invited to a barbecue. That sounds amazing. We should bring something.”

“Well, if you want to help me, after the luncheon, we could head to the store. I could make my grandma’skolaczkicookie recipe. I used to make them for Si and Pen when we were in school. They loved them.”

“You haven’t baked me any of your grandma’s recipes.”

“We haven’t exactly had the time. I mean… I suppose we could spend less time in the hot tub.”

He covered my mouth with his hand. “Hold your tongue, woman.”

“That’s what I thought,” I said, or I tried to say, but he still covered my mouth, so it came out rather garbled.

---