Page 25 of Little Gray Dress

“Emi! I was wondering where you ran off to in the middle of our conversation. Now come say hello to everyone.” Amelia guides Lily and me over to the group of women on the patio.

I glance around at the faces of Jack’s aunts, family friends, and a few strangers. Obviously, the few family members Evan and I have didn’t get an invitation to the bridal shower. I’m a little jealous. Front and center is Greta. Her fake, forced smile blends right in with the rest of them.

“Have you met May, Jack’s new uh, fiancée?” An almost malicious smile hangs at the corners of Amelia’s lips as she introduces us. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was up to something. Amelia doesn’t play games though. If she wants you to know something, she’ll just say it. I’m sure the alcohol is deafening the rational part of my brain already and really I’ve got nothing to worry about.

“I’ve heard so much about you.” My attention moves from Amelia’s underlying motives to Greta who squeezes both my hands like we’re deemed to be new best friends. She’s lying through her teeth and if I really wanted to out her right now I could. Except I’m not sure anyone would believe me over her.

“Emi was once…” Amelia practically stumbles over her words a bit. She looks tongue-tied on how to introduce me to the woman she thinks has never met me. Which is completely out of character for Amelia. I’ve never, ever seen her nervous. “Emi was once engaged to Jack. So, you have that in common.” She pats my back and suddenly shouts hello at a woman who’s just entered the room, leaving Greta and me together.

“This must be so hard for you, to have to watch the love of your life having moved on.”

“Jack is hardly the love of my life.” I down the champagne I’m still holding in one take. They are going down easier and easier, which isn’t good. “You can have him. In fact, I hope you two are very happy together. You’re made for each other: both cheaters, both over the top, and both sad pathetic liars.”

“I’ll have you know Jack has never cheated on me. He doesn’t need to, look at me.” She waves her hands down her body. How arrogant can someone be? “But, I warned you I was more his type than you. I guess you should have listened and saved yourself some heartache.” She smiles with a lift of her shoulders. “I really should get back.”

“Yes, you should, maybe you could tell everyone how you’re wearing a second-hand ring after cheating with your fiancé while he was still engaged to someone else? You’ll fit right in with everyone here, just like the Stepford wife that you’ll be.”

A sound comes out of her mouth that is anything but pleasant. She quickly stomps her foot and turns away from me, sidling up to some rich old broad I’ve never seen before.

“At least you haven’t had to lie yet,” Lily laughs beside me and motions to a free seating area. “Let’s sit, away from the action. Maybe it will keep us out of trouble.”

A clapping comes from the far side of the room. Amelia is gathering everyone’s attention.

“Today we celebrate my lovely daughter, Hannah. She insisted I don’t embarrass her, so I’ll do my best. Let’s play a quick introduction game. We’ll go around the room and point to someone and say how we know them. Obviously, we will start with my Hannah. I know her because I’m her mother Amelia and I suffered many hours of labor bringing her into this world.” Her laugh fills the room as she points at Hannah.

The game goes on and on, and Lily introduces herself as my best friend which throws the introduction game to me. “I’m Emi Harrison, I know Hannah through her brother Jack.” Hannah’s eyes widen for a second, worried about what might come out of my mouth. “I know Greta, or as you all seem to call her, May, from my job with her father Aron Mayfair. Greta and I worked together on a project once, didn’t we?” I point at Greta who looks momentarily horrified before spitting out an uncomfortable laugh and moving the game along, ignoring the question and avoiding the prying eyes surrounding us.

I should have got hold of Morgan and asked for the video proof of what a nut-job Greta really is. That certainly would have thrown a wrench into her snide remarks aimed at me.

“Oh no!” I whisper to Lily, barely able to turn my head without the entire room spinning around me. Things are taking a sudden turn for the worse. I knew I shouldn’t have drunk so much so quickly on an empty stomach. “I’m gonna be sick.” I lean into Lily, who grabs my arm.

“Where’s the bathroom?”

“Too far.” I run to the patio, her at my heels. I try to make it at least past the decorative fountain, but I don’t. The heaving sound coming from within makes even me jump. I don’t have to turn around to know the whole room is watching me defile this very expensive water feature.

“She’ll be fine. I’m so sorry.” Lily is standing in front of me trying to apologize my way out of this embarrassment. She glances at me, her face scrunched up in horror. “This is not good, Ems,” she mumbles under her breath. All I can do is nod as I go for another round into the once crystal-clear water of the fountain.

“Oh my.” Amelia bolts to action and runs to my side. “Let’s get you lying down. Help me get her to the guest room.”

With Amelia on one side and Lily on the other, they drag me through the crowd of women and to a small guest bedroom on the first floor of their house.

“Grab her some Tylenol, Marion.” Amelia barks an order at the woman dressed all in black in the doorway. Before I can object I’m sipping water with Tylenol and have a cold rag being held against the back of my neck. “Was it something you ate?” Amelia asks, sitting by my side and attempting to nurse me back to health. Or in this case, an earlier, more sober version of me.

“No, no. Probably it was something I drank.” I will not tell her how much something I drank. That part isn’t important.

“Of course, she’s drunk.” A voice echoes from the doorway. Greta glares at me. “What a way to ruin the party.”

“Greta, go gossip somewhere else,” Lily snaps at her before closing the door in her face.

“Are you drunk?” Amelia asks, looking almost more concerned than angry.

“No, not really. I just had a lot of champagne on an empty stomach, that’s all. I’m so sorry. I feel a lot better, though.” That’s mostly a lie. The room is still spinning, but I don’t feel nauseous any longer. That poor fountain.

“Emi.” Amelia’s motherly voice fills the room. “I know that this is a trying week for you and for Jack. But I would hope we could set all this aside and focus on Hannah and your brother Evan and make this as perfect as possible.” She takes my hand in hers. “I love you like my own daughter, Emi, and while I don’t know the exact truth over what happened between you and my son, I do know that he is still heartbroken over it to this day.”

“But he’s engaged to Greta,” I say, wondering what she meant by ‘exact truth’.

“Greta was there when Jack needed someone, but let’s face it, his heart is still with you. So, please use compassion when dealing with this tricky and emotional situation that we have ahead of us.” Her hand patting my own tells me her speech is done, and she suddenly stands and walks towards the door. “Stay in here if you like, but I do hope you’ll rejoin the party soon.” The door clicks closed and Lily and I are left alone.

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