Page 12 of Never Really Mine
“Nope,” she says, popping the p. “I know Beau stayed back to help you get things organized, and I also know that he was glued to your side all night and was giving you moon eyes.”
I clasp my arm, brushing the slightly raised skin of my “Dead Sea” tattoo. “Fine. But I’m okay now, and this day is not about me, so I will tell you, and then we drop it, ‘kay?”
Josie nods. She sits down onto the couch next to me. “I… I think he was going to kiss me last night.”
Her eyes widen, mouth gaping open, but she doesn’t speak.
“I stopped him before he did, but… yeah. Oh, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend, and hasn’t for six months.” I take a deep breath. “That’s all I’m going to say. When you get back from your honeymoon, we can analyze it, and every word and touch.”
I can tell she’s about to burst, trying to hold in whatever emotion is bubbling to the surface. “Can I ask oneteensytiny question?”
“Fine, but consider it a second wedding gift,” I tease, shoving her shoulder gently.
“Why didn’t he tell anyone he wasn’t dating her? He made it seem like they’d been together this whole time.” Josie’s voice drops low, tone confused.
“I really don’t know. I keep asking myself that same question.” I shift my attention back to her. This isherday. “Enough about me.” I stand up from the couch, feeling like a slight weight has been taken off my chest with just a short conversation. “Ready to get into your dress?”
I gesture to the dress bag hanging from the wall, and Josie blushes a deep pink. “Yeah. Can you get the photographer, and my mom and sister?”
“You got it,” I say. I slide out of the room, heading back to the small sitting room where everyone else is. Megan sits at the small table, coloring with Lennie, while my mom fusses over a piece of Nikki’s hair. Lori and Jess sit on the couch, Lori’s hand on Jess’s belly, feeling the baby kick.
The wedding planner, Fallon, knocks on the door right as I’m about to grab Lori and Jess. She glides in, the picture of effortless beauty. Her blonde hair hangs in long waves down her back, half of it pulled up off her face. She wears a deep maroon top tucked into a pair of high-waisted dress pants that cuff at the ankle, showing off her shiny black heels. She has thick curves accentuated with the top that fits her perfectly.
Behind her is her daughter, Presley. She’s about six if I remember correctly. Her sandy blonde hair is in one long braid down her back, and she wears a sage green cotton dress that buttons down the front and has pockets on the side.
“How’s the bridal party?” Fallon asks.
I offer a quick thumbs up. “Great. I was just grabbing the mother of the bride and sister. She’s ready to put on her dress.”
“Perfect, we are right on time then!” Fallon pushes a hair that has fallen in her face off and looks back at Presley. “Sweetie, do you want to ask Lennie?”
Lennie perks up at the mention of her name, kicking her feet under the table. “Hi, Presley,” she calls. One thing about Lennie is that she will always make a friend wherever she goes. Probably something she gets from Jason. While a bit of a grump, he’s always known how to talk to people. Fitting for a brewery owner to be good with people.
“Lennie, I brought a coloring page for you,” Presley says, her small voice gaining confidence with each word. “Do you want it? It has a princess with pretty flowers on her dress, and a frog that she has to kiss.” Her mouth forms a grimace as she mentions the frog.
“Can you color it with me?” Lennie asks. She glances around the room until she meets Nikki’s eyes, searching for her approval.
Nikki smiles. “If it’s okay with Presley’s mom, then it’s just fine with me.”
Fallon looks down at Presley and grins, giving her the go ahead. Presley rushes over to the table and Megan stands, moving out of the way to give Presley her seat. She steps over to Fallon and hugs her tightly.
Fallon and Megan are friends from college. Fallon was the maid of honor in Megan’s wedding where Josie and Andrew met. It’s weird how small of a world it is.
I guess she moved here shortly after her ex-husband up and left without a trace. It’s like he vanished out of thin air, only sending her signed divorce papers with no return address, but rather a note to drop off at a specific lawyer’s office.
As far as I know, she hasn’t heard from him since. She was living with her mom for a while, but was able to move out whenshe got the job as the wedding and event planner for Meadow Grove Winery.
Lennie shrieks with delight as she sees the coloring sheet, her cheeks turning a rosy hue. I notice Fallon and Megan talking in hushed tones. Fallon’s brows are pinched together like she’s distressed. I don’t want to pry, but I also don’t want anything to go wrong today. I gesture for Lori and Jess to head to the dressing room while I step over to Fallon and Megan.
“Hey, everything okay?” I ask.
Fallon sniffs, turning her face away from Presley’s point of view. “Oh yeah, just… life. I know it’s so unprofessional to bring Presley with me, but my mom has a stomach bug, and my backup babysitter has a volleyball tournament. And… well, anyone else I feel comfortable leaving her with is here. So, I’m low on options. Isaac is probably going to fire me for being so unprofessional,” she babbles, her pitch growing higher with each word.
I reach out, clasping her arm. “You have nothing to worry about. We get it. And you know Josie and Andrew won’t mind. And, if Isaac fires you, I'm pretty sure this one,” I jerk a thumb in Megan’s direction, “will divorce him.”
Megan laughs. “She’s right, you know.”
Fallon solemnly nods, then stands up a little straighter, taking a deep breath. “Alright, no more of that. I’ve got shit to do. Can I leave her with you for a bit? Or… ” she drags, furrowing her brow as she thinks.
