Page 72 of The Fiancée Farce
Gemma scrubbed a hand over her face. “Um, well, see—”
“Lord.” Mom huffed again. “Really, Gemma? I get to find out you’re engaged via an announcement in theSeattle Tribune?”
“In my defense, I had no idea there was going to be an announcement.” She could probably thank Tansy’s stepmother for that. Or Bitsie. “I was going to tell you, promise.”
Eventually. Probably when the article they’d just been interviewed for was printed. Why worry today about what she could put off till tomorrow?
... until tomorrow bit her in the ass.
“I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone. I’m guessing that’s somethingelseyou forgot to tell me?”
Gemma cringed harder. “It’s a long story.”
“Baby girl, the only thing I’vegotis time.”
Brooks was watching her, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
Here went nothing.
Gemma gave the SparkNotes version to Mom and, since he was in the room, Brooks, too.
“Huh,” Mom said, after a moment’s pause. “I’m only going to ask this once, but are you sure about this, baby? Getting married is serious business.”
“I’m sure.”
“Well, then, when’s the wedding?”
“Haven’t set a date yet. But soon. Obviously.”
“I want to be there.”
Her mother in the same room as the Van Dalens? AsVictor? Over her dead body. “No way.”
“Gemma, if you think I’m not going to meet the woman you plan to marry, you’ve got another think coming, missy.”
“It’s not—” Real? No, that wasn’t right. Gemma wouldn’t currently have a hankering for tequila and ice cream and movies full of kissing she could live vicariously through if it wasn’t real. “It’s just a wedding, Mom. It’s not a big deal.”
A hassle and a headache and she’d skip it if she weren’t one of the two people who actually had to be there. Three, if she counted the officiant.Five, counting the witnesses.
“Not a big deal?It’syourwedding. Of course it’s a big deal to me.”
She gritted her teeth. “Fine.We’ll discuss the details later.”
“And I want Tansy’s phone number.”
“That’s not—”
“Gemma.”
Her eyes shut. “She’s—she’ssweet, Mom. Okay? Tansy doesn’t need the third degree, I promise.”
She’d already gotten it from the Van Dalens. Hell, she’d gotten it from Gemma. Tansy deserved a reprieve.
“Sweet, huh?” Mom sounded amused. “Sounds a little like you might be sweet on her.”
Her face burned. “Mom.”
“I love you, baby,” Mom cooed. “My break’s about to end, but we’ll talk soon. Text me Tansy’s number, you hear?”
