Page 34 of Snowed In
“Marketing. And she knits,” I add. “She has a store online.”
“Okay.” He sounds amused. “You seem a little defensive.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m sure she’s great.”
“She is.” I do sound defensive. And I don’t know why. “I bumped into her at the pub.”
“Old school. Nice.” He sounds genuinely excited for me. It’s why I almost feel guilty about lying to him. My brother is a happy person. Always has been and probably always will be. Maybe I should have told him first.
“She’s nervous about coming back,” I admit. “She hasn’t been home since the wedding. I think she’s lost touch with everyone.”
He makes a sympathetic noise. “That’s got to be hard. I remember hearing about it. Think Mam spent an hour on the phone telling me all the details.”
Great. “Can you ask Molly to…I don’t know, be her friend or something?” The thought comes out of left field. I don’t know if Megan would even want one or need one, but I like the thought of her having someone not from the village on her side. Especially if everyone else is going to react the way Mam did.
But Andrew sounds doubtful. “I don’t know,” he says slowly. “Molly’s kind of a bitch.”
“I canhearyou!”Molly calls, and Andrew laughs.
“I’m sure she’ll be happy to,” he says. “I will also not be an asshole.”
“I appreciate that.” I might be overpreparing a bit, but I don’t care. I know Megan agreed to this, but it’s still my idea. The last thing I want to do is make it any harder for her.
“Anyway, this is brilliant news,” Andrew continues. “Bet Mam’s delighted.”
“She sounded weird when I told her.”
“She just worries about you. It’ll go great. Besides, I, uh, might have something to help take the heat off you this year.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning…” There’s a soft click as he closes the door on his end. “I need your help with something. And you can’t tell anyone.”
“Pass.”
“You don’t get to pass.”
“Just did. Ask Hannah.”
“Hannah, who’s never kept a secret in her life?”
“Andrew, I’m busy. I don’t have time for whatever—”
“I’m going to propose at Christmas.”
Surprise shoots through me, making me momentarily speechless. “To Molly?”
“No, to my barista. Yes, to Molly.”
“That’s…” Wow. “Huge. Congratulations.”
“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “Thanks.”
“And there I was, thinking you guys were going to wait another ten years.”
“Very funny. Can’t wait to hear that joke a hundred more times.” His voice muffles until it’s a whisper.
