Page 126 of Someone to Remember
“I’m okay but seething with outrage that it was necessary to go to war.”
“Right there with you, friend. How’s Angela doing?”
“Better than I’d be if I were her,” Roni says.
“And Brad?”
“It’s been tough. Apparently, he has a sister-in-law who ‘can’t believe he’s already dating again’ and hasn’t held back with him in person and online.”
“Someone needs to bitch-slap her.”
“No kidding. And poor Sam is out of her mind that it’s happening in the first place.”
I shake my head with disappointment in people. “No good deed goes unpunished.”
“I said that to her yesterday. The GoFundMe was such a huge success, but now they’re paying the price for all the exposure it gave to Angela and her story—and Brad’s by extension.”
“It’s revolting. The whole thing. They did nothing wrong, and I hope the uproar won’t be a setback for them.”
“We’re trying to keep that from happening by fighting back against the haters, but it’s an uphill battle,” Roni says with a sigh.
“And Mary Alice’s sister… Ugh.”
“It’s probably her grief for her sister talking, but she really needs to shut up.”
“Seriously.”
“Anyway…” Roni makes a visible attempt to rally. “Enough about all of that. Today is about happy, joyful things and two people who deserve everything wonderful.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do, and everyone else agrees. You deserve the best of everything, and we can’t wait to celebrate you guys. Your victory is one for all of us.”
“Thank you for being by my side today and always.”
“Love you both so much.”
“Likewise.”
Gage
Tyler is bouncingoff the walls with excitement as Derek and I try to keep him contained for another few minutes. My dad and brother have gone to join my mother, sister-in-law and the other extended family members who’ve come from all over to be with me today.
“How soon until I walk Mommy down the aisle?” Tyler asks for the hundredth time in the last hour.
“Ten more minutes,” I tell him.
“He’s not going to make it,” Derek says with a laugh.
Thankfully, the club’s wedding coordinator comes a few minutes later to collect Tyler seconds before he spontaneously combusts.
“See you out there, hotshot,” I tell him as I adjust his bow tie and straighten his hair one last time. “Love you.”
He throws himself at me in a spontaneous hug. “I love you, too. Thanks for marrying us. We’re a lot.”
I laugh. “You’re just right. Take good care of your mommy for me.”
“I will.”
