Page 70 of When Stars Collide
“Are you almost ready?” Elle asked from outside the door. “Candy is already at the clubhouse setting up. I promised Luke I would get over there before she overdoes it.”
I slipped the dress over my head. “Yeah, almost. Why don’t you come in and help me zip up my dress? My short arms are doing me a real disservice right now.” Elle came into the room as I struggled with getting my zipper to move more than halfway up my back.
“Don’t worry, I got your back,” she proclaimed, coming up behind me.
“If you’re going to be breaking out those types of puns the rest of the day, I’m going to have to put in a request for an open bar at your shower.”
She laughed. “Believe me, if an open bar would have been an option, I would have taken it. After opening sexy lingerie in front of my future mother-in-law, I’m going to need a drink or two. I’m just thankful Candy is Candy, because if she would have been anyone else, this would be a very mortifying experience.” She caught sight of my gift to her sitting on the bed. “Speaking of mortifying, should I open your gift here?”
I smirked.
“Oh God, I should. I definitely should open it now.”
We both lunged for the box. Elle made a valiant effort, but I made it there first, clutching it to my chest.
“Mena …”
“See,” I said, carefully shaking it, “it’s not vibrating.” Elle glared at me, crossing her arms in front of her. “Look, you have my word that there is nothing in here that’s going to cause you emotional distress. I’m saving that shit for the wedding.”
*****
“Hi, darling!” Candy greeted Elle with a hug the second we walked through the door of the clubhouse at the Emerald Isle Country Club.
“We came as soon as Luke told us you were here. What can Mena and I do to …” Elle paused, looking around the clubhouse, fully decorated and more than ready to host a bridal shower. “Candy,” Elle admonished her mother-in-law-to-be, “you know you aren’t supposed to be doing anything too strenuous with your back condition.”
“Don’t be silly, I’m not disabled. I just have a herniated disc. Besides, I picked up Violet on the way here. She did most of the heavy lifting.” Candy’s gaze drifted to me. “Mena, it’s been a minute since I’ve seen you.” We shared a cordial embrace. Luke’s mother was just as short as I was, and I’d felt a sort of kinship with her the moment we first met. “How is everything? Elle told me about your medical issues.”
“I’m not going to lie, things could be better. But such is life, right?”
“Your surgery is next week?”
I nodded. “On Thursday.”
“Well, I’ll be thinking about you. I told Elle to keep us posted.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hutchins.”
“It’s Candy, dear.”
“Thank you, Candy. Where is Violet? Is she still here?”
“She’s in the kitchen.”
I nodded. “Excuse me.”
From the unmistakable sound of water running and pans striking a sink basin, I was given a trail of breadcrumbs to follow to the kitchen. On my way, I passed the room where the shower was being held, walking by tables adorned with white tablecloths and orange and yellow floral centerpieces. The decor was understated, but just enough that even the addition of one more flower arrangement would have made it look over-the-top.
Violet’s back was turned away from me when I reached the kitchen, where she was working intently on arranging cupcakes onto a platter. I debated announcing myself, but before I could say anything, she turned around.
“Oh, geez, you startled me.”
“Hey, Violet,” I said, walking into the kitchen. “Do you need any help?”
“Everything is ready in here. The only thing left to do is to carry things out to the banquet table.” She stopped what she was doing, puzzled. “Wait a minute, did you just call me Violet?”
“Yeah, I mean, it’s the least I could do, considering … Listen, I-I’m not good at being sentimental, so …” I don’t know what happened to me in that moment, but it felt like everything I’d been through over the last few months was falling down on me. Every emotion I’d suppressed with the flimsy levee I’d constructed was furiously breaking through. And before I could stop myself I, Mena Straszewski, initiated an actual hug. “Thank you,” I said to a stunned Violet. “If you hadn’t said anything to me and I hadn’t gotten that mole removed when I did, who knows what my future would have looked like—or if I would even have had a future.” While my arms were still around Violet, I caught sight of Elle standing in the doorway, her mouth agape. “Don’t get any ideas,” I called out to her, “you’re not joining this party.” I let Violet go, rubbing away the tears from the corners of my eyes.
“I’m just glad you got checked. You really have yourself to thank for following up. Oftentimes people will just wave off the concerns of others, thinking they know best.”
