Carly swallowed. “I’m at the airport. I’m going home.”
“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Edward and Marlene?”
“No, they’re fine. Listen, I’m sorry I wasn’t there last night. I screwed everything up.”
“What are you talking about? Are you okay?” Heather asked again, frowning and leaning closer to the screen to look at Carly’s face.
Carly’s eyes started to water. “No, I’m not. I messed everything up. I ruined your cake, and I wasn’t there for the toast, and Catherine’s going to fire me, and I’m so, so sorry, Heather.”
“What are you talking ab—”
“And now I’m making it your problem again instead of figuring it out for myself, and I’m just … I’m so sorry. I screwed up again,” she sobbed loudly. In her peripheral vision, she saw someone stop walking and stare at her. So much for Sydney Airport not witnessing the Carly Montgomery Traveling Shitshow.
“Honey, stop. Take a deep breath,” Heather said. Carly obeyed, breathing through her mouth because her nose was too clogged. “Okay. One thing at a time. What happened with Catherine?”
“The plan didn’t work. The photos I took with—” She couldn’t even say his name. “The photos we took in Sydney, they didn’t work. Catherine told me she’s not promoting me, and she’s going to fire me instead.”
“What makes you think that?”
“It doesn’t matter, I’m just … I’m so sorry I wasn’t there, Heather.”
Heather sighed and leaned back on the pillow behind her. “I am too, hon. I missed you all night, and it sucked.” Guilt swirled so violently in Carly’s stomach she wondered if she was going to throw up.
“But,” Heather went on, “I know how badly you wanted to be there, which means something really awful must have happened to make you leave. Did you get sick? Did something happen with Nick?”
“I don’t want to talk about … about him. He’s not important. I’m so sorry, Heather. I hate that I didn’t show up for you. I hate that I’m always asking you to help me and save me and pull me out of trouble.”
Heather frowned. “What are you talking about? You’re the one who helpsme.”
“No, I’m not, I’m—”
“You’re the one who flew over here and ran errands for three weeks straight,” Heather interrupted stubbornly. “You’re the one who helped me see the truth about Jack. You helped me get to Sydney, and you helped me get Marcus back when I thought I’d lost him forever. You’re the reason I woke up married this morning!”
Carly sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. Her tiny image in the corner of the screen looked completely pathetic. But she wanted to believe what Heather was saying.
“I just feel like such a fuckup. I ruined your wedding, I ruined my chance at a promotion, I’m just … I’m nowhere.”
“Carly, listen to me. You’re not a fuckup. You’ve spent over ten years dancing in one of the most prestigious companies in the world, for God’s sake. Okay, so you won’t retire as a principal dancer, but you’re still exceptional. This isn’t all or nothing. Ballet makes you feel like life is all or nothing, like you’re perfect or you’re worthless, but let me tell you, when I was in New York I had it all, and it all came to nothing. You’re talented, and tenacious, and you’re going to figure out what comes next. I know you feel like you’re nowhere right now, but you’re going to be okay, I promise.”
Carly felt hot tears running down her cheeks and didn’t bother to wipe them away. She was so tired of feeling like she wasn’t enough. For Catherine, for the men she dated, for herself. But Heather was telling her that she was enough for her, even after she’d screwed up so completely.
“I should have been there,” she said quietly.
“Yes, you should have,” Heather replied. “Next time I get married, I expect you to stay for the whole night.”
Carly managed a small smile, but relief was a cold drink on a hot day. She hadn’t ruined everything. She hadn’t ruined the most important thing.
“If I thought that was ever going to happen, I’d promise to be there,” she said. “But I know you and Marcus are forever.”
Heather sniffed. “So are we. You and me. And at least you ran out before you could tell any embarrassing stories about me.”
Carly’s smile became a grin. “I did, didn’t I? But that doesn’t mean I can’t tell them now.”
“No, don’t,” Heather objected, but Carly was already pulling up the notes app on her phone.
“Come on, if I’m the world’s best maid of honor, I need to give the world’s best maid of honor toast,” she said, and Heather responded with a watery laugh. “Aren’t you a little curious to know which embarrassing story I picked?”
“Kind of,” Heather admitted.
