FIVE
THE MORNING BEFORE THE DAY AFTER
EMILY
August 17th
“Your family’s outside,” Fang said the morning of Wedding Eve.He staggered past us bearing two wheelie suitcases, with two more stuffed under his arms.“Hullo, Holly.Is there a reason your wife is hiding in the back of your car?”
“She’s talking to her mom,” Holly said as I released her from a mammoth hug.“Her therapist told her to only do so when she can get into a fetal position.”
Fang paused on the way to the short polished oak bar that served as a registration desk.We both looked at Holly.
“It’s kind of a long story,” she said with a wry smile.“And one not really suitable for mixed company.”
“Ah,” was all Fang said before dropping the luggage, and, with a twitch of his lips that indicated he was highly amused, returned to the small parking area outside the hotel.
Holly beamed at me as she held me at arm’s length.“You both look happy and healthy and almost, but not quite, as much in love as Marla and me.Oh, Em—I’m so happy to be here.”
I gave her another hug, one arm around her as we turned to face the group of people entering the lobby.“As if I could get married without you here to see?Mom, really, how much luggage did you bring?”
My mother bustled forward dragging another wheeled suitcase, followed immediately by my aunt Kathie, teen cousin Clara, and Iain and Fang.
“This one’s empty.It’s for the things we’ll pick up and ship home.Oh, hello.Yes, I’m Mrs.Williams.Your hotel is just darling!No wonder Emily and Fang love it here.Do you need my passport?”
“Emily, my dear, you are positively radiant!”Aunt Kathie told me.“Holly, it’s lovely to see you again.Is that your wife in the boot of your car?She appeared to be doing some Zen meditation thing.We thought it best to let her be.”
“Oh dear.If her mom drove her into meditating—” Holly hurried off to check on her wife of almost ten years.
“Is something wrong?”Kathie asked, glancing back toward the door.“Should I not have mentioned it?”
“Not at all.Marla is kick-ass in every area of life except her mom.She’s a black belt, you know.Marla, not her mom.”
“The woman in the car?Isn’t she a shearer?”Iain had limped over to where we stood, Fang obviously having wrestled away from him their luggage.“Emily, love, you look radiant.”
“I already said that,” Kathie said, grinning at him.
