“Bridgette and Monica wanted to be here, but Aaron is getting married,” Melinda told them as she looked down at her watch. “Right about now, I think. They’re in New York this week.”
“She told me. That’s great,” Dana said about Monica’s son, Aaron.
She and Bridgette were married but weren’t having kids. Bridgette already considered Aaron to be her stepson, and he was technically Monica’s stepson, too, from a previous relationship, and that was enough for both of them.
Dana wasn’t sure if she and Samara would have kids one day. They’d talked about it, obviously, but they hadn’t landed on any firm plans. She wanted them, and she knew Samara did, too, but right now, all Dana cared about was being with the woman she loved and doing the things she loved to do. The whole marriage and kids thing would happen later.
“We’re going to sit behind you. Is that okay?”
Dana turned to see Rory and Logan behind them.
“Yeah, sure,” she said. “How are you two?”
“Good,” Rory said. “Viv and Jodie wanted to be here, but they couldn’t get away.”
“That’s okay. I appreciate it,” Dana said.
Viv had been Caroline’s roommate in college, and Jodie was Viv’s girlfriend and Caroline’s best friend. Dana had met them both in passing when they’d been on their way out of the city, moving to Kansas City for a teaching job for Viv. She’d told Rory to invite them tonight, but she hadn’t really expected them to be here. They barely knew each other.
“I can’t believe it’s time,” Bryce said as she walked over to their row, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Me neither,” Sophie added. “I’m going to go sit down with Sean and Kelly. You make the rounds and stuff.”
Sophie kissed Bryce’s cheek and walked off.
“Who’s Kelly?” Samara asked.
“Oh, Sean’s girlfriend,” Bryce replied. “They’ve been together for a while now. I like her. Kelsey and Megan like her, too, so that’s good.”
“Friend approval is always good,” Dana said.
Then, she looked up and saw an old woman standing in the front row. She wasn’t facing the screen behind her but appeared to be looking at Dana or maybe Samara.
“Hey, who’s that?” Dana asked.
Samara followed her line of sight and replied, “No idea. Why?”
“Who?” Bryce asked, looking that way, too. “Oh. Her?”
“Yeah, the old woman staring at us,” Dana said.
“Oh,there’sa story,” Melinda spoke, laughing a little.
“I invited her,” Bryce replied. “You don’t know her?”
“Me? No. HowwouldI?” Dana asked.
“She didn’t talk to you or Samara right around the time you two got together?” Kyle asked.
“No,” Samara said. “Was she supposed to?”
Dana looked back at the woman who smiled widely at her. Then, she placed her hand over her heart, pointed two fingers at her and Samara, and nodded.
“Um… What the hell was that?” Samara asked.
“I think it just means we’ll all be at your wedding one day,” Bryce replied, laughing a little.
“Wait. What?” Dana asked.
