“Wow, that’s quick.”
Amy nodded. “Brandon’s teammates are being deployed next month and Brandon wanted them at the wedding, so it was either bring it forward or wait for months.” She grinned. “And we didn’t want to wait.
Faith could understand that. “Are you having a photographer?”
“One of our camp guests, Lee is back in town and he offered to take them.” Amy went over to a basket of envelopes and sorted through them. She handed one to Faith. “Here’s your invitation.”
Faith blinked. She hadn’t expected one. “Thanks. When is it?”
“Next month. Aside from Brandon’s army buddies and Ed, everyone we want to invite is up here.”
“What about your family?”
Amy pursed her lips.
Nuts. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s complicated. I haven’t seen my brother since I was fifteen, but it turns out he’s one of Brandon’s teammates.”
Awkward. “And you don’t want him here?”
Amy sighed. “I don’t want to visit those emotions around my wedding.” She tapped her pen. “He was supposed to come this month but cancelled. I shouldn’t be surprised. He probably won’t even make it to the wedding.” She sounded defeated.
“What makes you say that?”
“Do you have a good relationship with your family?”
Faith thought about it. “I was an oops baby,” she said. “Both my brothers are over ten years older than me, so they’d moved out of home when I was young and I don’t have a close relationship with them.” She considered her parents. “My father is like a bower bird, always after the shiny new thing, and we moved from town to town as he bought business after business which would make him rich. That meant my parents were the only constant in my life, and after Mum’s stroke we’ve grown closer.” Faith took the biscuit Amy offered.
“I get that,” Amy said. “My brother followed my father into the army as soon as he was old enough.” She played with her pen. “Then Mum became addicted to painkillers and overdosed when my father was overseas. Arthur stayed less than a week, even though I was only fifteen. I packed my things and left and haven’t heard from them since.”
How horrible. Faith covered Amy’s hand. “It must have been difficult for you.”
Amy nodded. “I want to talk to Arthur, find out why he acted the way he did, but not right before my wedding.”
“I get that,” Faith told her. “Perhaps start with an email, see if you get any response. Or video chat before the wedding, so it’s not so confronting if he comes.” She didn’t enjoy seeing this normally cheerful woman so sad. “He might not know what to say to you. It sounds like he’s the one who did wrong by you.”
“Maybe,” Amy agreed. She changed the subject, and they chatted about things happening in town until Darcy arrived back around nine.
He hung his hat on the hook by the door and leaned over to kiss Faith. “I’ll go wash up.”
He was a little sweaty, but the sight of him made her heart skip a beat. She watched him leave the room.
“Darcy is about the nicest man I know.” Amy grinned. “Aside from Brandon, of course.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Faith was tempted to follow him to help him wash up. She swallowed her smile. When he returned, she asked, “Did you get the fence fixed?”
“Most of it,” he said. “Brandon’s doing the last bit now.” He took a biscuit from the plate Amy offered him. “I have to pick up Lara.”
Faith stood. “I should go anyway. I’ve got a few things to do before my class this afternoon.” She looked down at herself. “I’ll take these clothes home and wash them. Then I can drop them off at Georgie’s.” She hugged Amy. “Thanks for the tea. If you want to chat wedding, or other stuff, call me.”
“I will.”
Darcy walked her to her car and then pulled her into his arms. “I haven’t seen nearly enough of you today.”
How could she resist such comments? She kissed him. “We both have things we need to do,” she said. “Are you free tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “Sofia’s coming out. But I’ll call you later and maybe when she’s gone, we can do something?”
