Britney gave a sigh.
“Wash those hands any longer and they will start to wrinkle,” the woman beside her smiled.
“I’m trying to delay the inevitable,” Britney gave a wry smile in return, before shutting off the faucet and reaching for a soft towel. “One of the Rameslys and I aren’t getting along too well right now.”
“Oh?” she gently pried, waiting for Britney to explain further.
“I might be to blame. I have a bad habit of opening my mouth and inserting my foot. He always brings out the worst in me somehow,” grimaced Britney. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know you and here I am being indiscreet again.”
“Holly Urshman,” Holly extended a hand. “I came with Molson Colborne.”
“Ah, the Colbornes,” Britney acknowledged the connection to the Rameslys. “What are they like?”
“Impossible at times but much softer than they try to appear,” Bethany Searson came out of a stall and joined them at the counter. “Hello Britney, it’s good to see you again.”
“Mother told me you were going out with the older Colborne,” said Britney as she eyed Bethany. She looked happier than Britney had ever seen her before.
“I’m engaged to him,” Bethany gave her a smile as she finished washing her hands. “We’re working on wedding plans.”
“Congratulations,” Britney tried not to feel jealous. She was happy for Bethany. Everyone deserved their hearts desire and it was obvious Bethany was pleased to be getting married. She just wished it was herself announcing an engagement. Suddenly there was so little time in her life for two of the biggest milestones a woman could experience.
“It was nice to meet you,” Holly checked her watch. “We should be getting seated. It’s almost time.”
“Good to meet you as well,” Britney’s mother’s drills on good manners made her say. She followed them out into the hallway, then watched in curiosity as they were seated with two handsome men inside the chapel.
Not as handsome as Gabe, but still handsome enough she supposed. The affection between the brothers and their girlfriends was easy enough to see as Bethany latched on to the arm of the older one and the younger brother put an arm around Holly’s shoulders, whispering something in her ear.
Britney looked around, spotting her mother. Naomi Crawford had saved a seat for Britney. Erwin Crawford, Britney’s father wasn’t in attendance. Right now, he was sitting in prison with the FBI grilling him for harboring a known felon. Daddy had given sanctuary to David Ramesly while David was on the run, trying to escape charges of drug smuggling and money laundering. Daddy had even gone so far as to try to drive David to a private airport to help him evade capture by the authorities. Daddy’s loyalty to the man who made his lifestyle possible knew no bounds. The two men had made countless business deals over the decades. Now Erwin was facing the very real possibility of spending some time in prison for his aiding David.
Britney had mixed emotions over the whole thing. She could admire Daddy’s loyalty, however he had been breaking the law. It made her wonder just how involved he really was in the whole Ramesly scandal. She had tried to voice her concerns to her mother multiple times but had been shut out. Naomi refused to discuss the matter, saying it was men’s business and Erwin was taking care of it.
Cuz Daddy did so well at taking care of things lately, Britney thought with some sarcasm. Afterall, he was the one in prison awaiting trial and it was Britney footing her mother’s bills since Daddy’s bank accounts were frozen by the FBI.
“Benjamin Ramesly has gained more weight,” tutted Naomi, her lips pursing in disapproval as she watched the men walk past. “Is Henry’s suit even ironed? It is a poor job of it if it even was. He looks far too thin next to Ben. They’ve got the order mixed up, I thought it was Henry, Nate, Gerrit, Addison and then Ben.”
Britney bit the inside of her cheek. Did she really sound like her mother when she spoke? Gabe had once accused her of being critical and rude like Naomi. Or maybe it just happened when she was around Gabe. For some reason, she could never be normal around him. She wasn’t much of a people person to begin with, but she wasn’t as bad as she was around Gabe. Tamping down her feelings of inadequacy, Britney opened her program, staring at the pages as the last of the family was seated.
Gabriel Winston Ramesly. Britney tried to ignore the familiar words. She had written them countless times with hearts connected to her own Britney Helena Crawford. Annoyed with herself, she flipped the page only to be distracted by her mother’s gasp of astonishment which was joined by many others in the congregation.
“What happened?” whispered Britney as she jerked her head up to see someone flag down the funeral director and some of the Ramesly men go forward to one of the benches.
“James Ramesly just collapsed,” reported Naomi as she stood for a better view.
Britney blinked in surprise. She hadn’t realized Gabe’s father would be in attendance at Nate’s funeral. All of Gabe’s uncles were currently in prison, each charged with his part in David Ramesly’s schemes. Had James not participated in his brothers’ illegal activities?
Her heart in her throat, she came to her feet like many others, to try to better see what was going on. While the rest of the people might be looking to see how James was, Britney only had eyes for a worried Gabe.
