Andy wedged between us, and my reaction was involuntary. My hands landed on her hips and into those devious pockets, my lips coasting against the exposed nape of her neck as I ducked to her ear.
“Do you remember that weekend?” I whispered. “Twenty-one inches of snow,Order of the PhoenixandThe Half-Blood Prince?” My hand traveled over her bare shoulders. “And this.”
To her credit, Erin locked her eyes on the photographer and stifled a knowing giggle. Whether she was laughing at my desperate attempts at Andy’s forgiveness, or me watchingHarry Pottermovies, I wasn’t about to inquire.
“I’m here for Lauren. And Matt. It’s their day, and I can’t do this with you right now, Patrick.”
I pressed my hand to the small of her back and kept the other against her hip from the comfort of her pocket. Other than a slight inhale, she allowed no recognition she possessed all of me.
*
“You know, it’sfunny,” Sam said, hitching his elbow on my shoulder as we stood at the edge of the tent. Matt and Lauren swayed together in the middle of the empty dance floor. Most of the crowd cleared out around eleven, the stragglers stayed until midnight, and now only family remained. “Everyone’s spent the past few months worrying over my mental health, expecting a Hiroshima-level explosion, but it’s been you all along.”
“Hilarious.” I rolled my eyes and sipped my beer, the swirling skirt of Andy’s dress drawing my attention to the other side of the tent. She was with Erin and Thor, ahem, Wes, and they were embroiled in an animated conversation that appeared to require repeatedly refilling shot glasses. What were the odds it was peppermint schnapps?
“Write the caption for that.” Pointing with his beer bottle, Sam chuckled. “A preservation architect, a volcanologist, and a Navy SEAL get drunk at a wedding. I’m putting fifty bucks on them staging a coup to seize control of Naples, and devising a plan to rehab and restore Pompeii before sunrise. Hundred bucks says they get it LEED certified.”
He jutted his chin toward the bar. Red-faced, Shannon yelled and wagged her finger at Will while he laughed. Captain America had more balls than sense. Sam narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck is all that about?”
“It’s the price of keeping Matt from taking a long walk off a short pier,” I said. “We will owe her in ways we cannot begin to imagine.”
“Fuck,” he sighed. “At least the good doctor didn’t need to sedate them into next Thursday.”
Rooted on the tent’s sidelines with the surf crashing a few feet behind us, we observed our people: Nick and Riley debating the quality of the Red Sox dugout; the hostile takeover of southern Italy by Erin, Andy, and Wes; Shannon and Will squabbling like political pundits; and Matt and Lauren whispering to each other, oblivious to the world around them. Our ranks were growing and celebration was in order, but it wasn’t how I imagined this night.
From across the tent, Andy glanced over her shoulder and our eyes met. Our connection used to be so rare, so potent, but now dark awkwardness filled the space between us. My stomach slammed into my throat, and I shifted my eyes to the dance floor, forfeiting.
Following my line of sight, Sam produced my phone, holding it just beyond my reach. “Do not interpret this as permission to make unwise decisions.”
I grumbled in response and went breadcrumb hunting. The lack of texts from Andy didn’t discourage me. She needed me to go to her. She always did. Her Instagram featured new photos from inside the inn, the Chatham Lighthouse, and Chatham Inner Harbor. Facebook offered a handful of random likes, including Lauren’s status, ‘this girl’s getting hitched today!’ and Shannon’s ‘wedding day!!!! (keep your knickers on, not my wedding).’
It wasn’t much. I didn’t expect Taylor Swift lyrics in her status, but some evidence she was experiencing a fraction of my hysteria would have been nice. How long could I keep this up? It wasn’t possible to live in this state of desperation for more than a week or two. My liver wouldn’t survive this level of abuse for much longer.
Matt and Lauren strolled toward us, and he caught Sam in a hug before turning to me. “Your efforts at keeping my husband alive and unharmed are appreciated,” Lauren said, her hand on Matt’s chest. She smiled at him, and mouthed, “Myhusband.”
“We’ll see you in a couple hours, at the brunch,” Sam said.
“No promises mywifeand I will be there,” Matt muttered, his lips meeting Lauren’s.
Gifting Matt with a fond smile, she stepped out of his arms and motioned for me to walk with her toward the inn. “It’s time to fix it. I know she wants you to. Whatever it takes. Throw her over your shoulder and tie her up if that’s what it takes for you to get her listening, but don’t let another day go by without fixing it.”
“I tried!” I shouted, my arms spread wide. “I’ve tried everything. I don’t know what else to do! I wrote her a letter to tell her that we’d make it work, and I tried to talk to her during the pictures today, and every day this week and…nothing.”
“Try again.” Lauren rubbed my arm. “Don’t let her think you’re giving up. She’s expecting that. She’s used to people walking away from her, abandoning her, and she’s used to protecting herself because no one else ever has.”
Matt wrapped his arms around Lauren’s waist, announcing, “I’m taking you to bed, Mrs. Walsh.”
“That sounds splendid, but I never agreed to change my name.”
Matt laughed against Lauren’s neck. “You don’t have to, sweetness, but don’t think I’ll stop saying it.” He smiled at me. “Whatever mywifetold you to do, do it.”
They walked toward their cottage on the far end of the beach, and I absently waved as my siblings took their cues and relocated the party to Sam’s cottage.
Time ambled by while I sat in the sand and watched the waves as they met the shore. They never stopped. Some waves pounded the sand with force and fury, leaving trails of broken shells and seaweed in their wakes. Others merely lapped the shoreline. But they never stopped.
Forever intertwined and necessary for each other in ways only they knew.
A wave curled across the shoreline as it broke and I turned my head to watch its path, and there she was. No more than five feet away, Andy stood with her shoes hanging from two fingers. I blinked, stunned and speechless, and she nodded with an uneven smile.
