I growled. “Which. Sister.”
“Ruth,” he said, “but I swear?—”
A laugh cracked out of me. “Ruthie? You’re fine. She doesn’t need me to kill you for her. She’ll do it herself.”
“Oh, I know,” he said quietly.
“I have things to do.” I pointed at McKerry. “Keep an eye on Pumpkin Dick. And put yourself together. You’re not going out there with your shirt open. It’s not that kind of party.”
I jogged from the newly converted barn toward the old Victorian where Emme and her girls were getting ready. I found Claudia out on the porch in her navy blue bridesmaiddress, leaning against the railing as she aimed her phone at the surrounding gardens.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” she called.
“And you think that’s going to stop me?” I asked as I climbed the steps. I heard the smooth strains of harp music in the distance. Surprising no one, Ines was a baller harp player.
“I know it won’t.”
I paused at the door, listening for a second as Ines started a familiar Smashing Pumpkins song. “Did something happen with Ruthie last night?”
She snorted. “Definehappen.”
“On second thought, I don’t want to know.” I had to shove everything I knew about Hersberler into a steel trap and out of my head. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’s attached herself to Emme’s mother like moss on a rock and keeping her far away from the stepmother.”
Thank god. Heather had been a headache from the start. Lots of opinions, lots of noise. Nonstop drama. The truly unfathomable part was that Heather believed she was helping. She thought it was necessary to stake claims on Emme like she was a territory to be won. I didn’t understand it and it was tough on my wife, but we managed.
Charles continued to surprise me. Emme had spoken with him a few times since that weekend in Vegas. I appreciated that he’d gone out of his way to put her at ease in their conversations and bit the bullet when it came to awkward topics—like whether he was even invited to this wedding. He’d made it clear he had no expectation of an invite and certainly no hope of walking her down the aisle, but that he’d like to share in our day. I gave him credit for immediately signing over her trust fund and admitting he should’ve done it years ago—because he fucking should’ve. They weren’t close and I didn’t see a route through this mess where they would be, but Emme had started talking to Daniellemore in the last year. It was easier now that Danielle wasn’t trying to rebuild the bridge between father and daughter. I liked that Emme had her in her corner. She needed more people she could count on.
Though the obstacle for this weekend was keeping Heather far, far away from Charles, Danielle, and Emme’s half brothers. They could coexist as long as they didn’t have to make eye contact or cross paths. Ships in the night.
Between my mother and Gramma CeCe, my sisters, Emme’s friends, and all of the O-line boys—and the private security firm running things behind the scenes—we were playing some intense zone defense this weekend.
I glanced back at Claudia. “Do me a favor and stay away from the guys.”
“Are we referring to specific guys? Or all guys?”
That was an excellent question. “You’d be smart to be wary of all of them as a general rule, but for right now, definitely stay away from the players.”
“I’ll take it under advisement.” She flicked a glance toward the Victorian. “Good luck getting past the drill sergeant.”
“Grace?” I laughed when Claudia gave a wary, wide-eyed nod. “I know how to handle Grace.”
“Thoughts and prayers,” she muttered.
I made my way inside, ducking past the hairstylists and makeup artists working on my sisters in the left parlor and one of the photographer’s many assistants moving furniture in the right parlor. I shot a glance at my phone and darted up the stairs, and found Jamie seated on the top step.
“How are we doing?” I asked.
She jerked a shoulder up, but she seemed quiet, not like her usual over-the-top self. “No complaints.” She smoothed a hand down her dress, the same one she’d worn almost a year ago for Grace’s wedding. Again, I didn’t understand anything aboutthese dresses, but I knew better than to get involved. “Grace is in there with her. Audrey went to find some coconut water. She thinks Emme’s dehydrated. Apparently, that’s the best remedy.” Jamie motioned to her cheeks. “She’s a little flushed, but it’s probably just the heat getting to her.”
I swallowed a laugh at that. I didn’t think it was the heat.
“What about you?” I cocked my head and peered at Jamie. She really didn’t seem like herself today. Over the past year, I’d come to know Emme’s friends well. They were extended family to me now. And I knew something was off with Jamie. “Are you doing okay?”
She bobbed her head as she pushed to her feet. “Just tired. I went hard last night.”
I studied her as she smoothed her dark hair over her ears. I would’ve accepted this explanation if not for the fact I knew Jamie had spent the evening dancing with the little kids and sipping club soda with my sister Chloe, who was a few months pregnant and having a tough time of it.
