Grabbing her phone, she opened her texting app, grateful she’d remembered to get his number the night before. It was early, but he likely kept his device on silent while he slept.
Helia:How’d you sleep?
To her surprise, the dots immediately started glowing.
Collin:Fine, what are you doing up? Your mom said she and your dad are covering the ceremony and lunch and you’re not taking over until the reception
Helia:When did you talk to my mom?
Collin:When I got here ten minutes ago
She bolted up.
Helia:You’re here?
Why would he be at Sundaram at just after five in the morning?
Collin:Yeah, helping your mom and dad with a few last-minute things. I don’t know shoot about weddings, but I can carry things
Collin:*shit* about weddings…giving autocorrect
Collin:*fucking* autocorrect
She laughed.
Collin:Or maybe it’s my fat thumbs
Her mind flashed to his hands. There was absolutely nothing wrong with his hands.
Helia:I’ll be out in ten
Hopping out of bed, she pulled her hair into a bun as she darted to the shower. Ten minutes later, she emerged from her water tower, showered, dressed, and ready for the day.
It didn’t take her long to spot Collin crossing the courtyard carrying six chairs. He slowed when he saw her, lifted his head, then continued toward the ceremony location.
“The bride emailed last night. Some extended family from Vancouver decided to surprise her. They flew down yesterday, and now we have twenty additional guests,” her mom said, joining her. “Collin appeared about twenty minutes ago and offered to help. It’s nice to have the muscle. And it’s nice muscle, too.”
“Mom!” Helia said over a laugh, hip-bumping her mother.
“You going to tell me it’s not? He was a good-looking boy. He’s grown into his looks even more as a man.” She paused as he exited the ceremony location on his way back for more chairs. He glanced their way but kept walking. “And thoughtful, too. Hard to believe he’s lived so close all these years.”
And never came to visitwas left unsaid. Helia recognized the pang lancing through her at her mom’s words. Hurt. It hurt that he’d been so close and hadn’t ever dropped by or called or even sent an email. Her email address hadn’t changed since he left; he could have found her.
But she didn’t want to go there. Maybe someday, he’d tell her why he’d stayed away. Or maybe not. For now, though, he was here. And he didn’t seem like a man who needed to run anymore. Nor was she a woman who’d let him. She’d missed him too much to do that again. Now that she had his phone number, she had no intention of letting him slide into the shadows of her life a second time.
“What needs to get done?” she asked, turning to her mom. “I know you and Dad have this covered, but I’m up.”
Her mom rolled her eyes. “You’re always up.”
“What can I say, I’m a spry chicken, mama hen. Now put me to work.”
And to work she went. For the next hour, they touched up flowers, finalized the seating, made sure Akin was set, prepped the lunch buffet table, and checked waste bins and bathrooms.
When the families began arriving, she dragged Collin to her home to feed them both. They were halfway through their egg-and-sausage sandwiches, and well into their second cups of coffee, when someone knocked at her door.
“You expecting someone at”—Collin looked at his watch—“seven forty-five in the morning?”
She shook her head but pushed back from the table. Crossing the room, she opened the door to find Jess and Carter on the other side.
