“She was angry with Anthony about Chrissie?”
“Yes. The day after the wedding, as they were preparing to go on the honeymoon, she told Anthony she was going alone and that he’d better figure out how to make it up to her.”
“Make what up?”
“The deceit. He didn’t tell her he’d slept with Clara.”
“Chrissie.”
“Whatever.”
“That was months ago. Is she still angry with him?”
“Oh yeah.” Uncle Chuck leans back in his seat. “Separate bedrooms.”
“Wow.” I mean, I remember thinking it was odd she wasn’t upset with Anthony over that whole thing at the time. She must’ve been running on adrenaline and the knowledge she couldn’t call off the wedding at that point. I feel sorry for her, sort of. She was dealing with a lot more than she let on. Too bad she didn’t feel like she could confide in her cousin. Me.
“Are they getting counseling?”
“Not that I know of. Your aunt knows more than I do. She’s over there right now trying to help.” My uncle runs his hand over his balding head. “I try to tune it out because all I want to do is go over to their place and punch Anthony’s lights out.”
“Has he apologized? Given an explanation?”
Uncle Chuck rolls his eyes. “He says he doesn’t remember sleeping with Clara. He claims he had no recollection of even meeting the girl.”
“It’s Chrissie.” Oh boy, that stings. For Chrissie. I have to think about this. How could he not remember? “Was he drunk or something?”
“Apparently. They met at some New Year’s Eve party.”
“Ah.” I nod like I get it when, in fact, I understand absolutely nothing. Well, I know that would be embarrassing to have slept with a guy and be forgotten like that, even if booze was involved. “Vicky can’t forgive him?”
“Apparently not.”
“Didn’t it happen five years ago or thereabouts? Before she and Anthony met?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Uncle Chuck nods. “I’ve tried to get that across to her, but you know how stubborn your cousin is.”
One thing is still confusing. “She went to Hawaii alone?”
Uncle Chuck nods slowly. “Ten grand I’ll never get back.”
I nearly choke. “Their honeymoon was ten thousand dollars?”
“Don’t even ask me how much that wedding cost us.” His face has gotten pink. Now red. “Just those fucking dance classes alone were five grand.”
“Oh. My. God.” I giggle. I can’t help it. He frowns. I quickly apologize. “I’m sorry.” I raise my hand, gesturing wildly. “I’m not laughing at the money, Uncle Chuck, just the fact those dance classes were horrible.”
“Tell me about it. You saved the day, though, didn’t you, Mattie?”
With myself now under control, no more tears, I ask, “How do you mean?”
“You taught the oldest brother how to dance.”
Nodding, I admit, “I helped him, yes.”
“That was very sweet of you. He couldn’t have been easy to work with, huh? The man scowled the entire week.”
I snort, then laugh. “He was pretty grumpy.” But I still like him. Probably too much.
