“What was that about?” Derrick asked.
“Oh, I just remembered something I wanted to tell Madison.” I pointed at Jade. “So this is what, her seventh trip around in that thing?”
“Yes. And I’ve told her I’m getting seasick just watching her. We need to go find something else after this.” Then he turned and gave me an ornery look. “What did you have to step away for? Were you talking about boys?”
“I don’t date boys,” I said, flipping my hair defiantly. “Just men.”
“I’ll believe that you make time in that schedule for dating when I see it.” He made a face at me. “You’re almost as bad as my mother when it comes to your schedule.”
I gave him a wry smile. Someone else. Definitely someone else.
17
Jade
Derrick
Igroaned and leaned back on the stairs with my elbows. “Mom, Sunday school starts at nine-thirty. It is now nine twenty-five.” Just yesterday, I’d made fun of Jessie for being able to sleep in on Sundays, and now I couldn’t seem to drag my family out if my life had depended on it. I might as well have been the one to sleep in.
My mom popped her head out of her room and scowled down the stairs as she fastened an earring on. “You could have given us a little more warning.”
“I told you last night.”
“Yes! Right as your father and I got in from dinner.”
“I’m not the one that made you stay out until eleven. Look, you don’t even have to look formal. Just put on a skirt and shirt and let’s go.”
“You may be twenty-five, but remember who you’re talking to and have a little respect,” she snapped as she went back into her room.
I rolled my eyes, but as I started to make a retort, my phone buzzed. Relief flooded me when Amy’s picture popped up on the screen. Instead of continuing to argue with my mother, I read my fiancée’s text.
Hey, I’m trying to narrow down wedding dates. There’s a new venue, and everything’s going to be booked up soon if we don’t get a day picked. Any days that won’t work for you?
Finally. I’d been waiting for this text since February. And it was now late June.
Jade’s echocardiogram at the beginning of August, I texted back,and I really want to be there for it. Also, that trip to the Grand Canyon I’m taking her on in October will probably be in the first week before the snow hits.
There was a longer pause this time. So I added,
But we can get married before that. You could come with us that way.
An even longer pause. Finally, she replied.
Any other Jade events I should be aware of that might be more important than our wedding day?
I stared at my phone for a long moment before hitting the call button.
“Hi.”
It wasn’t a happyhi.
“Hey, what did you mean by that?” I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “About Jade events.”
“Derrick, I think you know what I mean.”
“Please enlighten me.” I frowned. “Because I really don’t.”
She sighed. “Look, I didn’t want to get into this, but…well, this is the most important day of my life. Our lives. And I just can’t believe you’re putting other things first. Like trips to the Grand Canyon or echocardio-whatevers.”
