"Flew out of the water?"
"As flying fish are wont to do."
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. "I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but how does this relate back to Noelle and her on the spot casting you as the town play hero?"
"That's one of a hundred scenarios, some of which I'm not at liberty to talk about, and right now, I'm not sure why I chose that one. But what I'm saying is, I was in freezing cold water with blood running down my face, waiting for the Zodiac to circle back and find me. It wasn't pleasant, and neither was a lot of what I've done over the last ten years. All that to say"—he smiles smugly—"I can handle a small town librarian."
"Ohh you can?" I walk over to the spring wall, adjusting the height to accommodate him. He follows. "Please let me know approximately what time you plan on delivering this news toNoelle. I would like to be there to watch your smug arrogance get squashed by asmall town librarian."
He threads his hands into the straps. "What do you have going on this afternoon? We need to get materials to start fixing your drywall. I'll swing by the library after I pick you up, deliver the news, and then be on my merry way."
"I have my wedding dress fitting until two-thirty. Creative Sewing is down the street from the library, so I'll meet you there."
A shadow passes over Peter's eyes, turning the everyday storm into a typhoon. He blinks it away, leaving me to wonder if I imagined it. "Perfect. I'll give you a lesson in playing hardball with someone, no matter who it is."
I snort. "Please remind me to thank you later for the show you're about to put on telling Noelle you're out. And also the show you'll put on in about one month when you perform in the town play."
"Speaking of shows," Peter says, pressing away from his body with the handles, "isn't your wedding in about one month?"
"A week before the play," I answer, trying not to liken it to a show in my head, though it is.
Peter continues with the exercise. "Have you been running?" he asks. "I go every morning with Slim Jim, but I don't see you."
"I've been using the treadmill here," I answer, motioning over to the machine in the back corner of the space. "Somebody creeped me out about running by myself."
"I'd run with you, if you wanted to run around town."
He looks so earnest, so kind, sowilling.
I could spin it as part of his physical therapy, but that's a stretch. He doesn't need his physical therapist to run.
Yesbalances on the tip of my tongue, but I fold it back.
Peter changes the subject to the progress of the Bellamy house, seeming to sense the answer I should give, and not forcing me to do so.
Chapter 20
Daisy
"Daisy,"my mother breathes my name. Her fingers press at her lips, her eyes wide and filling with tears. "Oh my word." Emotion wobbles her voice.
I spin in a circle, just for her. The seamstress, Colleen, stands back, wearing a proud grin from ear to ear. My mother's caregiver, Bonnie, sits in one of the chairs Colleen brought out. She, too, is smiling.
My mom dabs at her eyes. "Darling girl, that dress was made for you."
"Thank you, Mom." Colleen worked a miracle, taking the outdated puffy sleeves and lengthening them, cutting off the excess and slimming them into something sleek and long-sleeved. She added beading to the bodice, and a train where there wasn't one.
I look beautiful. I feel beautiful.
But it isn't until this moment, wearing my mother's wedding dress, that I also feel like a fraud. It's not like I haven't known this whole time what I was getting myself into, but seeing myself in a finished dress makes it more tangible.
The door to Creative Sewing swings open and Vivi flies in. She's wearing her chef's jacket,Dama Olivaembroidered above her left breast. Her long, thick hair is wound in a braid lying haphazardly over her shoulder.
As if she has been here the whole time, she strides to my mother's side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Our girl is stunning, right?"
"Almost too beautiful for words," my mother croons.
"Ok, ok." I wave my hand, stepping down from the platform. That's enough attention being paid to me.
