As I’m taking a few cleansing breaths, I receive a text from Sugar.
Shugs
Mom’s going to call you and tell you Grams isn’t doing well and we need to go to Saffron’s wedding to see her before it’s too late.
I frown.
Your warning is late. Thanks.
My phone rings a second later and I roll my eyes as I answer, checking my watch as I head back toward the field.
“I’m sorry. Fish decided to act like she’s choking on her tongue as soon as I got off the phone and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. It was just her damn tongue, by the way. But yeah, she guilted Steak first and then used that to guilt me and I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to warn you.”
I sigh. “I have to finish my practice. You on the same flight?”
“Yep.”
“Good. See you in a few hours.”
Turns out,I can’t concentrate on practice. So when I tell Norman that he needs to take over so I can head out last minute to see my dying grandmother at my stupid sister’s wedding, he gives me a look that says he understands that on a level that not everyone would.
Sugar is waiting for me at my house and watches as I throw random shit into a small carry-on, muttering shit and generally stomping around my house. “I should wear lingerie,” I say, scowling. “With my dick out. If the room wouldn’t be filled with family who I’m not entirely keen on seeing my dick, I would.”
She laughs. “Oh!” she calls out a second later and I turn to find her holding up one of my tight body suits. “Wear this, Lem. Please, please wear this.”
It’s sexy as sin and probably elegant enough for a wedding. You know, if it wasn’t so tight. But it’s that reason alone I agree and toss it in.
“It’s too bad I don’t have time to shop for some garish shoes. But I am bringing this!”
Sugar cackles as I hold up my hen bag. It’s rubber and tacky and I have it spray painted with neon rainbow colors. It’s roughly the size of an actual chicken. I generally use it during Pride Parades to hold buttons and pins in to hand out. There’s also condoms and lube tucked into the single small pocket, just in case I meet a hottie. I peek in and see the remnants of pins, a couple rubber bracelets, a single flag, and sure enough, the three-ounce tube of lube and a handful of condoms. Unnecessary, but to clean it out would suggest that I care at all about this stupid trip. I don’t. But this rubber hen seems like the perfect finishing touch.
We findSteak at the luggage carousel and wrap him in our arms. He’s taller than me but then, everyone in my family is. Including Sugar and Saffron.
“You okay, baby brother?” Sugar asks.
“If I weren’t so mad, I’d be worse, so I suppose that’s something,” he admits.
“We’re here for Grams,” I say.
“I brought a plaid suit. I bought it just for this.”
“Wait till you see what Lemon’s wearing,” Sugar teases.
Steak grins. “Where are Fish and Patrick?”
“Mom didn’t buy them tickets, and I didn’t want to spend money to get them here when I don’t want to be here.”
Steak presses his lips together. “That’s shitty.”
“Me and Mom are not speaking right now,” Sugar says.
“Same,” I add.
Steak nods. “Me three.”
We stay up far too late complaining and having a good time which led to oversleeping the next day. Then we arrive late to the ceremony and stand at the back when we walk in. The three of us look like a motley crew with me in my skin-tight one-piece and neon-painted chicken purse, Steak in his plaid suit that he accidentally ripped this morning as he tried to get into it half asleep, and Sugar in a big hoop skirt that I’m pretty sure she bought for a Halloween party.
Saffron doesn’t see us as she walks down the aisle. But she does when she and her new husband walk toward the door. Her eyes widen and remain locked on us as she heads in our direction down the aisle. As she’s on her way out, she gives us a small smile.
