Ani had to roll down her window to type in the gate code, and immediately the questions blew in.
“Wait, you’re the wedding planner, right? How’s everything going?”
“You nervous about the big day?”
“Is the construction finished?”
“Are both brides wearing white?”
Ani gave them a big smile. “Everything’s going great. Construction’s finished. Brides are happy. To be honest, I don’t know what Grace is going to be wearing. It’ll be a surprise for us all. Pardon me, I have to get going.”
Ani punched the numbers, careful to shield them from view. The gate yawned open, and Ani drove in. That was totally fine, a pleasant-ish experience with the press. She willed herself to feel optimistic that all future interactions with the press would continue that way. Because they had to.
Thanks to a check from Grace and Kami, Ani had just paid Sanan for her work, but between that and the most recent personal loan payment, which was mostly interest, Ani’s bank account was back to dwindling. Three more days, and the final, largest deposit from Grace and Kami would arrive. Then she’d be okay. Well on her way to solvency.
There had been no need to tell Raffi about it because, well, money was so touchy to talk about, especially so early in a relationship. But if Ani was being completely honest with herself, it was also because she was ashamed and didn’t want Raffi to ever think of her as less than. Nothing he did made her feel that way, but this secret debt felt too huge, too mortifying to share, even with him. Especially because he likely could easily pay it off for her, and she didn’t want to be someone’s charity case. She’d rather tell himafterthe debt had been resolved.
As Ani drove up to the house the building revealed itself to her, and she realized calling this a “house” had been a mistake. This was a mansion, styled in French seventeenth-centurystyle. Well, at least it would be easy to sneak out of and get lost in.
Ani grabbed her luggage and lingered a moment longer outside, where it was quiet. Breezes ruffling the olive trees, Napa’s sun absorbing into her skin, the smell of that fall crunch in the air.
Then the door burst open and Kami appeared, jumping toward Ani and wrapping her in a huge hug. “You’re here! I’m so excited. Isn’t this place darling?”
Darlingis how Ani would have described a well-appointed cottage, not this ten-bedroom castle. But perhaps it was a difference of opinion.
“It’s massive,” she said.
“Which is good,” Kami replied. “The whole family is staying here. Phew, so much family. But they can’t wait to see you.”
Ani’s stomach tightened. She felt, starkly, that she did not belong here. She should be with Raffi right now.
Ani blindly followed Kami inside, which was—wow—impeccably designed with antique furniture and a mix of classical and provocative art along the walls. The place was swarming with relatives and the sounds of people shouting, laughing, and chatting. She said hello again to Kami’s mom and aunt, then to Kami’s father, uncles, grandparents, and cousins until her head spun. Were any of these people behind the wedding sabotage? It just didn’t seem likely. She couldn’t imagine an auntie, even a mean one, intentionally trying to ruin her niece’s wedding. It wasn’t the Armenian auntie way.
“So many photographers outside, this is crazy!” Kami’s mom said, but didn’t seem upset.
Kami said, “I know, right? I love it, though. They follow useverywhere, and people are going nuts for Grace. I even told them about my lip gloss line, and sales are up fifty percent. Just from one mention!”
Her mother hugged her. “This is fantastic, Kami jan. You have a good head for these things.”
Many of her relatives made sounds of agreement.
Well, Ani supposed she was happy that Kami didn’t hate all the press and wasn’t having second thoughts about being with Grace or wanting to call off the entire wedding. Ani had feared that possibility, but it didn’t seem to be an issue. Kami didn’t even have an Instagram—only because her spiritual healer had told her it was too much negative energy beaming into her soul—but she didn’t mind being splashed all overPeople. She supposed it made sense. Instagram was work. Being paparazzi-ed was passive. And maybe her spiritual healer approved of it.
One of the aunts called out in Armenian, “There are a hundred light switches for the kitchen, and I can’t find the one that lights up the countertops. Someone help me!”
Ani wasmorethan happy to heed the call and rushed over to the auntie. Ani flipped switch after switch and finally found the one the auntie needed.
Then, seeing another chance to escape, Ani muttered that she needed to unpack and pulled away.
Galia found her then, and Ani, although wanting to go to her room, was relieved to see her familiar, friendly face. They hugged.
“Hi, Galia,” she said.
“This is intense,” Galia said, gesturing all around.
Ani gave a small nod. “It’s a lot.”
“You know how it is, though: What Kami wants, Kami gets,” Galia said, frowning.
