“Sutton, I didn’t want to make a big deal…”?
“We’re your wedding party, and we all took the day off work at any rate, so please, let us enjoy the break.” She smiled, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. “And the good company.”?
My brother helped Jordan and Doyle set up, then popped open his chair in the spot next to me and kissed the top of my head. “How ya doing, baby sister?”?
“Weird day, y’all, I won’t lie. Where’s Tally?” My question concerning Savannah’s newest resident, who’d recently moved in with her brother and Jordan, was directed to Doyle, but for some reason, my own brother answered.?
“She’s still a little intimidated by all of this. She kept yammering about bad juju and the spiritual ramifications of holding a seance outside of a burned down bar.”?
Doyle laughed and rolled his eyes. “They’ve been spending time together, if you couldn’t tell. My sister did ask me to give you this, though. It’s a box of sage. You’re supposed to light the ends of them, but… maybe it’s not best to play with fire at the moment.”?
For the first time in what felt like forever, I let out a long, legitimate laugh. “Tell her thank you for me. And thanks for coming, y’all. Really, I appreciate it.”?
Sutton docked her phone into Jordan’s portable speaker, choosing a fun and upbeat playlist, and we all sat back in our chairs, snacking away and toasting to a wedding that didn’t happen, lined up on the sidewalk in front of my burned-out bar.?
If someone had passed by O’Malley’s at that moment, on their way to something better, of course, the scene would be the least weird thing they saw inSavannah that day. But for us, it was just a typical afternoon—day drinking and a portable feast fit for a wedding party.
“Alright, I’ll be the one to bring up the elephant in the ashy room,” I said, standing up and leaning on the table to face my friends. “Has anyone talked to Lee?”
Everyone let out a collective groan, and my brother leaned over to rest his elbows on his knees, dropping his head in his hands. I knew that this time was different, and they wouldn’t lie to me about this. I’d hoped.?
“I talked to Ryan yesterday,” Sutton spoke first, surprising me. “They’re only doing a quarter of the tour they were supposed to. But, that said, he doesn’t think he’s coming back. Either of them.”?
I walked up to my friend and grabbed her hand, holding it in mine for a moment, mad at myself for—as usual—forgetting that this situation didn’t just break my heart. It broke all of ours.?
“He broke up with Janelle, though,” Jordan said from the end of the line of chairs, fussing with a bottle of expensive champagne. He pulled out five delicate crystal flutes from his bag and filled up the glasses carefully. We all stared at him, the least likely to know about Lee’s personal life out of all of us.
“What! Y’all really need to step up your Instagram game. These were a wedding gift, by the way. There’s six, but, well, you know.” He stood, passing out the glasses to us, and we all stood in a circle, holding our glasses in the middle, eyeing each other.?
“I’m not giving a stupid speech,” I said finally.?
“I’ll start,” my brother declared, lifting his glass. “I’m sure there’s something witty I could say about this being your phoenix moment. Rising from the ashes a different being—stronger, better, and all that.” He shot a sad, sullen look to the hollowed-out bar behind me. His childhood, my childhood, rendered to dust.?
We all raised our glasses, holding them together in a circle as he continued. “It’s simple, and it’s cliche, but it’s true. Here’s to new beginnings.”?
“And! To Magnolia Louise Pruitt, who never needed a man to live out her dreams. Just some strong drinks and even stronger friends,” Sutton added.?
“Might I add, good friends are great, but good food and a hell of a lot of laughs for the years to come are absolutely on our radar. Especially after this,” Jordan piped up.?
“To the Savannah Sweethearts. May we build our walls, but may we never, ever let them crumble again,” Doyle finished, and I glanced around at the faces of my friends, old and new. My family, my strength, my everything.?
“I love y’all. Thank you for never leaving me behind,” I said, eyes filled with tears.?
“So, what are you going to do now, Magnolia? You’ve got quite a lot of free time now that there’s no social obligations on the radar,” Doyle said, as we all refilled our glasses and took our seats, passing around the dishes of food. “Imagine having to go to bridge club in a few weeks. Speaking of… What are you doing about your honeymoon?”?
I laughed and glanced at Sutton, giving her a playful wink. “Sutton and I are going. It’s the one thing Dane didn’t manage to return or cash in.”?
“Y’all are going to Ireland? Together? Lord above, I am so jealous,” Doyle said, and Jordan nodded next to him excitedly.?
“We sure are. I canceled all the romantic bed and breakfasts, though, and most of the sight-seeing. We’re going on a full-blown pub tour, renting a car and staying in Airbnbs along the way. I’m really looking forward to it. Plus, I have a ton of research to do while I’m there.”?
My brother cocked his head to the side and smiled proudly. “And what kind of research would that be? I have a feeling I know, but I wanna hear it straight from the phoenix’s mouth.”?
“Well, big brother, I’ll be stopping in and out of Ireland’s quaintest pubs and visiting the town where our family emigrated from.” I looked around at the eager faces of my friends, and I knew, deep down inside, that even if I came home and told them I was going to become a stripper, they’d still support me.?
“When we get home, I’ll start looking for a new place to build O’Malley’s again. From the ground up.” I smiled. “And it will be all mine.”?
Chapter forty-three
