“I don’t see why Greyson can’t be here,” says Kitty, who is fifteen. She turns around on the couch to peek through the blinds and out into the condo parking lot.
Her older sister, Mia, who is newly eighteen, smacks Kitty’s hand from the blinds. “Quit it, dingus. It’s bad luck if Alex sees.”
“Alex’s condo is across the parking lot. There’s no way he could see her through a crack in the blinds, even if hetried,” Kitty replies.
“Girls.” Beth, Jo’s sister, shoots them a glare. “Tone it down.”
“Believe it or not, Greyson wanted to be with her dad today,” Jo says.
“I wonder what they’re doing over there.” Kitty peeks through the blinds again, which earns her another smack on the hand from her sister.
Britt sips a mimosa and shovels dry cereal into her mouth like it’s popcorn, clearly enjoying the sisterly drama.
Jo turns to face us. “What do you think?” she says. Her dress, a simple spaghetti-strap fit-and-flare gown, has no right looking as good on her as it does. I take full credit for finding it. As soon as Jo got engaged, I told Butch to put aside any wedding dresses that came in for me. Jo said I was ridiculous, but when she tried this one on, there was no question about it. It was perfect.
“I think I’m going to cry,” I say.
“Please don’t,” Jo says, her voice wobbly. She looks away to smooth her hands down the front of her dress.
Once the excitement over the dress has died down, I disappear into the kitchen to get a mimosa before Britt finishes off the pitcher.
Jo follows me into the kitchen. “You okay?”
“I’m marvelous, babe. As marvelous as you look, which is a lot.” I raise my glass to her and take another sip of my mimosa.
“You look marvelous too,” Jo says. “You’re the only person I know who can pull off that shade of pink.”
“It’ssalmon,” I say. The guest list for the wedding is so small it didn’t make sense to have a bridal party, but I bought a bridesmaiddress anyway—a vintage floor-length gown with a high neck and drapey sleeves I found on Craigslist.
“You also look... stressed,” Jo says.
I twirl the glass in my hand. “Oh yes. I’m that too. It’s a big day. I’m happy for you, but I also feel like I’m about to have an organ removed.”
Jo rests her head against the fridge. “Want to know a secret?”
“Stop that!” I fuss, forcing her to straighten up. “You’ll ruin your hair. But yes, I want to know all your secrets. Especially the really dark ones.”
Jo settles a soft smile on me, one that breaks my heart. “I feel a little bit like I’m having an organ removed too.”
“Really?”
“Yup.”
“Which one?”
She scrunches her nose in thought. “A kidney?”
“Good choice,” I say, and boop her on the nose. “A bigger deal than an appendix, but survivable. Will you promise me something?”
“Depends,” Jo says. A wise answer, given I have asked for her to promise me many ridiculous things over the years.
“I know Alex is your next of kin and all. But you promise you’ll haunt me first when you kick the bucket?”
Jo doesn’t even hesitate. “Of course. Alex doesn’t even believe in ghosts.”
We grin at each other for a moment, and then Jo sighs. “He’s right across the parking lot,” she says, and I know we’re talking about Ollie now, not Alex. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk to him before the ceremony? You don’t have to wait here with me.”
“I’m starting to think you’re more anxious about me and Ollie than I am. In fact, I think you’re more anxious about me and Ollie than you are about the fact that you are gettingmarriedin...” I glance at thetime on Jo’s microwave. “Shit! Five minutes. So as much as I’d love to get this over with, I really don’t think there’s time. Patience, dear Josephine.”
