I turned a corner, and something ran into my chest.
“Oof!” I grabbed the woman who had run into me around the waist before she could topple over.
“Ivy?” I said softly and reached up to cup her face.
She looked up at me, her eyes wide. But when she saw it was me, they narrowed.
“Ivy,” I repeated. “I’m so sorry for everything. If you can just let me explain.”
“I can’t hear it right now,” she said, looking down. But she didn’t step away from me.
“Look, I know that—”
“I said I don’t want to hear it right now,” Ivy said sharply, then her face softened slightly. “We can talk after we survive the wedding.”
I nodded.
“Unfortunately, right now, I’m on a mission.”
“Me too. My father is missing,” I told her as I started heading toward the lounge.
“That’s funny. So is the best girl,” Ivy said, trotting to keep up with me. “Have you seen Camilla?”
“She popped into the room to take pictures with Teddy,” I told her, “but that was a couple hours ago.”
“She needs her makeup done.” Ivy sighed. “I just keep telling myself that it’s only one more hour then the ceremony and then the reception and it’s over. Sophie said she’d save me some cake.”
“Can you ask Elsie to save me some lobster rolls?” I asked her.
“I mean, you’re paying for them, so I’m sure she can,” Ivy teased.
As we approached the lounge, there were the unmistakable sounds of two people getting into the wedding spirit, so to speak.
“Is this someone’s room?” Ivy whispered to me.
“This is the lounge,” I said, grimacing.
“Who’s the prettiest bride?” a woman cried out as I pushed open the heavy door.
“Is that Camilla?” Ivy whispered in shock.
“You are, baby! I’m gonna come in your wedding cake!”
Ivy made a gagging noise as we stepped into the room.
“Oh my gosh!” Ivy exclaimed, clapping a hand over her mouth.
My father and Camilla were going at it. She was wearing a veil and had her yellow-and-red kilt hitched up. She took a swig from a bottle of champagne as my father took her from behind. He stopped mid-pump when he saw us.
“What the fuck, Evan!” my father cursed, pulling up his pants. “Do you always have to cockblock me?”
Camilla screamed and clutched the champagne bottle as she adjusted her kilt. The veil flopped in her eyes.
“You’re drinking?” Ivy said in horror. “But you’re pregnant!”
“You’re pregnant?” my father bellowed at her. “If you think I’m going to marry you when you’re carrying some other man’s child, you better think again.”
“You’re marrying her?” My mouth dropped open.
