Natalie shot Olivia a grateful smile, but she’d already returned to her phone. A moment later, Natalie’s own phone buzzed with an incoming call. “Do you mind if I take this quickly?” she asked Crystal. “It’s Marigold.” The other bridesmaids watched curiously as Natalie scurried into the hall.
“Hey,” Natalie whispered once she’d made it far enough to be out of earshot. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the Halifax airport. My flight’s on time, so it looks like I’ll make it back just before the ceremony, thank god. How’s everything going there? Is anyone growing suspicious?”
“Yeah, people have been asking a lot of questions, but I think as long as you show up in time to walk down the aisle, it’ll be okay.”
“You’re the best. I feel awful putting all this on you. It was way too much to ask.”
“It’s fine,” Natalie said automatically. “I’m happy to—”
Marigold cut her off. “No, it’s not okay. It was ridiculously selfish to ask that you cover for me. This was my mistake, and I should’ve owned it instead of lying to everyone. You’ve alwaysbeen such an amazing friend, and I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you. I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” Natalie said, softening.
“I know. And I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Honestly, I can’t think of anything that’ll make up for stranding me with Liesl for this long.”
Marigold laughed. “She’s really the worst, isn’t she? I probably shouldn’t have made her a bridesmaid, but she’s literally my oldest friend, and I didn’t want to deal with the drama of leaving her out. What’s she doing now?”
“Where do I begin? Before you called, she was explaining that dating apps were only for awkward normies who didn’t learn social graces as children.”
“Are you serious?” Marigold scoffed. “That girl’s been on dating apps foryears. I have screenshots of her profile. Jonathan’s friend Mark matched with her just last week. Hold on, let me see if I saved the photo… Yes, here it is… She describes herself as ‘omnivore, artist, wanderer, always in search of the perfect word and the perfect martini.’?”
“Wowww… You know what perfect word I’m searching for? Something that blowspretentiousout of the water.”
“You know she’s just jealous of you, right?”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m serious!”
“There’s no way in hell that Liesl is jealous of a tutor who lives in Sunset Park.”
“Sheis. You know how she fancies herself a writer. She lost her mind when you had that piece published inThe Cut.”
“I wrote about rich clients who didn’t let me use their bathrooms. So glamorous.”
“It went totally viral! And I’m always talking about how you’re such a great writer, which drives her nuts.”
“You’re my biggest fan,” Natalie said with a smile. She thought about how Marigold had posted the link on all her social media accounts and even had two copies of the essays framed—one a gift for Natalie, one for Marigold, which she displayed proudly on her living room wall. Not even Natalie’s parents had done that. That was the thing about Marigold—she could be flighty and a little self-absorbed, but no one loved more fiercely than she did. She wouldn’t be marrying Jonathan if she didn’t love him deeply, and it was time for Natalie to stop pretending otherwise. Marigold was her best friend—the most loyal person Natalie knew—and she couldn’t betray her like this, indulging in stupid fantasies and obsessing over what might’ve been.
“Because you’re mega talented! And if you keep standing in your own way, I’m going to have to take drastic measures.”
Standing in my own way, Natalie thought.You have no idea…
It was too late to figure out what might’ve been with Jonathan, but that didn’t mean Natalie had to give up on all of her dreams. “Noted,” she said.
“Oh, wait, hold on… I have to go. I’ll text you when I land, okay?”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you.”
“What’d she say?” Natalie looked up to see Olivia watching her. Natalie panicked briefly as she reviewed her conversation with Marigold before assuring herself that she hadn’t said anything incriminating. Olivia knew that Marigold was about to board a flight to Maine. She didn’t know from where.
“Flight’s on time, so all good!”
