“You know, organs may not be sentient, but apparently they can carry memories. I just read this incredible article about heart transplant patients who can recall information from their donors’ lives, things they never would’ve known otherwise.”
“Send it to me. I’ll read it later.”
“I will. I’d be curious to get your thoughts on it.”
“Why?” She glanced up from her phone. “I’m not a scientist.”
“I like the way your brain works.”
“Turn left up there,” Olivia said, then looked back down at her phone so Zack wouldn’t see her enormous grin.
“Permission to take one hand off the wheel?”
“Um, sure… why?”
Without saying anything, Zack took Olivia’s hand and squeezed.
They spent the rest of the drive in silence while Olivia wrote out a text with her free hand, letting Andrew know that she had to cancel their date.
To Olivia’s surprise, Marigold was, according to Natalie, in her makeshift dressing room. Olivia hurried through the crowd on the yacht club lawn, avoiding the eye of everyone who tried to flag her down, ostensibly to ask if the ceremony was finally about to start.
“Olivia!” Liesl managed to grab her arm. “What’s going on? The strangest rumors are flying around.”
Olivia shook her off, then glared as Liesl fell into step next to her. “Rumors I’m sure you hadnothingto do with.”
“I’m just concerned about my oldest friend, okay? Whereisshe? Literally no one has seen her in two days.”
“She’s here.”
“She is? Where?”
“Getting ready. But she wants privacy, okay? Just… tell everyone we’ll start soon.”
Liesl tried to follow her into the club, but Olivia blocked her way. “Sorry, family only beyond this point,” she said sweetly, then slammed the door.
Olivia found Marigold and Natalie sitting in the office,looking surprisingly relaxed. “I’ll let you two talk,” Natalie said as she got to her feet. “I’m going to get some air. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Go out the back, through the kitchen,” Olivia advised. “It’s a madhouse in front.”
When Natalie left, Olivia took her empty seat. For a moment, they sat in silence—the only somewhat uneasy silence of sisters who had endless experience fighting, icing each other out, and then making up. Though never had Olivia felt like she’d been so clearly in the wrong.
“I’m sorry I made this terrible day even worse,” Olivia said finally.
To her relief, Marigold laughed. “Worst. Wedding. Eveeeeer,” she said, elongating the vowel with exaggerated vocal fry in a pitch-perfect imitation of Kara, the NYU student who’d occasionally nannied for them when they were younger. They hadn’t seen her in almost twenty years, but still found themselves lapsing into Kara-speak when they were alone.
“Like, literally.” Olivia smiled briefly, then turned serious again. “I’m really sorry, Mare. I can’t believe I did that.”
“It’s okay. Mom explained that you were against it from the beginning.”
“Still…” Olivia trailed off. “So what are you going to do now?”
“You mean, am I still getting married?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Marigold shook her head. “I talked to Jonathan. We both agreed it’s over.”
“Okay. Oh, wow.” It was one thing to sense this coming; it was quite another to hear the words come out of her sister’s mouth. “Are you okay? I mean, all things considered.”
