Catherine Marie
to
Austin Frederick
It was traditional but, at the same time, sonottraditional. It was, honestly, kind of fun. Freshly cut blue spruce and balsam fir trees leaned against the red barn that had been painted on the back of the little RSVP card. Again, Bedens Brook must’ve been more than the photo gallery on its website. “Shit, I still need to send this,” I said. “What should I have to eat? There’s herb-roasted chicken, but Austin said the maple-glazed salmon is really good.”
Natalie snorted. “You haven’t submitted your RSVP yet?”
“Well, it’s obvious I’m coming,” I said. “The deadline also isn’t until next week.” I checked the box for the salmon, then drew a line through the space for my plus-one’s name and his meal preference.
“Mads, you have a date,” Natalie reminded me. “Connor?”
I waved my hand. “He has his own RSVP. He’s invited to the wedding.”
She smirked. “I bet Katie and the bridesmaids would stilllovefor you to write his name down!”
“Oh, would they ever…” I smiled and stuffed the little card in its little envelope, prestamped and addressed to Hotel Gallant.
Natalie’s voice softened after I sealed it with saliva. “Mads, you do know these invitations…”
“More or less cost five thousand dollars?”
“I would hope so!” Natalie said. “Lily Hopper workswonders, my friend.” She shook her head. “But no, I meant…you know every piece of this invitation is a love letter to your home, right?”
I gave her a look. “Wait, what?”
Natalie nodded. “All of this, Mads, is for your family.” She pointed to the RSVP missive. “The barn on the back of your dinner order? It’s your Christmas tree farm.” She rifled around for Austin and Katie’s watercolor save-the-date and pointed to the chestnut mare outside the Bedens Brook clubhouse. “That’s Tally-Ho!”
My heart slowed, seeing our horse in her holiday tartan blanket.Oh…
Natalie got right in my face with the envelope’s winter watercolor insert. “And this scene isn’t at Bedens Brook!” she said. “It’s based on a photo that’s framed downstairs.” She swept her arm toward my window, as if pointing all the way down to our pond. “It’s right over there.”
“Austin,” I whispered, eyes smarting with realization. “This was all Austin’s idea. Katie…” I rubbed my forehead. “She let Austin design the invitations.”
“Well, I think Lily deserves at leasta littlecredit.” Natalie poked me. “But yeah, it looks like it. You’ve been saying Katie hasn’t wanted any of his opinions.”
“Except this one.” I picked up the invitation, as if to look atit for the first time. Austin’s and my childhood flashed in front of my eyes. “It’s timeless.”
“Yes,” Natalie agreed. “It’s timeless.”
***
A few hours after Natalie left, I called it a night. “I’m going to Bedfordshire,” I yawned, snapping shut my copy ofEmmabefore giving my dads hugs.
But once I’d changed into pajamas, brushed my teeth, and exchanged good night texts with Connor, I found myself restless. I tossed and turned in bed for a while, then threw back my covers to pace my room. Moonlight slipped through my closed blinds.We thought you’d want to know that Marco and Shelly broke up, I heard Zach’s voice in my head, followed by Simon:I suspect she knew that Marco was never hers to lose.
In the end, I had to dare myself to do it.I dare you, I thought.I dare you to text Marco.
Hey, I typed, trying to tune out the voice in my head:Why are you doing this when you have Connor?I hated myself for it, but after hearing Austin talk about Katie, I’d started wondering if Connor trulywasmy Samira…andonlymy Samira.
Which meant I had a Katie out there.
I closed my eyes when I hit send, knowing the conversation could go wrong. Or, even worse—he could ignore me exactly like I’d ignored him.
But his reply was almost immediate.
Hi, it read.Long time…
