“Amelia,” Susan says, reaching to grab the attention of a dark-haired woman in a black jumpsuit, who I can only assume is the wedding planner. “Please tell the beauty team that Meredith’s heading back to her cabin. And to make sure they make her look dignified.”
Amelia’s chic bob stays pin-straight when she nods, checking something off on her clipboard.
“And now I’ll deal with you,” my mother says, turning her attention towards me. “Do you know you missed the rehearsal?”
“I’m sure I can walk a straight line without needing to practice,” I reply, forgetting that my mother does not care for snark.
“That’s not the point,” Susan snaps. “You left Katherine all alone!”
I open my mouth to respond but she hasn’t finished. “But let me guess, you were off playing in the park.”
She saysparklike it’s a dirty word, the catalyst of most of her and my father’s fights. I remember quite a few evenings where he’d come home from work and she’d accuse him of loving the park more than her.
“I made sure Katherine recovered from the bear spray incident before I left.”
My mother scoffs. “I’m not so sure about that, she could have been blinded.”
Of course her concern doesn’t extend to Meredith, who received the brunt of the spray.
“Honestly, Hudson, of all the people here, I thought you’d be the one to take this wedding seriously,” Susan continues, giving me a once-over. “I mean, you’re not even dressed properly.”
“I just got back.”
“I swear, sometimes you’re just like your father,” she huffs under her breath. After being divorced for almost two decades, she still holds him responsible for my disaffection towards her, not that she made much of an effort with our relationship.
“Did I hear my name?” Katherine asks sweetly, interlacing her arm with mine. Susan immediately brightens in her presence.
The dress she’s wearing is a deep maroon, falling just below her thighs, exposing tanned legs, artificially colored with the self-tanner that always stained my shower. Her dark hair is swooped back at the nape of her neck, held in place with a silver hairpin Susan gifted her last year, and her lashes are dark, caked with mascara to distract from her red-rimmed eyes.
“Yes, dear. Just telling Hudson that it was completely unacceptable for him to leave you all alone this afternoon. We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen again, right?” she asks, her eyes falling to me.
Amelia glances at her watch, a worried expression on her face. “Susan, did you still want to get to the venue a bit early for final table approval?”
“Yes. I want to make sure that they didn’t sneak in any carnations.”
“Why don’t you take Katherine with you?” I suggest. “I’m sure she’d love to help you with the table arrangements. Make sure everything is perfect for Meredith and Grant.”
“I’m sure Susan has everything handled. Her parties are always immaculate,” Katherine gushes. “And anyway, I really wanted to get some quality time with Hudsy. We’ve barely seen each other all week,” she coos, putting on a show. She knows that I won’t show my hand in front of Susan, not when I have two more days to get through. But I still have a few cards of my own to play.
“I thought you’d want to chat to Mom about the Franklins,” I suggest. “Since they’ve been giving you so much trouble.”
Katherine grits her teeth, and I swear I hear a hiss escape.
Susan’s tone softens. “Oh, honey. Is that deal not completed yet? I thought they loved the last property.”
“These things drag out. People need time to decide between Venetian marble and butcher’s block for their kitchen.”
For the few brief years my mother worked, she was a realtor. Very low-level, middle-class families, but that work experience made her just empathetic enough to counsel Katherine.
“Why don’t we give them a call? Try to figure out what it’ll take to have them make a deal.”
“I couldn’t possibly. You have so much going on.”
“Oh, please. It’s no bother. I’d love a distraction from all this,” Susan declares, waving her hand. “Come with me to the car; I’ll put them on speakerphone.”
My mother heads towards her SUV, already digging her phone out of her bag.
“Let me just say goodbye to Hudson,” Katherine calls, waiting until my mother is out of earshot before she turns on me.
