“Since when do you have a girlfriend?”she asked, quickly distracted from her personal drama.
“Since last night,” I answered honestly.“Now, let’s get back to you and Brod-”
“Oh, no,” she quickly objected, interrupting me.“You’re not going to lay that kind of news on me without details.”
Since I could feel Thandie’s gaze like the incineration of a fire-breathing dragon, I said, “That can wait, Kelly.Let’s get back to you and-”
“No way,” she argued.“Plus, if you have a girlfriend now, then we’re going to have to revisit the seating plans.Oh, my God...how could you not tell me that you have a girlfriend, Beck?”
“Because we only became serious last night,” I repeated.“Now, let’s get back-”
“Who is she?”she asked, and it was in moments like this one when I had to remind myself just how much I loved my sister.“Where did you meet her?When do we get to meet her?”
“Kelly, stop it,” I ordered.“Now, you called us here for a reason, and my new girlfriend is not that reason.”She opened her mouth to argue some more, but I put my hand up to stop her.“That’s enough.Tell us what is going on with Brodrick, then we can discuss...uh, other things later.”
“He hurt my feelings,” she pouted like a child, and when I glanced over at Thandie, I caught her closing her eyes, a small prayer on her lips.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”I almost snapped.“We’re here because Brodrick hurt your feelings?Jesus Christ, Kells.”
“Do I need to remind you that he said that he didn’t care about our wedding?”she harrumphed.
“You’re either completely obtuse or purposely looking for drama,” I told her, and when her blue eyes widened with offense, I threw my hand up again.“Since all the pomp and circumstance are usually only for the bride, it’s not that Brodrick doesn’t care about the wedding, it’s that he doesn’t care about the details, Kelly.Whatever you want is fine with him because all he wants to do is marry you.”
“That’s such a man thing to say,” she huffed.
That’s when I looked over at Thandie.“Can you help me out here?”
“Why?”she quipped.“You’re drowning all by yourself just fine.”
I shot her a look.“Really?”
After letting out a deep sigh, Thandie turned to give Kelly her full attention.“Kelly, do you want a wedding or do you want to get married?”
“What kind of question is that?”she asked warily.
“People that just want to be married to one another will race to the courthouse without all the extras,” Thandie explained.“People who want a wedding will insist on all the ceremonial fluff.”
“Why can’t I want both?”Kelly asked.“Why is it bad that I want a wedding?”
“It’s not,” Thandie quickly assured her.“But you’re driving us fucking nuts with the demand for perfection, and I’m not going to lie and say that it’s not driving me to drink.”
“Finally,” I rushed out.“Christ, I was wondering how long before one of us cracked.”
Kelly let out her best theatrical gasp to date.“What?”
“You’re driving us crazy,” I told her, backing Thandie.“You’re driving us all certifiably insane, and I say that as a doctor.”
Stubborn as the day was long, she said, “That’s because you guys have never had to plan a wedding before.Just wait until you have to decide between baby lace and delicate lace.”
“Yeah, no,” I snorted.“Thandie and I are not going down that crazy road of madness.After the things that I’ve seen, we’re eloping.”
“Uhm, I’m sorry...you and who?”Kelly asked, looking at me pointedly.
So much for a peaceful Sunday morning.
