“You shut-up, wench.” We both laugh.
Laura stands. “I’ll see you soon. Feelbetter.”
“I will. Good luck on the way home.”
“Yeah thanks, I’m going to need it. I’vegot my phone and a smutty romance novel to listen to, so I’m golden.” I watchLaura walk out of the room. I feel bad that my family feels they need to leave,like I don’t want them here, or don’t appreciate what they’ve done for me. I’vetried to be accommodating. I guess I should have tried harder. Tears prick atmy eyes and slide down my cheek.
“Knock, knock,” my mom says, standing inthe door. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah, of course.” I hurry and wipe mytears away, not wanting her to see me so emotional.
My mom sits down next to me on the bench,taking my hand. “Cole says you have the flu.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m a bit rundown. Did hetell you I’m—”
“That you’re not pregnant,” sheinterrupts.
I nod.
“Yes, he did. Katie, I’m sorry about thesurprise wedding. I’ll call everyone when we get home and cancel.”
“If that’s what you want,” I say, bitingmy lip.
“It’s for the best, and it’s what youwant.” This makes my anger boil up. Again, my mother hasn’t asked me what Iwant; she’s just assumed and then comes to her own conclusion. I push thenegative feelings away. My mom is sitting here trying to talk to me and that issomething big. It’s always been me who has to go to her, whether I was to blameor not.
“Mom, I’ll admit it was a shock. I wassurprised you did it knowing I don’t enjoy surprises, and knowing how very muchI like to know what’s ahead of me. The wedding was a very grand gesture. Iwanted to do it for you and dad, Annie and Kurt.” I fidget with the hem of myshirt. “I mean sure, I dreamed of a big wedding with a beautiful white dress,where dad walks me down the aisle. What girl hasn’t?” More tears slide down mycheeks.
My mom squeezes my hand. “I didn’t thinkit would be so hard to watch my baby girl grow up, get married and not need meanymore. I think I’ve been trying to hold on to that a little longer.”
“Mom.” I look up, seeing the tearsstreaking down her cheeks. “I’m always going to need you.”
“It won’t be the same. This is stupid andI know it. I always thought you’d find a nice boy, and you two would get marriedand live in grandma’s house next to me and your dad forever. I never dreamedthis.” My mom glances around the hotel room. “You’ve always had big dreams foryourself. I know that’s what got you through grad school. That and you hadsomething to prove, showing that you could do it.”
“Tell me I can’t do something, and Iwill prove you wrong.”
“Yes, you’ve shown me that over and over.I shouldn’t have surprised you with the wedding and showing up hereunannounced. I wanted to do it and I was afraid if I asked you, you would’vetold me no.”
I wipe away my tears. “I loved that youwanted to do this for me. It made me feel like you were truly happy for me andCole and wanted to help us celebrate our love. It’s just you took over anddidn’t include me. I thought why should I care, but then when you did want myopinion, you got mad when it wasn’t the one you wanted. You put me in animpossible situation.”
“Annie and I got a little overexcited. Weforgot how different you are from the two of us. I’ll admit we had way too muchfun planning it.”
“Is that why Annie doesn’t want to saygoodbye?”
“Oh Katie. You have to understand thisnew life of yours is hard for us to understand and be a part of.”
“Tell me about it. It hasn’t been easyfor me. Cole and I have had a few arguments over it. It’s been an adjustment.But I love Cole and if you taught me anything, it’s that if you love someone,you do what it takes to make it work.”
My mom reaches into her purse, pullingout an envelope. “Here, this is for you.”
“What’s this?” Inside the envelope is astack of one hundred dollar bills. “Mom, I can’t take this.”
“When both you and Annie graduated fromhigh school, I started this little savings fund for when you two got married. Iwould put a little money aside each month. I only had a year before Annie tiedthe knot, so I didn’t have very much saved. You took your time, and I savedjust over four thousand dollars.”
“Mom! I can’t. You could use this for somany other things.”
“No, this is for you. I wanted to use itto buy your wedding dress.”
“Oh.” A lump forms in my throat. I knewshe was upset about something at the dress shop. Now I understand.
