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Liar. You have. Twice. And you almost blacked out in ecstasy.
“Interesting.” She muses, a thoughtful smile playing around her lips.
“What’s interesting?” I snap.
“Nothing.” She shrugs.
“Out with it, Bonnie!”
She hesitates. “I only assumed Ryan was, you know, a bit like Ethan.”
“Brooding and darkly magnetic? Nah, Bonnie, your husband-to-be is the undisputed king of grumpy land.”
She laughs. “Oh, I know that. I meant like super bossy but you can trust him to look after you. God, if anyone ever suggested I’d be crazy about a man like Ethan Hawthorne, I’d slap the silly out of them. Now, the way he makes me feel scares me sometimes.”
I just roll my eyes. “Puh-leeze. It’s the pregnancy hormones talking.”
“A little. But it’s mostly love, Stella. I needed to get out of my own way and let it happen. It’s unbelievable how much I love that man.”
“Okay, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. Keep going, and you could end up with some in your hair.”
Bonnie chuckles. “Oh, you wouldn’t dare!”
I wonder how all my friends managed to get so lucky with their men without even trying. Like they closed their eyes, pointed, and hit the jackpot, leaving the creepy, psychotic jackholes roaming around. I’m not naive enough to expect to get that lucky. Most men I meet are only good for a few hours at a time, and then the toxicity starts to set in.
You mean the fear and guilt.
If only I’d believed Viv instead of trying to convince her she was seeing things, she might be here today.
I wave the unwelcome thought away as Bonnie hops out of her chair and then comes around to give me a hug.
I give her a good look. “Your cup size is different. Bonnie, how could you not have mentioned this? Your dress is all set for Saturday.”
She looks apologetic. “Honestly, Ethan and I have been so busy with work...” She trails off.
“Never mind, but we need to refit you ASAP; we can’t have you ripping through your wedding dress.”
We make plans to book a final refit, then she throws me a final warning glare. “Tell the girls, Stella. Especially Brooke.
“Sure, I promise.” Delaying isn’t going to make things any easier.
As soon as she leaves, my phone vibrates on the beauty counter.
A quick glance at the clock, and I know it’s Anita from the child welfare agency. I’d missed her call yesterday, and she left a message that she would be calling back today. Something about an important development on Harriet’s case. My heart skips a beat as I wipe my sweaty hand on my apron.
It’s never good news with that woman.
I grab the phone and stride across the busy shop floor, heading for the break room in the back area. Relieved to find the room empty, I move to the far corner and connect the call.
“Hi, Stella here.”
“Hello, Stella, thanks for taking my call. Is this a good time to talk?”
“Oh yeah. I’m at work, but it’s fine.”
“I’ll make it quick.” She pauses, then says, “The paperwork is coming soon, and this is off the record.”
“Okay.” I wait for the news with bated breath.
