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“Way to say hi, Els,” Amanda says, her tone dry, as it often is.
“I wasn’t expecting you and…hi.”
“We were walking home from school and we wanted to check it out. Then get a boba. Is that cool?”
“Of course it’s cool,” I say, then smile at Ally. “Good to see you.”
“How’s everything going, Elodie?” she asks.
Before I can answer, Eliza pipes up with, “I love boba! Can I get a boba? Since there’s no chocolate at the shop.”
“Boba on me,” a new voice chimes in—a warm, friendly tone, accompanied by the confident sound of fancy men’s shoes clicking on stone.
Hello, whiplash. Gage and I swivel in unison to see Felix striding across the courtyard from the hotel. “This must be the happy family,” he says, then beams at the girls.
Oh, hell.
We never trained for this. We never planned a happy family moment. Ally peers around in her glasses. She looks thoroughly confused. But then Amanda drops an arm around Eliza’s shoulders and squeezes hard. “We’re totally going to be sisters,” she says to the younger girl.
Gage’s lips curve up in an appreciative grin for Amanda’s improv skills.
Not to be outdone, his daughter adds, “I’ve always wanted a sister.”
“Way more than a brother,” Amanda says.
Ally looks so lost. “Amanda?”
“You have a sister too,” Amanda says to her friend with a big, bright, go-along-with-it smile.
“Yeah, I do. I just didn’t reali?—”
“And Eliza is basically going to be my stepsister,” Amanda butts back in before Ally can say she didn’t realize. “Since they’re getting married.” Amanda points to Gage, then me. “Hey, Els, when’s the wedding again? Did you say you were doing it on New Year’s Eve?”
The little stinker. I grit my teeth then adopt a false grin. “Oh, that was just one of the dates we were talking about,” I say, waving a hand airily.
“There was Valentine’s Day too, right?” Amanda continues, all deadpan and having way too much fun. “And the first day of spring.”
Gage clears his throat. “But we also talked about how very much we like summer. Next summer, right? A fantastic, outdoor, summer wedding in…Wine Country.”
Far, far away.
“Or here,” Felix says, a matchmaker gleam in his eyes as he gestures to the picturesque courtyard we’re standing in with the fountain and its gurgling water, sounding like chimes. And actually…this would be a perfect spot to get hitched.
Not that we will.
“And,” he adds, “my daughter Camilla is a wedding photographer. Well, she’s transitioning from corporate headshots to weddings. She’s looking for a few weddings to do for free. To get the experience.”
Oh, god. My stomach drops as it’s clear where he’s going.
Felix shifts his attention briefly to Gage. “I know your grandmother took those engagement photos, but if you’re looking for some more formal couple shots—perhaps for the store, or some of the articles we have planned—she could take those. I’m sure she’d be happy to do your wedding as well. Oh, and I have a florist right here on-site you can use for the big day. Happy to gift those to you too.”
Kill me now. Who thought it was a good idea to come here today? Not me.
“Oh, yes, that’d be amazing,” Eliza says in a sober voice, answering for us. “Can you give us the name? Amanda and I would love to check them out.”
They’re in cahoots already? I stifle a groan.
“We truly would,” Amanda adds.
