“I don't know. Nervousness. Regret. Worry that they won't be nice anymore and I won't have anything to give to Amy.”
Eamon placed his hand on my mine. “We came all this way for it. Just look. You'll feel better when you do.”
“You're right.” I pulled out the box and took a deep breath before opening it, silently making a wish that they would be okay.
Eamon peered past my shoulder. “Pretty.”
I didn't have much in the way of words at that moment. I was busy stemming the tide of memories, of the many times I'd seen her wear this necklace—for Christmas Eve dinner, New Year's Eve, her birthday, Valentine's Day, every time she and my dad went out for their anniversary. Judging by all of that, the occasions she'd made an effort to at least look the part of happily married woman, it made me wonder if her heart had ever been in it or if she'd simply been putting on a show.
None of that mattered now. It would just end up being more merciless conjecture on my part, and I'd done enough of that for many lifetimes. I would simply remember the one time I hadn't been there—her wedding day, and the portrait Amy and I had spent hours staring at. Mom wasn't faking a thing in that picture. That much I knew for sure.
“They're perfect. Absolutely perfect.” I gathered the necklace in my hand, letting the pearls roll over my fingers. They were still beautiful, and for the first time in several weeks, I had a tiny glimmer of hope about my situation with my sister, however ill advised that might be.
“If this doesn't redeem me, nothing will.”
The next daywas rehearsal day. I was busy packing our things. The necklace, tucked safely in its box, was already in my purse. Everything else was strewn about, but I had a few hours to get it together. Despite Amy's continued refusal to speak to me, she still wanted Eamon and I to stay at Luke's parents' house that night, mostly because she didn't want us to be late for the ceremony, which was at eleven tomorrow morning.
I consulted the packing list I'd made and cross-referenced it with everything I had set out on the bed. From somewhere under a pile of clothes, my phone rang. I would've let it go to voicemail, but I worried it might be the florist. The flowers were my domain. They had to be perfect. I sifted through the pile and found my phone under my pajamas. When I saw the name on the caller ID, I nearly had a heart attack.Amy.
“Hello?”
“Katherine?” She hiccuped, then let out a quiet sob.
“Oh, my God. What's wrong?” If Luke dumped her, I was going to walk to Brooklyn in my bare feet and strangle his handsome neck.
“I talked to Bill. It was awful.”
“Who in the hell is Bill?”
That just brought out about another wail. “Gordon's brother.”
“Oh, shit.” I glanced at the clock. It was three hours until we were due at the rehearsal. We were going to have to arrive extra early. “Where are you?”
“We're at Luke's parents' house. I can't face Cindy like this. She's going to ask me a million questions. She's so nosy, Katherine. You have no idea. It's a nightmare.”
Eamon appeared, wearing a towel. “Shower?” he mouthed with a sexy bounce of his eyebrows.
“Amy. I can be there in less than an hour, okay? I'm bringing Eamon with me since we both need to be there for the rehearsal. You can tell me everything then. Is that okay?”
Eamon looked truly disappointed, which was its own kind of adorable. Even better when he unwrapped the towel, shot me a pointed glance, and walked away, downtrodden and naked.
Amy sniffled. “I’m sorry, Katherine. I'm a terrible person.” The crying started again.
“It's okay. Have a glass of wine and I'll get there as soon as I can.”
Eamon reappeared in his boxers, regrettably no longer naked. “Guess I’m postponing my shower. I can see why you get so annoyed when everything revolves around this damn wedding.”
I kissed him on the mouth, slow and soft. “Maybe we can take a shower tonight.”
“What's wrong with you? You seem so happy.”
Huh. Iwashappy. “She needs me. Finally.”
Less than thirty minutes later, for the third time in as many months, I found myself in a car on the way to Luke's parents' house. My mind was racing, not knowing what had happened, but certain it was bad. It took a lot to upset Amy.
“What do you think Bill could've said to her?” I asked Eamon.
“No idea. The whole thing is too bizarre to begin with.”
