“And,” Mom continues, “Peter and Tripp eloped without eventellingme.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s how eloping works,” Linney says. Tripp’s parents had been, as Cooper said at the time,pretty uncoolabout Tripp marrying a man. Pete felt like a big wedding with our whole family would just call attention to the absence of Tripp’s. He didn’t want any part of their wedding day to be sad, so it was just the two of them married on the beach in Fiji a few years ago.
Still, I can hear the genuine disappointment in Mom’s voice for having missed out. The same impulse that had me practicing my pageant walk when I was twelve, and staying up studying past midnight in high school to make sure I aced my American history exam, takes hold.
“You know, I might get married, Mom. You can makemycake.” I try to keep my tone light, but I can’t keep the earnestness out of it.
She looks up at me, and I can’t quite read her expression, but it almost looks like disappointment. Then she smiles. “That’s so sweet, dear.”
I can’t help but feel it’s a brush-off. Like my future wedding is so hypothetical, it may as well never happen.
Looking back down at her legal pad, Mom clears her throat. “Cara can look for a dress at LuAnne’s. They’re still closed for the holiday, but I called Beau, and he’s going let us in on Tuesday.”
“Is LuAnne’s really Cara’s style?” Linney asks. LuAnne’s is the local shop where I’d go for all my pageant dresses. Similar to my firework philosophy, LuAnne’s sartorial stance on sequins is that more is more ismore. “She doesn’t really seem… like the ballgown type.”
Linney’s right. Cara seems like someone who’d rather have something preppy, structured, and minimalist. One trip to the dressing room at LuAnne’s—with its flouncy, satiny numbers and excessive sleeve-spans—might be enough to convince Cara to call off the wedding. After all, the amount of times Mom made me go there to try on pageant dresses was enough to make me almost quit the circuit. The only reason I stuck with it was because there was scholarship money on the line.
And, okay, also because I didn’t want Mary Moore to win them all without me.
“Oh, you’ll love it,” I say to Cara now, painting a wide smile on my face. “Her stuff is so fun—I’ve gotten lots of dresses there over the years.” Not entirely a lie.
“And you have such amazing style!” Cara grins back. “So I’m sure we’ll find something great there.”
She’s sitting there, smiling blithely, but given my outfit this morning—cutoff jeans and an oldLife is Better at the LakeT-shirt knotted at the waist—I can’t help but sense it’s another subtle dig.
“Anyway, if nothing else, I have a little white slip dress I can wear,” Cara says to the group. “Since we’re keeping things kind of casual anyway.”
“That’s probably for the best,” I say sweetly, then lean in like I’m whispering a secret. “Too many sparkles can really wash a pale girl out.”
“Oh, I know,” Cara says, matching my lean-in. “Good thing I don’t have to worry about that. Luckily,myundertones are pretty forgiving.” She pats my knee. “But thank you for the tip.”
Linney’s eyes ping between us like she’s watching a match at Wimbledon.
Mom’s oblivious.
“Now, Cara, your dad is going to cover the meat,” she says. Her pencil scratches softly as she checks that off. “We’ll order sides from Magnolia Smokehouse—a full Southern spread, and folks can help themselves. We’re thinking around thirty people total, yes?” Cara nods. Mom makes another check mark. “Good, I’ll put the order in today. So that’s food covered. Graham will obviously officiate.” Linney’s husband is a Presbyterian minister. He can’t leave his parish for very long, which is why he’s rarely here.
“I’ll make sure he’s free,” Linney confirms.
“We’ll need to figure out music too,” Mom says.
In a burst of cruel genius, I school my face into careful neutrality. “Maybe Cooper’s old band can play?”
There’s a tense silence from Linney and Mom as we all remember the caterwauling of Cooper’s old band.
Cara, totally unaware of this, looks intrigued, but wary—probablybecause the suggestion is coming from me. “That could be fun… Cooper always talks about how great they were.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’re busy. They’re grown up. They all have their own lives now,” Mom says, shooting me a look of disapproval. Part of me wants to retreat back into the warmth of her good graces, but I press on. The cost of Semi-Total Wedding Destruction might be my mom’s approval, but I’m willing to risk it. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind!” I force cheeriness into my voice. “Especially if they know how much it’d mean to Cooper.”
“YouwantLeg Tears to play at the wedding, Nikki?” Linney asks.
“I just think it’d be a nice personal touch!” I try for as much innocence as possible. “And they’ll probably do it just for the open bar.”
Mom clears her throat and turns back to her legal pad. “Which reminds me, Linney, can you handle alcohol?”
Linney’s eyes narrow and don’t leave me. “Yes, Mom. Of course.”
Linney looks like she’s about to put the screws to me, but before she can get started, I stand up. “Why don’t I get started on those centerpieces?”
