Page 87 of Trial and Error

Avery’s car is out the front, parked behind Patrick’s, and I park against the curb. I get out of the car, and just as I’m rounding the hood and making my way toward Bridget, I see her narrowed eyes.

“What is it?” I ask, reaching for her hand.

She takes in and slowly stands. “That’s my mom’s car.”

I follow her line of gaze and look over at the silver coupe parked on the other side of the street. “Huh, maybe they’ve planned a family dinner?”

Bridget doesn’t look convinced, and I don’t like the cautious look in her eyes. “Elias, I don’t like the look of this.”

I lean forward and rest my forehead against hers. “It’ll be fine, baby.” She sighs. “Trust me.”

elias

It was, in fact, not fine.

Mom arranged an engagement party for us, and as soon as we walked into the living room where everyone was, I felt Bridget check out. She went ridged, her back ramrod straight and stiff. Every interaction has been robotic, like she’s copy and pasting conversations and altering them to each person.

Avery whisked her away about twenty minutes ago, and I’ve been watching her from the sideline since. Oscar and Isobel arrived not long after us, and by the way my brother walked straight to the kitchen and grabbed a beer, told me they had just been fighting.

In all the years they’ve been together, I’ve only ever seen them fight one time. It was just after Isobel found out she was pregnant with Olivia. They were both scared and said some things they shouldn’t have, and it lasted a total of three weeks before they reconciled.

If the longing look Oscar keeps sending Isobel is anything to go by, I’m sure this fight was child’s play. “Want to talk about it?”

Oscar puffs out his cheeks and shrugs. “It’s dumb.”

“It usually is.”

He glares. “Olivia was being a little shit and playing around all morning and she spilled chocolate milk on the dress Isobel had picked out for her. I hadn’t washed the backup dress and…” He sighs. “All hell broke loose. She’s been different this time around, less sad and more…angry. She has no patience, and with Freya hardly sleeping she gets frustrated really easily, and I guess it just was too much for me.”

I frown. “You guys sorted it, though, right?”

My brother smirks. “We snuck off to the bathroom before we came and made up.”

I roll my eyes. “Trying to make baby number three?”

Oscar laughs. “Not quite—maybe someday, though.” He looks over at Bridget, then elbows my side. “How’re things with Biddy?”

I sigh. “We don’t fight.”

My brother looks up at me and frowns. “Do you want to fight?”

I shrug. “I mean, it’s healthy to fight, right? That’s what couples do, they fight and make up, and repeat the cycle every now and then.”

Oscar looks at me pensively. “Are you happy?”

“Yes.”

“But?”

I sigh. “I don’t think she is.”

Oscar knows I have more to say, which is why he stays silent while I try and find the words. “When we got back from Nelson, she told me she loved me and that while this wasn’t how she pictured falling in love, she’s grieving the life she had planned out for herself, and I guess it’s opened my eyes. It’s like I can finally see all the little tells she gives off when something is too much or if she is feeling overwhelmed.” I nod over to where she’s standing with Patrick. “You see how she’s pinching the skin near her elbow? She does that when she feels overwhelmed or uncomfortable, and that smile? That’s the fakest shit I’ve seen her pull.”

“Have you spoken to her about it?”

I shake my head. “I’ve only just started to notice. I’ve been to busy enjoying it for what it is that I haven’t seen this isn’t how it should be for her. She deserves so much more.”

Oscar sighs. “I think it’s something you guys need to talk about. Maybe she’s feeling the same way, worrying about how you’re feeling and doesn’t know how to tell you? Maybe…maybe you guys just need to take a step back. It’s not too late, you know? To call off the wedding. Mom would understand.”