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Avery: OK. Good thing I didn’t have plans. What do I need to bring? Not sure I have anything suitable to wear.
Me: Good point. You need to dress the part. I’ll call a personal shopper friend of mine; she’ll sort you out. I’ll pick up the bill of course.
Avery: It’s fine, I’ll pay.
I chuckled. So stubborn. She’d soon learn there were certain areas I wouldn’t back down on.
The three little dots appeared on the screen, indicating she was adding more to her previous reply.
Avery: Should we get to know some things about each other so this relationship seems believable?
Me: Yes. Good idea. I was going to suggest a list of questions we could send each other, but let’s start talking. What’s your all-time favourite food?
We traded information throughout the evening. It turned out that Avery and I did have somethi
ng in common, after all. We seemed to have a shared appreciation for sitcoms, and before long we’d gone off track with the questions, instead debating the merits of the UK versus the USA version of The Office.
I was startled when I looked at the clock to find it was almost midnight. We’d been messaging each other for over two hours. I sent Avery a quick message to say goodnight, then dropped my phone onto the sofa next to me. It buzzed, and my sister’s name flashed up on the screen.
Victoria: Sorry it’s late but I saw you were online. Sorted a date for my wedding yet?
Me: I have, actually. Mother can stop interfering now.
Victoria: Ha. I hope your date has a backbone. You know Mother won’t give up that easily.
Me: I live in hope.
Victoria: Even if you’re not in love with the girl, bloody well act like it.
Me: I plan to. Get ready, I’m calling you.
I hit the Call button and sat back, waiting for my sister to connect.
“Ethan. Please tell me you’re not calling me to try and talk me out of the wedding again.”
“As your older and much wiser sibling, I feel it’s my duty to warn you that I feel like you’re rushing into it.”
Victoria’s annoyed huff came down the line. “We’ve been through this already. I know what I’m doing.”
“V. You’re twenty-three, and you’ve been with this man all of five minutes.”
“Almost a year, as a matter of fact. I love him, and I’m going to marry him.” She took a deep breath, and her voice came through quieter. “Besides, it’s too late to call it off now, even if I wanted to.”
“Listen to me. It’s not too late. If you’re having second thoughts, we can sort this out. Whatever you need.”
She sighed. “No. Ralph and I are getting married, and that’s final.”
“Okay. You know I’ll always support you.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was small. “I wish Dad were here. You’re still going to walk me down the aisle, aren’t you?”
Sadness filled me as I thought of my father. He’d passed away when I was seventeen, and Victoria was fourteen. A freak accident, they’d told us. He’d been waterskiing, and he’d wiped out at high speed. One day he was there; the next, gone. My mother had fallen to pieces. I’d had to grow up fast, to step up and be the man of the house, to take care of my mother and sister.
“V, of course I’ll walk you down the aisle. You’re my sister, and I love you.”
She sniffed. “I love you, too. Thanks. You’re the best brother a girl could ask for.” I smiled, hearing the sincerity in her tone. “Anyway, I need my beauty sleep. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
“See you then. Night.”
