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“Hey,” I answered.
Sasha’s hands went to her thin hips. Her eyes narrowed.
“Oh my God. I don’t know what to do.” Evie sounded out of breath.
“Slow down. What’s wrong?”
“I just got off the phone with my mom and Frannie. We have to go to Newton Hills this weekend.”
“Why? Did something happen?” I asked. I could feel Sasha’s eyes boring holes into my head, but Evie took priority now. Sasha had to learn this was the new normal.
“Everyone is fine. But they are throwing us a reception. My mom says it’s the only way my dad is going to accept our marriage. I told them we’d be there. I didn’t know what else to say. I’m sorry. It’s a total disaster.”
“It’s not. We can go. We can spare a weekend in Newton Hills.”
Sasha moved to open her mouth, but I held up a hand.
“Are you sure? It’s not like it’s going to be a wedding, but they want the full reception. Everything. Apparently, they’ve been planning it the entire time we were in Tahiti. I had no idea. Frannie wanted it to be a surprise, but my mom finally broke down and thought we needed a few days’ notice. It’s only three days away, Jer.”
I hadn’t planned to return to Newton Hills anytime soon, or ever if I could help it. But I couldn’t pretend that Evie’s entire family didn’t live there. It was going to happen eventually. I had hoped that the next time would be with the paternity documents required to collect my inheritance.
“Ok. What do we need to do before then?” I asked. I didn’t know how the fuck to plan a wedding reception. I’d thrown a few bachelor parties. Those I could do. I knew high-end strippers and good liquor.
“I need a dress and maybe you should wear a tux-suit thing.”
I chuckled. “Anything else?”
“We need a first dance song, and I have to tell them what flavors to make the different tiers of the cake. Oh shit. And a wedding party? You know, a few friends to stand in for us.”
“This is starting to sound like a wedding.”
“It’s not, but my very Italian, very traditional family has a lot of opinions on the proper way to do things. This will help to smooth things over.” She sighed. “I don’t think it mattered before…but…”
“I know. It matters now.”
“Yes. I want them to love you, Jer. This party could change things for my dad. It could be a huge step.”
“I’ll pay for everything, ok? Whatever you want. Whatever your mom and your sister want. I’ll cover all the expenses.”
Our wedding had been anything but extravagant. We were married in the middle of the night in a bed and breakfast. There were two witnesses, who had until that point been complete strangers to us. If Evie needed this. If she wanted it. I’d move whatever mountains stood in the way to give it to her.
“No,” she blurted. “Are you crazy? Do you know how offended my father would be?”
Sasha cleared her throat behind me.
“Ok. I take it back?” I was confused. I thought I was helping the man.
She sighed. “Good.
Maybe we could pay for things they don’t know about, but he would be insulted if you tried to pay for his daughter’s wedding.”
I was going to have to read up on Italian fathers before the weekend.
“Babe, I’ve got to get to a meeting, but tell them we’ll be there. I’ll have the jet fly us all the way in. Maybe we can stop in Asheville on the way back and drop in on Mrs. Hughes,” I teased.
“Wouldn’t she be surprised? I bet she didn’t think we’d last a week.”
“Probably not. I’ll see you for dinner.”
