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“Oh, well tell her!” She nudges my sister to show me the ring again.
“Wow. That’s one shiny rock,” I say and Edie grins.
“Jealousy is not a good color on you, dear,” Mom says.
“Mom,” Edie says at the same time Aly snort-hiccups.
“I’m happy for her,” I say, and then look at Edie’s face instead. “You know I’m happy for you, Edie-Beanie.”
“Yes, I know. Thank you.”
“So, have you set a date? Or is it too early for that?”
“We’re thinking October, in Vermont,” Edie says, as Mom literally clutches her pearls. In the background I see Dar’s mother approach Mom.
“We can fine-tune the details another night,” Mom says, both she and Dar’s mother misty-eyed. Then I see the flash of a dark French twist and my chest tightens. Of course Liza would be there. If both of their families are there, Dar’s sister would be there.
“I do have something important to ask you though,” Edie says, trying to lean away from Mom. But Mom doesn’t let her, she stays right there.
“What’s that?”
“Will you be my maid of honor?” Edie’s voice is so light and sweet, clearly not realizing that her childhood best friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, is staring daggers at the screen from just beyond her shoulder.
“Oh, Edie…” I say, my stomach tightening at the thought of putting myself in Liza’s crosshairs again.
“Faye-Faye…” Her eyes are wide and glassy with happiness and probably more than a little champagne. I will do anything for my little sister. Even if the idea of getting sucked back into that world makes my stomach sick.
“Of course I will,” I say at the same time that Mom says, “Well, there’s no reason to rush those decisions, dear.”
I stare at the screen, open-mouthed as Edie blinks at my mom. Liza hovers behind them, shooting me a lingering glare.
“Mom, she’s going to be my maid of honor.”
Mom raises her palms and shrugs. “All I’m saying is that the maid of honor is a serious role that requires a lot of time spent planning behind the scenes. Your sister is very busy in medical school across the country. Maybe you want to choose someone who can be on the ground, so to speak.”
“I’m right here, Mom,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“And I know this is awkward, but there’s no point in beating around the bush. Of course you should be in Edith’s bridal party. And of course you will be a special member of the bridal party as her sister. But perhaps tonight isn’t the right moment to make decisions like this until we know what all will be involved and have a moment to compare schedules. Especially since she’ll soon have two sisters.” Mom presses a hand to Liza’s back, and Liza turns around, sweet smile masking the nastiness she usually directs at me. On this side of the phone, Aly cringes at my mother’s suggestion, giving my elbow a gentle squeeze.
“Okay, I’m going to hang up now and go celebrate with myfiancé,” Edie says, literally moving away from Mom, and apparently fast enough that Mom can’t keep up in her narrow Stuart Weitzman heels.
“I want you, Faye-Faye,” Edie says.
“I know you do,” I say, swallowing around something thick and uncomfortable. “And I want you to go celebrate and forget about anything that’s not exclusively you and Dar tonight.”
“I will,” she says with a sweet grin.
“Night-night Edie-Beanie,” I say.
“Night-night Faye-Faye,” she replies in a singsong voice, ending the call.
I stare at Aly for a long moment and she passes me my paloma. I forgot I’d set it down, and the glass is empty. Her cheeks are flushed as she stares at the refrigerator where she’s already taped nine save-the-date cards.
“It’s gonna be a long summer, isn’t it?” she asks. Caro saunters into the kitchen, wearing a black crop top and dark jeans.
“What about summer?” Caro says. She eyes us both, taking in my sweatpants and defeated expression. Aly hiccups.
“We’re staying in, aren’t we?” she asks. My phone buzzes with a text from Zeke.
