AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The women’s laughter rang out over the park. Just then, Annie realized how lucky she was to have Katrina and Maggie as lifelong friends.
“You two, thank you so much for everything. Thank you for being my friends. Thank you for sticking by me when I made such a jackass out of myself with Steve. And Maggie, thank you for the money. I would never be this far along if it weren’t for you.”
“Because of Russ’s money, you mean. I’m spending it to improve our lives. It’s weird because the more I give away, the bigger my stock portfolio gets.”
“You’re so generous. Think of the animals you’re helping, too, at the rescue.”
“I know,” Maggie said. “I now have the world beating a path to my door between the veterinary clinic and the rescue. What the hell was I thinking?”
Teasing her felt good, the decompression obvious with the wine and the chatter. But there was still the wedding they needed to confront. Maggie tended to overthink things, especially in matters of the heart.
“Let’s get back to the wedding,” Annie said.
“Let’s not.”
“Yeah, let’s,” Katrina added. “You changed the subject so fast.”
“It was intentional. Talking about it freaks me out. I have to figure out how to keep Justin and not marry him. He’s hell-bent on getting married, you guys. I mean he wants the paper signed by the priest and the High Mass with communion, the big reception, and the whole nine yards. I’m trying to compromise by having it at the Bayou Cottage and wearing his mother’s dress.”
“Here’s an idea. Just have a commitment ceremony,” Katrina said. “Ask him if you can do that. You can say your vows in front of your friends and have them mean just as much as if you were saying them over that piece of paper the county clerk draws up.”
Maggie nodded. “I wonder if he’d buy it.”
“I have to put my two cents in,” Annie said, finishing her glass of wine. “Why don’t you want to get married? You love Justin. You have a kid together. You live together. What is your reservation about marrying him? Is it still trust?”
“I trust him enough to stay with him, but to get married? I’m not sure. Justin is a flirt. I’m dealing with it. But if it got out of hand, I don’t want to go through another divorce. If Justin and I break up, where will I run to?”
“Right, because your family doesn’t own a cottage in another parish,” Katrina said.
“I could buy a cottage like you did, Katrina,” Maggie replied.
“You guys are assuming Justin is going to cheat, and he’s not a cheater. He worships you, Maggie,” Annie said.
“Did he tell you that?”
“No. You know I can’t tell you what he said, but he didn’t say anything about you. We talked about his mother’s death.”
“Is Justin seeing you for therapy, Annie?” Katrina asked, perking up. “That doesn’t seem like a good fit to me.”
“He wanted to see her, and he definitely needed the help,” Maggie said.
“It feels a little collusive.”
“I swear, I had nothing to do with it,” Maggie insisted.
“Okay, well, if you say so. Wow, we have our own private therapist,” Katrina said. “I keep forgetting.”
“I’m here for everyone if I’m needed,” Annie said, laughing, then she looked at her phone for the time. “I need to get back. I told Chris I’d have lunch with him and listen to his tales about house hunting this morning.”
“Tell him congratulations on his new job and the move.”
“You can tell him yourself this afternoon,” Annie said. “Maggie, I hope you’re okay with him inviting us to spend the day with you.”
“It’s fine. We’ll have fun. I have sitters lined up so we can go for a ride.”
“Count me out. I’m not getting on the back of a horse,” Katrina said, grimacing. “I’ll supervise the sitters.”
“Me either,” Annie replied. “I’m scared of horses.”
