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“Why? They already knew,” Ethel sneers.
“Ethel.” My mom sighs. “We will come together as a family.” Although I still see the disappointment in her eyes, she hugs me. “Congratulations, honey.”
Tears threaten to prick my eyes, but I manage to hold them back. I watch as my mom walks back to her car, gets in, and drives away. I’ve never felt like a shittier daughter.
“We need to make a list of what has to be done for the wedding,” Ethel says.
“Who are your bridesmaids?” Chevelle asks.
“Small or large wedding?” Posey asks, rubbing her belly.
“Noah would make a great ring bearer,” Nikki chimes in.
“Noah is the groom,” Midge says.
Nikki’s nostrils flare and her fists clench at her sides.
“Let me talk with Mom again. Maybe at the dinner we can go over everything we need help with. Right now, I have to get back to work. Thank you all for your congratulations.” I hug everyone again and go back to the reception area inside.
Sitting down, I exhale a big breath, closing my eyes and continue a breathing exercise I used to do when I was a teenager after we moved back to Sunrise Bay and I was stressed out. How and when did my life get so complicated?
The uneasiness inside me tells me what I need to do. Mom deserves the respect of meeting Noah on her own, without all the rest of the family. So I dial her number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mom, how about you come over to the inn tonight for dinner? I’ll invite Noah so you and Hank can meet him?”
“Oh, are you sure? I’d hate to put you out.”
My head rocks back and I squeeze my eyes closed. “You’re not putting us out. I was afraid to tell you. That’s why you haven’t met him. I thought you’d think it was a rash decision.”
She doesn’t say anything for a little bit. “It is quick, but I trust your judgment, Mandi. You’ve never given me reason not to.”
I bite back the bile racing up my throat. “Thanks for that. I’m sorry though. I feel horrible.”
“Thank you for the apology, honey. I look forward to meeting Noah tonight. Let’s say six?”
“Perfect. See you then.”
We hang up and the door to the inn opens, Noah walking through it. “Why are the grandmas outside?”
“Turns out our wedding invitations went out already. Everyone got one.”
His eyes widen. “But—”
“Don’t worry about that. The secret’s out, so guess what you get to do tonight?” I feign excitement. “You get to meet your almost-in-laws.” I smack on the fakest smile I can muster.
Noah appears unbothered by this news. He leans his forearms on the counter. “Oh, I can’t wait to meet them.”
“And there’s going to be a big family dinner soon. People are asking questions and I think we need to be on the same page.”
“Do I need flashcards to get to know you?”
I shake my head. “No, but we had invitations made without telling anyone we’re getting married, so we need to have some idea of the wedding we want.”
By the timemy mom and Hank are due to meet us at the inn’s restaurant, I feel as though Noah and I are on the same wavelength. We want the wedding to be small, intimate, with no bridesmaids or groomsmen. Just us, with both our families, here at the inn. No huge show or extravagant expense for something that isn’t real to begin with.
Noah and I are seated outside when Mom and Hank walk out onto the patio. We both stand to greet them. I always thought of Hank as tall, but compared to Noah, he looks like a shrimp.
