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I didn’t know what to say, but as usual, my mother didn’t stick around for the emotional stuff. There was a suspicious sniffle before she quickly crossed the side yard to the house.
Luckily for me, I didn’t have time to dwell on that huge download of information from my mother. My sister and the frightening pack of bridesmaids was headed my way.
“That looks amazing!” Honey slipped her arm through mine and leaned her head on my shoulder. “Tabitha is going to just die when she sees everything. We’ve had to tackle her about fourteen times to stay away from the windows.”
Lea handed out photos to everyone. “Clip at will. This is just the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, not sure what to do with all the sweet-smelling females all around me—not counting my sister, of course.
Three months ago, I would’ve basked in the attention. Now all I wanted was to see where Van was.
Mickey and Tiffany started fussing with all the photos and then my sister jumped in with her own opinions. I took that moment to escape to help my dad and Brady.
“Have you seen Van?”
Brady swiped his forehead with the back of his arm. “I think it was her turn for the primping station. She kept trying to get out of it, but Honey said she finally was on the chopping block. Literally. The hair chick wanted to attack her hair.”
My stomach lurched. I loved Vanessa’s wild hair. It fit her personality too well.
Untamable in every possible way.
Brady slapped my arm. “Don’t worry. It’ll grow back.”
“Ass.”
His lips twitched. “Thanks for doing all this. I saw all your little touches. I didn’t know you were doing so much wood carving these days. Tab is going to lose it when she sees those bird cages.”
I shrugged. “Ice designs are created in a pretty small window of the year, even around here. I had to do something else or I’d go nuts.”
“Well, it’s amazing. I really appreciate it.”
“Just best man duties.”
“It’s really not. You went above and beyond.” He gripped the back of his neck. “And all I have been doing is giving you shit.”
My dad pulled out his tie-dye bandana and mopped his face. “You guys are gonna make me cry over here.”
“Shut up,” we said in unison.
Our dad laughed. “I’m just glad to see you guys getting along. If it takes a baby and a wedding, then so be it. But we still have a ton to do. Emotions later during the speeches.”
I was more than happy to skip the mushy stuff. “What do we have left?”
“Two more barrels have to go near the head table and then we have to take showers or your mother will kill us all.”
“I know that’s right.” Brady grinned. Dirt smeared his cheek and his shirt. I wasn’t sure how he’d managed that, but I decided I didn’t want to know.
“Well then, let’s get it done.”
With the three of us attacking the last of the details, and my mom trailing behind us to make sure everything was cleaned and polished, we got everything done and even had time for a beer.
A quick one but still.
The next little while was a flurry of activity. The food, booze, and a metric ton of ice was being hauled in by the catering team. Then my cousins and aunts and uncles arrived hours early. I left my mother to deal with that.
Showering in my childhood bathroom was a blast from the past. I wasn’t sure how I used to fit in the skinny standing shower. Part of me wished I could find out just how inventive I could be with Pocket Plus and her bendy ways in this space.
She was tiny enough to jam in the corner.
