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“It could be worse,” Grandma said. “We’ll just stuff some socks in your bra. You used to do that in middle school anyway.”
“Who are all those people downstairs?”
“Seven of them are the other bridesmaids.”
“There are seven bridesmaids?”
“That’s why they needed you. Seven doesn’t come out even when they’re all lined up. And then there’s the wedding planner and her crew. And there’s some kind of high-level discussion going on with the reception seating and who’s getting the prime rib.”
“Mom looked zoned out.”
“Your mother was a real trouper until this morning when we heard about the appendix and Bitsy went into a state. Bitsy was all bug-eyed and foaming at the mouth and gonna call everything off, you’d think she was the bride. And your mother picked up her knitting and she hasn’t left the kitchen table since. She’s like a little island of calm in a big raging storm.”
“Was my wedding frantic like this?”
“No. You saved frantic for your divorce. People are still talking about it.”
I went downstairs and found Bob sneaking sandwiches off people’s plates. I hooked him up to his leash and we went to the door.
“Don’t forget about the rehearsal,” Grandma said to me. “Tomorrow at six o’clock at the church, and then there’s the rehearsal dinner afterward.”
Bob and I had a quiet dinner, we watched some television, and I did a last email check of the day.
“Things are coming together,” I said to Bob. “We’ve got the fake jewels. We’ve got Marcus, the homeless guy whodidn’tget shot. We’ve got Nutsy. There’s only one missing piece to the puzzle. Stump. We need a body.”
I changed into a tank top and pajama bottoms and slippedinto bed. Bob jumped up, found the perfect sleep spot on Ranger’s side, turned around four times, and flopped down.
The room was dark, and the bed was perfect, but I couldn’t sleep. I was waiting for Ranger. I didn’t know what to expect. And I didn’t know how to respond.
“I’m confused,” I said to Bob. “I’m a mess.”
Ranger came home a little after one. I got out of bed when I heard him in the kitchen.
“I didn’t expect you to still be up,” he said when I walked in.
“I couldn’t sleep. Are you having another green smoothie?”
“Mixed berry. Why couldn’t you sleep?”
“I have things on my mind,” I said. “Morelli is coming home tomorrow.”
“And?”
“I’m feeling guilty. He doesn’t know I’ve been staying here.”
“Do you feel guilty because he doesn’t know or because you like staying here?”
“Both,” I said.
“Then I don’t see where you have a problem. Give him his dog back and tell him you’re living with me.”
“I can’t do that. I’m in a committed relationship with him.”
“Where’s the commitment? Is he going to marry you?”
“Maybe someday.”
“Maybe never,” Ranger said. “And you can do better.”
