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The next dayfound her sitting on her usual table as she waited for the bride to come back after breast feeding her son. How much straightening would have to be performed after that?
Today, she was alone in the room. Tess was running late because her daughter was teething and in the middle of a much-needed nap. The other three members of the book club were up in the sanctuary still since it was just under an hour until the ceremony.
Mia looked around the little room that had held so many events over the last year. Ruth was the only one who hadn’t gotten married in this church, and if she had another ceremony, she wouldn’t have it here. Mia had always wanted her wedding here, but that wouldn’t happen now. Her heart was moving to Grand Forks without her.
It had taken her over a decade to get over Rafferty the first time. And she didn’t think she had it in her to do it again. She would love him forever. Even after he was long gone. Again.
Don’t cry, she demanded of herself. She had cried most of the night and had to put on so much makeup today that she looked like a clown. The tears were for her relationship with Rafferty and how she had messed that one up, and they were for the end of book club. She still loved it but couldn’t go anymore. She didn’t belong anymore. Everyone was moving into a new phase of their lives as wives and mothers. Something she would never be.
Mandy rushed into the room with no baby. Shutting the door she stopped and looked Mia up and down in her peach dress and said, “Look at you all lonely.”
“I’m here with all my friends,” Mia said, feeling the truth in it.
“Then it’s a good thing I came.” Mandy jumped up beside her.
“Get down. You’ll wrinkle your dress,” Mia stated sternly. It seemed the older the bride, the more relaxed they were.
“I don’t care, let it be wrinkled. I’m sitting with my favorite cousin.” Mandy put her arm around her.
Mia smiled. “At least we’ll always be cousins.”
“Does that mean that we won’t have lunch once a week when we’re old?”Like their moms did, Mandy didn’t add.
“Probably not. You’ll get together with Kit and never have enough grandkids to beat her.” Mia laughed.
Mandy’s sister had five kids already, and no matter how close in age Mandy’s were, five was a lot. And now that Kit had found love again, Mia wasn’t entirely sure the couple wouldn’t have a few kids together. Even if Kit was adamantly against it.
“Kit wins all day long. I’ll stick with you. We’ll talk about our mom hips and have a competition to see who has more grandkids.” Again, like their moms.
“You’ll win. No kids means no grand kids.” Mia sighed. It was the truth. She would have to focus her attention on others’ kids. Just like she had before.
“There’s always Rafferty,” Mandy said with a wink.
“No, that’s over. Whatever it was,” Mia admitted, wishing she could at least say they had a relationship. Instead, she was left with not knowing what they had.
“Well, then there’s someone out there for you.”
“No, he was the one. Ever since high school, he was the one.”
“High school?”
“Yup.”
“Why are you giving up so easy, then?” Mandy demanded.
“Because he’s done with me he’s moving,” she reminded her cousin. They had just talked about it the night before. Only now she had to give up on the dream of her being a mom someday.
Mandy put her arm around Mia. “Maybe you can follow him. Finally get to Grand Forks. You always wanted out of this little town.”
“No, I’m a Tiger. I’ll die here.” Leaning into her cousin, Mia hung her head.
“Boy, aren’t you the morbid one today? On my wedding day.” Mandy pulled her even closer.
“Just a little depressed. Sorry, it’s your wedding day, too.” Mia slammed a hand to her mouth. She should not have said that. Not to the bride.
“I know how you’re feeling, you know. It hasn’t always been me getting married. I’ve been to my share of weddings that I wanted to be happy about but couldn’t,” Mandy admitted. She had been single for five years after her divorce.
“It’s hard,” Mia said.
