Page 9 of Trick of Light

Having female friends was not a normal thing for her. However, friends had fallen from the sky since she’d paired up with Nick. Whoever Nick was interested in had to be interesting, right? Although Bethany had a hunch that some women who befriended her were secretly in the game for the top prize of Nick’s love, some were genuinely good people. Violet and Jenny were her favorites—and they’d agreed to stand up front with her at “the wedding of the summer” and support her as she married her groom.

It was hard to believe how quickly everything in Bethany’s life had changed. More than that, Bethany was still not entirely sure why Nick had chosen to fall in love with her, of all people. That first night at the diner and the subsequent day at the hospital had solidified something between them. And for whatever reason, ever since then, they’d hardly spent a single day apart.

Of course, they weren’t without their problems. But Bethany knew the majority of those issues resulted from the intense pressure on both of their shoulders. They were doing surgical residencies! Nick’s father demanded so much more of him than most fathers! They wanted to save the world!

It was enough to cause a few arguments here and there. Bethany knew they were nothing to worry about. Couples fought. It was the making-up that mattered.

Bethany agreed to meet Nick’s mother and two sisters, Violet and Jenny, at the venue to get ready at ten thirty. Nick’s mother, Amanda, had hired the best hairstylists and makeup artists in the city, and she’d insisted everyone get their nails done this week. Bethany had never gotten her nails done, and she hated the sensation now that she couldn’t fully use her hands. Immediately after the honeymoon, she would have the nails removed. She was a surgeon. She needed her fingers.

Amanda Waterstone was a very traditional Southern belle. It was often captivating for Bethany to be around her. She was fascinated with her drawl, big hair, and very backward ideas about feminism and the world. She was incredibly proud to be Bob Waterstone’s wife and often spoke of herself as a “surgeon’s wife” as though that were a title everyone understood. Because Amanda had so much power in the community, nobody questioned her.

When Bethany and Amanda first met, Nick and Bethany had only been dating for a few days. Amanda had looked at her with beady, distrustful eyes, but she’d welcomed her into their home, feeding her pot roast and glaring at her as she asked Bob Waterstone questions about his career.

“You seem to know a thing or two about all that,” Amanda had said back then. “What do your parents think of your career choice?”

Bethany had stuttered and then said she wasn’t sure they knew.

“They don’t know what you’re doing, honey?” Amanda demanded, melting slightly.

“Mom,” Nick had said. “Don’t be rude.”

Now, Bethany entered the beautiful bridal suite, where her wedding dress had already hung from a hook on the ceiling, and her female in-laws were already seated in front of a large mirror, getting their hair done.

“There she is,” Amanda said. “We were nervous we’d have to do the wedding without the bride!”

Bethany laughed, although she was only three minutes late. It was best to take Amanda with a grain of salt. She would be dealing with soon-to-be mother-in-law for a very long time.

As Bethany sat in front of her hair stylist, Violet and Jenny breezed into the room with bottles of champagne. They laughed happily and kissed Bethany on the cheek before greeting Amanda. Amanda beamed at them and squeezed their hands.

“How are your mothers? Will they make it today?” Amanda asked. After all, she’d known Violet and Jenny for a long time.

She’d probably hoped Nick would marry one of them.

But Bethany tried not to dwell on the realities of her mother-in-law’s hopes and dreams. What mattered was that today, she was marrying Nick Waterstone. They were heading out on an adventure of a lifetime in their coupledom and honeymoon, which would take them to Florence, Venice, and Rome. Bethany had never been out of the country before. Growing up on Nantucket hadn’t required any kind of travel. And after Joel’s death, it wasn’t like any of the Suttons had been up for it, either.

Thinking of Joel now put an immediate damper on the day. Bethany tried not to imagine what it would have been like to have her family there. If everything hadn’t played out the way it did, perhaps Victor would have walked her down the aisle rather than Dr. Waterstone. Maybe her mother would have been beside her, getting her hair done. Perhaps her sisters would have been bridesmaids—Rebecca, the maid of honor, and Valerie, palling behind them like always.

As it was, she wasn’t sure if Rebecca, Valerie, or Esme even knew she was getting married today.

“You wouldn’t believe the argument I had with the wedding planner this week,” Amanda was telling Violet now, her eyes flashing. “The seating arrangements for dinner were atrocious. I gave her direct instructions! I know for sure that the girl must have gotten them mixed up. And to think—we’re paying her an arm and a leg to be organized!” Amanda huffed, clearly pleased with herself. “I dare say this will be her last wedding in Savannah if she makes another error like that.”

Bethany’s stomach twisted, and she struggled not to frown. Since she and Nick had gotten engaged, Amanda had adored tossing around information about the money she and Bob spent on the engagement party and other festivities. Her favorite joke involved the fact that the bride’s parents were traditionally supposed to pay for the wedding. “But of course, we couldn’t do that to poor Bethany. Imagine us at that ceremony! Bethany would probably serve cheese sandwiches on white bread. She’d hook up a radio for music!”

A few months ago, during a state of insanity, Bethany pulled Amanda aside and asked if she could pay for the wedding cake herself. Shame curled her toes. But Amanda had patted her shoulder and explained that the cakes she and Bob had their eyes on cost upward of five thousand dollars a pop. Bethany had guessed five hundred dollars, tops. Feeling like a fool, she'd slunk away and allowed Bob and Amanda to happily flash their credit cards around for the remainder of the wedding planning.

An hour and a half before the ceremony, Bethany slipped into her wedding dress and felt Violet’s soft fingers button her up the back. When she turned toward the mirror, her breath caught in her throat. She looked exactly like a young woman in a bridal magazine, exactly like a moneyed and happy and athletic young woman on the brink of the rest of her prosperous life. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she blinked them back, not wanting to mess up her makeup.

“Look at you,” Amanda breathed, stepping up beside her and touching her arm gently. “My darling daughter-in-law.”

The others stood behind them in a small semicircle, watching in reverent silence. Bethany’s heartbeat was loud in her ears.

“When I look at you now,” Amanda said, her voice catching, “all I can think of are the wonderful grandchildren you’ll bring into my life. They bring purpose to everything, you know. Another generation of Waterstones.”

Bethany’s lips curved into a nervous smile. Of course, she wanted children. Eventually. When they fit into her career plans.

“Yes. With Nick’s brains and your beauty, my grandchildren will be remarkable people,” Amanda said happily.

Bethany’s gut seized. She searched for Violet’s or Jenny’s eyes in the mirror, hoping for safety. But they all seemed to be looking elsewhere, happy to let Amanda say whatever she pleased. She was the woman with the credit card, after all. It was technically Amanda’s special day.

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