Page 60 of The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean

“It served me well.”

Mandy relaxed into the seat. For the first time that day it really felt like maybe everything was going to be okay—not just her attempting to be mostly positive about it.

And then her phone buzzed again.

Roger flipped on his turn signal. “Looks like plans havechanged,” he said as Mandy checked the message from her wedding planner.

Candy:Moving photo location

Candy:Don’t worry

Candy:Everything is in hand

“What’s going on?” Mandy asked, but just then Roger flipped his wipers on. Rain. Nothing ruined an outdoor wedding faster than rain. Oh god, she was cursed. The entire day was cursed.

“This doesn’t look like it’s going to stick around too long, so don’t you worry.” Roger tried to sound reassuring. “And they say rain is good luck.”

Mandy wanted to believe him. She truly did.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

December 2006

What was supposed tobe a three-month sabbatical—a three-month trip to learn about and experience some amazing art—turned into an experience Mandy would never forget, nor did she want to. Europe had been everything Mandy needed it to be. Not everything she wanted, but those were different things. She had wanted to go to Paris with Isa, wanted to introduce her to art pieces that meant something to Mandy, but that didn’t happen.

If it had, Mandy may not have been able to stay as long or learn all the things she did and grow as an artist the way she had. The purpose of the trip had transformed, but so had Mandy. As awful as it had started, Mandy wouldn’t change anything about it. She was grateful for everything she had gone through.

Mandy’s life had changed for the better, and she had to believe that Isa’s had too. But she couldn’t think about it, or Isa, or even what tomorrow would be because today was her last day inEngland, and Sophie had wanted to take Mandy out one last time.

While Mandy continued staying at the same house in the same room she had when she first got to Europe, Sophie moved out about six months later into her own flat—with roommates—not far away. On days like today, Mandy would walk instead of taking a bus to see her. It wasn’t often, but there were occasionally days when the sun would come out, even in December, and despite the chilly air, Mandy took her hat off and let those glorious rays shine down on her face.

Sophie’s flat was a three-story walk-up just off a main road. Mandy had no idea what Sophie had in store for her, and Mandy’s mind raced with ideas as she climbed those stairs. They’d already done a ton of shopping to “prepare Mandy’s wardrobe” for when she made it back to the States. And they’d done their last night at their favorite pub, but she supposed they could always go back for one more pint. Mandy carefully tucked her hair behind her ear—it had finally grown out enough to stay secured there for a decent amount of time—and knocked on the door.

As usual, Sophie called out, “Come in,” from the other side.

Mandy pushed the door open.

“Surprise!”

Holy shit.

Mandy jumped back, clutching her chest. Packed inside the smallish flat was practically everyone Mandy knew and a few faces she didn’t recognize. There were people from her art classes and some from Sophie’s design school. Finny and his current boyfriend, Leo, stood near the corner with Rafe and Sophie. On more than one occasion, Mandy had been their fifth wheelbut never minded. They had become some of her favorite people and tomorrow she would be leaving them.

Happy tears stung Mandy’s eyes. “Bloody hell, you guys,” she said in her best British accent, which wasn’t terrible (but wasn’t great either).

And they all laughed and raised their glasses.

The apartment had been decorated with American flags and red, white, and blue balloons. People wore straw cowboy hats and cheap bandannas around their necks.

“We thought we should help you prepare to reacclimate,” Darcy, a girl from her advanced modern art class, said.

Mandy stifled a laugh. “It’s incredible,” she said.

Her friends had really gone all out and seemed to have raided the “American food” section at their local corner shop, ensuring a spread of Twinkies, Strawberry Sensation Pop-Tarts, marshmallows, and hot dogs in a jar—because for some reason the Brits thought this was how Americans sold their hot dogs. Luckily, Sophie made sure to have Mandy’s favorite British foods too—like crumpets and Marmite (yes, she enjoyed the tangy, thick brown spread that looked like dirty motor oil), and Scotch eggs, and some of her favorite cheeses. And of course, Sophie had her favorite gin there as well. (Although Mandy didn’t know for sure whether she could get it in America—she would have to see when she got back.) Because they were right, in less than twenty-four hours, she would have no problem getting all the American snack foods her heart could desire, but she wouldn’t get the few things that were truly British. She wished she could wrap up all the things and people she loved so much about Europe and bring them home with her. What was she going to do without Sophie? They could Skype, but Mandy couldn’t walkover to her flat and watch terrible British telly with her or go to the pub and grab a pint after a really long day. Hell, back home she wasn’t even allowed to drink legally. And who was going to tell her what to wear? And that she had horrible taste in shoes? Well, actually, Mom would have the shoe thing covered.

As if Sophie knew Mandy was thinking about her, she was suddenly next to her, pulling Mandy into the tightest hug. “You were surprised, right?”

“I hadnoidea.” And it was true. Mandy had been too preoccupied with all the things she needed to do to leave to notice anything suspicious. It was a good thing Mandy didn’t want to become a detective. If she were being honest, she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she got back, she just knew it was time to go. The same feeling in her gut that had been calling her to Europe started calling her home. She missed the beach and the sun and the warm California weather. And she missed Mom and Dad. She loved Europe—there was something there that fed her soul in a way nothing back home did—but she was also a California girl inside and out, and it was her time to return. Those tears threatened again.

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