Page 10 of The Snowball Effect

When Regan’sphone buzzed with a text, she stopped in the middle of the grocery store pasta aisle and snatched her phone from where she’d left it in the carriage.

Sutton had told her she was going to call today, and Regan was so excited to –

Oh.

Audrey L. Gallagher – 10:00 AM

The dress fitting for my bridal shower is a week from Tuesday – Opal’s Bridal Boutique in the West Village, at ten. Be there by nine forty-five.

Regan grimaced down at her phone. Her sister eventextedon the hour.

For a few seconds, she debated not even answering; after all, Audrey wasn’t looking for Regan’s response. She never was. Not really.

Heaving a sigh, she typed back solely because she knew she wouldn’t hear the end of it if she didn’t.

Regan – 10:01 AM

Yeah… you already sent this memo to me via email… twice… and it’s in the Audrey and Armando wedding calendar that you added me to…

Audrey L. Gallagher – 10:01 AM

And you didn’t respond to them, did you?

Regan – 10:01 AM

I didn’t see anyone else respond with proof of receipt either???

Audrey L. Gallagher – 10:02 AM

I know how often you’ve been reminded of the event, Regan. But I don’t want you to mess this up. The entire wedding party is going to be there, and the last thing I need is for you to show up late with an asinine excuse.

Or worse, miss it completely, meaning it would fall to ME to reschedule you a fitting. Do you know how far out I had to book this appointment at Opal’s? It’s not a department store, Regan. We can’t just show up whenever we feel like it.

Furthermore, I have far too much on my plate as it is. I don’t need any additional stress, Regan.

She pulled a face. God, she hated how frequently her sister said her name. Like, there was no one else in this text thread; Regan knew she was the one being addressed here.

Regan – 10:03 AM

… why are you talking to me like I’ve already fucked up? Shouldn’t we at least wait for it to happen before I’m on the receiving end of your unfailing disappointment?

Audrey L. Gallagher – 10:04 AM

That’s the entire point, Regan. So that you DON’T fuck this up.

“That’s the entire point, Regan,” she mimicked under her breath, giving the thumbs up to the message before tossing her phone back into the cart to continue shopping. Well, at this point, she might categorize it more as meandering…

Audrey would hate that response, which was somewhat satisfying.

She remembered – easily, as it was only four months ago – Sutton’s older brother’s wedding and how excited Sutton had been to be a bridesmaid for her future sister-in-law. Sutton’s experience being in the wedding party for a family member had been so fun and exciting for her. Phone calls about the happily anticipated nuptials had been plentiful in their apartment, and Sutton had been swept up with it.

Regan’s current experience with her sister was… different.

So, her family believed Regan was going to fuck up her sister’s wedding before the day even happened – what else was new?

As Regan’s phone rang, the sound coming through loud and clear from her earbuds signaling an incoming FaceTime, she didn’t jump to answer it, as she would have only a few minutes ago. Going grocery shopping alone was already distressing enough for her – too many choices – the last thing she wanted was to have a video call with her sister.

She peeked down at her screen.

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