Page 40 of Changed Plan

“When you’re behind the wheel, yes!”

“It’s important to stay relaxed while you’re driving,” she says.

“If your driving instructor told you that, Dad should ask for a refund.” He grabs a bag of pretzels from the pantry. “I’ll be in the living room, watching the game until dinner. Try to keep the bee-bopping and yee-hawing to a dull roar in here.”

Izzie immediately starts dancing around the island and chirping. “Bee bop. Bee bop. Bee bop.”

I add in, “Yeeeee Haaaaaw.”

Zane shakes his head at both of us, goes to the living room, and turns up the volume on the TV to a ridiculous level. I watch him shove a couple of pretzels into his smiling mouth.

“That’s why Mom loved you so much,” Izzie says. “She knew you could handle him.”

“Did she think there were women who couldn’t handle him?”

“Apparently, every one before you.”

I remember there’s been a change in our plans that I haven’t told her about yet. “Hey, the dress shop had to reschedule my appointment.”

Her face falls. “So, I won’t get to help you pick out your wedding dress?”

“You will. They just moved it by a day, so instead of tomorrow, it’s the day after.”

“Oh, okay. So, what are we doing tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” I jerk my head toward the living room. “I guess driving that guy crazy.”

“Cool. That’s one of my best talents.”

“Mine, too. Do you want to see the invitations?”

“Yes!”

She follows me into our bedroom, still chirping until we’re out of earshot for Zane. I lift the lid from the box on the bed and hand her an invitation.

Her fingers trace the embossing. “They’re so pretty. I can’t believe I’m finally going to have a sister. Even if she is old and boring and married to my loser brother.” She hops out of reach when I attempt to playfully swat her shoulder.

“Who are you calling boring?”

“Just kidding. Dad’s boring. You and Zane are just old.”

I laugh. “You’re sixteen. All adults are old to you.”

“Have you decided where you’re going on your honeymoon?”

“Italy.”

“Rome?”

“We’ll start in Rome.”

I don’t tell her that’s where this whole thing started because it wouldn’t make any sense to her. We’ll fly out of our Rome to the real deal. And we’ll drink Italian wine and probably kiss on a train.

Just two tourists very much in love, all thanks to the perfect storm.

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