Page 1 of A Wulver for the Week

1: Minerva

“Gerri and Barry are getting married at Mirror Key, and Barry’s insanely wealthy grandparents are paying for everything.Every. Thing.”

“Gerri and Barry are getting married?” I step out of my pink scrubs and matching rubber shoes bedecked with tiny charms along the top and sides. “Sounds like a bad kids’ book.” I hope I can deflect Mama into criticizing my sense of humor—instead of my dating life.

“Will you hush? When I say everything, I meaneverything. We’re talking plane tickets, food, shuttle service, and rooms at an all-inclusive private resort for everyone in the family. Apparently, they own Reflections Resort and half the damn island!”

“It sounds like Gerri’s going to be living it up,” I say. I’m happy for my baby cousin. She was born when I was ten, and I became her babysitter as soon as I hit eleven. It was a role I loved and took seriously until I left for college. Gerri was and still is cute, sweet, petite, and totally the kind of girl to leave college with a diploma in one hand and a rock the size of a beach ball on the other.

“We’reallgoing to be living it up. Aunties, uncles, cousins, Grandma and Poppy, everyone. You need to put your request for leave in right now.”

“Okay, Mama, I will. But shouldn’t I wait to get their Save the Date card or their invitations, or something?”

“Ordinarily I’d say yes, but the wedding is in six weeks.”

“Sixweeks?” I screech.

“Well, yes. You know Gerri’s a teacher. Half of your aunts are teachers. If they want to go to this wedding, it has to be during spring break or over the summer. Apparently, Barry’s family already has the island and resort booked for the summer, but they’re juggling a few things and opening a newly renovated wing of the hotel early just for Barry and Gerri’s wedding.”

“You got all the tea, Mama. Okay. I’ll email my supervisor as soon as I get out of the shower.”

“You’re taking this well, Minerva.”

“Damn, Mama. Not the full name. I’m fine.” I roll my eyes and lean on the bathroom sink, not sure if I want to look over my shoulder and see just how ginormous my ass looks from behind in the flickering fluorescent vanity lights.

“Are you sure you’re fine? Gerri’s fresh out of college, and she’s already got a man. And you...”

I bite my lip so hard I’m worried about blood shooting across the room.

With a shaking breath, I tell Mama, “I. Am. Proud. Of. Gerri. And I love Barry, too. Also, I’m minding my own business, and I’m fine.”

Let me back up. Gerri graduated in December (half a year early because she’s smart as well as cute as hell) with her degree in math education, a minor in special education, and a sweet, sexy boyfriend who looks like a blonde Christopher Reeve down to the cleft in his chin and the single springy curl on his forehead. At Christmas, Barry gave her a golden retriever named Bruno. We’re two weeks into January, and he’s adding wedding bells.

Good for her.

Did you expect me to be jealous?

I don’t do that shit.

I turn on the shower and look in the mirror. I’m not worried that life has passed me by because my cousin is getting married at twenty-two and I’m still single at thirty-two. I’m not moaning into my pint of Ben and Jerry’s that she snagged someone who probably subscribes to Yacht Club Monthly and could pose for a toothpaste commercial.

Gerri is happy. Barry is a sweetie.

Mama on the other hand... “That’s your trouble. You think you’re fine. You’re almost forty, and soon you’ll wish—”

“Almost forty! Mother!”

“You’re in your mid-thirties!”

“Earlythirties!”

“Right, practically forty!”

“Mama, I can’t with you right now.”

My mother is undeterred. “You know you’re going to be the only one to show up to this wedding without a significant other. At your age, too!”

“Lord, give me strength.”

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