Page 3 of Summertime Friends

“Oh no. No. No. No!” Laura is rushing toward us, hands frantic in the air. “I will not be having a wedding in winter.”

How the hell did she hear us? Josie glances at me. Eyes flared with precaution for what to say next.

“What season are you thinking?” I ask Laura, careful of my tone.

“Emerson, how could you even think about getting married in the winter?” Laura shakes her head at me with a concoction of sheer disappointment and curiosity about how her beloved son could be marrying a brainless girl like me. I seek Brandon for backup, but he’s not even paying attention. “Summer.” She turnsto Josie, ignoring me and the fact that I’m the bride. “They will be getting married in the summer.”

“Unfortunately, we are completely booked for this summer. When we return to the office, I will check out available dates, but it will have to be next year,” Josie says calmly and directly.

Laura releases a dramatic sigh. “I suppose that’s fine.”

Suppose? Tell that to her feet.

She stomps off to the other side of the ballroom to examine who knows what.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but how are you putting up with that?”

I shrug. “He’s worth it.” I think.

Josie nods and moves us on to the next part of the tour.

She speaks clearly, highly educated on the space and offerings. Every question Laura has, even the strangest of questions, Josie doesn’t show if she’s flustered. Each answer is respectful and intentional in trying to keep Laura at bay.

It’s impressive. I could learn a thing or two from watching her. Josie, I mean, unless we are talking about things not to do, then Laura.

We make our way back to the office to review the final details. I space out during this part. Doesn’t matter. I lost control of making decisions the minute I said 'yes’.

He’s worth it.My earlier words echo in my head. Brandon is worth it, right? He has to be.

Brandon silently assures me, as if he read my mind, squeezing my right hand, which is resting in his lap. He has to be—we’re getting married.

Sitting beside him, I peek at my left hand—a three-stone ring. The center stone is cushion-cut and set between two other diamonds. The band is silver, with smaller stones winding around it.

Beautiful, don’t get me wrong; however, it is not my style.

I’m not a fan of silver. Laura is, which means Brandon is.

Our relationship revolves around his mom, as if she is his puppeteer. Two months after introducing me to her, he proposed to me at his family’s lake house in Michigan. We were there for a family reunion last June, and it was my first time meeting his extended family. Brandon and I had been together for five months at that point. Discussions about forever hadn’t even happened. The publicness of his proposal overwhelmed me, and I didn’t know if I saw a future with him.

But who says no to a proposal when it’s in front of their entire family?

I said yes. We’ve been engaged for a year, and it sounds like we’ll be engaged for another.

I question myself: Why go through with this? There are several reasons.

Brandon is sweet and treats me well enough. We have a good time when we are alone, trying new restaurants, watching classic black-and-white films at small theaters, and always laughing. Always laughing.

That’s what I enjoy most about our relationship: never a dull moment.

Plus, he’s pretty good in bed, which always helps.

“Mom, why don’t you let Emme and I talk about the venue and let you know?” Brandon finally speaks for the first time in four hours.

“I’ll give you three days.” Laura glances between the both of us. “Or, Josie, is there a way to hold the date temporarily? I would hate forEmme”—she hates the palindromic nickname—“to take too long to make up her mind, and we lose that Saturday in June.”

My jaw drops as I stare at Laura. I turn to Brandon to see if he’ll stick up for me and call out his mom for the audacity to say that. He’s silent again.

Frustration boils in me. But what’s new in the matter?

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