Page 12 of Take Me to the Wedding

I got out and grabbed my thermos and then ran around to her side to open her door, but she was already walking over to the dock.

At ten a.m., the May sun was bright and strong. The breeze brought riots of birdsong. And the water was a bright, deep blue. I walked out to the end of the dock, gestured for her to sit, and opened the thermos. “Everything looks better with caffeine.”

“I didn’t know you made coffee.”

“Well, you brought some, so I wasn’t going to tell you.”

I poured some out and offered it, and she took a sip. “This isn’t regular coffee.” She tasted it again. “You made cappuccinoandpacked it up in a thermos? Who are you?”

“A barista,” I said with a straight face. “You like it?”

Her turn to laugh at my joke. As she nodded and handed me back the cup, our hands barely grazed. But I felt an odd flash of heat travel straight through me, a weird awareness that made me so uncomfortable I had to look away, focusing on the opposite shore.

What wasthat?

I managed to take a sip, but I was so thrown I couldn’t really appreciate the taste anymore.

“So how did you manage to make a cappuccino?”

I was strangely pleased that my coffee was such a hit. “Well, I cheated.” When she gave a little frown, I said, “The first thing I bought after I was able to make my rent was a restaurant-grade espresso machine. Makes my day every day.” Then I kicked myself. “Sorry. Here I am talking about extravagances.”

“No. This was just what I needed. Your coffee made me forget that it’s hard, trying to parent your sister. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

I thought about my relationship with Mia. “I show love for my sister by tormenting her as much as possible.” I chuckled. “I’ve never been responsible for her, although I did my best to look out for her when she was younger. Especially after our sister Grace died.” I instantly regretted mentioning that. “Now we look out for each other.”

“Mia’s told me about Gracie. I’m sorry.” She paused. “I envy your family. You’re all so close.”

I shrugged. “We had no choice.” I grinned. “My mom and dad were relentless about us loving each other. But it wasn’t easy. All of us had our moments.” I tossed a small stone from the dock into the water. “As for your sister, she made it to college. You must be doing something right.”

“I just want her to have a great life.” She braced, ready to get up, as if conscious her time for having problems was over. “She’s why the hospital job is important to me. It keeps me in close range.”

He nodded. “Nothing like family. I want to work in Oak Bluff one day. Actually, I already interviewed with an ortho there. I’m waiting to hear if I got the job.”

“Well, good luck. Thanks for the detour. And for listening.”

“Hey, no problem.” I noticed that her brown eyes had flecks gold around the rims—I could see them in the bright sunlight. I realized I was staring too intensely and broke off my gaze, busying myself with putting the lid on my thermos.

It had been easy to listen. I sensed something else besides stress… loneliness. She appeared to be going it all on her own, selling houses and supporting her sister. I had this crazy impulse to hug her. But just then, she stood and dusted herself off and we made our way back to my truck. Good thing I didn’t.

“So,” she said, “I just told you about my sister, and that wasn’t completely awful. You want to tell me a little about Lilly?”

I gave her a warning look.

“I mean, we’re going to be spending the weekend together. And I know you don’t want interference, but if I know just a teeny-tiny bit about her”—here she made a teeny-tiny sign with her fingers—“I can talk you up or something.”

“I don’t need you to do that.” I used my most definitive tone. “Actually, that’s why I’m going home a day early—so I can spend some time with her.”

“Okay, I get it. But help me to understand your history. You broke up a while ago, but you think now’s a good time to try to get her back?”

We had an hour left of making nice, but I felt it was prudent to tell her the least amount possible. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

“I could ask your sister.” She reached for her phone. “She’ll give me answers pronto.”

Sisters’ best friends werethe worst. “Okay, fine. When we were growing up, I had a crush on her for the longest time. We started dating in college.”

I crossed my arms. “College sweethearts?”

“Yep. Then I got into med school in Milwaukee, and she got a job, and we moved in together.”

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