Page 3 of Merry Mix-Up

I reluctantly accepted the torture device and resigned myself to the fact that my stomach would be growling a little longer. She plucked a red bulb from the box by the metal hook and walked over to the tree to find the perfect position for it. I followed her, setting the box down on the nearby armchair and taking out an old snow globe marked "1988 Baby's First Christmas."

"Aw, Newt, we got that the year you were born." Mom sounded sentimental and sappy, and I hung the ornament next to the one Naomi just placed on the tree. "You know what? We need cocoa! You guys keep going." Mom shot out of her chair and the lights fell to the ground.

Naomi chuckled and turned to get another ornament.

"So, you're getting married, huh?" I asked, taking several smaller ornaments in hand to minimize the time I was stuck doing this. As I hung them, Naomi and I chatted.

"Yeah, we are. And actually, I wanted to talk to you about that." Her eyes caught the movement of my hand as I hung apopsicle stick ornament she made when she was in elementary school. "Aw, that was my favorite year." The sticks had been painted brown and were glued together in the shape of a deer, decorated with pipe cleaners and beads.

"Yeah? What about?" I hung the ornament and a few more, spacing them out. Each one brought up some sort of memory of the past for me or for her.

"Yeah, well Jared's best friend is stationed in Japan and there's no way he's getting leave on this short notice." She turned to face me, biting her lower lip. "So I suggested that we ask you to be the best man."

Naomi stopped abruptly and waited while I let the request sink in. Best man duties weren't for the faint of heart. There would be tuxedo fittings, talking him down—usually with alcoholic drinks—when he got frustrated with the bride's demands, cake tastings, and the all-important bachelor party. I wasn't sure I even knew Jared well enough to be his best man.

"I don't know, Nomie," I told her, using the nickname I gave her when she was just four years old and I was fifteen and forced to babysit her. With eleven years between us in age, we had nothing in common for so long, I didn't know where to begin. I knew her best friend was a twin—Jade and Amber. Their names always made me think their father was a jeweler, but he was just a farrier who got paid really well. And I knew even less about Jared, who had only been in Naomi's life for the past two years. I met him exactly three times.

"Come on, Newt," she pleaded, hanging an average round bulb ornament. "Jare doesn’t have anyone. And you know me inside and out. Pretend you're my best man, and I'll make sure you and Mav can handle things. Jare and I will make it easy on you by combining everything except the part with my dress. Okay?" She grabbed my free hand and held it and shook from the waist up like a toddler demanding her sippy cup.

"Look, I have a multimillion-dollar business to run, Naomi. I have to be in Chicago tomorrow. As it is, I stole this time away from my work to come here and support you when you made your announcement." I was flattered by the idea of being asked, considering I had relatively no friends of my own, but I was in the middle of a few really important projects. I didn’t have anyone to run things for me when I wasn't around.

The work I was in was cutthroat and competitive. I was alone at the top for good reason. I had trusted one too many people only to get burned, which only added insult to injury when Val did what she did and our relationship ended so abruptly. There was zero chance I'd be asked to be someone else's best man. My high-school friends were already married, and none of them had extended the offer because I ditched this small town and aimed for the stars as soon as I threw my graduation cap in the air that day.

"Newt, please. You run the company. You can take a few days off to drive home." Her begging wouldn't stop until I gave her the answer she wanted. I knew that much. I just didn’t know how to let her down gently. I didn't even know Jared that well. I didn’t want to play best man.

"Or you can stay here, work remotely," Mom said as she walked back into the room. It was obvious she had been eavesdropping on the conversation. Meanwhile, Dad was sitting across the room with the game volume off so I couldn't even listen and enjoy it.

"You two ladies are persistent, I'll give you that." I reached for the tray of mugs Mom carried and selected the largest one loaded with mallows and drizzled in chocolate sauce. "Mmm, Mom, you make the best cocoa."

"She'll make it every day if you say yes." Naomi's hands folded together in front of her face as if she were saying a prayer, and I rolled my eyes as I sipped the hot winter drink.

"Fine," I grumbled, realizing this meant my December looked more like the end of fiscal year than the merry holiday time it was supposed to be. Naomi threw her arms around me and giggled while I was already busy planning how I would manage my clients and tasks remotely. It wouldn't be impossible, but it would be challenging, and I'd have to drive into the city several times, too.

Now if "Mav"—whichever twin that was—could pull her weight, that'd work out for the best. I just hoped it wasn't the more brightly colored twin. I knew Naomi's personality and style so I didn't assume it was. And I knew one of them was dating and one was single, but not which. But at least I could tell them apart.

3

JADE

December 30th

My boots crunched on the snow underfoot as I rounded the front of Mom's suburban to see Amber off at the airport. After the debacle with my Thanksgiving makeover—which turned into a Black Friday makeover since nothing was open on Thanksgiving day—Amber delayed her flight. Now, Saturday morning when she was supposed to be meeting Naomi to go dress shopping, I was dropping her at the airport.

Amber struggled with her large suitcase, totally unnecessary for the two-day trip she had planned, and I helped her wrestle it to the curb. All while staying upright on the icy patch of concrete I just happened to park on.

"I can't believe you're doing this for me. Oh, Jayjay, thank you." Amber flung her arms around me and squeezed, and since my arms were pinned at my sides, all I could do was pat her hips.

"Yeah, well you owe me." I grunted and squirmed, and she pulled away.

"Actually, this is payback. Remember?" Amber stood back and grabbed the handle of the suitcase, tilting it until it rocked on its wheels. "And don't tell anyone. This is Naomi's big day we're talking about. Let her have her moment."

"God, you're bossy." I grinned and pushed her playfully, but I knew she was right. I wasn’t just doing this for payback. I was doing it for Naomi. She would think Amber was here the whole time taking care of her and no one would be the wiser. "I got it, Sis. I'll make sure it goes off without a hitch. You just have to tell me everything you two talk about on the phone or in text messages."

The icy breeze kicked up, and I pulled my black sock hat down farther on my head. My long, wavy hair clung to my neck inside my heavy coat, keeping me warmer, but it wasn't all mine. Amber had forced me to get very expensive extensions—which she reminded me were only a smidgen of the price Mom and Dad paid to fix the car which she told them she was driving. I swear, Amber had a way of justifying everything.

"Oh, gosh, I'm so sad I'm going to miss everything." She squeezed me again briefly and then backed away. No doubt this was just as much of a disappointment for her as it was for me or would be for Naomi, but I respected that she was strapped for time and emotional energy. I never did a master's program, but I imagined it was rigorous.

"I'll send lots of pictures. Now go, you'll get hung up in security and miss your flight." I shooed her off to make her plane boarding and to get her out of my hair so I could go meet Naomi.

---