Page 30 of My Ex-Best Friend's Wedding

“Poor baby,” Lauren teases. “Around here warning someone not to be afraid of the wind is like telling a tourist in New York not to worry about all the people. It’s just part of the package.” She finishes off her second cup of coffee and gets up to serve as my assistant.

“Are you two planning to look at potential wedding venues while you’re here?” I ask in an attempt to imagine some outcome of my talk with Lauren that will not end in her refusal to ever speak to me again.

“Absolutely,” Spencer answers quickly. “I think we should look at all the possibilities then sit down and hash it out.”

“That’s very practical of you,” I say. Have I mentioned how much I like him?

“Well, I’m only planning to get married once. We might as well take the time to make sure we know what we want.”

“The Elizabethan Gardens are really beautiful,” Lauren says. “We can take a look around when we go over to Roanoke Island.”

“Roanoke Island?” Spencer looks up. “Isn’t that where those early colonists disappeared from?”

“Yes, in fact the Beach Road out front is also called Virginia Dare Trail. She was the first English child born in the Americas and disappeared with the rest of the colony. Every summerThe Lost Colonyis put on in this cool waterside theater near the spot where the fort once stood.”

“Interesting.”

“Yeah. It’s America’s longest-running outdoor drama—it’ll be eighty-two years this summer.”

“Eighty-two years, huh?” Spencer smiles. “Kind of puts a good Broadway run in perspective, doesn’t it?”

“I thought you’d appreciate that.” She smiles impishly at him.

“You should definitely take Spencer back to Jennette’s Pier and show him the event space upstairs,” I add. “It’s got high ceilings and tons of glass. The view is gorgeous and there’s a covered outside deck.”

Lauren laughs. “Do you remember when one of the groomsmen at a destination wedding slipped off the pier and went into the water in his rented tux?”

“Hey, I have a few friends who could use a good dunk now and then,” Spencer says amiably.

I keep the discussion going, peppering them with questions and suggestions as I get out the brunch ingredients. Right now all I care about is hearing as much of my daughter’s voice and laughter as possible.

Bree

I slept in my office last night and I’m still barely speaking to Clay on Saturday morning when it’s time to head over to Kendra’s. I’m not sure I can bear to be in the same car with him even for this short a ride. Not today of all days.

“I’m going to take the Jeep. I need to run back to the store afterward anyway and that’ll save me a little time. See you there.”

Clay shoots me a look, but I just grab my keys and head outside. Lily climbs in the passenger seat, her thumbs flying over her phone screen, unaware there was a choice to be made. “Dana says she thinks Spencer Harrison is hot. You know, for an old guy.” She buckles her seat belt. “I’ve never met anybody who’s a famous playwright and songwriter. That’s pretty cool, right?”

“It is.” I’m careful to keep the irritation and, yes, the jealousy out of my voice. If I’d gotten on that bus with Lauren I might have had the same success she hasandI could have fallen in love with someone creative and worldly andfaithful.And while Irealize that plenty of people in Manhattan probably cheat on their spouses, I’m pretty sureeveryonedoesn’t know it. Of course, if I’d gone I wouldn’t have Rafe or Lily. Or the bookstore. Or Clay’s family. Or the closest thing I’ve ever had to a mother, just around the corner.

My hands are tight—too tight—on the steering wheel. I manage to unclench them by reminding myself that I haven’t failed at anything. I’ve got the home and family I dreamed of. And now I’ve finished my novel. It’s not about how long it takes to write a book, but how good it is. Plus, no marriage or relationship is perfect. I’d like to forget all the nasty things I said to Lauren when she informed me that Clay wasn’t ready for marriage, though I’m sure she never has. I’ll need to be careful not to let my anger at and disappointment in Clay become too obvious. As far as I’m concerned I’m the wronged party in her and my personal mini-drama. And I’m not about to open myself up to anI told you so.

Normally, arriving at Kendra’s is a mood brightener, but my stomach roils as I make the turn onto her driveway. Clay pulls in right after us, but I don’t look back. I will not walk into the Sandcastle scowling and unhappily married. I intend to at leastappearfriendly and approachable just like Kendra asked. If Lauren chooses not to respond in kind, that will be on her.

Lauren’s smiling when we walk through the door and already hugging Lily before she makes it all the way into the kitchen. “Oh my gosh! Look how grown-up you are!” Lauren exclaims in what looks like delight. I try not to stare at the perfect haircut that frames and flatters her face or the jeans and blouse that appear casual but are no doubt “designer.” She’s still tall and lean, which makes the extra six or seven pounds I can never seem to drop feel like twenty.

Lily dimples as Lauren introduces her to Spencer then expands the introduction to include Clay and me. Clay hugs her without the slightest hesitation then shakes hands with Spencerwhile Kendra throws her arms around Lily and Clay. Lauren and I don’t turn our backs on each other, but we don’t move any closer, either. “Congratulations on your engagement.” My words sound hollow and stiff in my own ears even though I’m pretty sure I’m still smiling.

“I hear you did it up right,” Clay says as he shakes Spencer’s hand. “Down on one knee in some fancy restaurant with people doo-wopping.”

“Yes,” I say without stopping to think. “I can just imagine how Lauren felt being surprised that way.” My comment goes right over Clay’s and Spencer’s heads, but Lauren’s eyes meet mine for a split second. An acknowledgment of how well we once knew each other.

We linger in the kitchen that’s filled with the warm and wonderful smells Kendra’s cooking always produces and that I’ve filed away under the category heading ofhome. I watch Lauren surreptitiously. We used to know what the other would say before they did. And would have felt free to weigh in with anything that crossed our minds. But that’s no longer true. What would have been a simple observation then, would be a criticism now. We’ve been avoiding each other for so long that the best course of action is probably not to see or say too much. For the first time I realize that this works both ways.

Kendra pours mimosas and hands them around. Even Lily gets a tiny bit of champagne in hers. Then Kendra raises her glass and says, “To Lauren and Spencer. I’m so thrilled that you’ve found each other. I know we all wish you a real-life happily ever after.”

“To Lauren and Spencer!” We all clink glasses and drink. I’m careful not to look at Clay, who seems to see no irony in drinking to happily ever after, after trampling all over ours.

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