Page 6 of More Trouble
Tom was my latest attempt at dating. He was someone I’d bumped into—quite literally—in a bar last week, spilling my cocktail all over my dress. To apologize, he’d asked me out on a date. He was sweet and I hadn’t thought to refuse. But after today stirring up thoughts of Andre again, I was tempted to cancel and stay at home for another box set binge.
I stalled. “Depends what time we finish here.” I glanced over to where the bridesmaids were gathered around Allana as they giggled and shrieked at some old pictures of the bride.
Tori put her hands on her hips. “Don’t go backing out on him. You never know, he might be the one.”
“Hmm, I don’t know about that.” I busied myself, rearranging the food, making sure the plates looked full.
“But if you don’t put yourself out there, you’ll never know.”
Sometimes, I convinced myself there wasn’t anyone who would ever compare to Andre. Anyone else I dated always seemed to come up short. Then I would remember the incident with the twins, and I hated him all over again. Watching how happy and excited Allana and her friends were about the upcoming wedding, I felt nothing. Perhaps going into a business where I’d frequently be catering weddings wasn’t the best of ideas.
It was just before six when the party started winding down.
“Willa, thank you!” Allana gathered me up in an embrace. For someone who had barely been drinking all afternoon - too many calories - she seemed to be doing a great impression of someone who was more than a little tipsy. Maybe she was drunk on love. “It’s been a fantastic afternoon and we’ve loved every minute of it.”
I could only really take credit for the food; it had been her family and friends who had made the event memorable for her. However, I’d take anything she was saying right now.
“I’m glad we made it work for you.” Awkwardly, I hugged her back. I wasn’t the best at physical contact with people I didn’t know that well. “And I hope you have a wonderful wedding.”
“Thank you, I’ll be sure to send you some pictures. It could give you some ideas for when you cater events like it.”
She was trying to be nice, but it came out as a rather backhanded compliment. Instead of making a big deal out of it, I smiled and pulled away.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Allana. If it’s okay, I might ask you for a recommendation for my website?”
“Of course, drop me an email and I’ll write something for you.” One of her sisters called from the front door. It looked as if they were off to continue the party somewhere else.
Soon it was just Tori and me who remained. The restaurant staff were hovering, waiting to clear the empty plates and tables so they could set up for another event that evening.
There was barely any food left, although given the tiny size of it I shouldn’t have been surprised. Two mouthfuls and it was gone. We cleared everything away quickly and went out the back to load up my little van. As we took the last few bits out, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and smiled.
Scarlett.
My best friend since elementary school.
We’d been through a bunch of breakups and makeups. Okay, I’d been the one having breakups. Scarlett, on the other hand, had been inseparable since she and Wes started dating back in high school.
Then I had a horrible thought. It was rare for her to call on a Tuesday night. Tuesday was usually date night with Wes, even after all these years.
What if something had happened to her and Wes? What if they’d broken up?
I motioned to Tori to shut the doors of the van and asked her to go and do a final check of the room to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything.
“What’s up?” I asked as I answered the phone, not even bothering to say ‘hello’. Scarlett and I had been friends long enough I could dispense with the pleasantries.
“I have news,” Scarlett began. Her tone was serious, and it compounded my earlier fears.
“Well, don’t keep me hanging. What’s the news?” I found I was holding my breath. Whatever she was about to say, it felt like the world was about to change.
“I’m pregnant!” she squealed.
“You’re what? Oh my GOD, Scarlett!” The breath I’d been holding exploded out of my body in a happy sigh. “I’m guessing Wes knows? And he’s equally as happy about it?”
“Of course he does. We’ve known for a few weeks and now I’m in my second trimester, I canfinallytell you. You were my very first call. Okay, second, I had to tell my Mom, oh and Wes’ parents too.”
“So, I was actually your third call.” I pretended to be mad at her, but I wasn’t. “Way to make me feel special, Scar.”
She giggled. “I’ve been dying to tell you for ages. Aunty Willa has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?”
