Page 99 of Storm in a Teacup
She laughs, then sighs long and hard. “Atti always said he said something in the heat of the moment and you overreacted.”
“He would frame it that way.”
She grabs both my hands and says earnestly, “I’m so sorry, Linny. He’s wrong, you know. He’s a terrible, bitter, tiny man, and he iswrong.” She pulls me into her arms again. “You will be a wonderful mother, if that is what you want. And Iknowit is. Your future child will be perfect, just like you. My mum is the best mum in the world, and her eyes did not keep her from being that wonderful, perfect mother. They kept her from driving me places. That’sit. And there are so many workarounds for that.Do notlet him keep you from trying again. I suspect your family told you the same thing.”
I swallow roughly. “So did Ben.”
“So, logically,weare all right and that little man-child otherwise known as Atticus the arsehole iswrong.” We sit there, in thebathtub, holding each other until there’s a knock on the door.
“Mel? Linny? The makeup artist is in the lobby.”
Mel pulls away, wiping her eyes. “Shit. I have to go.” She yells, “I’m getting married today!”
“You’re getting married today!”
We get Mel back to her hotel room with the makeup artist.After we’re all ready, we climb into cars to the church. We head straight to a room in the back where Mel can finish getting dressed.
When it’s almost time, I run out to make sure everything is in order and run into Paul in the hallway, dressed in a gray suit with his tie the same color pink as my dress.
“Hey!” I say. “Julien ready?”
“Yep,” Paul says, messing with one of his cuff links. “I was just coming to find you. We’re all set.”
“How is he?”
“Grossly excited,” he confirms with a smile.
“Mel too.”
Paul asks, “You have the rings?”
Fucking fuck.
“Oh my god,” I say. Then again, “Oh. My.God.”
Paul cringes. “No chance that’s a good ‘oh my god?’”
I let out a frustrated groan. “I forgot the fucking rings. Shit!” My hands flutter around me as I try to figure out what to do. “Can we stall, do you think? I know where they are. We can go get them. Or, wait. Ben. Ben might not be here yet. It’ll be quicker if he gets them.”
Paul nods, trying to remain calm. “Okay. Good plan. I’m sure we can stall for a bit.”
My hands shake as I find Ben’s contact. I can’t believe I did this. I told Mel nothing else would go wrong. Fucking fuck.
Ben answers, “Why hello, sugar. May I help you with something?”
I let out another frustrated whimper. “Benny, I forgot the rings. Do you still have my keys? Are you on your way here? Can you go back and get them? I cannot believe I forgot the rings. Mel is going to kill me. They’re on the table by my front door. Just, if you could go get them, it would be quicker, I think. And it would really help—”
He cuts me off. “Lin, I have the rings.”
My heart skips a beat. “What?”
“I saw them sitting on the mail table as I was leaving yours this morning. Figured you would need them. I texted you.”
I look at Paul and say, “He has the rings.”
Paul’s body sags, relief spreading over his features. “Thank goodness.”
My voice is small as I say, “I didn’t see the text.”
