Page 24 of The Vineyard Bride

Is that my fault?Did I completely change?

Valerie stood up from the couch and stomped toward the kitchen, blaring out, “Jenny, I’m leaving.”

Jenny shifted timidly on the couch, clearly on edge about letting Valerie go alone.She locked eyes with Lola, who nodded and mouthed, “Maybe it’s for the best.”

“I’ll call an Uber,” Jenny finally sighed, jumping from the couch to gather her things.“Come on, Valerie.”

In the chaos that followed, Lola wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the bricks of the fireplace.Backstreet Boys shifted to a song from the early 2000s that she, Valerie, and Jenny had played on repeat back in the old days— “I’m Real,” by J.Lo.Valerie locked eyes with Lola as she stomped toward the door.Within her eyes, Lola could feel the density of their time together, along with the anger Valerie now felt because Lola had moved on.

I can’t live that life anymore.I’m sorry.Lola wanted to tell her this but instead bit hard on her lower lip and nodded toward Jenny and Valerie as they left.Audrey walked over to the door and watched outside quietly before reporting that the Uber had arrived.

“Do you think they’ll be able to find a hotel at this time of night?”Susan asked, always the worried mother type.

“Let’s not worry about them anymore,” Christine tried, her eyes toward Lola.“Are you all right, Lola?”

Lola shrugged.“I’m so sorry about Valerie.I don’t think I knew she still felt so resentful toward me for leaving.”

“The woman is in her forties.It’s time for her to grow up,” Susan countered simply.

“I don’t think it’s that easy for everyone,” Lola offered.“We’re all on different timelines, and that’s totally okay.I just think she’s really unhappy and taking it out on whoever’s around.It’s a sad thing to see, especially because I really do love her so much.We’ve been through a lot.”

The Sheridan and Montgomery women stared down at the rug between the couches.Lola’s heart pounded.It felt as though her “sisters” from her previous life couldn’t allow her the happiness of her current one.It felt like she’d betrayed them.

“Let’s keep this party going, shall we?”Audrey said finally, smacking her hands together as she jumped up to grab another pre-made game.“If you ladies still have it in you, I have another idea.”

From under the table, Audrey procured a ridiculous sight: a cardboard cut-out of Tommy Gasbarro himself, very nearly the correct size and width.Lola howled with laughter, shoving Valerie’s darkness from her mind.Audrey positioned the cardboard cut-out against the wall and then passed out little feminine lip cut-outs to each of the bachelorettes.

“This is an old-fashioned game made new,” Audrey explained.“Pin the Kiss on the Groom.”

“Like Pin the Tail on the Donkey?”Charlotte asked with a laugh.

“Oh yeah.But unlike when we were kids, this time we’re all a little tipsier.It should be a good time,” Audrey said mischievously.“Plus, I have this blindfold here.”She reached into another bag to find a light pink sleep mask.“Who wants to go first?Amanda?Why do I think you’re perfect for this?”

Amanda laughed and waved both hands in front of her face.“No way!I’m so drunk already.”

“Come on, Amanda.Someone has to try it,” Audrey said, sliding the face mask over Amanda’s eyes.

Amanda groaned as Audrey positioned her in front of the cardboard cut out, where she twirled her in circles.As they watched, Christine slid onto the couch next to Lola and muttered, “Are you sure you’re okay?That was kind of brutal.”

Lola nodded, furrowing her brow.“I don’t want to let her ruin the rest of the weekend.”

Christine shrugged.“I just remember being like her, you know, before I met Zach.Before I had Mia.I was so resentful of the rest of the world for moving on.I thought partying into my forties meant that I was winning.I was so wrong.”

Lola nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.“Thanks for saying that, Chris.Really.I guess it’s something Valerie has to figure out on her own.”

Before them, Amanda staggered forward with her fake lips extended, plastering them on Tommy’s forehead.When she removed the face mask, she cried out in alarm.

“I was so off!”

“Oh yeah.Absolutely terrible job,” Audrey said.“At least you managed to find his face.Who’s next?”

The night carried on until around one, when the Sheridan and Montgomery women collapsed in their upstairs bedrooms: Audrey with Lola, Amanda with Susan, Christine with Kelli, and Charlotte with Claire.One bed remained empty, a sight that made Lola terribly sad.

That time of my life is over.I’m welcoming this new era with open arms and wishing Valerie good luck in all she does.It’s all I can do.

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