Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Nori
“Well, don’t you look beautiful.” Violet bends down to hug me as the servers move around the tent delivering salads. I’m seated at the head table next to the bride, and the best man just finished his toast. Meanwhile, Hayden just finished two glasses of champagne.
On an empty stomach.
“You look pretty snazzy yourself,” I tell Violet. She’s wearing a purple tank dress with a matching jacket. Larry’s lurking behind her in an oversized three-piece suit. He offers me a little wave. “Hi, Larry.” I arch a brow. “You know, you don’t have to hide back there. I’ve already forgiven you for dragging Violet to Montana.”
“He’s doing no such thing,” Violet protests. “I’m the one who insisted we move.”
“It’s true,” Larry sputters, looking sheepish.
“I was just teasing,” I say, letting the poor guy off the hook. “I couldn’t be happier for you two. And you did a great job with the ring.” I flash him a grin. “I just hope your friend Glen isn’t too disappointed that I’m swooping in to buy the shop instead of him and his son. ”
“Oh. Is the loan official now?” Violet asks. “I didn’t know you got your second payment from Swipe Rite.”
“Not yet, but soon. I just have one more date to go.”
Beside me, Hayden turns in her seat, finally realizing who I’m talking to. “Violet!” she gushes, draping her body over mine to squeeze Violet’s hand. “I’m so glad you came!”
“I’m glad our salads are finally coming,” I say.
The bride really needs some food.
“Were you two talking about Swipe Rite?” Hayden’s grin is bright but sloppy. “Wait. Don’t answer that. I know you were because I heard you. So, Violet. Which guy do you think Nori should choose?”
“Sorry.” Violet offers Hayden an amused smile. “I’m not on social media, so I haven’t been tracking her dates.”
“Well, that’s okay.” Hayden bounces her eyebrows, glancing at me. “Because the real action has been happening off the app these days, right, Nori? Totally off-the-wall stuff.”
“Why don’t you have a bite of that Caesar in front of you?” I suggest. “Or at least a crouton or two.”
“Did Nori tell you about the mirror thing?” Hayden squawks, swinging her gaze back up to Violet.
Violet darts a glance at me, her brow pinching. “What mirror thing?”
“Actually, it’s not just one mirror,” Hayden hoots. “It’s allll the mirrors.” She braces herself against the table. “For, like, weeks now, Nori’s been seeing visions of Cash with her in all the mirrors in the building.”
Violet offers Hayden a patient smile. “That’s the way mirrors work, dear.”
“You’d think that, yes,” Hayden slurs. “Except Cash isn’t actually there with Nori when she sees him in the reflection.”
“It’s not what you—” I try to interject, but Hayden presses on, directing her speech at Violet.
“Sometimes they’re holding hands in the mirror. Sometimes she thinks she can feel him. I told her it’s got to be the building working its magic. But Nori claims it’s because of stress.” Hayden puts her finger to her lips. “She doesn’t believe in the magic. So, don’t tell anyone else. Shhhhh.”
“There’s nothing to believe,” I say, with a big shrug to emphasize the nothingness of the mirror incidents. “Cash and I are just friends.”
“Ha! Sure you are.” Hayden snorts. “Friends who kisssssssss!” Her eyes go wide and she glances around the tent, surveying her guests. “Hey. Where is Cash anyway? I haven’t seen him since he came to say goodbye to Jasper and …” She pauses to give her forehead a light smack. “Oh, wait. I remember now. His sister’s having a baby.” She pauses for a hiccup. “At Worcester Medical Center. Like, right now.”
“Sister-in-law,” I correct, even though that’s so not the point. The point is, my best friend can’t handle her champagne.
“ I want to have a baby,” Hayden giggles. “A honeymoon baby!”
“What you need is some more water,” I suggest gently. “I’m going to find a server to refill our glasses.”
“Good idea,” Violet says, offering me a knowing look. “Larry and I should probably go to our table, too. We don’t want them to clear our salads before we’ve had a chance to eat.”
“I’ll miss youuuuu, Violet,” Hayden slurs. “Maybe you’ll have a honeymoon baby in Montana!”
“Oh!” Larry trips, and almost takes out an entire tent pole.
Over the next half hour, I manage to get some food and water into Hayden, who thankfully recovers pretty quickly from her lightweight wooziness .
After dinner, the entire wedding party hits the dance floor to keep the celebration going. While Keeley and I lead the Cupid Shuffle, I can’t help wishing Cash were still here so I could teach him the moves. Eventually, Hayden and Jasper invite everyone to the dessert table for the cutting of the cake. While the photographer sets up the shot, I take a quick break to check my phone.
Yvette
I got the shop all tucked in for the night. Just have fun and take the whole day off tomorrow to recover.
Me
Best assistant manager ever!
Yvette
Clearly!
Me
My first order of business as the new owner will be to promote you.
Yvette
Counting on it, boss.
Across the tent, the crowd cheers as Hayden hand-feeds cake to Jasper, then kisses frosting off his lips. I really should be over there, but I open my voicemail first, just in case I missed any notifications from Cash.
No messages. No missed calls. No texts.
My shoulders sink.
I’m not sure what I expected. He isn’t my boyfriend, after all. And I’ve never even met his brother or his sister-in-law. Although I did see his brother once in the courtyard. That afternoon feels like a lifetime ago, even though it was closer to a month.
Behind me someone clears her throat, and I spin around to find Violet standing there. She’s holding two plates of cake. “I took the liberty,” she says. “Assuming you’d want some.”
The edges of my mouth lift. “You know me so well.”
“I do.” She hands me a plate. “For more than a decade, actually,” she adds. “Which is why I feel like I have to be honest with you now.”
Something twinges in my abdomen. “I hope everything’s all right.” Is Violet sick? Are things rocky with Larry? Is there bad news about someone else at the shop?
Violet nods over at the head table. “Let’s have a seat.”
“You’re making me nervous.” Still, I follow her to the table and adjust a couple of the chairs so they’re facing each other. Then I drop into my original seat, and Violet takes the one Hayden was sitting in during dinner.
“So, what’s going on?” I lift my brows. “You know you can tell me anything.”
“I do know that, but this is really hard.” She folds her hands in her lap. “You see, Larry and I have been talking.”
“Well, that’s good.” I press out a shaky laugh. “Communication between couples is important.”
“Communication between everyone is important. And that’s why I wish you’d told me sooner about all these … these visions you’ve been having.”
“Visions?” I scrunch up my nose.
“What Hayden was talking about earlier. The things you’re seeing in the mirrors. With that boy.” Violet purses her lips. “Hayden says they’ve been happening for a month. How come you never told me?”
“Oh, that.” I wave the question away. “I didn’t say anything because there’s really nothing to tell.”
“Hallucinations aren’t nothing, Nori.” Violet twists her engagement ring. “And for a while now, you have been trying extra hard to—I don’t know—prove something to everyone.” Her lips are a worried crescent. “You’ve put so much pressure on yourself. It’s no wonder you’re seeing things, dear.”
“I don’t understand.” Hearing Violet express her doubts is making me feel slightly sick. “Are you disappointed in my work? Did my ideas to increase traffic at Serendipi-Tea upset you?”
“Of course not,” she says. “You’re a wonderful manager. But then you asked to buy the business. So I feel partly to blame for all these visions you’ve been having.” She takes a beat. “Because I said yes.”
“And we’re almost there,” I say. “I’m so close to making everything work.”
“Are you, though?” Violet’s eyes soften at the corners. “The loan application is about to expire, and you still don’t have the money to make up the gap. That has to be a tremendous burden on you. In fact, I’m afraid it’s too much. So Larry and I talked things over—here tonight—and we’ve decided we’re going to?—”
“No way,” I interrupt. “I’m not taking money from you and Larry. You’re both so sweet, but I can’t let you—or anyone—make up the difference.” If there’s one thing in my life I’m not ambivalent about right now, it’s that I want to make this loan happen on my own. “I just need a little more time, Violet. I’ll figure everything out.”
Her brow collapses. “That’s just it, Nori. I don’t think figuring everything out is what’s best for you. In fact, I think the plan is hurting you. And these visions in the mirror are just more proof of that. I refuse to contribute to the deterioration of your mental health.”
“But … I don’t understand.” The twist in my abdomen wrenches tighter. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying”—Violet looks down at her lap—“Larry and I decided we’re going to go ahead and sell the business to Glen and his son. ”
“No.” My whole body deflates. First my stomach, then my lungs, then my heart. “No!”
Violet’s gaze drifts back up to mine. “It’s time, Nori.”
“But you can’t!” My eyes flash. “Serendipi-Tea isn’t supposed to become some … some caffeine-fueled real estate office.”
“Maybe this is just the shop’s next act.” Violet reaches for my hand, and gives it a squeeze. “It’s for the best, dear. The best for you .”
“But what about Yvette? Ben? All our employees?”
“I’ll inform the staff at closing on Monday,” she says, quietly. “And we won’t finalize the sale until after Labor Day. That’s a lot of notice. I’ll give everyone a little severance, too. Glen’s son already promised you a job, if you want it. You’ll have a steady paycheck and some stability—which it sounds like you need right now.”
“Violet, please,” I beg, my voice breaking. “Don’t do this. The shop is all I have.”
Her eyes well with tears too. “I’m so sorry, dear. But I love you too much to let you continue torturing yourself.”
Across the tent, the DJ’s voice explodes into the microphone. “Get ready, folks! It’s time to gather on the dance floor so the bride can toss her bouquet!”
“I’d better go.” I begin to stand, my eyes wet and glazed over.
“Why don’t you skip the bouquet toss?” Violet suggests. “Just sit with me for a minute. Take a breath.”
“I’m Hayden’s maid of honor.” I smooth my hands down my dress. “The least I can do is be there for her.”
As I make my way to the dance floor, a slideshow of my life starts playing in my head, and the carousel is pretty bleak. For one thing, I barely remember my parents. But I don’t have to drop back to childhood to plumb the depths of my losses. Just last year, I torpedoed the career I prepared for all through college. East and Becca moved out six months ago. Now Hayden’s married and leaving me too. Soon I’ll lose Cash to the West Coast. And Serendipi-Tea will never be mine.
Be real, Nori. You never had Cash Briggs, either.
Only the mirror did.
“I’ve got no one,” I whisper.
As the bouquet sails over my head, I don’t even reach for it.