Chapter 7 #3
Nate, unhelpfully, pats me on the back a few times, but that only has me sputtering more because his touch is so unexpected.
Even after I’ve recovered, Nate’s hand lingers an extra second on my back, and I notice how warm and big it is, feeling the pressure through the fabric of my top. I hope I’m not blushing.
A dozen tiki torches are burning throughout the backyard to ward off mosquitoes. My parents’ standard playlist rises from the speakers tucked around the patio. Brooks & Dunn fades into Mary Chapin Carpenter. If it weren’t for the circumstances, it’d be a really lovely night.
There’s a clink from the end of the table, and I turn to see my mother standing.
“I hope y’all will indulge me a minute. I just wanted to say a few words about how happy we are to welcome Cara into our family.”
My stomach clenches. There are murmurs of agreement from all the Bennets. I force a smile and tighten the grip on my fork.
“I’ve gotten to know this young lady a little bit over the past few months,” Mom continues. “She is truly special—and so good for our Cooper.”
Coop nuzzles Cara’s neck playfully, and she blushes. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Bennet.”
“Sweetheart, how many times have I told you to call me Joan?”
“Sorry, Joan!” Cara grins.
I throw a sidelong look to Linney. Her husband, Graham, was still calling our parents Mr. and Mrs. Bennet until their one-year anniversary. She kicks me under the table.
“Now, I know this might sound a little sudden, but I wanted to make a little ‘proposal’ of my own,” Mom says. “We would be honored if the two of you would consider getting married here at the lake. This summer.”
My fork clatters to the table. What?
“What?” Cooper says out loud.
“Well, I heard what you were saying about next summer being difficult, with Cara’s store launch, and it just seems like such a perfect opportunity to do it now,” Mom continues. “With the whole family here—even Nikki came out from California…”
“I’m going back to LA in ten days,” I say quickly.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to come back out East again this summer.
Besides, you don’t really think you can plan a wedding in less than two months, do you?
” I’m sure my smile looks like a deranged marionette.
Down the table, Cooper’s own smile is only slightly less manic.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m sure Cara doesn’t—”
“Actually,” Cara says quietly, reaching for his hand, “I think it sounds kind of perfect.”
“You do?” Cooper’s face has lost its hysterical edge. His eyes are soft as he squeezes her hand back.
Cara nods. “I’ve always just wanted a quiet backyard wedding, nothing fancy”—yeah right—“And it would be so special to do it here, in this place you love.”
They gaze at each other dotingly for a beat.
Then Cooper says, “Well, if you’re sure—we could kind of do it like a family barbecue…
invite a few friends… Mom and Dad are used to hosting for big groups.
” Mom is already nodding so vigorously her earrings flap.
“We could probably throw that together pretty quickly.”
“I love that!” Cara says. “Heck, we could even do it next weekend—
while Nikki’s still here!”
My soul leaves my body.
Next weekend?
I look around, expecting someone—anyone—to say they’re joking. But the whole table is focused on Cooper and Cara, beaming and nodding.
Then Cara cuts her eyes to me. Just for a second. To anyone else, it probably reads as nothing. To me, it’s basically her planting her flag that says, Like it or not, I’m here to stay.
Cara looks away, turning to her family. “Dad, Nate, would you guys—”
“You just name the date, Pumpkin,” Mr. Lancolm says. “We wouldn’t miss it.” Nate just nods, his face unreadable.
I glance to Linney again, but she’s locked eyes with Pete across the table… clearly having one of their silent twin conversations that have always driven me crazy. What am I missing?
“What a fun idea,” Pete says. “I mean, we’ll all be here anyway for the next week or so. Why not celebrate now?”
I nearly choke on my own saliva. It’s one thing for my mother to have completely lost her mind—I suppose I could chalk that up to her intense desire to throw a wedding, any wedding, at her own house.
And Cooper is obviously lovestruck and not thinking clearly.
But that anyone else in my family would approve is just insane…
Yet even as I’m having these thoughts, my dad raises his glass.
“Surely,” I say, before he can even speak. “You would need a little more time to plan the wedding of your dreams. Right? Maybe next summer could work after all, or the summer after that…”
My dad clears his throat. “Nonsense. We insist!” Then he winks at Cara and Cooper fondly. “When you know, you know. That’s what I’ve always said.”
“If anyone can pull off a wedding in less than two weeks, it’s Mom,” Linney adds.
“Well, this is just more than I could’ve ever imagined for my sweet girl,” Mr. Lancolm says. And then everyone’s shoving their chairs back, hugging each other, eyes watery with delight.
Except for me.
And, I notice, Nate.
Both of us are sitting stock still, and when he locks eyes with me, I can see that I am not alone in the conclusion that there must be something in the water. Because these people have lost their frickin’ minds.