Chapter 2
The air buzzes with the kind of electricity that only money and an impeccable reputation can buy. Sav and I weave through clusters of guests. River’s jacket is still around my shoulders, and I keep smelling faint notes of cedar and hints of tobacco rising from this elegant dinner jacket.
Which means it’s River’s scent. Yum.
Sav needs me to settle an argument over the wedding menu. For some reason, Sav likes to ask me questions about which wines pair with which courses. I know approximately nothing about wine, but I am the only one of our friends who works at a restaurant.
It’s not a reason that anyone should ask for my opinions. But I still try to be helpful as much as I can.
“I think you want—” I hiccup. I might be a little tipsy from those shots. “Sorry. I think you want to move from the lightest wine to the heaviest. Then, of course, you would move to champagne and port after dinner. Those are things that I’ve heard, anyway. You really should talk to my boss, Gem if you want a foodie’s opinion.”
Sav nods eagerly. “That’s exactly what I needed to know. I was telling Cole’s mom we would need a lot more champagne than anything else.”
I open my mouth to respond, but Sav is almost immediately pulled away by an older woman in a sterling silver dress. It’s Cole’s mom, I think. “Savannah! Come meet your new great aunt Beulah. She’s over in the corner.”
Savannah throws me a helpless glance over her shoulder as she is hustled away. I figure that’s to be expected at her engagement party. Can’t be mad at her for that.
I sweep my gaze over the room. The thought of returning to the patio to rejoin River is awfully tempting. Maybe if I move quickly, I might still find him out there.
I can’t believe I just opened my mouth and let whole drama with Aunt Delta come tumbling out. But River seemed to take it in stride. He actually seemed interested in what I was saying.
Actually, he might’ve just been trying to get close enough to me to kiss me. I flush.
Am I glad that Sav interrupted us?
I’m not sure. We could’ve had a lot of fun together tonight. In fact, there’s nothing saying we still can’t.
I just have to find River.
Everyone around me is dressed to the nines and sipping on champagne that probably costs more than my weekly paycheck. The chime of the bartenders pouring expensive wine into crystal glassware lets me know just what this is.
The engagement party is nothing short of a spectacle. It’s an explosion of blush pink and sparkling lights. Cape Bistro, the fanciest restaurant in town, has completely closed for the entire day just for this private event.
I work in a diner, a place way less nice than this. We’ve closed for Gem’s family events. And we closed for Mr. Anderson’s retirement party once; he was the local grade school janitor for fifty years. I know the faculty and his family paid Gem almost ten thousand dollars to close down the diner for a Friday night.
So, extrapolating from experience: the groom’s family must have paid through the nose for this dedicated staff and the event space. On a Saturday, no less. I can’t even begin to add up the chocolate fountain, the oyster buffet, the prime rib carving station. The cost must be in the tens of thousands, easily. Maybe almost fifty.
I tug at the lapels of River’s oversized black dinner jacket. It’s made of this almost gauzy, lightweight wool. Checking the pockets, I find a woman’s phone number neatly scrawled in lipstick on a black cocktail napkin. It’s probably not from here.
But it does remind me that River is very much a hot commodity. I bite my lip and search the room for him.
One of his brothers swans by in a blush pink tie and a dark suit. That’s another cost: the bride and groom paid to have matching pink ties and skirts delivered to each of their bridal party members.
So rachet that cost up by another ten thousand. Gulp. I am not used to being in a room with this much money being spent in such a casual and cavalier way.
”Can you believe this?” I murmur to no one in particular. As a waiter sweeps by bearing a tray of champagne. I shake my head. “This is insane.”
Champagne at the ready, mine for the taking. It”s like being in a fairytale. If the fairy godmother wielded a platinum credit card instead of a magic wand, that is.
I sense eyes on my back and turn. It’s him, of course. River Bennett, with his piercing gaze that seems to cut right through the crowd.
He’s found me again.
I struggle to suck in a breath. How he does that to me with eyes cut from living sapphire, I don’t quite understand.
My cheeks heat up with a telltale blush as our eyes lock again. It”s involuntary. It’s also embarrassing. I have graduated both high school and college. And yet I feel like I’m a little girl about to have her pigtails pulled every time River smirks at me.
I roll my eyes. I can’t react to him like this. Especially not when I am a guest at his family’s fancy celebration. I’m just here to enjoy myself.
Not give in to my impulses and stick my tongue down River’s throat like I want to. Badly. I just barely escaped acting on my impulses when Sav interrupted River and I circling each other.
I know how that will end. I’ll be momentarily satisfied and then I won’t be able to make eye contact with River at the many, many wedding-related activities that I know are planned for me as a bridesmaid.
”Stop staring,” I chastise myself. It”s about as effective as using a glass of tap water to put out a forest fire. I shake my head, trying to clear the fog that River’s smoldering looks seem to summon in my brain.
A tinkling laugh bubbles up beside me. I turn to see Savannah, her eyes dancing with glee.
”Girl, you”re not fooling anyone.” She nudges me with her elbow.
”What do you mean?” I go for innocence.
“Sorry. Wedding planning is going to be the death of me.” Savannah sneaks a glance at me. ”I meant to ask you about something. What on earth is going on with you and Cole’s brother?”
“River? Nothing. We both just needed some air.”
Sav looks down her nose at me, pinning me. “Those little glances back and forth between you two? That”s some major flirtation happening.”
Her giggle fills the space between us. It’s light and carefree, like Savannah herself. With her blonde hair and bubbly personality, I’ve often said that Sav is sunshine personified.
”Flirtation? Please.” I roll my eyes even as I fight down the flutter in my belly. ”We were just being delinquents. Besides, he’s a man, isn’t he? All men are a flimsy, two-dimensional sham.” I hold up a hand to stop her before she can argue. “Except Cole. He’s perfect. But River? He’s only interested in hooking up with me.”
Her expression softens, a sisterly concern seeping through her festive facade. ”Pearl, you”ve got to stop thinking like that. You”re amazing. Any guy would be lucky to have you.”
“Saaaaaaavvvvv.” I pretend to stomp my feet. “You are way nicer than any boy I’ve ever met. Are you sure you won’t leave Cole and run away with me to be my platonic wifey? I’ll treat you real good.” I wink at her.
”Please.” Savannah laughs and rolls her eyes so hard I”m surprised they don”t get stuck. ”You could have any guy here eating out of your hand. Besides, I really love Cole. He’s the one for me, Pearl.”
Nudging her shoulder with mine, I nod. “I get it. You two look like the dictionary definition of marital bliss. Like when I look up ‘happily engaged,’ I see a photo of you and Cole. It’s gross.”
“The point I’m trying to make is that maybe you should get gross with someone new. Not necessarily one of Cole’s brothers, mind you. But—” She turns her head and looks over to catch River gazing at us. As soon as Savannah catches him, he turns away. She turns back to me and wiggles her eyebrows. “River seems primed for action.”
”Hardly.” A laugh bubbles up, bitter and sharp. ”I”m just a diner waitress, Sav. There”s no way I could actually catch the attention of one of the Billion Dollar Bennetts. I know that you come from humble beginnings too, but you’re all sunshine and warmth. Whereas I’m just… me.”
“That’s ridiculous. You’re a diamond, shining in a world of dumb, dirty rocks.”
She’s so sweet that I want to pinch her.
“Stop it. Besides, even if I could grab the attention of one of the Bennetts, why would I want to? You know I don’t date anymore.”
She plants her hands on her hips, the universal sign that I”ve just said something particularly stupid. ”You”re crazy, Pearl. The Bennetts might be rolling in dough, but they are good people. Trust me.” Her voice softens. ”And after the nightmare with he-who-shall-not-be-named, you deserve someone who treats you right.”
I look at her flatly. “I have a useless fine arts degree, and twenty-nine hundred dollars shoved in a shoe box under my bed. I’m pretty sure that, with student loans, I’m worth a negative number of dollars. The Bennetts might as well be royalty compared to me.”
”You are gorgeous and smart and extremely funny,” she insists. Her hands are planted firmly on her hips. ”Money isn’t everything. You”re selling yourself short.”
”Easy for you to say. You”re marrying Cole Bennett,” I counter with a sigh. ”I”m just...” I get exhausted before finishing my sentence. “Me.”
”Exactly!” she proclaims. “That’s what I’m saying! You”re you. You are wonderful. That”s more than enough.”
Savannah”s voice is firm. Her belief in me is so pure. It”s both comforting and frustrating how she refuses to see the world through my jaded eyes.
“River”s a man.” I shoot a scowl over my shoulder at him. “He’s a flirt. He will run off and disappear the second that I start to actually look his way. After Bishop, I don”t want to try to find anyone. Being with nobody is better than being heartbroken.”
”Love will surprise you,” she says softly, squeezing my arm. ”It”ll happen when you least expect it.”
”Right now, all I expect is to survive this party without spilling anything on this dress.”
Before Savannah can respond, someone calls her name again. Probably a distant cousin or another friend she”s managed to charm without even trying. She gives me yet another apologetic look before she’s once more whisked away into the sea of guests. I take a deep breath.
For a second, I enjoy the rare spot of solitude amidst the boisterousness of the engagement party.The wine has indeed been flowing and the crowd seems on the brink of becoming rowdy. Checking my watch, I note that it’s already seven.
I have to work early tomorrow. So, if I’m smart, I’ll leave before too long.
”Excuse me?” A hesitant voice pulls my head up. A young woman, barely out of her teens by the looks of it, cradles a bundle in her arms. She”s a vision of new motherhood with red hair, tired eyes, and a hopeful smile.
”Hi, I”m Jenn. I’m a friend of the groom”s family.” Her gaze flits around, as if she’s looking for an escape route. ”Could you... would you mind holding my baby for a minute? I just need to use the restroom really quickly. My mom is here somewhere and she could take Amy, but I can’t find her. I am embarrassed to say that I really can’t hold it--”
”Of course,” I cut her off. “You go! I will stay right here and make friends with Amy.”
I extend my arms to take the baby. Amy doesn’t make a sound, although she looks up at me with wide blue eyes. She’s teeny tiny, adorable perfection at what I would guess is two months old.
“Thanks so much. I’ll hurry back!” Jenn says, pressing a kiss to her fingertips and then lovingly to Amy’s cherubic face.
“Take your time. I’m here all night!” I try not to be too needy. But I love babies.
Okay, I might be a little baby crazy.
As her baby settles into my arms, Jenn gives me a grateful nod and hurries off.I look again at the tiny face peeking up at me. Her eyes are so wide and curious.
There”s something about holding a baby that makes the world feel simpler, quieter.
Her innocent weight in my arms roots me to the spot. For a moment, everything else fades away.
The thumping music, the clinking glasses, even River’s electric glances from across the room? Poof. Gone.
”Hey there, little one.” She coos. I can”t help but chuckle. ”Looks like you and I are on babysitting duty, huh?”
I lean close and I catch a whiff of Amy’s scalp. That unique newborn scent hits me. It’s pure and sweet, like the promise of new beginnings. It stirs something deep inside me. I sway gently, making soft shushing sounds.
“I want a baby just like you someday,” I can’t help but coo at her. “Yes I do! Yes. Yes I do!”
I shift my weight, adjusting her onto my hip as I bounce gently. Amy makes a face that looks like a wide, gummy smile. It”s a shot of sunshine straight to my heart. ”You like that, huh?” I grin. I tickle her under her neck with gentle fingertips. Her eyes crinkle in response. She’s feeling pure joy without reservation.
”Wow, you”re a natural with her,” Jenn says, returning from her brief escape to the restroom. She watches me for a moment, a smile touching her lips.
”Thanks,” I reply, feeling a swell of pride. The pride also comes with a pang of longing. I”ve always thought I had a knack for babies. But hearing it from a new mother is unexpectedly validating. My heart seizes with a fierce, desperate want for a moment, before I get it under control. “I can hold onto her for a while if you want.”
I hope that isn’t a weird thing to blurt out.
“You don’t mind if I grab a plate?” Jenn asks, eyes going wide.
“Seriously, go nuts. I mean, don’t leave Amy with me until midnight. But definitely go enjoy yourself.”
Amy stretches and babbles. I find myself paying more attention to her than to her mom, who promises that she’ll be back in just a few minutes.
“What are you thinking about, I wonder?” I ask the little one. “Astrophysics? The true nature of man? Something like that, I bet.”
”Whose baby is this?!” Savannah”s voice cuts through the hum of party chatter. I turn to see her approaching, with Grace in tow.
“Friend of a friend.” As I say it, someone calls Sav’s name. She flashes me a smile and an apologetic glance that seems to be becoming a habit, then turns away.
I look to Grace, who”s left looking mildly panicked. I assume it’s because she is an introvert by nature and has been since day one of our freshman year of college. She was clinging to Savannah like she was a life raft coming from a ship wreck.
”This is a lot of peopling,” I tell her sympathetically. “I know that if I’m feeling partied out, you must be about to lose your fricking mind. Just hug the wall like me.”
Grace offers a small, grateful smile. ”Thanks, Pearl. You”re too nice. Who”s your buddy?”
”Friend of the groom”s family,” I explain, still swaying Amy in my arms. ”Just helping out for a sec. You know how I feel about kids.”
”Looks good on you,” Grace observes. Her gaze softens as she watches me interact with the child. “You should definitely have a family.”
”Some day soon,” I say. The words are out of my mouth before I even really think about what I am saying. They surprise me.
”Really?” Grace”s eyebrows rise.
”Really,” I confirm. The conviction settles over me like a brand-new coat. “I mean, maybe. You know. We’ll see how things go.”
Grace chuckles, then shifts her gaze to me. Her eyes narrow with concern. ”How”s Aunt Delta? I haven”t seen her at the hospital since her last fall.”
I hesitate. I shift the baby’s weight to my other arm. Until Amy landed in my hands, I hadn’t been able to think about much else than my family’s matriarch.
”She”s okay, health-wise. Thanks in no small part to you, Miss Doctor Lady. But there”s some trouble brewing, financially speaking. Times are tough.”
As I just told River on the patio, I need to be careful about not turning this engagement celebration into a pity party.
Grace winces, sympathy etching lines around her eyes. ”I”m really sorry to hear that, Pearl. I hope things look up for her soon.”
”Thanks. Life just loves to throw curveballs, doesn”t it?”
The baby seems to sense my upset and begins to fuss. Instinctively, I bounce her lightly. I whisper soothing sounds until her tiny features relax into a smile.
I sway gently on my heels, her head nestled against my chest. Her soft hair brushes my nose, and I breathe in that sweet, powdery baby scent. My heart does a somersault before squeezing painfully in my chest.
“She settled right down. How’d you do that?” Grace asks.
”I don’t know,” I shrug. “It’s just instinct, I guess.”
I look at baby Amy. She looks back at me and then yawns, waving her arms, and… I want this.
I want a baby.
Without all the muss and fuss of finding the right guy and settling down.
I don’t have to have some guy’s ring on my finger to be a good mom. My mom raised us by herself after my dad died. And I turned out well enough, didn’t I?
”Okay, then.” I bounce the baby a bit higher. Amy’s cooing sounds punctate the air again. ”It”s settled. I”m gonna start tracking my cycle. I’m going to figure out the next steps to having a baby and being the hottest single mom on the planet.”
“Wait… what?” Grace looks a little shocked. “I didn’t even realize you were thinking about having a baby now!”
“Why not now?” I ask. I raise a challenging brow.
”I didn’t say it was a bad idea. I’m just taken aback. I guess good for you, Pearl.” Grace grins. She’s always the supporter, even in my most impulsive moments. ”You”re taking control. That”s what matters.”
I nod, feeling empowered. This is me, grabbing life by the reins.