Chapter 47 Here’s to My Big Sister
HERE’S TO MY BIG SISTER
ASHLEY
The bridal prep room is bright and buzzing—part salon, part dressing room, with a dash of chaos. Tay, Luna, Babs, a few of the bus ladies, and Mom are clustered around a big mirror, laughing about something to do with strapless gowns and double-sided tape.
For a second, it’s like stepping into a different universe, one where everything is normal.
“Hey!” Luna spots me in the doorway and lights up. Not just happy—relieved. “You’re here! You’re finally here!”
“Where else would I be on your wedding day?”
The words land between us with a shared understanding. Providence. The quiet ceremony I wasn’t at. The one I’m still making peace with.
I step inside. “Of course I’m here,” I say. And I mean it down to my bones. Whatever else is a mess, this—showing up for her—is non-negotiable.
Her shoulders drop a fraction, some of the tension easing out of her. “Good,” she says. “Because I kind of need you.”
“Right,” I say. “Now, where are these awful shoes?”
She points to a pair abandoned near the vanity—wide-strapped, chunky-heeled sandals.
“Oh, no,” I say immediately. “Absolutely not. These are a crime.”
“I knew it,” Luna groans. “Mom thought they’d be okay, but…”
“Not for you,” I finish.
I glance around the room, spot the small suitcase Beckett promised Mom would bring for me, and cross to it.
I unzip it, search around a little, and then pull out a pair of delicate ballet-style slippers, soft ivory with a tiny bit of shimmer. The shoes I wore on my own wedding day. The ones I couldn’t quite bring myself to leave at home.
I turn back to Luna and hold them up. “Try these.”
Her eyes go wide. “Ash… how did you—?”
“They were with the veil, so…”
She laughs, a little choked, and takes them from me. Keeping one hand on my shoulder, she slides her feet into my old slippers.
They fit.
Luna looks down, then up at me, eyes shining. “They’re perfect.”
Something tight in my chest loosens. “Yeah,” I say softly. “They are.”
And for the first time all day, this feels less like a disaster I’m trying to outrun… and more like what it’s supposed to be:
My sister’s wedding.
“Have you seen the twins yet?” Babs asks, her eyes sparkling.
“I think she just got here, Babs,” Tay says.
“Well, you need to track them down,” Mom says, waving a hand. “I swear. I’ve never seen anything so adorable in my life. Little tuxedos, suspenders, the works.”
I mean, yeah. Who does she think picked them out? Hemmed the pants? And then made them do a practice run two weeks before the cruise. Shoes, tie, everything.
“Perfect,” I say instead of any of that. Because at least one thing is finally going as planned.
And Max and Blakey do look cute in their little outfits.
Be here, I tell myself. Right here. With them.
Before I can fully settle into the warm, fizzy feeling of Luna in my shoes and everything feeling right, there’s a knock at the door.
A woman pokes her head in, clutching a clipboard and wearing a polite, controlled smile.
“Hi, Luna,” she says. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
“What bad news?” I blurt before Luna can answer.
The woman steps all the way in. “I’m Maria—I’m the on-site coordinator here at the winery.”
“Maid of honor," I say. “Nice to meet you. Now… what bad news?”
Maria winces just a little. “Good news: the band is here, set up, and they sound amazing.”
“And the bad news?” Come on, lady!
“I just found a message from the photographer on our answering machine,” she says. “She was in an accident on Thursday. Broke her leg. She said she would have called you, but somewhere on the way to the hospital, she lost her phone.”
“Oh no! That’s awful. Is she okay?” Luna asks.
“She’ll be fine. But… That leaves you without professional photography.”
For a second, all I can see is Luna in a dull Providence office—no dress, no flowers, maybe no pictures at all. And now…
This. This was supposed to be the big one, the real one, the one with all the memories.
I press my hands over my face. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get a hold of her this week, and then with so much going on, I just… forgot to follow up.”
“Ash.” Luna’s voice is calm. Freakishly calm. “Hey. Look at me.”
I drop my hands. Her eyes are steady, not even close to panicked.
“It’s okay,” she says. “Seriously. It is okay. We’re still getting married.” she winces, biting her lip. “We have great food, music, wine… It’s fine. Really.”
I can’t believe I dropped the ball on this one. I’ve been so distracted…
She squints at me. “I just wish you weren’t—you know—because you really look like you could use a drink right now.”
I drop my hands.
“For the love of—Luna,” I move closer and lower my voice. “I am not pregnant. I told you, whatever Babs heard was a misunderstanding.”
“You’re not? But then… what didn’t you want to tell me?”
I freeze. Because we’re kind of whispering over here and everyone else in the room is just… watching.
“It’s—not important right now. God, Luna,” I say and then lean a little closer. “Can we just… drop it?” I’m smiling but I’m also gritting my teeth.
Things are already way too complicated and I just… can’t right now.
She studies me and I know she knows there’s more. Of course she does.
But instead of pushing, she just says, “My sister needs champagne. Stat. And make it a tall one.”
I pivot around in time to see the room jump to action.
Tay gathering champagne flutes. Babs organizing the bouquet table, and Helen, who I hadn’t even realized was sitting in one of the corners, pops up.
“Roger’ll do it!” Helen chirps. “The photography, I mean. He brought enough film to document a royal wedding. And between you and me, Minny hasn’t had a job this exciting since prom night ’78.”
I’m totally lost. “Minny?”
“His old camera. Short for Minolta,” Tay explains. “It’s like, an antique.”
“New isn’t always better,” Helen says, already heading for the door. “What do you say?”
Luna laughs. “Honestly? That feels exactly right.”
The coordinator hesitates. “If you’re comfortable with that, we can absolutely make it work.”
“Totally,” Luna says. “I’d be honored to have Roger as my official photographer.”
Turning to Helen, Maria is all business. “Can you introduce me so we can get started with the groomsmen’s pictures?”
“Of course. I left him in one of the tasting rooms.”
Just as the door closes behind them, a flute appears in my hand.
Suddenly we’re all making toasts.
“To my big sister, the best maid of honor ever,” Luna says.
I take a long sip.
“To my beautiful daughter on her wedding day.” Mom lifts her glass again.
“To our mom, for giving her best when we were kids, and for being her best for us now. And for being an incredible grandma to Max and Blakey,” I add. And then… “Thank you so much, for making this such a special week for the boys.” But she’s still watching me. “And for time alone… with Beckett.”
“Of course.” Mom is blushing a little, but she also looks satisfied. And whether it’s from the champagne or the moment, warmth is spreading through my chest.
“And to Dad,” Luna says, eyes shining.
“To Dad.”
Before we get even more sentimental, Tay grabs the bottle and, without being asked, refills our glasses. “To this incredible vacation.”
“Yes!” Our glasses clink.
“And whoever invented the Men’s Sexy Legs contest,” Luna adds.
“Absolutely!”
“The bachelorette prizes!” Mom toasts, her eyes glittering a bit too innocently.
The bachelorette prizes.
She sends me a wink and… I’m just…
Not going there.
Still, they are absolutely deserving of their own toast—or two… or three.
“Hear, hear,” I say.
Just in time to keep us from opening a second bottle of champagne, the stylists from the ship sweep in like a glam squad, clapping their hands and herding me, Luna, and Tay into chairs.
“Sit,” one of them orders. “Makeup first. Then hair.”
I let myself sink back and close my eyes for just a second. “...lost their entire life savings…”
No!
This is a wedding.
Bad investments… Regulatory scrutiny… Indictments coming…
Just no.
Not today.