2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Addy
“Good boy, Charlie.” I unhook the leash from the border collie mix and check my watch. I partied way too hard with Blaze and the team this past weekend, celebrating the Glaciers’ Stanley Cup win, which led to me hitting the snooze button just a few too many times this morning.
I’ve been behind schedule all day.
“I’ll get you some fresh water, and then I’ve gotta get going. Mom will be on me if I’m late.” I speak to Charlie like he understands every word. And maybe he does, with those big brown eyes fixed on me. He’s one of my most easygoing clients—which is saying something, considering I’ve been a professional dog walker for the past three years. I’ve met a lot of dogs, but Charlie’s one of a kind.
After making sure Charlie has everything he needs, I quickly grab my bag and change my clothes before heading out the door. He barks once, almost as if to say thank you, reminding me why I love my job so much.
The summer sun shines brightly, casting a warm glow on the sidewalk. As I navigate through the Atlanta streets, the buildings tower overhead, creating patches of shade that provide a welcome respite from the Southern heat and humidity.
I check my watch again and quicken my pace, expertly dodging bustling pedestrians and sidewalk obstacles with the ease of someone who knows the city like the back of their hand. Perks of dog walking.
Turning a corner, I finally catch sight of my destination.
Phew. Five minutes early.
I smile to myself as I approach Tea Parlor, the irritatingly upscale tearoom where my family happens to meet for everything. On today’s agenda?
My little sister’s wedding.
“At least Granny Esme won’t be obsessing over my relationship status today,” I mutter under my breath as I enter the establishment. The historic brick building has been redone by the finest in the nation—or so the sign says when you walk through the door.
I wave to Molly, the hostess who’s been working here for years now.
“Your family’s already in their private dining room,” she says with a smile.
“Great, thanks.” I smile back, smoothing out my disheveled hair from my near jog to get here on time.
I brush my fingers over the crisp, clean white blouse that I threw on right before I left and take a deep breath. I catch a whiff of the vanilla jasmine perfume I sprayed all over myself in hopes it would hide the pungent reminder that my parents’ highly esteemed socialite daughter is, indeed, a dog walker.
“Ah, Addy.” Mom perks up as I finally enter the room. Her blonde hair is pulled up in the perfect bun, and based on her lack of wrinkles, I’d guess she got her Botox done this week. “Come take a seat beside me, honey. We’re just waiting on Aurora.”
“The bride-to-be is late for her own bridal meeting?” I joke, pulling out a chair. I glance around the room as I take a seat, wondering if anyone heard me since nobody even cracked a smile. Aurora’s college sorority sisters are all sitting together and looking at their phones. My mom is sitting between me and Granny Esme. And my three aunts are across from us, also on their phones. And then there’s the wedding planner—a middle-aged woman who looks like she could be named Nancy…
Oh, and she’s on her phone too.
Cool.
I shift my attention to my mom, who’s now glaring at the door.
“I’m sure Aurora’s just running a little late.” I place my arm on her shoulder and then instantly retract it when I realize my nails are chipped. I don’t want to give her a reason to glare at me, too.
I do that enough as it is.
“She’s probably off rendezvousing with Robert,” Mom says through a terse smile.
I giggle. “Well, considering they’re about to get married, there will be plenty of time for rendezvousing later.”
“ Adeline Harper Williams ,” Granny pipes, her tone scolding as her blue eyes sear into me over her pink-framed glasses. “Have some manners.” Her eyes tell me that, at nearly thirty years old, I should know better.
I duck my head. “Sorry, Granny.” I tuck my loose strands of hair behind my ears and keep my gaze on my hands until I hear the door open once again. When I look up, my sister, in all her elegant ways, steps into the room. Her designer floral outfit makes the floral wallpaper look drab and dull. It’s like something straight off the runway—which she’s gorgeous enough to have walked herself.
We may share similar facial features and slender builds, but our styles couldn’t be more different. And there’s no denying that she got all the grace and charm in the Williams family gene pool. Whereas I tend to stumble into situations with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop.
“Sorry, I’m late,” she chimes, her tone light and sweet. “Robert needed me to stop by his office for a minute. We had to talk about something.”
I hide the face I’m making, trying to stifle a laugh as my mother grimaces and Granny’s face grows a shade paler. While I don’t think my sister was being ‘promiscuous’ as Granny would say, given the conversation we all just had, it definitely sets the wrong tone.
“Take a seat, Aurora. We need to get this meeting underway.” Mom drives the conversation as my sister pulls out the empty chair beside me and takes a seat. I catch a whiff of her peachy perfume and inhale deeply, thinking of orchards … and anywhere else but this stuffy tearoom.
“You’re actually on time.” Aurora shoots me a sideways glance. “It’s a miracle.”
“Ha ha,” I mouth back to her, and we both crack a grin. My baby sister and I like to poke fun at each other, but it’s all out of love. We’ve always had each other’s backs, even when our personalities couldn’t be more different.
“Okay, so we’re leaving for Hawaii in two weeks,” Mom says, placing her freshly manicured hands on the table. “It’s time to nail down the final guest list.”
“Will you be bringing a plus one?” Granny asks. But when she doesn’t get a response, she sharply adds, “ Adeline , I’m speaking to you.”
My eyes widen.
Oh no. Not again.
“Um…”
Granny sighs the moment she senses my hesitation. “You do realize that your twenty-five-year-old sister is about to marry a nice, stately man who comes from a wonderful family… You’re turning thirty soon, dear. This isn’t looking good.”
I try to conjure up a reply, but as my lips part, nothing comes out. I can’t think of a single thing to say to her. I’ve already said it all, and it never makes a difference.
“She’ll find someone,” Aurora says, attempting to come to my rescue. “Anyway, we need to talk about the wedding.”
“Yes, and the fact that my oldest granddaughter is going to be coming to your wedding alone. ” Granny narrows her gaze at me—like it’s my fault the cesspool of men in Atlanta sucks. “I just want better for you, Adeline. By the time a man turns thirty, he ought to be starting a family.”
Vomit.
“And most of the good ones are taken by thirty,” one of my aunts chimes in, though I don’t catch which one.
“Can we focus on the wedd—”
“Maybe I should set you up with—”
“Absolutely not.” Mom holds up a hand, halting the conversation. “This is Aurora’s wedding . We don’t need a repeat of what happened last time Aunt Kay tried to set Addy up.”
I cringe internally as Aurora’s sorority sisters start to giggle—probably recalling the near fire at our family Christmas party last year when my date knocked over a candle in his drunken stupor. Aunt Kay had been so blinded by his last name and his family ties when she set us up that she failed to see he had a major drinking problem. Never mind the fact that he’s a tax attorney who couldn’t be more wrong for me if he tried.
I close my eyes, wishing I was somewhere else. Someplace where I wouldn’t have to worry about all this.
“I just think she ought to see someone.” Granny Esme is not letting up on her rant. “Maybe if we worked on her manners—”
“That’s enough,” Aurora interjects, mimicking my mother’s previous gesture by holding up her hand. “We’re here to talk about my wedding. I really don’t want to discuss Addy’s love life right now. Now can we start walking through the itinerary, please? I have a busy afternoon planned.”
A busy afternoon of spending Robert’s money…
I let out a quiet sigh. My family is probably one of the wealthiest in the area, but both my sister and I receive a meager stipend from my parents—in the name of preventing us from becoming ‘ungrateful trust fund babies,’ per my father. So, Aurora went and found herself an older, wealthy man who treats her … well, like a trust fund baby—a traditional one … without a monthly spending budget.
As for me? I own a dog-walking business and pay my own bills. It’s not glorious by any means, but it’s mine, and I like it.
“Let’s just assume that Addy will be a one-person party.” Aurora’s voice grabs my attention, and I suddenly realize I’ve zoned out. “And move on.”
Oh my gosh, they’re still talking about me?
I nearly facepalm myself, my cheeks growing hot. I glance around once Aurora goes into talking about the seating arrangement—even though it’s a small destination wedding—and pull out my phone, seeing a message from my best friend.
Blaze: Enjoying wedding planning?
I roll my eyes, typing a text back to him.
Me: Literally want to die right now. Can I send an SOS?
Three dots immediately pop up on the screen, and I’m so thankful he’s officially in the off-season of hockey right now. I don’t think I could stand to have to wait for his reply at a time like this.
Blaze: Is it really that bad? SOS IS FOR EMERGENCIES.
Blaze: I didn’t mean to capitalize that, but it fits.
I laugh out loud, and right as I do, an elbow lands in my rib.
“Hey,” I mumble, glancing up to see my mother scowling at me. “What?” I mouth as the wedding planner begins her spiel about the charter jets.
“Put that down,” Mom scolds in a hushed tone.
I gesture toward all the other women at the table who are literally holding their phones in front of their faces and open my mouth to protest. But before I can say anything, my mom gives me one of those don’t you even go there looks and I retreat, my shoulders falling…
But I still manage to send one last text.
Me: SOS!
“Addy,” Mom whispers in a low, warning tone. “Put it down.”
Yes, Your Highness.
Of course I don’t say that out loud, opting for silence as I slide the phone into my pocket and fold my arms across my chest. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. I love them more than anything.
But I do not fit their vibe ninety-nine percent of the time.
Despite my best efforts to blend in, I’m fully aware that I’ve always been the odd one out. I much prefer wearing yoga pants over designer outfits. I’d rather hang out with dogs than socialites. And I’d choose getting lost in a book over gossiping at a tea party any day. I just wish they could understand and accept me for who I truly am. But it’s hard to feel seen when everyone has a predetermined idea of who you should be.
Not to mention, my mom acts like a Stepford wife when she gets around my granny—as if she’s suddenly transported back to the 1950s, all perfect hair and impeccable manners.
And she expects us to act the same.
I take a deep breath and zone out, ignoring my buzzing phone.
I’m sure it’s Blaze. And considering I just sent an SOS, he’s probably worried about my actual well-being.
“So, I’ll finish booking all the rooms today,” the wedding planner says, smiling as she flips a page in her notebook. “And the photographer is also taken care of.”
“Were you able to get the videographer I wanted?” Aurora sounds legitimately concerned right now. “It’s so important that we book him.”
“When I reached out to him, he said he had a conflict…” The wedding planner suddenly looks worried.
“Just pay whatever it takes to get him there,” Mom intervenes. “At this point, I’ll do anything to make her wedding day exactly what she wants it to be.”
Spoiled.
Of course, I know my mom would do the same for me. She’d probably love to fuss over holy matrimony on my behalf. It’s just too bad that I’m on the verge of being forever alone. It’s a real problem.
Well, for them.
Not so much for me.
I’ve been there, done that. I’ve dated the kinds of men that are considered “acceptable” to my family. But most of them were like hollow shells, too consumed with appearances and their own self-importance to truly connect with another human being.
Needless to say, the relationships never lasted longer than a few months, if that.
I’ve since learned to be content with my independence and the company of Blaze and dogs. At least dogs don’t judge you or try to change you into something you’re not.
Ugh.
The pressure to fit into my family’s mold has always weighed heavy on my shoulders, but today for some reason, it feels unbearable.
Why does my worth have to be measured by the man on my arm or the size of the diamond on my finger?
I stare off at the wallpaper as they go on to talk about music playlists, fittings for the dresses, and toasts. I don’t know when wallpaper started coming back in style, but I wish it hadn’t.
“Excuse me?” Our hostess Molly steps into the room, her face pale.
Mom looks immediately annoyed. “Yes?”
“It appears that Miss Adeline Harper Williams”—she refers to the notepad in her hand as she spouts off my full name—“is needed right away. I believe it’s a family emergency.”
I raise a brow and then turn to my mother. “I have no idea what could be wrong.”
“You must have the wrong person,” Aurora argues. “Our entire family is here. Well, except for our father, but he wouldn’t call for Addy .”
Ah yes, because I’m the last person anyone wants.
Molly shakes her head. “The gentleman in the lobby is extremely adamant that Adeline Harper Williams is, indeed, needed.”
I try to peer around Molly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the gentleman in the lobby—though I must admit, I’ve got a pretty good idea as to who it might be.
And I’m literally going to attack him with joy.
“She cannot possibly have an emergency,” Mom reiterates, her voice growing tired as she turns to me. “If this is another one of Blaze’s schemes to get you out of doing something…”
“Mom, I don’t know. What if he’s actually in trouble?” I use my most innocent tone, shrugging my shoulders like I absolutely did not send an SOS text.
She narrows her eyes at me. “Adeline, I hope, for your sake, you’re not trying to finagle your way out of helping your sister plan her wedding.”
“I’m not.” I raise my hands in surrender and then scoot back in my chair, turning to Aurora. “I’ll make it up to you.”
She smiles and then mouths, “Lucky.”
And just like that, I’m off to see what this emergency is all about.