Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Angela munched on a few potato chips after eating half a sandwich and taking a few sips of water, seemingly collecting her thoughts.
Her expression when she began speaking was comforting.
“I could tell you the story about how I almost called off my wedding a few days before the occasion, but I’ll save that for another time.
Rest assured, your concerns are fairly common, and there’s a solution for all of them. ”
“You don’t think I’m crazy?”
She gave a firm shake of her head. “Not even close, but we need to unravel some of the things that just popped out before you had time to process them.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, feeling awkward.
“Obviously, your happy place is the shore,” she said before picking up another potato chip. “We all could see that, even Brad. When did you realize it?”
“I guess when Heather invited me to visit her.” I paused, thinking.
“No, when I moved to Philadelphia after college, friends always went to the shore to celebrate something, no matter what time of year. Tony and I even had our honeymoon in Cape May, then we’d take Chet to Wildwood during our summer vacations. ”
“Yet you chose to move to Chester County, Pennsylvania after their deaths. Why didn’t you go to the shore?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it would have been too painful to go back?” I honestly had no clue.
“That seems reasonable,” she agreed. “How’d you get over those emotions?”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Heather made me talk about Tony and Chet. Then, she insisted we visit the places I’d gone with them, even my honeymoon suite at the B&B in Cape May.”
“Did you find that devastating?”
“No, it really helped me, and I realized I’d fallen in love with Brad in the interim.” I rolled my eyes. “We were coming from your house during a winter storm, and I knew, beyond a doubt, we were meant for each other.”
She laughed. “I remember that night, and I told Mike we should have made you both stay. It had to have been a treacherous drive on the roads out there.”
“It was, but we made it home. We even kissed after making snow angels on the driveway behind my apartment.”
“Aha,” she said. “You made it ‘home.’”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Oh, wait. That was just a figure of speech.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“You threw in a trick question!” Why did I feel so unnerved? “I only meant that Brad and I bonded at that moment in time. At least, I did.”
She smiled. “That’s great. Brad told me something similar, so you’re both on the same page.” She detected my discomfort, and asked, “When did my grandparents’ home not feel right to you?”
“I don’t know. I guess when it was no longer my home. Brad clearly wanted me to stay, yet he and your husband invited the guys from Lancaster to live upstairs. I mean, the place wasn’t set up to have hefty guys traipsing in and out at all hours.”
She nodded her agreement. “I told Mike the same thing.”
“Yet Brad owned the place and could invite anyone. I didn’t have a voice any longer.”
“I hear you,” she said. “Did you share your feelings with my brother?”
“In a way, I did. I showed him how Rita’s apartment above hers had outside stairs. He told me he couldn’t afford that, so I let it go.”
She finished the other half of her sandwich before saying, “You need to stand your ground with Brad. Are you afraid he’ll lose interest in you?”
I hesitated. “Maybe.”
“That won’t happen because he’s crazy about you!”
I closed my eyes, shaking my head. “This isn’t about Brad. It’s about me. Help me get beyond my fears!”
“Can you identify them for me?” She reached for the bag of potato chips and dumped a few on each of our plates.
I munched on one, willing myself to stay calm as I thought through the things I’d enumerated to Angela when they surfaced. “I suppose where I live isn’t important, as long as your brother and I are together. It’s just that I’d like a say in the matter.”
“That’s reasonable,” she agreed.
“Yet our income will be tied up with the business, and Brad sank all of his money into buying back your grandparents’ home. We can’t afford another property.”
“True, but you can get creative, even if it means planning for the future. In the meantime, maybe Rita will let you continue renting her upstairs apartment at the shore.”
“I hope so, but we’re letting Alicia use it while Wyatt stays with Heather.”
“That was kind of you,” she said, “but do you regret offering it to her?”
I paused, thinking. “A little, because she acts entitled, if you know what I mean. Anyway, we won’t be able to go there for our honeymoon if she doesn’t vacate the apartment.”
“What do you mean ‘your honeymoon?’”
“Brad and I had intended to use the shore apartment after the wedding for a few days as our honeymoon. If we don’t get snow in November or December, we can plan to do something fancier after Christmas.”
She looked shocked. “What? Whose idea was that?”
“It was a joint decision.”
She vehemently shook her head. “Absolutely not. It’s no wonder you’re feeling so frustrated.”
“It’s not a big deal because I don’t want to travel. Ever.”
She sighed. “You really are a mess!”
I nodded, finding it hard to look into her eyes. “Yes, I am.”
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s get to work.”
I felt overwhelmed. “Where do we start?”
She tapped her fingernails on the table while she pondered. “How about a cruise?”
I laughed. “You need to book those months ahead of time.”
She shook her head. “You can get last-minute deals, but I have a better idea. How about a five-day honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico? I’m talking sandy beaches, scuba diving, and cocktails by the pool. Heck, you’d have enough photos to blog every day for a month.”
“That sounds amazing but Brad already told me he can’t get away in October. All of his customers need fall cleanups.”
“Tough beans. Paolo Carduso can handle them, and I’ll be happy to help him.”
I didn’t know what to say. Other than a brief discussion with Brad about postponing our honeymoon, I hadn’t realized the effect of its delay on me, especially when I wasn’t sure when Alicia would vacate Rita’s apartment.
Angela may have sensed my conflicted emotions. “What’s the problem?”
“I can’t make travel arrangements for a honeymoon before talking it over with Brad.”
She shrugged as if to say “why not,” and we both laughed.
“I have another idea,” she said. “Do you have Triple A?”
I hesitated. “Yes.”
“Let’s go to their travel agent and have them plan three possible trips for your magazine article and blog. Then, let Brad choose which one he’d like as a honeymoon.”
“You’re so devious,” I teased.
She grinned. “Of course I am, because I intend to be your companion if he decides he can’t get away. This could be fun!”
We quickly finished lunch, placed our dishes in the sink, put away the condiments, and headed to Triple A. Warm, sandy beaches sounded really good to me.