Chapter 5
Chapter Five
STELLA
Caleb’s parents live in the wealthiest part of Tucson — the Catalina Foothills. When I pull up to the address on the engagement party invitation, I stop in front of a sprawling mansion. The majestic foothills rise behind, with the sunset coloring its rounded peak a beautiful pink.
I’m late. The long lane that leads to the house is already lined with cars. There’s no place for me to park, so I drive a little further up the road to find a spot on the street.
I rush down the lane, my heels clacking on the pavement. My nervousness builds with every step. I’m always anxious in large social situations, but tonight feels scarier after everything that’s happened the last few weeks.
I remind myself my friends are here, not that I’ve talked to them since karaoke. I’ve been busy with work and family events. I feel guilty for not reaching out, but they haven’t reached out to me either. Tonight I get to reconnect with everyone.
I’m also nervous about seeing Drew. He’s called me a few times in the last two weeks to talk about nothing in particular.
Our conversations are a twenty-minute oasis for me to breathe easy as he tells me about his life in Blissful.
What if things are weird in person? There are so many stupid things that can tumble out of my mouth.
Or maybe worse, I’ll turn mute and say nothing at all.
A sign points me to the side of the home and along a stone path to the backyard.
A large brick patio surrounds the house with a pergola overhead.
Strings of lights weave through the lattice work.
Large pots, scattered throughout, hold small trees and are overflowing with pink flowers. Pink and gold ribbons hang everywhere.
The other half of the yard has tables with more pink flowers as centerpieces. That’s where dinner will be served. Soon, I hope. I didn’t get a chance to grab a snack before rushing here, and I’m hungry.
Close to a hundred people are mingling, eating appetizers being served by men in pink shirts and black slacks with a silver cummerbund.
String music plays. Everything is very elegant, and I’m glad I wore my green party dress.
It’s the nicest thing I have in my closet.
Mallory helped me pick it out for Roe’s wedding a few years ago.
We had a lot of fun on that shopping trip.
I look around, trying to spot familiar faces.
There, at the edge of the patio, are Mackenzie and Virginia.
It’s good to see them. As I approach, I notice that they’re wearing matching shades of pink, though the style of their dresses differ.
Was that an accident, or did they purposefully wear dresses the same pink as the wedding colors?
Before I reach them, they move deeper into the crowd and join Sandra, also wearing pink.
I stumble but catch myself on a pillar. Dread starts to build in the pit of my stomach. They’re the other bridesmaids. Why wasn’t I told that we were supposed to match?
Sandra notices me first and instead of smiling, she turns her back and whispers to the others. As one, they look at me, then turn away, their heads close together like they’re sharing secrets. About me? My body heats from the inside out, and I want to hide.
Except why am I the one who’s embarrassed? They’re the ones acting like mean girls.
I take a steadying breath and continue my approach.
“Hey guys,” I say with enthusiasm. The wobble in my voice shows my nerves. Hopefully they don’t notice. “A perfect night for a party. Beautiful weather.”
Ugh. I’m talking about the weather. I can’t blame them for not responding when I introduce such an inane conversation topic.
I try again. “Your dresses are all beautiful. Why did you decide to match tonight?”
“We’re the bridesmaids,” Sandra says as if I should know this already. “We thought it would be a fun surprise for Mallory.”
I wait for one of them to apologize for the message sent by a carrier pigeon that never arrived. Silence. None of them will look at me, and I feel invisible though I’m standing right beside them.
Nothing to do but point out the elephant standing next to us. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Mackenzie finally looks at me, an apology in her eyes. She opens her mouth, but before she can answer, Krystal rams into the group, catching Sandra and Mckenzie in her arms. Their cold exteriors melt away as they laugh at her theatrical entrance.
Krystal’s dress is also pink, but a darker, richer shade. To set her apart because she’s the maid of honor? She glances at me with a smug gleam in her eyes. It’s clear that I am not wearing pink tonight because of her. For whatever reason, she takes great delight in tormenting me.
“What are you doing here?” Krystal’s voice is confused, but her expression says otherwise.
“I was invited.” I say.
“Yeah, but you didn’t send the RSVP.”
For a second my heart stops, but then I remember following the QR code, filling out the few questions, and clicking submit. “Yes, I did.”
“Oh.” She laughs. “We must have missed it. I was sure you weren’t coming. You’re the only one tonight who is a vegetarian, and we didn’t order you a special meal.”
Virginia takes a wineglass from a passing server and turns away to take a sip.
Mackenzie and Sandra share a wide-eyed look, as if they’re uncomfortable with what is going on.
But none of them speak to me or in my defense.
I want to shake them until they tell me why they’re acting like this.
We’ve sung karaoke together. Gone camping, hiking, and road tripping.
They’re treating me like an unwelcome interloper.
“That’s okay,” I say with as much confidence as I can. “I’m not here for the food.”
My stomach gurgles in disagreement.
“I think there were a few people who couldn’t make it last minute,” Krystal says. “I’m sure we can find you a seat somewhere.”
Probably in the kitchen with the staff, far away from everyone else.
The conversation, if you can call it that, stalls. This is humiliating. I take a small step back. They close their ranks, tightening the circle.
A warm hand lands on my shoulder. Somehow I know without looking that it belongs to Drew. He breaches the space growing between me and my “friends,” and brings me back into the group.
I glance up and am momentarily paralyzed by how attractive he looks, something I didn’t fully appreciate at karaoke.
His dark blue suit fits him perfectly across his shoulders.
His long hair is tucked behind his ears.
The strong jaw. Green eyes. A welcoming smile.
He’s stunning. As my sister-in-law Avery would say, jalapeno pepper hot.
This is the man I’ve been speaking to on the phone?
“Hello, everyone. You all look nice.” He looks directly at me, as if I’m the most important member of this group. “You made it!”
I’m so grateful to have one person who doesn’t despise me, even if he is too hot for me to handle, I grab onto his arm like he’s my life preserver.
“I’m just a little late.” I sound breathy and clear my throat.
“Lauren wants to say hi. Can I steal you away?”
“Yes.”
He nods goodbye to everyone, then takes my hand into his warm, rough, and calloused one, to lead me onto the lawn.
He’s saved me. What a power move, to leave by choice with a handsome man and not by force of exclusion.
I look over my shoulder and catch a snapshot of Krystal’s expression before she turns away.
Fury. It’s probably best if I avoid her for the rest of the night. Better yet, the rest of my life.
I spot Caleb and Mallory across the way, talking to people I don’t know. She’s wearing a simple white summer dress and the largest smile filled with such happiness. He’s in a white button down and dark blue slacks. The two of them together are picture perfect.
With a wallop, I’m hit with how much I miss Mallory. My life has been entwined with hers for so long, it’s hard to have this distance between us. I wonder if she’s even noticed my absence. I hope so.
Drew guides me through the guests toward the tables.
Many of the people I know, but I’m afraid to say hello in case they treat me like my fellow bridesmaids did.
He stops at a table near the front. Sitting with a baby in her arms is Lauren.
When she sees me, she hands the baby to her husband and rises to pull me into a hug.
I don’t generally hug acquaintances, but this is nice, and I hold on for a few extra seconds.
“It is so good to see you!” she says. “I couldn’t believe it when Drew said you ran into each other.
” She pulls away and without taking a breath continues.
“This is my husband Brody and our baby, Benji. Don’t let his cuteness fool you.
He’s running us ragged. This is our great grandma, GG.
GG, this is Stella Jacobson. She was our neighbor before we moved to Blissful. ”
GG is an older woman with short, curly gray hair, wearing orthopedic white sneakers, white tights, and a green dress almost the exact same color as mine. At least I match with someone tonight.
She studies me through her trifocals. “Ah, the jilted lover. Pleased to meet you.” Her voice is soft and crisp, like phyllo dough fresh from the oven.
Before I can ask what she means, Drew and Lauren shush her.
Her brow lowers in confusion. “Is it a secret?”
I’m about to ask her to explain what she means because it’s a secret I’d like to be in on, but Lauren speaks first.
“Why did I let them convince me to buy this monstrosity? Benji’s three months old, and it will be impossible to feed him in this getup. I have to strip my whole upper body, and it was a beast to get this thing on in the first place.”
GG laughs. “Oh, to be young.”
Lauren’s dress is the same shade of pink as the bridesmaid dresses. Does that mean … ?
“Too much information,” Drew says. “Way too much information.”