Epilogue – Aldis
The girls are all gathered in the center of the ballroom, and there is far too much squealing going on for a simple bouquet toss. Shamefully enough, I know for certain that my two sisters are in that mix though, elbowing their way for a better chance at catching a silly mess of flowers that someone once said would determine who the next to get married would be. I shake my head slightly, picking up my drink from the table and taking a long, slow sip as I watch the mayhem.
If it weren’t for the fact that Aspen was one of my favorite cousins, I probably wouldn’t have even attended the wedding. I absolutely despise events like this. The noise, the chaos, the socializing with people you have no intention of seeing for at least six months.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. But they can be a bit over the top at times.
The bouquet is tossed and if it’s at all possible, the cheering gets louder until one girl, with short blonde hair and a lavender dress, catches the flowers and the noise intensifies even more.
I grow tense when I see her, an odd reaction that I’ve been dealing with ever since she spilled her drink all over my shirt last night.
Laney Douglas was her name.
A strange girl that didn’t seem to possess any form of social grace going off our short encounter. But that didn’t stop the fact that I’ve been trying to pin the color of her eyes for the last four hours because it seems like every time I get a glimpse of them, they’ve shifted in color. I spot my sisters in similar dresses as Laney’s emerge from the crowd, gathering around the poor girl and squealing in shared excitement. I can’t help but wonder what unfortunate man has to endure the expectations following that sort of thing… and what sort of man she would consider marrying.
I shake the thought from my head, the woman was pure chaos, any man that she would be caught with would have to be just as unhinged as she is. Be that as it may, I can’t help but watch as Jan and Lily lead her back towards our table, and something akin to anxiety decides to creep up my spine as they approach.
My sisters plop into their seats, pulling her down next to them even though the table setting clearly says that that seat is reserved for our grandmother who is somewhere around the room. “Oh, that’s so exciting Laney!” Jan is saying and I arch an eyebrow at them, but refrain from asking what this “exciting thing” is.
She laughs in return, her cheeks tinted a deep shade of pink and I can’t help but catalog that as another color to the ever changing palette of Laney Douglas.
“Thanks, but I have to find a man before I can marry anyone.” Laney shoots back, setting the bouquet on the table. “You’re better off with these than I am.”
Jan rolls her eyes. “Gabe and I are just friends.” She says, waving a dismissive hand and I take that opportunity to clear my throat instead of listening to my sister daydream about one of my best friends.
Laney nearly jumps at the noise. “Oh, gosh, sorry. I didn’t even see you there.” She laughs. “Aldi, right? Like the store?”
Beside her, Jan and Lily start to giggle and I just stare at her with a blank expression. “No, not at all like the store.” I say dryly, standing from my seat. “It’s Aldis.”
She shrinks slightly but shoots me a small smile as she watches me stand. “Oh, sorry. I’m Laney.”
“I know.” I say. Green, definitely green, with a hint of brown… I turn my attention to my sisters. “I’m going to get going, tell gram that I’ll let her know when I get to Nashville.”
Jan lets out a displeased sigh as she shares a look with Lily, but I’m used to their theatrics to get me to do what they want.
“Wait, you’re leaving already?” It’s Laney questioning my actions that throws me slightly, and I blink at her for a moment in response.
“Yes, I’m not really a fan of parties.”
She pulls a face. “It’s not even nine yet.”
I arch a brow at her. “I’m not a fan of parties.” I repeat, glancing to my sisters to verify I was actually having this conversation. They, in turn, are bouncing back and forth between Laney and I like they’re at some sort of tennis match.
Laney makes a huffing noise. “Party pooper.”
I narrow my eyes on her. “I’ve never actually understood that phrase.” I say in a dry tone, hoping to end the conversation but I have a feeling I should have known better.
“It means you poop on parties.” She says, emphasizing her point with her hands. Then she grabs a folded linen napkin on the table and dangles it out to me, waving it slightly. “Here, don’t forget to wipe.” She says, leaning back in her chair slightly, and I swear I watch as her eyes shift to be a gold color.
She waves the napkin again and I’m left to blink at her before snatching it from her hand and throwing it back on the table. From next to her, Jan and Lily unsuccessfully try to muffle their giggles.
“I am not a party pooper.” I nearly growl and it causes one of her eyebrows to arch as a thin smile spreads across her lips. “I have work to do.”
“It’s a Saturday night.” She challenges, crossing her arms and never in my life has someone frustrated me so quickly.
I roll my eyes. “Not everyone has the luxury of taking a day off, Miss Douglas, now if you don’t mind, I will be off.” I say as I turn and it shouldn’t have surprised me when she says to my back.
“Alright, fine, I suppose I’ll give you permission to leave.” She says with a bored tone and I fight the urge to turn around and continue this argument. Instead though, I make my way out of the ballroom and through the hall, replaying the conversation in my head and all the retorts that I wish I’d said.
I’m back in my room, still mulling over my conversation with her when Aunt Hope steps into my room, glancing at me as I hoist my suitcase onto the bed and go to pull my spare shirts from the dresser. “You’re leaving already?” She asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
I shrug. “There’s a horse show in Nashville I said I’d be at.”
“Yes, next Saturday, you don’t need to be there tonight, or even tomorrow.” She steps towards the bed and settles on the edge. I glance to her, technically, I think Hope would be considered my cousin-in-law, seeing as she’s married to my grandmother’s nephew. But the logistics of this family have always confused me, so I opt for the easier titles.
“I know, but they have stuff going on all week that I want to be there for.” I say shortly, stepping back to the bed with a short stack of shirts.
“Your cousin got married today. Don’t you want to celebrate?”
I shrug. “I did celebrate, now I need to get work done.” I fling open the already unzipped suitcase and take a startled step back when I find what’s inside.
A cat…
Aunt Hope jumps from the bed, letting out a startled noise that causes the sleeping feline to raise its head slightly, blinking its green eyes slowly at her.
Silence settles over the room then as we stare at the large, orange, tabby cat. Slowly, I hold my hand out for it to inspect, it gives my fingers a little sniff before rubbing its head against my hand, letting out a rumbly purr as it does.
“That’s a cat.” My aunt says and I cut a glance to her, prepared to come back with some kind of sarcastic comment but stop myself when I see her terrified expression.
“What’s wrong with a cat?” I ask, picking the furry creature up and out of my suitcase, holding it in the crook of my arm while I place my shirts in the spot that it had been resting.
“Darren is highly allergic. If he’s even near that thing he’ll puff up like a blowfish.”
She waves a frantic hand. “You have to get that thing out of here and I’m going to have to have this room cleaned. How did it even get in here?”
I shrug, taking slight enjoyment in the way it’s continued to purr in my arms, despite Aunt Hope having a complete conniption over the creature.
“He can’t know about this, if he does he’ll psych himself out and think he’s having an allergic reaction to everything. He’ll be impossible to live with for a month.” She says, and turns towards the door, waving her hands as she talks frantically. “Just, get that thing out of here.” She says finally, slipping out of my room and I can’t help but chuckle softly at my aunt’s mayhem.
I glance down to the orange cat in my arms.
“I guess you’re coming with me.”