“Committed to what?”
I shifted forward, putting space between us.
“Please don’t touch it. It took two hours to get right.”
Martha withdrew her hand.
“Relax. I wasn’t going to ruin it, Jillian.”
Then she smiled.
“Please don’t touch it.”
“Today’s supposed to be full of surprises.”
Before I could ask what that meant, Nick knocked.
“Jill?”
“You can’t come in, love!”
Martha opened the door anyway.
Nick covered his eyes.
“You can’t come in, love!”
“Mom!”
I laughed. “You’re safe.”
He lowered his hand and saw me.
His whole expression changed.
“Wow.”
I touched my braid.
“You’re safe.”
“Good wow?”
“The kind where I forget why I knocked.”
Martha sighed.
“Lydia would’ve chosen something more elegant.”
Nick turned toward her.
“Good wow?”
“Mom. Stop comparing them. Respect my wife.”
Martha grabbed her purse and walked out.
Nick shut the door behind her, then looked at me.
“What did she say before I got here?”
I straightened the brushes on the counter.
“Nothing worth carrying down the aisle.”
“What did she say before I got here?”
“You keep joking when she gets to you.”
“And you keep confronting her.”
“Then three days later, we’re eating at her house like nothing happened.”
I stopped moving the brushes.
“We’re not solving your mother ten minutes before our wedding.”
He crouched beside me.
“And you keep confronting her.”
“After today?”
I nodded.
“After today.”
At the time, I thought postponing the problem meant Martha couldn’t touch our wedding.
I had no idea she’d already decided otherwise.
“After today?”
***
The ceremony was beautiful.
Nick forgot a line of his vows and had to start again. My dad cried.
I loved every second.
Our reception was at our favorite restaurant, exactly where Nick wanted it.
Martha had complained for months that it wasn’t formal enough.
Nick refused to budge.
I loved every second.
“I want the pasta from our first anniversary, those potatoes you steal off my plate, and tomorrow I don’t want us cleaning up after a hundred people.”
That settled it.
We wanted food we loved without the fuss of cleaning afterward.
It felt like us.
We wanted food we loved.
***
Caroline hugged me when she arrived.
“This feels exactly like you two.”
Martha gave a tight smile.
“I still think they should’ve chosen somewhere more appropriate.”
Caroline frowned.
“I don’t.”
“This feels exactly like you two.”
Martha noticed.
So did I.
***
Later, I found Martha needling my father.
“This must all feel rather different for your family.”
I stepped between them.
“Dad. Please. Let her walk away.”
Martha noticed.
Martha did.
Dad lowered his voice.
“You keep protecting people from the consequences of what they say to you.”
“I just want one peaceful night.”
“I know.”
I watched Martha cross the room.
“I just want one peaceful night.”
“I thought ignoring her was how I got one.”
Dad shook his head.
“No. You’re taking responsibility for her behavior. There’s a difference.”
***
A few minutes later, I passed Martha and Caroline near the bar.
“Lydia would’ve organized this differently,” Martha said.
“You’re taking responsibility for her behavior.”
Caroline frowned.
“Why are you talking about my daughter?”
“You know I’ve always thought she and Nick would’ve suited each other.”
“Maybe years ago. But Nick loves Jillian. Leave Lydia out of it.”
Nick appeared beside me.
“She’s right, Mom. Please stop.”
“Why are you talking about my daughter?”
For the first time, Martha looked uncomfortable.
Something about Caroline’s reaction made my stomach tighten.
Before I could ask, Nick took my hand.
“Dance with me.”
On the floor, I rested one hand against his shoulder.
“Dance with me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Stop apologizing for her.”
“I don’t know what else to do.”
“Neither do I.”
For once, I didn’t turn it into a joke.
“I don’t know what else to do.”
Nick looked at me carefully.
“After tonight, we figure it out.”
I nodded.
“After tonight.”
Then Martha cut my hair.
“After tonight.”
***
My best friend, Alicia, pulled me into the restroom and locked the door behind us.
