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I chew my bottom lip. “Can I ask you something? Something personal?”
Kristy arches a brow. “You mean more personal than telling you I’m pregnant before I tell my future husband? Of course.”
“Are you worried ... that you or your baby will have cancer one day?”
“Am I worried about it? Sure.” She sets her hand on my shoulder. “But anything can happen in this life, and I’m not going to let cancer dictate my life. I’m going to do what I want, go where I want, and have as many babies as I want. What will be will be.”
A tear slips down my cheek. “You’re brave.”
“You can be brave too. If your mother could talk to you right now, what would she say?”
I smile, and stare up at the ceiling. “She’d tell me she wants grandkids.”
Kristy laughs. “Exactly.”
I clasp her hand. “Your mother is with you today. She’ll always be a part of you. And you can do little things to bring her with you along the way.”
Her grip tightens. “Thank you for listening. It feels good to talk to someone who knows what it’s like to lose a parent.”
“Of course.” I push to my feet, and hold out my palms. “Now, come on. We’ve gotta get you married.”
Kristy stands, and steps in front of the mirror. “Did I ruin my makeup?”
“Not one bit.”
The door swings open, and Kristy’s maid of honor waltzes into the room. “Oh, thank God. You brought alcohol.” She bends down, and snatches both flutes off the floor. “There is a seriously hot guy out there, and I need some liquid courage.”
Kristy arches an eyebrow. “Who is he?”
“I think he works here. Maintenance or something. I saw him setting up the sternos in the dining room.”
I roll my lips together. “Is he tall, dark, and ruggedly handsome?”
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“We’re kind of dating at the moment.”
Kristy rubs her forehead, and her best friend gasps. “I am so sorry. I had no idea.”
“It’s okay.” I wave a hand. “Can’t blame you for noticing him. Kind of hard not to.”
“Wait a minute.” She plants her hand on her hip. “What do you mean you’re kind of dating?”
I grab one of the mimosas from her hands, and toss it back. “I’m only here until the end of the month, and then I’m going back to New York.” I cast a knowing glance in Kristy’s direction. “We didn’t plan for it to happen, but we also didn’t try to stop it from happening.”
Kristy grins. “It’s turning into more than a summer fling, I take it?”
I grimace. “You could say that again.”
She winks. “It’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to.”
I shake off my apprehension, and square my shoulders. “Okay, enough about me. Are you ready to get married?”
She links arms with her friend. “I’m gonna marry the shit out of that man.”
“I’ll go let them know you’re ready.” I slink out of the room, and bunch up my dress as I make my way downstairs.
Outside, the guests have taken their seats, and the groom waits in the gazebo in a cream tux. I signal to the band that we’re ready to begin, and the lead singer raises his thumb in the air. The soft strum of his guitar floats over the patio as I rush back inside. The maid of honor and the best man head out, and I fix Kristy’s train as she links elbows with her father.
