Page 119 of The Do-Over

She had started her new job as the front receptionist at Mayfield Home Mortgage. Miss Ruby had stayed on a couple extra days to train her, but it was clear by the end of the first day, Bria could bellow for employees all on her own. At the end of the second day, Bria sent me a text, just two words: Thank you.

Bria slid in the chair across from me now, her eyes wide and more than a little apprehensive. She held up one of the three forks by her plate. “This is some fancy shit. Why am I here again?”

“Because,” Daddy said, smiling at her, “you’re part of the Mayfield family now.”

“Oh, great.” Bria crossed her arms, but I was sure a small smile flirted with the corners of her mouth.

Dinner wasn’t served until close to 9:30 p.m., and the dancing started after. I watched as our table slowly paired off and hit the floor. Mimi found an older gentleman resplendent in a bright red tuxedo and claimed him for her own. Even Bria found a partner in a short, thin man who might be scared to death or having the time of his life dancing with her.

A slow song started, and I smiled as Mathias pulled Phee close. Although they weren’t “defining their relationship,” I’d say their status would be something like: Disgustingly Into Each Other.

Daddy gazed down at Mom like he was entranced—that marriage counseling was definitely working. I pushed away a wave of sadness—and okay, envy—and drifted around the room. The open bar wasn’t so crowded, so I got a cocktail and sipped at it. Later, I took myself off to the bathroom.

I was washing my hands when Mimi burst into the bathroom. “Phew. There ya are. We couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“Sorry. Nature called.”

Mimi examined my face and frowned. “You bring more lipstick in that little purse? Reapply, girl. And hurry.” When I didn’t move fast enough, she grabbed my tiny black clutch and dumped it on the counter.

“Geesh, okay.” I snatched up the lipstick and did what I was told.

“Fluff your hair.” She turned me to face her and pinched my cheeks.

“Ouch!”

“You looked a little pale. Needed to put some color in your cheeks. Now smile so I can check your teeth.”

“Mimi, this—”

“Smile!” she barked.

I smiled.

“Excellent.” She threw everything back in my purse. “I’ll hold this for you. Fix your wrap. Come on, then.” With a tug on my hand, she pulled me through the door and back into the ballroom.

“What in the world has gotten into you?”

Mimi jerked to a stop. “Listen to me, Perci-girl. You remember that life is full of moments, right? Small moments, big moments. Some moments we don’t realize are moments until long after they happen.”

I nodded and thought of that moment a year before, sitting in the dentist chair while Brent broke up with me on the radio. Not a glorious moment, but one that had started a whole slew of things I could never have imagined.

“Okay then,” she said, and we started walking again. “I believe you’re about to have one of those moments. I want you to go with it. Enjoy it. Just be you, honey.”

“Right. And how will I know—”

But that was about the time I couldn’t form words anymore. Because there, standing in front of all the people I loved, was a sharp-edged, un-handsome man in a tuxedo. He smiled, and I wanted to melt right there.

Mimi shoved me forward. “Go get him, tiger.”

I started toward him, and he met me halfway. We stopped with inches between us.

“Hi,” I said, my voice breathy. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s kind of a funny story,” he said, his face serious. “A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my patio, feeling a little down because I have this friend who I hadn’t spoken to in a while. You might know her, she’s real pretty, always makes me smile, and I was missing her.”

I locked my hands behind my back, lest I reach for him. “Go on.”

“The strangest thing, this little red bird lands on my banister. It had these funny feathers sticking up at the top of its head. I stared at it, and it stared at me. And the more I tried to shoo it away, the more it just stared at me like it was trying to tell me something.”