Page 123 of The Wedding Favor

“Alicia Knight lives here in Two Harts?” Yessica asked.

“I have no idea,” I said.

“I cannot believe we were best friends,” Ali shouted. “You’re an awful human being.”

The rest of the room was silent as they watched the scene unfold. And maybe that was the reason I heard it so clearly.

“I hate you,” Mae said, and then she did something so unexpected, so out of character… she burst into tears.

I jumped up from my seat and yelled, “Stop it. Right now. Just stop.” I flew down the aisle. “Off the stage right this second.” The two of them stared at me in disbelief. “Now. Off.”

When they didn’t move, I stomped up on stage, grabbed each of them by an arm and pulled them with me out the backstage exit and down a hallway.

“I cannot believe you two.” I tried the first door we came across. Locked. “Grown women.” Another locked door. “Best friends. Do you even remember why this started?” The third one opened to an empty classroom. “Sit. Both of you.”

They sat, refusing to look at each other.

“What is going on with you two? This cannot all be over Abe and me.”

Mae flinched. Her face was red and splotchy from crying. “There is no Abe and you, right?”

I slammed a box of tissues on her desk. “I don’t know. See, my sister has decided I am a complete moron who can’t make a single decision on my own, so she has insisted on getting all up in my business.”

Ali harrumphed.

I turned on my heels. “Oh, don’t get self-righteous, because you aren’t much better. Do you know how hard Abe is trying? Do you even realize how kind and smart and patient he is? He’s finally got his family back and you two are both making him and me choose between keeping the peace with our psycho families or maybe, possibly, figuring out how we feel about each other.”

I was on a roll now.

“And another thing, Mae. No, I am not going to school in Austin.” I turned to Ali. “And don’t think you’re off the hook. You don’t get to share very personal information like that. This was mine to tell.”

“I’m sorry,” Ali said in a small voice.

“I’m not forgiving you yet. Try again later.”

I walked over to Mae. “I hate big cities and big crowds, and I don’t want to be a therapist. I would be terrible at it. You would know that if you ever just listened to me. You don’t listen, you tell me what the right answer is and that’s it.”

To my horror, she started to cry again.

With a sigh, I knelt in front of her desk.

“I love you, Mae. You are one of the most important people in my life. I know how much you sacrificed for me, for Mom, but you can’t control everything. That’s not how life works. I have to figure some things out on my own. I’m going to make mistakes and you’re going to have to let me.”

Mae sniffled, her blue eyes watery and red. “I’ve been so worried about you. You haven’t been acting like yourself at all.”

“You mean I haven’t been acting like a loner with no life?”

“You have a life.”

“I don’t but that’s what I’m trying to tell you. I’m trying to get one. I have no idea what it will look like. But whatever it is, I need for you to accept it.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “You have to trust me.”

“I’m so sorry. I’m an absolute wreck with the move and I miss Chris so much but don’t tell him that, it will go straight to his head.” She took a shuddering breath. “And I’m pregnant.”

“What?” I gasped.

“You’re what?” Ali rushed over.

“It was a surprise. The timing is awful. The baby won’t even be born a Texan.”