Page 3 of The Teacher

Ripley seems unconvinced. “Yeah?”

“Come on, it’s like the biggest cliché to have second thoughts on the day you fully commit to another person. Of course, you have doubts,” I reply. “It’s only natural.”

“It is?”

“Yeah. But you, of all people, shouldn’t. You know why?”

“Why?” She’s hanging off my every word now. I know this is the most important moment of my short Maid of Honor career. A lot is at stake here.

This is what I was signed up to do. I’m reliable old Sandy, here to calm down another warzone.

“Because you and my stupid brother have found love, that’s why.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you even know how rare love is? How so many people go through life never finding it? But you’ve found it. I watched it grow between you and Cove. I watched you two together for the last year. You two have found the rarest and most powerful thing, Ripley, and you should never let it go. I should know, I had it once and it was taken from me, so I’m a bit of an expert when it comes to finding and losing love and what I see with you and Cove is one hundred percent verified, true real love. One hundred percent. Undeniable. True love. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“I mean, God, look at you both,” I playfully punch Ripley on her arm. “You know, it’s absolutely sickening seeing my younger brother so infatuated.”

“We are pretty infatuated.”

“I honestly don’t know what you see in him, but what I do see is love between you two. The best kind of love. Don’t let it go just because you’re reverted back to your American ways with all your hometown friends being here and are being super over-emotional.”

Ripley laughs, and I see color rush back into her adorable cheeks. It’s good to see her laugh again.

The American bridesmaids are clearly listening at the door because once Ripley laughs, they all come tumbling back into the suite like a swarm of ants discovering a lump of sugar and I know my job here is done. I’ve restored peace and stability back to the wedding universe.

Ripley ignores her childhood friends and pinches my cheek, still laughing. I let her play lovingly with my face this one time, seeing as it’s her wedding day and all. “You,” she says to me with a twinkle in her eye. “You, Sandy, are the best friend anyone could have. You’re so selfless and amazing and giving.”

“Stop it,” I warn. I don’t like this sincere and mawkish sentimentality. “Please don’t get all American on me.”

“I know it’s your cute Aussie nature not to let me compliment you, but please,” she says. “It’s my wedding day and I get to do what I want to. You are just the most generous and funny soul.”

“Stop it.”

“Honestly, what would I do without you, Sandy? You brought me here to this country and let me fall in love with your brother without even a single angry word spoken. You work as a teacher to genuinely help kids when you could’ve done anything you wanted in the world. You’ve organized the drunkest and messiest hen party in the whole of wedding history.”

“That’s my natural skill.”

“And you know the exact words to cheer me up on the darkest moment of doubt on my wedding day. You’re my best friend, Sandy.”

She hugs me then. A tight, deep embrace and I don’t have the words to properly reply to what she’s said to me, despite my remarks. It’s just too much. This is just too much. I’m on the verge of actually crying, and I never cry.

Great, now I’m getting the American sentimentality virus.

All the power I have left in me is to hug her back and whisper, “thank you.”

And I mean it.

“And don’t you ever doubt it for a second, Sandy, but you will find love one day. I know you think it’s rare, but you’ll find it. For sure.”

I shake my head weakly. “I don’t think I’ll find love again, not after what happened to me.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“Men really do like to cheat, don’t they? They’re all bastards, the fuckers.”