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“That's stunning,” Valerie says, her voice just a breath as her hand clutches her neck.
Raina nods, a slight smile curving the corners of her lips. “He proposed last week.” I notice the way her features brighten and a happiness surrounds her like a glow. And for an instant, just an instant, I wonder if I'm wrong. And then I think about Olivia and how her marriage is going, and I remember that I'm right.
“I can't get over how beautiful that ring is.” Valerie sounds as breathless as a bride as she gushes over Raina's ring. “And I'm sure he really loves you.”
It’s all I can do to hold back a snort. The size of the ring does not indicate the size of the love. Although I guess something can be said for the fact that the mystery man clearly knows her taste because it is the perfect ring for her. So maybe that's where Valerie is coming from.
“So a mystery man swept you off your feet.” I’m angry, but I don't want to alienate my friends more than I already have. Still, I feel like I'm well within my rights to be angry, given that we all promised we weren't going to marry or marry again. Doesn't Raina realize she betrayed her word? I'm not the bad guy here; she's the one that went back on a promise. “And you won't even tell your best friends who he is.”
“You're not exactly acting like a very good friend right now.” Valerie says the words softly, and I glare at her.
“I just want to know who she's marrying.” I sit upright, gesturing by spreading both hands apart. “Since when did that become a taboo subject?”
Raina hesitates for a moment, then says, “His name is Tanner.”
I wait for her to say more, but she doesn't, and I feel a surge of frustration and suspicion. The name Tanner sounds vaguely familiar, but I'm not sure where I've heard it before. Maybe someone I've worked with in the past? Maybe somebody from Club Red?
“Tanner who?” I ask, knowing full well that I sound pushy. Obviously, she didn't want to share that information or she would have from the jump. But I want to know what man is good enough for her to break a promise.
Raina bites her lip and says, “Tanner Nova.”
A cold shock runs through my entire body. I do recognize that name. I know exactly who my friend is about to marry.
He's the brother of her late husband.
I can't believe what I'm hearing, and I can't believe what she's doing.
“Tanner Nova? Carl Nova’s brother? As in your dead husband’s brother?” That ice cold shot continues to race through my veins.
She nods her head. “Yes, Tanner Nova. As in Carl Nova’s brother. As in my dead husband’s brother.” She glares at me with a defiant expression, as if daring me to judge her.
And I am judging her all right. “Raina, are you crazy? How can you marry him? How can you do that to Carl 's memory? How can you do that to yourself or the family?” I can't believe the depth of betrayal everyone must be feeling right now at their actions. Where exactly did they meet and reconnect? A family reunion?
“I know you don't understand, Moira, but I'm in love.” The indignation in her voice is almost insulting, but she's not done talking. “I'm not doing anything wrong. And Carl would want me to be happy. He'd want me to move on, and you'd want me to marry somebody who loved me even if that person was his brother.”
I'm not buying it. There isn't a man alive who would want his ex-wife to marry his brother. But she says the words with so much conviction, I wonder if she truly believes them.
And Valerie is just watching us both, her gaze darting back and forth like someone watching a ping pong match.
“Raina, come on. You can't marry his brother. It's weird. It's wrong. It might be incestuous.” I lower my voice for the last part, and Raina’s nostrils flare as she glares at me down her nose.
“It's not incestuous, Moira. It's only incestuous if you're related by blood. I’m not breaking any laws or morals or rules. You can get off your high horse and just accept that I'm happy.” As she says the words, I realize that she doesn't think that I think what she's doing is wrong. She just thinks that I can't be happy for her.
And maybe she's right.
I sit back in my seat and pick up my glass, down the last of it, before staring into the cup. I'm not sure what else there is to say, or if there's even a point to speaking my mind. Her mind is clearly made up. I just can't help but worry that she hasn't thought this through enough. Maybe the family is understanding, but I'm not sure all her friends are going to be. I'm not sure the rest of the world will be either. But I guess it's not my life being ruined, so maybe I need to back off and just let her fail, just like Olivia did.
“I wish you all the best.”
Raina snorts. “I can tell. You know, not everything's about you, Moira. I don't care what anyone thinks or says or does. This is my life. It's my choice. It's my happiness and future on the line, not yours.”
Her determined words sting a little bit.
“I just worry that you're ruining your life, just like Olivia did.” The second I say the words I feel their body language change to tense and angry.
“No, Moira, you're making a mistake. You're ruining our friendship.” With that, Raina stands up and gives Valerie a significant glance. Both my friends take their glasses and head toward the kitchen where they’re no doubt about to gossip about me since I'm the one on the shit list.
I sit back in my chair, trying not to worry. At least I was honest about my concerns and my worries. Maybe I could have been more honest and told her that I feel betrayed by her actions, but I'm not sure now is the time or place for that conversation. Besides, if she doesn't already know, there's nothing I can do that's going to make her realize what she's done to wrong us.
