Her father smiled. “Your mother’s in there with her now. Personally, I’d join the Marine Corps before walking into that room.” He shuddered.
Jamie smiled. “I know,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “But I’m going to brave it. I want to wish her luck on her wedding day.” She left both men staring at her as she walked to the side room of the church meant for the bridal party.
“I will never fully understand her,” she heard her father say to Alex.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life trying.”
Alex’s words warmed her, but she pushed that aside and focused on the sound of sobbing coming from the other side of the door. “My wedding day’s ruined!” Christine wailed. “Completely ruined! How could this happen?”
“Shh, it’s okay sweetie,” her
mother said soothingly. “Nothing’s ruined. It’s just a small rip.”
Jamie knocked on the door.
“Not now, Scarlet!” Christine hissed.
“It’s me, Jamie.”
Silence.
Jamie waited a couple of seconds and then sighed. “May I come in?”
“It’s a free country,” Christine growled.
“Come in, Jamie,” her mother called out.
Jamie cautiously opened the door, half expecting a bouquet of flowers to come flying in her direction. Christine sat on the floor in her gigantic wedding dress that looked like a cupcake at the moment. Her makeup was still perfect, even as tears coursed down her cheeks. On the side of her dress was a split seam that exposed part of Christine’s hip. It looks like her sister had succumbed to the thing she had always criticized Jamie for: stress eating. Jamie could see the roundness in her sister’s face from the weight gain.
Her sister and mother stared at her. She had no idea if it was because she was there or because of what she was wearing.
Her mother slowly came forward and threw her arms around her daughter. “It’s nice to see you,” she whispered.
Jamie smiled and savored the hug. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she looked at her misty-eyed mother. “It’s nice to see you too, Mom,” she said. “You look lovely.”
“Hello! I’m the one walking down the aisle in fifteen minutes and I’m about to cancel the freakin’ wedding,” Christine pouted at them, her arms crossed over her chest.
She looked like a spoiled brat. “I can fix it,” Jamie offered. “It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes to stitch up and no one will even notice. But I’ll need a sewing kit.”
“I’ll get one,” her mother said. “There’s a craft store down the street. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
Jamie could have sworn she saw her mother breathe a sigh of relief as she raced out of the room. She took a deep breath and turned to her sister. Jamie grabbed the make-up kit off the dressing room table. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she murmured and carefully started to touch up the few spots on Christine’s face. “It’s amazing how they do the mascara these days. Your eyes are perfect.” She started dabbing at her sister’s face.
Christine said nothing, she just watched Jamie with accusing eyes.
“Your dress is very pretty, Christine. Stephen’s only going to have eyes for you.”
Her sister scoffed as tears filled her eyes but didn’t fall. “Stephen told me everything,” she said. “About how he got drunk and then how Alex threatened him to protect you.”
Jamie smiled a few moments later. “I accept your apology.”
“I didn’t say I was sorry.”
“No, but that’s the closest you’re ever going to get to apologizing.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t tell anyone,” she said. “I mean, how embarrassing would that be? My fiancée went after my sister.”
“Oh gee, I can’t even imagine,” Jamie said dryly. “But I’m sure it would be very embarrassing.”