“I don’t know. Why?”
I shrugged as though the answer was simple. “If it’s more than three, hide the rest. Chances are no one will get drunk on that much.”
Megan beamed like I’d just handed her a million dollars. Without another word she turned to the fridge and studied it for a few minutes. She closed the door again and looked relieved. She came back to my side and said, “Two bottles. Including the one we’ve already opened. We should be good.”
I smiled. “Your mom wouldn’t want to ruin your wedding day. Nothing to worry about.”
Megan nodded and joined her closest friends for a drink and some breakfast. There was no way they would make it through the entire day on fruit and mimosas. Not unless they were the sort of women that didn’t need to eat to function. As for me, I’d had eggs, frozen waffles, and a big cup of coffee for breakfast.
As the women laughed and traded stories of marriage and relationships I worked my way around the room, invisible in my black ballet flats, black dress pants, and seafoam green button down shirt. One by one their hair was twisted into complicated designs that left their backs exposed and their shoulders lightly covered by the tendrils that fell. Even without the dresses on I could tell the pictures would be beautiful. Debra was very talented.
By mid-day the women moved upstairs to start getting dressed. I followed behind them and caught Debra’s tear-filled eyes when Megan stepped into her dress. Belinda zipped her up and everyone in the room fell silent.
“You look beautiful, honey,” Debra broke the silence. “Bobby is a lucky man.”
Everyone murmured their agreement except Sandra. It was pretty clear she thought Megan was the lucky one, not her son. I really hoped they’d worked out all those issues between the two of them. Overbearing in-laws was a tough obstacle to overcome.
So I heard.
Once all the women were dressed and ready to go I ducked out to capture the men. It really wasn’t fair that Megan and the other women spent almost five hours getting ready and the men would probably spend ten minutes. It made my job a bit easier though.
Bobby’s parents’ house was close to Megan’s parents’. I heard clanging glasses and loud voices once I let myself in and followed the noise to the kitchen. Bobby stood in the middle of the room with both fathers flanking him. His groomsmen flared out from there, all holding shot glasses raised in the air.
“To Bobby. A great man who loves my little girl enough to take over the bills. I have a chance at retirement thanks to you.”
Everyone laughed and clinked glasses before downing the shot. I took pictures of them as they talked and laughed, groaning to myself about the ridiculousness of men thinking marriage was a death sentence. Not to mention Megan would flip out if she knew they were drinking.
Bobby’s dad poured one more shot for everyone and raised his glass. “Son, I’ve taught you all I know about women. I’ve armed you as well as I was armed. Now it’s your chance to go out there and figure out what the hell they’re all about and teach me because I still don’t have a clue.”
I shook my head as they all laughed and drank. Bobby wasn’t swaying and his eyes were alert so I knew two shots were okay, but if he had more than that, they were risking my job.
Thankfully Bobby was eager to get married. He led the men out of the house and into a variety of vehicles that would carry them to the church.
In my car I stuffed a sandwich in my mouth, praying I didn’t drop anything on my clothes, and followed the men to the wedding. They took their time getting out, which I anticipated, so I got inside and set up before they’d even breached the doors.
When all the guests were seated and everyone was ready to go, Bobby and his groomsmen took their place with the priest in front of the altar. Like I always did when I was shooting a wedding I found myself getting wrapped up in it, wondering if I’d ever get my chance in the pretty white dress.
What shocked the hell out of me was when I looked up at the altar and imagined Brady there waiting for me. The vision of him in a black tux, his intense hazel eyes watching me, as I walked toward him in a stunning cream dress with red velvet accents was almost too much to take.
I shook my head to clear the image. Just because he’d had a starring role in my dreams since I met him didn’t mean I wanted to marry him. Yes, his kisses could accelerate global warming, but we hadn’t even been on a date yet. Maybe he chewed with his mouth open.
I rolled my eyes at myself. Brady was perfect. That was what scared me about him. He was too perfect. He set me on fire with just a look and a brush of his lips. Marrying him was not an option. I’d never get anything done.
Bringing myself back to my job, I watched as the mothers were seated then the bridesmaids filed in and stood opposite the men. I moved back into position as the doors opened and Megan emerged on her dad’s arm.
I swung my camera to capture the look on Bobby’s face when he first saw her. The look of love and gratitude on his face told me all their struggles with their parents would be okay. Megan and Bobby would be fine. Theirs would be a happy marriage.
After the ceremony I took one picture after another of the wedding party and close family and friends posed in the church. The guests were already enjoying hors d’oeuvres at the reception, and the wedding party was excited to join them, as always. I toed that fine line between getting all the pictures Megan and Bobby wanted and watching everyone roll their eyes for one more shot, then announced we were done.
While they piled into cars and the limo, I went to the reception to make sure I captured their arrival. The guests were happily chatting, and drinking, as I walked among them and took pictures. When the wedding party was ready to be announced I positioned myself to catch them all coming through the doors.
“Sam? Sam Reed? Is that you?”
I spun and found a face in the crowd waving at me. “Monica? Oh my God. How are you?”
The DJ’s voice muffled mine and I turned back to the doors in time to catch Bobby’s parents coming into the hall.
“I see you’re busy, but we have to catch up. I’m at Table 21. Please come see me,” Monica said above the noise surrounding us.
“I promise. You look great, by the way.” She beamed at my compliment then went back to stand next to a tall man with short dark hair and kind eyes. He was cute, but no Brady.
Once the wedding party was inside and the food was served I had a few minutes to relax. I smiled at the other guests sharing my table and dug into my dinner quickly so I could capture more pictures for Megan and Bobby.
I could feel my energy, and desire to be there much longer, start to fade as I stood up after dinner. Wedding days were hard on me since they were usually close to 16 hour days. After about ten I was pretty much done, but I had no choice but to stay. That was when things started getting fun with the reception.
The thought slipped into my head before I could stop it, but once it was there I couldn’t ignore it. Was my mom right? Should I get a regular job? One that didn’t require 16 hour days, constant weekends, and emotional people? A job that could lead to meeting someone? Someone other than Cade.
I couldn’t dwell on those thoughts while I was working. I didn’t really want to think about it anyway because I loved my job most of the time. If I could get by without doing weddings I would, but it could get complicated if I removed that income stream.
I forced the thoughts from my head. The idea of giving up weddings was not one I needed to think about when I was actively shooting a wedding. Megan and Bobby weren’t paying me to evaluate my life. They were paying me to capture their happiest day. And I was going to do just that.
While the other guests were finishing up dinner, Megan and Bobby stepped onto the dance floor for their first dance. The room filled with the opening lines from Wanted by Hunter Hayes. Tears sprung to my eyes as I took pictures, praying they were more clear than they looked through my tear-filled eyes.
That song defined what I wanted, no pun intended. I craved
someone who would worship me like the song said. To have someone who would put me first, who would move heaven and earth for me, was what every woman wanted. The urge to run to the bathroom and cry my eyes out was almost too much, but I was there for a job. I just needed a distraction.
“Will it bother you if we talk while you shoot? I’m not sure how long we’re going to be here,” Monica said from next to me.
I blinked back my tears and looked at her, pasting on the brightest smile I could. She was watching Megan and Bobby with a wistful look in her eyes. Before I was caught blubbering like a fool I dabbed my eyes and focused on the camera again.
“No, it’ll be nice to talk. Why are you heading out?” I cringed once the words were out. All too often I was reminded of my need to think first and speak second. It’d been years since I’d seen Monica. We were friends in high school but didn’t keep in touch well after. It was none of my business why she was leaving early.
Hell, I didn’t even know why she was there. At least I stopped myself from probing into that area of her life.
“My mom called. She’s watching my girls and the younger one is giving her trouble going to sleep. She’s never stayed with anyone else and is used to me or my husband being with her.” Monica shrugged. “You know how it is with kids.”
I mustered up a smile and turned back to the camera. “Actually I don’t. I don’t have kids. Or a husband.”
“Really? I just assumed. You always had boyfriends when we were growing up. I figured you’d be the first one of us to be married.”
I shook my head. “Never even close. I’ve been pretty focused on building my business though. I haven’t had time for much dating,” I lied. Even as I said the words my stomach churned. I had plenty of time, just not enough interest. It was hard meeting men when I was taking pictures for families and at weddings. And obviously I wasn’t very good at choosing good ones if I’d fallen for a bastard like Cade.
Maybe Brady was different. Maybe he would be someone I could trust. Who wouldn’t be an asshole. Or maybe I was being played again.
“Are you a full time photographer then? Wedding photographer?” Monica asked, breaking up my daydream about Brady.
“Um, yeah. I mean, I do weddings, but I enjoy family sessions the most. Weddings are a lot of pressure, long days, and a few too many emotions for me. I do it because it’s good money. Although I probably shouldn’t be saying that as I shoot a wedding.”
Monica laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“What do you do?” I asked, feeling the need to steer the conversation away from myself and my shortcomings. I got enough of that when I talked to my mother.
“I’m a guidance counselor. I love it. Normal hours, I work while my girls are in school, I have summers off, and it’s pretty low stress. I work with the middle school so I’m not doing any of that college prep stuff and aside from normal middle school angst, the kids that age are pretty independent.”
“Wow, that’s a really rewarding job, I’d imagine. I’m a little jealous of the hours as I stand here on a Saturday night working.”
Monica laughed. “Most people feel the same way. Especially since I’m off for the summer and enjoying the nice weather while everyone else is working. My husband’s a teacher so we both have the summers off. We take a lot of trips.”
I failed to squash the green monster that was rearing up inside me. Addi having the summers off was almost enough of a reason to quit my job and become a teacher at times, but hearing it from Monica too, and knowing what life could be like if I married a teacher.
Damn, why did my mother put that shit into my head? I loved my job. No, not past tense. My job meant so much to me. I wasn’t going to quit and become a teacher, or a guidance counselor, or a -
“Sam!” Sandra, Bobby’s mom, bellowed from right in front of me. “What is wrong with you? We need you. They’re about to cut the cake.”
“Yes, of course, Mrs. Reece. I’ll be right there.”
With one more sharp look, Sandra turned and stalked off toward the cake table. I apologized to Monica. “Duty calls,” she sang. “It was great catching up with you.”
We hugged and I followed Sandra across the room, wondering again if I could make it work if I gave up weddings.
Nine
The uneasy feeling I’d had at the wedding followed me the rest of the night. When I got the final check from Megan’s dad I knew I couldn’t eliminate weddings from my offerings easily, but by the time I got home and fell into bed I was tossing around more and more ideas of how to do just that. There were parts of weddings that I loved, but for the most part I just wanted to be done with the whole thing.
I slept in Sunday morning, not willing to wake up before noon. I always turned off my ringer after a wedding because without fail my mother would call me early, and it never ended well.
As expected, I had three missed calls from her by the time I dragged myself out of bed. Knowing she’d call back soon I ignored the messages, no doubt asking if I was dead in a ditch somewhere, and padded toward the kitchen. Coffee called my name until it slid down my throat in a delicious burn. Then I could function, just a bit.
My bags were in the office, where I’d dropped them on my way to crash the night before. With a few hours before dinner with Addi and Joey, I had time to work on the wedding photos while the event was still fresh in my mind.
Four hours later I was cross-eyed and almost welcomed the interruption when my mom called.
“Samantha, did you forget about lunch today? Why weren’t you here? I called you, but as usual, you didn’t answer your phone.”
What the hell was she talking about? “Mom, you told me lunch was yesterday and I had a wedding. You never said anything about lunch today.”
She sighed like she always did when I argued. A deep, painful sound that let me know how frustrated she was without even speaking. Not that it stopped her though, she was still going to lay into me. “Samantha, I don’t know how you maintain that business of yours. Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t have a real job if you can’t even keep your days straight. Lunch was today. I told you we would change it for you. Your sister and brother rearranged their days and you didn’t show up. Not that anyone was surprised.”
I bit back the nasty retort on my tongue and took a deep breath. She never told me they’d changed the lunch to Sunday. I would have remembered so I could come up with a good excuse. Instead, she never told me, and I was the bad guy for missing lunch. Cue the guilt trip.
“I swear Samantha, sometimes I wonder if you even care about me at all. Everyone moves their world around so we can see you and you don’t have the decency to call. Are you going to do the same thing for July 4th? We always spent it together. Are you going to forget that too?”
Damn, she was laying it on thick.
“I’ll be there, Mom. I’m sorry about lunch. I was working today, too. If I’d known about lunch I would have been there, but you never told me you’d changed things around for me. Next time I’ll do what I can to be there.”
She huffed, the sound so loud it was like I could feel her breath in my ear. “I told you about lunch, Samantha. Hopefully if you ever have a family of your own they will be more important to you than that little hobby of yours. Well, now that I know you’re not dead in a ditch somewhere I have to go.”
I hung up shaking my head at my insane mother. I don’t know what she thought she told me, but it didn’t matter. I had to get ready to meet Addi and Joey for dinner. Unless they changed something and never told me too.
When I pulled into the parking lot at Roger’s the smell of cooking hamburgers hit me. My mouth watered before I even made it inside. It was definitely a night to eat my feelings. I just hoped Joey didn’t pick up on my shitty mood and think it was personal.
Addi and Joey walked in a few minutes after I did. I hugged them both and we all followed the hostess to a booth overlooking Lake Effect Lane. Once we’d placed our drink orders we sat there, looking
at each other.
“How was the wedding, Sam?” Joey asked me, clearly prompted by Addi.
I shrugged. “It was okay. It’s a long day and I’m not thrilled with shooting weddings to begin with so it makes the day extra long. What did you guys do yesterday?”
They exchanged a glance, one that was filled with love and a touch of apprehension. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I wondered what I was in for. If it was bad they wouldn’t be there, together especially, to have dinner with me. On the other hand, if it was good I wouldn’t have had such a bad feeling.
“We had a pretty quiet day,” Addi began. “Joey took me up to the mountain for a picnic and we hiked a little bit. It was nice.”
There was more to it than that. The mountain was where Joey and Addi met, except during winter when she was chaperone for her school’s ski club. Joey managed the ski slopes, taught classes, and made sure everything worked. He was basically the master of all things related to the mountain.
But something was off with their story. They never went up there. Since all the snow melted and the weather became warm enough for the snow machines to not work, they hadn’t been back. Well, Addi hadn’t. Joey was up there all the time maintaining the property, but he never took Addi.
I narrowed my eyes at my best friend and she avoided my gaze. Yep, something was up.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing,” Addi said too quickly.
The waitress chose that moment to arrive with our drinks. We all rattled off our dinner orders and she left again. Too bad for Addi I wasn’t so easily distracted.
“We’ve known each other eleven years. I know when you’re hiding something. What is it?” I asked her, not letting her get away with half-truths. Addi and I never kept things from each other so it bugged me that she was. Not to mention it all seemed to circle Joey.
If he hurt her, I’d kill him. “Should we go outside and talk?” I asked, trying to telepathically indicate I would help her hide the body if we needed to get rid of Joey. That’s what best friends did, right?
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