02

Kathie Jane

I set aside the dog-eared wedding magazines on the counter next to my coffee. I have read every single article about my sister’s wedding and hadn’t looked at the other brides to-be. It was safe reading just Chassie George Lewis and Nathaniel Forester’s upcoming wedding. In those articles, I have pure joy and pride. Others though might trigger just the slightest touch of disappointment having to wait around for my own features on wedding magazines.

Bridal glow.

It etched itself into my mind and refuses to depart. I had thought about my own wedding maybe once or twice in the four years span of my relationship with Owen. We had the mutual decision to take things slow – something that had earned him my dad’s fluctuating approval.

He also had the ‘good Christian boy who attended boarding school all his life’ on my father’s record.

The talk of wedding dates subtly started as little nudges from family friends earlier this year then proliferated into a full-on matrimonial prodding at every party I go to when my sister reconciled with Nathan.

« I just love weddings. Although wedding plans are a nightmare, the outcome is a dream come true. Don’t you think so ? » Jessica Keith, one out of my two best friends says around a mouthful of bagel. She groaned when crumbs gathered on the strand of her fiery red hair next to her right chest.

Audrey Danler handed her some napkins. « They give you job, Jess, » she points out.

« Doesn’t mean it’s a terrible job. I’m a wedding photographer who actually loves my job. » Jessica started dusting her black mini-dress.

Audrey turns to me, smoothing her already impeccable bun. « How’s your sister ? »

« She’s fine. Just a teeny tiny alteration on the wedding dress, » I answered with my thumb and index finger measuring the littleness of it.

Two pairs of brows arched at me.

« Is that what you tell her ? » Jessica tilted her head suspiciously.

I tucked my fingers together on the counter. « Well, it will upset her if I tell her she gained extra pounds again. »

« How is she gaining a few pounds ? I thought she’s on a diet. » Audrey asks, attention shifting to her phone when it buzzed.

« I have no idea. Maybe, it’s all the nightmares of the wedding plans. »

Jessica raises her mug at me. « Told you. »

I gave her a cheeky grin before sipping my coffee.

« How was move-in day ? This is a fancier high-rise apartment. » Jess grins.

I choked at the memory of the move-in day. Audrey walks around the counter and stroked my back with a maternal concern on her normally stiff poker face. « You okay ? Did Owen help you out ? »

« No. » I coughed.

« Oh. Quite a really demanding career he got there, Kathie, » Jess says wryly. « He looks good on magazines. Audrey can certainly vouch for that. »

We both turned to Audrey typing away an email on her phone. « What are you guys doing later today ? »

« Audrey, back me up here. » Jessica groans.

One of her perfect brows quirked up. « Why me ? »

« Because you evaluate articles, see the entirety of the monthly issue and make sure it’s not a waste of glossy paper and whatever godforsaken materials there is to call it a magazine. »

Audrey shot her a vacant look. « What’s my job description has to do with Kathie’s boyfriend ? »

« Audrey Danler, sometimes I don’t like you, » Jess purses her lips at her. « Do I have to tell you how much I flex my friendship with the Audrey Danler, editor in chief of Sassy, the city’s best-selling female’s magazine ? »

« Glad to know, » she murmurs. « I have a salon appointment this afternoon. Are you guys free ? »

I squinted my eyes speculatively. The roots of her faultless platinum blonde hair were hardly showing and yet she already has this appointment. Her eyes for perfection amaze me.

« I’m not free. I need to get some beauty sleep. Remember the former senator’s daughter ? She’s tying the knot with, um, I think it’s the guy who works in finance. »

« Oh. Another wedding gig. » I gave her a knowing look.

She angles her chin in defense. « I am not going to have a wedding hookup, okay ? »

« How many times did you said that to yourself ? » Audrey snorted.

Jessica hoaxes a scandalized gasp, her hand on her chest. « When was the last time you’ve been with anyone ? »

Audrey’s face betrayed nothing. « I am not ashamed to say I don’t remember. »

She jabbed a manicured finger my way. « And Kathie here decided to die a virgin. »

« Hey, I am saving myself for marriage. » I protested.

Audrey holds up a hand in a demand to stop. « Can we not ? »

Jess fluffs her auburn hair lazily. « At least one of us has a healthy sex life. »

My phone rings and I reached down to the pocket of my sweatpants. A smile drew on my face as I answered the call. « Hi, bunny. »

My sister mumbles incoherently on the other line.

« You okay ? » I ask, my head snapping to the doorway as Audrey’s assistant, Kylie, was making her way inside the kitchen, her boss’ to-go coffee in hand.

I mouthed ‘hi’ to her.

She beams back, thanking me for instructing the concierge to just let her up. Jess waved her over and patted the bar stool next to her.

Kylie hands the coffee to Audrey who looks up from her phone then resumed typing away an email with one hand. Her assistant takes a seat next to Jess, pulling her dark hair into an interesting rainbow hair scarf.

« Bunny ? Are you still there ? »

« Yes, I am. »

« What’s wrong ? »

« Nothing. Just woke up a little bit under the weather but it’ll past, » she answers then began prattling on about the rehearsal dinner later this week, her voice taking a nervous edge.

« Bunny, it’s going to be okay. Mom had always been pretty hands-on on organizing social events. You have nothing to worry about. All you have to do is be your pretty self. »

« My pretty self with five extra pounds ? »

I gaped. « I thought I told you to stop stepping on a scale. »

« I know but I can’t help it. » She groans. « I feel heavier every day. »

« It’s just a few pounds. »

She sighed on the other line. « Okay. Thanks. I gotta go back to bed. »

« I thought you just woke up. »

« Well, I want to sleep again, » she says grumpily.

I chuckled. « Okay, bunny. Tell little Ethan his favorite Aunt said ‘hi.’ »

She replies with a sleepy ‘hmm’ and hung up.

« Cold feet ? » Jess asks curiously.

I shake my head. « She’s nervous about the rehearsal dinner not going as planned. And she gained five pounds. »

Jessica laughs slightly. « Woman gains healthy weight with the right man. »

I giggled, shaking my head at her. « Would you like some bagels, Kylie ? Donuts ? Cupcakes ? »

Kylie looks adorably to the sweet choices of breakfast Jess and I had. « I’d go with donuts. »

I watch adoringly as she took her time to decide which flavor to pick.