My transformation was truly coming along. I’d refrained from taking a job at the other Women with Disabilities clinic I’d begun setting up in nearby Louisville while I was supposedly on my sabbatical in Uganda. And now that Dad and Muffy were officially separated, he’d already promised that my fiancé and I could move into Glendaver Castle after the wedding on Saturday.
Come Sunday morning, I’d be the official lady of the castle. And like Skylar and many of the other southern wives in my circle, I’d be a woman in the business of raising money for—not actually running—my own charity.
Life could not be more perfect, I reminded myself, a few minutes later, as I walked down the grand staircase to where my fiancé was waiting. Chin up, shoulders back, lips raised in a gracious smile—I was the very picture of Southern Lady comportment despite my dark skin.
“There you are, darling,” Garrett said, turning with my father, who’d come out to greet him when I made it to the bottom step. He had a dress bag slung over his shoulder— most likely a new suit for the rehearsal dinner. His wedding tuxedo was already hanging in the guest room a few doors down from mine. And Garrett had always loved to buy a new suit for special occasions, no matter how many he already had hanging in his closet.
“Don’t you look splendid? Every man at the rehearsal dinner will be jealous.”
I demurred with a wave of my hand and told the same joke my mother would have given in reply and her mother before that. “Oh, this old thing?”
Both Garrett and my father laughed as if it was the most delightful bon mot they’d heard in ages.
I hope you’re happy because he came here looking for you, just like you predicted he would. I said what you told me to say, and he left, but he seemed so torn up. I felt so guilty. You're my best friend, Livvy, but please don’t ever ask me to do anything like that for you again.
Eric’s recriminatory voicemail from May floated into my head without warning.
But I smiled and turned to Garrett, ruthlessly suppressing the memory as I told him, “If you want to get freshened up before the rehearsal, we’ve made up a guest room for you. It’s just two doors past the top of the stairs, on the right.”
“Thank you, darling. I think I will do that. Be back in a scooch.”
My father and I watched him go.
“Garrett’s a lot more attentive these days,” Dad observed. “I suppose almost losing you to another man will do that.”
“Mmm,” I answered with a slight nod. “We’ve decided to let the past be the past and push forward into our future, together.”
My father raised his eyebrows. “How…enlightened of you.”
“I know you’re probably experiencing some whiplash from all of this back and forth,” I acknowledged, my voice stiff but proper. “I do thank you for your understanding.”
“Oh, I’d never judge,” my father said. “And selling to Easton Whiskey is probably for the best anyway. The holidays always make me a little loopy, but the Eastons are more like us. And you’re happy now with Garrett, right?”
I forced an even wider smile onto my face. “Yes, I’m so happy, Dad. Thank you for bearing with me while I figured all of this out.”
“Of course,” he answered.
Then we stood there rather awkwardly until Skylar and Clement arrived with their kids in tow.
An hour later, I watched my niece and nephew play croquet on the lawn in the back of the castle. Fortunately, Garrett and I had been blessed with a warm September for our wedding week. The rehearsal dinner party was able to take place outside. Eastons and Glendavers, along with several executives from both our family’s companies, milled around the grand terrace.
Technically, this was supposed to be a rehearsal dinner. But for weddings as large and orchestrated as ours, a whole day of rehearsal would be required tomorrow. And afterward, both Garrett and I would be much too tired for a large dinner.
So Garrett’s parents had decided something that more resembled a who’s who mixer would be perfect for the rehearsal dinner.
But even that was a bit overwhelming for both of us.
“They say it’s easier to smile than frown, but my jaw is sore,” Garrett admitted to me about halfway through the party. “If I keep this up much longer, I’m afraid my face will freeze in this position. Luckily, I’m marrying a doctor. Is that something that can happen?”
His mother, who was standing nearby, and I let out tinkling laughs, right on cue as if Garrett was the wittiest person we knew.
“No, silly,” I answered. “But yes, this is all rather exhausting.”
“It will be worth it in the end,” he declared, squeezing my hand. “I truly can’t wait to be married to you.”