Just One Wish (The Kingston Family 4.50)

Her mom let out an exaggerated sigh. “Where, oh, where did I go wrong with you? The man probably thinks you have a date!”

Tara blinked. “I didn’t mean to make him think that. I was just rushing into work.” And if he had assumed her being busy meant another man had asked her out? It wasn’t like they were exclusive or even officially dating.

“What would you have said if you weren’t in a rush and didn’t have Amy’s party?” her mom asked.

“I’m not sure,” Tara said. Nor was she going to get into the discussion with her mother.

She’d already spent the days since their date obsessing over every word she’d said, he’d said, and his lack of a kiss afterward. But mostly she’d thought about his present circumstances. He rented a house, traveled for tours, and was the furthest thing from settled she could imagine.

“I’m starting to think you don’t ever want to get married,” her mother said on a huff just as the phone rang, saving Tara from further conversation.

And since her next patient walked through the door, she was spared from overthinking as well.

Chapter Five

Halfway into the bachelorette party, Tara regretted attending. The first part of the night was a dinner to which Tara’s mom and her sister, Tara’s aunt Jeanne, along with Amy’s mother, Barbara, and her future mother-in-law, Liza, had been invited. Amy and her friends were young enough that, though Tara liked them, she had few interests in common with them.

She’d ended up sandwiched between the older adults. They’d eaten dinner and were on to dessert. Afterwards, the bridesmaids, Tara included, were going to head to the bar on the other side of the restaurant for the more fun part of the evening. At least according to Amy and her friends.

Dessert was served, and Tara was on her second glass of wine.

“Are you dating anyone, Tara?” It didn’t matter who asked. The bomb had been dropped.

Before she could reply, her mother answered. “Her first love is back in town. Isn’t rekindling an old flame romantic?”

“Mom, that’s not true.” She gestured to the nearest server and smiled when she walked over. “Can I please get a Long Island Iced Tea?” she asked, ready for something stronger to drink.

“Of course,” the young redhead said.

Tara glanced around her end of the table. Her mother was talking about Axel and how famous he was now and his history with both bands. Marsha had done her research.

“Make it strong, please,” she said quietly.

The server laughed and nodded before heading off to the bar.

“Mom, Axel is an old boyfriend. Nothing more,” she said, smiling at the other women so she didn’t sound like she was scolding her mom.

“Oh, Tara. Amy’s five years younger than you, and she’s getting married.” Aunt Jeanne wagged her finger at Tara. “You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

Before Tara could reply, one of Amy’s bridesmaids, whose name Tara couldn’t remember, stood up and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Game time!”

Tara breathed a sigh of relief at the interruption that would save her from being harassed by her mom and aunt.

“Whenever someone says the word baby, we all have to do a shot!” Amy said, lifting her glass and grinning at Tara. Apparently she’d overheard the conversation and knew a good way to get drunk when she heard one.

“It’s not a baby shower,” she reminded her sister, but Amy wouldn’t meet her gaze.

A man placed shots of what Tara assumed was vodka in front of each person at the table, and the other girls clapped their hands and squealed in excitement.

Let the fun begin, Tara thought, laughing. At least she hadn’t taken her car and had come with her mother. Once Marsha left, Tara would call an Uber to get home later.

“Tara, your mom isn’t getting younger, either, and I know she wants grandbabies,” Aunt Jeanne said loudly.

So much for changing the subject. Tara looked at her aunt, who not-so-innocently grinned. The woman clearly knew what she was doing.

“She said babies! Shot!” someone called out.

Only too happy to oblige, Tara picked up the little glass, braced herself because it had been years since she’d done one, and poured the liquor into her mouth and gulped it down. The alcohol burned as it slid past her throat and into her chest. No sooner had she swallowed than the empty glass had been replaced with a full one.

Her aunt, mom, and the other women were on a roll, with Tara in their sights. Ribbing her about her single status and failure to provide her mother with a grandbaby amused the older women, who should have gone home by now. They weren’t doing shots, Tara noticed, but she played the game, getting drunk in an effort to tune out the fun around her.

By the time her mother was ready to go, offering Tara a ride before she left, Tara was feeling no pain. She was even enjoying the bridesmaids, who’d taken over the baby challenge, using it against each other. She promised her mother she’d call a car and assured her she’d get home fine.