Don't Kiss the Bride

But I don’t know if I ever will.

Chapter 23

Jude

“Do you know what you’re doin’, kiddo?” Uncle Al asks.

I peer at him from behind the washing machine. “It’s just a washing machine, not a spaceship. I think the hose is loose.”

“Not that, dummy. With the girl.”

I flash him the shit-eatin’ grin he’s seen from me since I was five years old. “Do I ever know what I’m doing?”

“I figured as much.”

I crawl out from behind the washing machine and rummage around on the shelves bolted to the wall until I find a big roll of duct tape.

“I’ll tape it up for now until I can come by next weekend with a new hose.”

He nods and sits on an old wooden bench. I worry because the older he gets, the harder it is for him to stand for long periods of time. “Good. Now tell me what in the hell you’re doing.”

I hold the roll of tape up in front of him before turning back to the washer. “Exactly what it looks like. I’m gonna tape this sucker up.”

“With the girl, Lucky.”

Damn. Why did I think they’d just accept the situation with Skylar and not ask me a million and one questions?

“I told ya. She’s got some health issues and needed insurance. Her mom doesn’t have insurance, and Skylar can’t afford her own. It’s only temporary until she graduates from school and can work full time. I’m just being nice. Doing a good deed and all that. That’s it. No hidden motives. Nothing to get your panties in a twist about.”

“I think you’re playing with fire, kiddo.”

I shake my head. “Nah. It’s all good.”

I wedge myself back behind the washing machine, yank a few inches of tape off the roll, and bite it off with my teeth before taping up the hose.

“So you’re just gonna kick her out someday?”

When I finish taping the hose, I move out from behind the machine and shake my head. “No, I’m not gonna kick her out. We’ll both just go our separate ways. Simple as that.”

“It ain’t gonna be that simple, Lucky. Trust me.”

It will be. That was the deal. I don’t understand why everyone’s trying to make it more complicated than it is, or acting like I’m crazy for being nice to someone who needs help.

“I’ll make sure it will be. Nobody’s gonna get hurt. Don’t worry ’bout it, okay?”

Upstairs, we find Aunt Suzy and Skylar in the kitchen, crawling around on the floor on their hands and knees.

“What the hell are you two doing?” I ask, bending to grab my aunt’s shoulders, gently pulling her to her feet. “You’re too old to be crawlin’ around like that.”

“I am not too old.” She tries to pull away from me, and that’s when I notice the tears in the corners of her eyes.

“Aunt Suze…” I look her up and down, still holding on to her arms, concern coursing through my veins. “Did you fall?” I shift my attention to Skylar, who’s still kneeling on the floor. “What happened?”

“My ring…” My aunt holds out a trembling hand. “I was in the cupboard looking for my big soup pot, and I noticed my ring. The stone is gone.”

“I’ve been looking for it,” Skylar says. Her scarf is dragging on the floor as she searches, sliding her palms across the tile. “I’m sure it was there when we were chopping the vegetables. I remember thinking how pretty it was.”

“We’ll find it, love,” Uncle Al says, grabbing on to one of the kitchen chairs in an attempt to lower himself down onto the floor.

“Whoa,” I say, grabbing his arm. “Both of you, stay off the floor. We’ll look for it.”

“We have to find it,” Aunt Suzy says tearfully. “It’s my engagement ring.”

“She never takes it off,” Uncle Al adds. “I sold my car to buy that ring.”

The heartbreaking look that passes between them almost kills me.

“You two sit. Me and Skylar will look for it. Are you sure it fell off in here?” I run my hand through my hair and scan the tile floor, wondering how the hell we’re going to find a diamond in here.

“I’m sure.”

“They’ll find it,” Uncle Al says, patting her hand.

Skylar smiles and nods at me as we search together. After checking every inch of the floor with her, I check over the countertops and sink, while Skylar pulls out all the pots and pans, one by one. If we don’t find the stone, my aunt is going to have a meltdown. She’s insanely sentimental, and her engagement ring has always been her most prized and loved possession.

“I found it!” Skylar suddenly exclaims, and I let out a sigh of relief as she holds the sparkling gem up.

“Oh, thank you!” Aunt Suzy cries. “I was so afraid it was gone forever.” Skylar gently places it in her hand. “Special things like this can never, ever be replaced.”