I would have visited one of my friends or relatives, but my doing so had apparently become too much of a habit, because they’d started to question if everything was “okay at home,” especially since Dane never accompanied me on the visits.
They bought my assurances that all was fine. Well, Ashley wasn’t so easily convinced, but she didn’t push me on it. Still, I figured I had to do a better job of playing the part of happy wife, and that meant not leaving my husband at home alone all the time—even though he’d no doubt prefer that.
Not once in the times I went to visit my foster parents did Heather turn up. I wasn’t sure if she was simply busy seducing her new boyfriend into leaving his wife or if she was actively avoiding me. If it was the latter, it wouldn’t be that she worried I’d confront her over the email—she loved to be confronted—it would be that she thought I was gloating over my new financial situation.
Heather seemed to view me as some sort of threat to her self-image. She was driven to have more than me; to have better. As she had money, designer clothes, and an expensive car, she seemed to feel that she’d outdone me. But now that I was married to Dane, she’d probably feel that I’d one-upped her. As she tended to judge me by her own standards, she’d also believe I wanted to rub it all in her face.
Well, I didn’t.
She was probably also annoyed that her sly little email hadn’t been important enough to warrant an instant response. She’d hate that more than anything. It made her feel insignificant when her efforts to get a reaction failed.
I doubted she’d miss the upcoming reception, though. She’d want the chance to cause a scene. She’d get her wish, since I couldn’t not invite her without offending her parents.
Chris and Miley had managed to secure the botanical garden as the party venue—they hadn’t wasted any time in getting started on the preparations. They’d even created a website that had everything on it for the guests—dates, venue details, maps, dress code, etc. I hadn’t known people did that sort of thing. But then, I hadn’t attended a lot of weddings.
Initially, I hadn’t been all that interested in the reception, but the planners had sucked me right in with their excitement and enthusiasm. Plus, I figured that there was a chance this might be the only wedding reception I ever had, so I might as well make it a good one. I wanted to one day marry and have kids, but lots of people wanted that future. They didn’t always get it.
Eager to see in person the venue we’d selected, Dane and I had ambled through the botanical garden and wandered around the hotel itself one Saturday afternoon. Both places were an utter delight, and I loved Chris’ “vision” of what he’d do to the garden for the reception.
The only time Dane and I really spent together outside of work was when we were coordinating with the planners over flowers, the food menu, and all that jazz—he never missed a meeting, to his credit. We’d also attended a brief tasting session with the caterer he’d chosen.
Chris and Miley also booked me in to see “a bridal couture queen.” I took Maggie, Melinda, Ashley, and Hanna along—they’d insisted on coming. The boutique offered a selection of truly breathtaking intricate gowns and, as Chris had promised, some beautiful alternatives to wedding dresses. All were designer, though, so they were also super expensive.
It hadn’t seemed right to spend so much money on a dress for a fake wedding reception, but I’d agreed to try on a few, since we’d gone all that way. When I’d modeled a particular one, the girls had started crying and declared “that’s the one!” I had to admit, I’d loved it. So I’d agreed. I’d also offered to reimburse Dane, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
Hanna had moaned when I vetoed having a post-wedding-bachelorette party, but I’d allowed her to talk me into having a simple girls’ night in nearer the date of the reception. As the date fell in late autumn, Chris had suggested adding décor such as pumpkins … which made me think of Halloween, and how I’d probably be spending it alone.
I loved Halloween. Loved driving past the houses in my neighborhood and seeing all the pumpkins, spider webs, and other aesthetics. Loved answering the door to trick-or-treaters and seeing all the creative costumes. Loved hanging up spooky decorations of my own, even if only to get into the Halloween-spirit.
Every year, Ashley and I would dress up for fun and have a scary-movie marathon while drinking punch and munching on junk food. We’d also hand out candy to trick-or-treaters and tease Tucker for jumping and flinching during the horror movies.