“You always put an Autumn spin on things.”
“I’m being honest. Life is good, Hollie. I’m happy. You’re happy. Mom and Dad are actually working. I graduated college and we don’t have to worry about the electric bill or how we’re going to last until Friday with half a loaf of bread and a carton of eggs.” The weeks where we didn’t have enough food to eat were the toughest when I was going through college. It would always get Hollie down. There were a few months in my freshman year where it happened more weeks than it didn’t. During those times, I spent a lot of time over at my boyfriend’s place. I never told Hollie it was because there was always a slice of leftover pizza in the fridge. Or at least some ramen noodles. That way, Hollie got what we had to herself and didn’t have to worry about me. “We need to enjoy how far we’ve come, and you need to enjoy today.”
“Okay, I’m coming out. Are you ready?”
“I’m always ready.”
She emerged from behind the screen like a princess in some kind of movie. I half expected cartoon birds to start singing and animated squirrels to join in with the harmonies.
“Wow,” I said as she stepped onto a podium in front of floor-to-ceiling, three-way mirrors. “You look really beautiful.” It was a proper princess gown, and she would look right at home in the pages of a glossy magazine.
“This is crazy.” She shook her head. “But I do like it. I didn’t expect to like such a big skirt, but it works.”
“It really works,” I said, so happy to see her fairytale coming true. “It’s like you’re going to a ball.”
“Is it too much?” She turned from side to side, keeping focused on the dress as it swished with her movements.
“Absolutely not. You are beautiful. The dress is beautiful. You’re marrying one of the kindest, richest, most handsome men in London. It’s all great. You just need to allow yourself to enjoy it.” Whatever happened, she’d never have to worry about being hungry again. That was to be celebrated.
“I need to try on more though, right?”
“Absolutely. I want to stay here until I’m properly buzzed.” I raised my glass at her and she stepped off the podium. “Have you decided on a date yet?”
“Well, I wanted to ask you about your plans over the summer. Do you know where you’re going or when you’re leaving?” she asked as she headed behind the screen to change.
My stomach churned. I didn’t want to think about the summer. It was too far off. “It’s months away.”
“It will be June in two weeks. And you’re off at the end of July.”
My stomach stretched and contracted like it was limbering up to sprint out of my body. Just six weeks. “I’m sure I’ll get around to it at some point.”
Hollie stuck her head around the screen. “You must have thought about it. I mean, you were so excited to have the entire month of August to travel.”
Did I need the entire month off? “Yeah, I’m still excited. It’s just a way off, that’s all.” I was happy with the now. I didn’t want to think about the future. I spent the day with the most amazing kid, hanging out, seeing London, getting to see how the British did things. And then in the evening . . . For the past couple of weeks, in the evening, Gabriel would come home and we were together. He’d make love to me in his workshop. Or on the kitchen table. In front of the fire. We’d talk. I’d make him laugh with my ridiculous stories of life back home. He’d make me swoon with the way he talked about his daughter.
My life was good.
Close to perfect.
I just wished I could tell my sister. But she wouldn’t approve and would tell me every reason why he wasn’t right for me. And I didn’t want to hear it.
Gabriel was a good man. Kind. And thoughtful. He was serious, but he seemed to like me poking fun at him. Yes, he was older, but did that matter? And okay, I had a job starting in the fall that meant I wouldn’t be his daughter’s nanny, but until then?
Gabriel was right for right now.
“Where do you think you’ll start? You still wanting to go to Seville? Maybe Paris would be a good starting point because you can just take the train over.”
“Yeah, probably Paris,” I replied, wondering whether Gabriel and Bethany would maybe come with me. Even if it was for a few days. Gabriel said he’d been to Paris a lot. Maybe he could show me around.
But I wasn’t going to suggest it. Gabriel and I had an unspoken policy about not planning for the future. We didn’t talk about next week, let alone six weeks from now.