Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Her congregation, that I’ve been indoctrinated into from birth, not by choice. I haven’t been to church once since I left Greenbank. “We’re getting married in Alaska,” I say calmly. I don’t care if we’re married in a church or a reception hall or in a damn field, but I leave that part out for now.
“No way,” Jed blurts, his expression filling with excitement. “We’re invited, right?”
“Unfortunately,” Henry says before gulping back a mouthful of wine.
“Roger!” Mama glares at my father. “Talk some sense into the girl!”
Daddy sighs with resignation and pours himself more wine. “Abbi’s got plenty of sense.”
A wildness flickers in her eyes as they dart around the table, searching for allies, realizing she has none. At least, not ones who will step in to involve themselves so blatantly.
“I’ll start the coffee pot.” Celeste is on her feet quickly to collect empty plates.
“I’ll help.” Laura scurries behind her.
I take deep breaths to try to calm myself. The last thing I wanted was for tonight to turn into another major blowup. We already had one of those this summer and we barely survived it. “Mama, I am thrilled that you seem to have accepted Henry as my future husband.” Seem to being the operative words. “Truly, I am. But this is my wedding. Our wedding.” I collect Henry’s hand in mine. “And it’s going to be what we want.”
“What you want? Or what he wants?” She spits out with that familiar venom from the past. I knew her bitterness still had to be lingering beneath this facade. There was no way it could have evaporated. How long before he’s demoted to “that man” again?
I dare glance at Henry.
His expression is peaceful, unruffled. “If it were up to me, Abbi and I would have married at city hall the day we landed back in New York.”
Mama gasps, her fearful eyes flittering to Reverend Enderbey as if merely suggesting such an idea has earned our family a one-way ticket to the fiery pits of hell. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, believe me, I would.” A grin stretches across Henry’s face. The bastard finds this amusing. He isn’t the least bit fazed by Mama’s antics. “But that’s not what Abbi wants, and I will give her whatever she wants as long as in the end, she’s my wife.”
Mama worries her bottom lip. She’s beginning to see she won’t win this. “Fine.” She throws her napkin onto the table and eases her sturdy body out of her chair. “Seeing as you don’t care if your family is a part of your wedding day—”
“I never said that,” I cry.
“—then you’ll be happy getting married without your father and me there, Abigail.”
My stomach drops in despair at the thought of their absence. “Mama …”
But she’s already storming out of the dining room. Moments later, the kitchen door swings open and shuts with a clatter.
My shoulders drop as tears of anger and frustration prick my eyes.
Henry rubs the back of my neck but remains quiet.
“Give her time.” Daddy carves another chunk of his lasagna.
“You think that’ll make a difference?” She didn’t even try to hide her anger from Reverend Enderbey, which means I miscalculated her need to be on her best behavior for an audience. Clearly, I’ve caught her off guard. Is she stubborn enough to follow through with this threat, though?
“Yes,” Aunt May jumps in. “Bern has a big heart, but she’s also used to getting her way. She used to do this sort of thing to me, too, until she learned better. I think this is good for her, to see you all grown up and making your own decisions, even if she doesn’t approve of them. It’ll make things easier for you down the road.”
“Bernadette can be a tad set in her ways.” Reverend Enderbey frowns. “Sometimes she needs to ease herself into new ideas, and there have been a lot of new ideas in her life lately.” He glances at Henry, making his point clear. “Like Roger said, just give her time to digest.”
And give the reverend time to talk her off this hill she sounds determined to die on, he doesn’t say.
I sink into my chair, dejected. “I never thought you guys wouldn’t come.”
“I will be there no matter what, don’t you worry about that,” Daddy promises.
Aunt May reaches over to pat my forearm. “So will I.”
That brings me some comfort, at least.
“Reverend, I know Bernadette asked you to officiate.” Henry smiles at the kindly man. “Would you still be willing to do that in Alaska?”
Reverend Enderbey opens his mouth but falters, his gaze flittering to me, then to his son. Is it weird for him to marry Henry and me after Jed and I were assumed destined for a life together? Because, honestly, this may be a bit fucked up.
“I’m sure Bernadette would appreciate your role in this,” Henry adds. “It would go a long way in helping everyone move forward.” That last part must be directed at Jed.