Chapter 3
Cheerful voices coming from the kitchen made Aggie want to hide in her room but her empty stomach got the better of her. All she’d eaten last night at work was the remains of the chocolate custard she’d put in the short pastry cases. Later, she’d decorated those delicacies with strawberries, cream and chocolate shavings. The snack had been satisfying at the time but certainly not filling enough to keep her going.
She crawled out of bed and decided on a shower first, if only to get the smell of baker’s yeast out of her hair. Not that it was the most important thing today but she was scheduled off tonight, so today she wanted to smell like a person, not a bread shop.
She stripped off her pajamas and turned on the water, careful to avoid looking in the mirror while the spray heated up. Aggie stood at the shower door, her hand under the running water. Once it turned warm, she stepped into the spray, her face upturned to get the full force and wake her up. Sleeping tablets always left her feeling groggy. She closed her eyes and let the water run over her skin, ducking her hair under as well, tipping her head from side to side to get the thick curls wet through.
When she turned around, she opened her eyes and reached for the shampoo. She put a generous dollop on her palm and started to massage it through her hair, paying attention to the back of her skull. A tension headache throbbed annoyingly. Probably something to do with the sleeping tablets and still not getting enough sleep. She couldn’t win.
When Aggie finished, dressed and made her way out to the kitchen, her stomach rumbled even louder.
“I heard that. Let me fix you something to eat, sweetheart.” Her dad got up from the table where he was sitting with his best friend Bradley talking over a cup of coffee.
Aggie touched a hand to his arm. “No, I’ve got it. Hey, Bradley. How are you?” She dropped a kiss on her father’s best friend’s crown.
“Good now I’ve seen you, my girl. You look like crap though.” He shook his head.
“Thanks. You always know exactly the right words to say. No wonder you’re a shrink.” She walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, staring at the contents. “Can I eat this lamb chop or are you saving it for something?”
Her father answered, “Nope, all yours. Just don’t touch the baked fish; that’s for dinner. Your Aunt Gigi is doing something fancy apparently.” He looked at Bradley. “You should stay. There’s bound to be way too much food, as usual.”
“If you’re sure?”
Aggie snorted. “You know you want to, Bradley. Just give in and don’t fight him. Dad’s finding it hard with only me at home these days. He misses the company, and you two are good for each other.” Aggie put the lamb chop on a microwave-safe plate and put it in to heat.
Bradley shrugged. “I see I’m outnumbered here. I’d love to stay, thank you. When are the twins due home?”
Atticus smiled. “Hopefully for the wedding. You know Drew and April have set a date at last?”
Bradley grinned. “No, I hadn’t heard, but I’m very pleased to hear it. It’ll be nice to have a wedding in the family. First one. My, my.”
“Keep an eye on the mail for your invitation.” Her father looked her way as she took her chop from the microwave. “Aggie is maid of honor. Isn’t that right, darlin’?”
She rolled her eyes as she turned around and Bradley had caught her. That man saw way too much. She blushed and tried to cover it up. “Yep. As expected, considering she is my best friend.” She plonked herself at the table, picked up the piece of meat with her fingers, and started to chew. In between mouthfuls, she spoke. “We have to figure out what’s happening because I have no idea what April wants in the way of support from me. She dropped in last night as I was starting work to tell me they’ve set the date. All the details will come later, I guess. I was too busy to get into it with her then.”
“You’ll make a lovely maid of honor, I bet.” Her father patted her shoulder and placed a cup of coffee in front of her. “Bradley, another?”
The phone rang and Aggie jumped up to grab it, anything to avoid the way the conversation was going. “Hello?”
“Hi, Aggie. It’s Liam. Ah, listen, Drew and April want us to meet them for dinner tonight to discuss the wedding. Apparently it’s your night off and April said I was to pick you up.”
“Why?” She bit her lip. This was moving too fast for her.
“April said to tell you to go along with it and those were her exact words. I’m merely the messenger.”
Aggie turned her back on her father and Bradley, who were watching with interest. “Where?” She didn’t want to, but perhaps this could be an opportunity to show her best friend she was there for her, even though it killed her. Lord knew, April had been there for her.
“Drew’s making a reservation, so how about I pick you up at seven?”
“I can drive myself, thanks.”
“No can do. April insisted and you don’t want to get me into trouble. Let me pick you up.”
“Fine. Bye.” Aggie hung up the phone and resumed her seat at the table.
Her father poured Bradley another cup of coffee and placed it in front of him as Aggie picked up her lamb chop. “Thanks. No idea when the wedding is, Atticus?”
Her father paused with his own cup in his hand. “From what Drew was saying, they want to do it within the month. Don’t see any point waiting. They’ve been living together
