Except she didn’t. I couldn’t exactly go in her trailer and drag her out, no matter how tempting it was. This was something she was going to have to work through on her own. I could stand by her side and support her, but there were some dragons she was going to have to slay on her own.
I planned on being early to the wedding. I hadn’t seen Nola in a couple months, and I’d never met Bane. With that in mind, I dressed early, combed my hair, and made a travel cup of coffee for the road.
Riverly was less than an hour away, but I didn’t want to waste time stopping at a coffee shop.
“Hello there!” A voice distracted me from locking my front door. I turned around and found a tall man standing in my driveway. I didn’t recognize him, but that didn’t mean much. I didn’t spend much time on the far side of the trailer park.
“Hello,” I said as I climbed down my stairs. “How’s it going?”
“Great! Say, I can’t help but notice you look like a guy going places.”
I glanced down at my suit. It did seem a little out of place in front of my single-wide. “Yup. I’m going—“
“You don’t want to go there,” he cut in. “I’ve got an even better business opportunity for you. Have you heard of multi-level marketing?”
“Do you mean a pyramid scheme?”
“No, no, no, nothing like that. This company is designed to make money for everyone, down to the lowest entry.”
“I’m actually doing fine. Don’t need a job.” I wondered if it would be considered assault to elbow past him and climb into my car.
“No, trust me, you’ll regret not getting in on this for the rest of your life. This company is in on a groundbreaking product. We’re constantly selling out, and you can earn a high commission as long as you join my team.”
“You know, I’m going to have to pass on that,” I started to say.
The man took my coffee cup out of my hand and thrust a magazine at me. “Here. I’m not a pushy guy, so I’ll let you make the decision all for yourself. But I know you’ll be giving me a call soon. I wrote my number on the back. You have a good day now. I’m going to run over and say good morning to my daughter.”
I watched in fascination as he crossed the street and walked up Riley’s driveway.
Peculiar. I glanced down at the magazine in my hand. Composting toilets. The next big job.
Wow. That was painful to read. I unlocked my car and climbed in. I was halfway to Riverly when I looked at my empty cupholder and realized I didn’t have my coffee. I wondered briefly if I had left it on my kitchen counter, then I remembered the salesman was still holding it when he walked away.
Now, I really was going to be late to the wedding, because I needed a coffee.
When I arrived at the wedding, I stood at the back of the seated guests, unsure where to go. I didn’t recognize any of the other people there. However, there was a large white dog roaming around who looked like he wanted to plant some dirty paws on my suit.
I couldn’t believe Nola hadn’t bothered to introduce me to her fiancé—or even mention him, for that matter. Dad told me it was a story I would only understand if I heard it in person.
Mom walked around the corner of the house, and her face lit up when she saw me. “Louis! You’re here. I was so worried you were going to be late.”
“To my one and only sister’s wedding? I don’t think so.”
Mom hugged me and planted a big kiss on my cheek. “You look so handsome.”
She grabbed my shoulders. “Did she come?”
“What?”
“Your date!”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Mom.”
“I’m talking about the girl you’ve been dating. Nola said you’ve even been asking her for advice. We were all hoping you would bring her today.”
Acid churned in my stomach. “Erm, no. She couldn’t make it.”
The music sounded, and the last few standing guests filed to their seats. “Who are all these people, Mom?”
“They’re people from the neighborhood and some of Nola and Bane’s friends.”
I scanned the crowd. I spotted Sharon and Rob, Riley’s foster parents. They had a row full of children with them. The music played, and a man stepped out from the sliding glass door. It must have been the officiant. He was much too old for Nola—I hoped.
“That’s not—“ I stopped when another man followed the first outside. That had to be Bane. “Well, he’s not too bad.”
“He’s as sweet as sugar is what he is. And if you even think of being mean or picking on him like you used to do to all of Nola’s and Riley’s boyfriends, I will personally come after you.”
Some things never change. That feeling of petrified fear when faced with your mother’s threats—no, promises? Yeah, that feeling was still real.
I mock-saluted her.
“Behave yourself. He really is a good man. Your father has gotten to know him quite well, and you know how hard to please he is.”
“That’s true. If Dad’s willing to let this schmuck marry Nola, he must be a good one.”
Mom patted my arm. “I’m so glad we’ll finally be together as a family today. You don’t have to hurry away for work or anything like that, do you?”
“No, Mom, I’m all yours.”
“Oh, thank goodness, because I’m going to need someone to hand me clean tissues. I already feel like crying. My baby’s getting married. Usher me to our seats up front.”
Mom didn’t even make it halfway down the aisle without a couple of tears taking a leisurely stroll down her cheeks.
We took our seats in the front row.
The background music played. Eventually, a single bridesmaid walked up to stand across from the only groomsman.
Bane looked uncomfortable and impatient,
