Chapter Twenty-Seven

Iran-Contra with Konami Code

By the time we got to Huntley for Kelly’s bridal shower, my headache had become a real, almost corporeal thing. It felt like a tiny-but-strong monster running through my brain. I popped a few ibuprofens as soon as I parked the car.

My mom, thankfully, after our little emotional detour, had quickly turned the conversation over to my cousin who had just gotten engaged to her ex-husband’s sister. Thank goodness for relatives with drama.

The banquet hall in Huntley was packed with people, most of them unfamiliar, even to me. My mom, who didn’t know anyone, hovered at my side as I glanced around the room, looking for somewhere to go. I finally spotted Yessi, Polly, and their baby, Olivia, in the back corner. “There are our people.”

I led my mom over there, and we all did our hugs and hellos. Polly asked me about work, and I asked her how the veterinarian business was going. Yessi, who was holding Olivia, gave me a one-armed hug. “Be forewarned,” she whispered in my ear, “Kelly is in full bridezilla mode.”

“Well, it’s her shower,” I said.

“I know, but, dude, I made one little joke about the signature drink, and, well…” She gestured toward our table. “I thought it’d be prudent to sit in the back.”

“What’s the signature drink?”

Biting her lip to keep from laughing, she handed me a champagne flute filled with bubblegum pink liquid and garnished with gold leaf. “True Love’s Kiss,” she managed to blurt out.

Wrinkling my nose, I sipped it and immediately started coughing. “Oh my god! What’s in this? My lips are burning.” I grabbed a glass of water from the table, even though I knew that would only exacerbate the problem.

“It’s basically a vodka cranberry, but with liquid smoke and a hint of Scotch bonnet pepper.” Yessi waggled her eyebrows. “Apparently Mark likes things spicy.”

“Oh shit.” I waved my hand in front of my mouth. “I was not expecting that.”

Yessi took her seat. “All I’m saying is, tread lightly.”

“Unlike this drink.” I grabbed a roll from the bread basket. Maybe that would help smother the fire raging in my mouth.

“Yessi,” my mom said, “did you see Annie’s little video?”

I groaned. “Mom…”

“I sure did,” Yessi said. “I thought it was great—especially the part where it looked like you were using a stethoscope for the first time.”

“Yessi,” Polly said in a warning tone.

“I’m kidding.” Yessi patted my hand. “Annie knows I’m just busting her balls.”

“I do,” I said. “And I’m not used to being on camera, so forgive me for looking a little wooden.”

“A lot wooden,” Yessi said, struggling with a squirming Olivia. “But we still love you.” She blew me a kiss.

“What do you think about her and Rob Casey?” my mom asked.

I shot daggers across the table at my mother.

“Rob who?” Yessi said.

“My neighbor,” my mom said. “He and Annie are getting pretty serious.”

Yessi’s eyes, usually flashing and laughing, darkened in confusion.

My mom passed Yessi her phone. “Here he is.”

Yessi, quiet for once, peered down at Rob. “Wow,” she said. “Looks like everybody’s got their secrets.”

I turned toward my friend. “Yessi, my mom is fully overstating it. I’ve gone out a couple times with this guy, and we’ve talked about how we’re both up for settling down, but it’s nothing more than that.”

Yessi stood, hoisting Olivia onto her hip. “I’m gonna go feed her.”

“Hon,” Polly said, “you don’t have to go. No one minds if you nurse her.”

“I do,” she said. “I need a minute.”

I watched Yessi, my last remaining best friend, walk away. Shit. I turned to Polly. “I really haven’t been keeping anything from Yessi. I barely know what this thing is with Rob myself.”

Polly nodded toward the bathrooms. “You should go talk to her. She’s feeling a little insecure with all the Kelly drama. I’m sure it will blow over quickly.”

“Yeah. I should.” I grabbed my purse and headed purposefully in the direction of the ladies’ room to talk to Yessi, but then I heard my name as I passed a table. “Is that Annie?”

Sighing, I turned around and found Kelly’s mom and her aunts.

I clutched Kelly’s mom’s hand, leaned down, and hugged her. “Hi, Mrs. Stafford.”

“Glad you could make it, honey!” She kissed me on the cheek.

“Good to see you! Let’s talk later.” I pointed to the bathroom and kept going. I just had to talk to Yessi. I had to apologize and tell her that I really wasn’t trying to hide anything, I just didn’t know what to—

“Oof!”

I turned a corner and ran right into Kelly. My hand instinctively grabbed her arm to keep her upright. “Sorry! Are you okay?”

She rubbed her nose. “Man, you have a bony chest.”

The two of us burst out laughing, and she automatically, hopefully opened her arms for a hug. Relief flooded my body. Choked up, I leaned in for the clutch. I held on for a few beats too long before letting her go.

She wore a beige A-line dress under a white cardigan. “You look like a bride,” I said.

“What do you mean?” She, still giggling, wiped her eyes.

“I mean where are your usual bright colors and shimmery fabrics?” I flashed a smile so she’d know I was just teasing. “You’re wearing brown. I distinctly remember you saying you’d never wear brown.” I cursed myself inwardly. Yessi had warned me about this, and I’d gone and inadvertently poked the bear.

She glanced down at her dress. “It’s caramel latte.”

“It’s brown.” I chuckled.

She frowned. “Well, anyway.” She turned to walk away. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Kelly, wait.” I reached for her elbow. “I’m sorry. I was kidding. You know I was kidding.”

She turned toward me, but her mouth was set in a line. “I saw your segment on the news.” She didn’t come off as impressed as other people.

“Yeah,” I said brightly. “I’ve been getting a lot of calls ever since it aired.”

“I’m sure you are.” Her voice was flat.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She seemed…pissy?…that my business was doing well?

Kelly shook her head, her blond curls bopping around her shoulders. She forced her own grin now. “It’s nothing,” she said, shrugging. “Sorry. Bride stuff. I’m too on edge.”

“It’s fine. I get it.” I glanced around at the room full of middle-aged women in beige dresses. I stuck out in my bright pink shirt and gray skirt. “Remember how we used to be the ones sitting in the back together bitching about showers?”

Kelly and I used to have this running bit about how every friend who used to be at the back table with us complaining, promising that when it was her turn to be the bride, she’d never, ever make her friends and family sit through a boring wedding shower, eventually made her friends and family sit through a boring wedding shower.

Kelly sneered and folded her arms across her chest. “And now I’m one of those hypocritical women.”

“No,” I said, exasperated. “I meant nothing by it.” I shrugged. “It’s just…this is life, isn’t it? What goes around comes around. The hero lives long enough to see himself become the villain.”

“So, I’m the villain now.” Her nostrils flared like a bull’s. I really thought she was going to hit me.

I felt eyes on us. The women at the two tables nearby were hanging on every word of our exchange.

I backed away, holding my hands up in surrender. “I’m clearly incapable of saying the right thing at the moment, so I’m just going to say I’m sorry, and I hope we can talk later, maybe after the shower. You, me, and Yessi.” That was what we needed: a good, old-fashioned chat, just the three of us—no phones, no Mark, no my mother. We could be grown-ups, really hash it out.

Kelly’s cold eyes stared me down. “Oh, you can hang around?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m here for you. All messages are going to Tina. She’s not allowed to call me unless it’s a certified emergency.” I flashed a smile. “Those don’t happen that often.”

Kelly raised an eyebrow. “And she understands that doesn’t mean ‘text 911 to Annie if a Bears linebacker gets a splinter’?”

“Yes, Kelly.” A headache was starting to take shape in my brain. “I’m all yours.”

“Well, that’d be a first.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Are you ladies okay?” asked a woman at the table behind us.

“Yes,” Kelly and I barked in unison.

“What are you even talking about?” I asked. “I’m always there for you.”

“You’re there, and you’re not. I can’t even count how many of our conversations have been ended by your phone,” she said, rushed. Tension colored her tone.

“Kelly, you know how demanding my job is.”

“Yes.” Her shoulders dropped dramatically in faux exhaustion. She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. “Dr. Annie is so important that she gets featured on the news.”

“That’s not fair.” My brow furrowed. “You know how tough things have been for me since Katherine retired.” I paused, weighing whether or not to go in for the kill. The anger boiling in my gut pushed me to go for it. “Or maybe you don’t. Maybe you were too busy getting engaged without telling me you were even dating someone.”

“I tried to tell you, Annie, but you could never give me your undivided attention.”

Yessi rushed over, eyes concerned. “Guys, stop it.” She pressed Olivia’s head to her chest, shielding her ears.

I racked my brain, trying to recall if I could remember her attempting to tell me about it. I supposed it was possible. My shoulders dropped. “Kelly, I’m sorry.”

“So sorry that you gave my room to some random bartender and his dog?”

“Wait, what?” Yessi said.

“You were gone,” I said. “You were getting married and moving to Galena, and I saw an opportunity to help someone who needed it.”

“How magnanimous of you,” Kelly said.

“And I…I was lonely.”

“You were lonely?” Yessi said. “What about Rob?”

“Rob?” Kelly said. “Boob Honker Rob?”

My phone buzzed in my purse. Shit. I froze. Maybe it was nothing—just a sales call or a reminder to call the dentist. The phone kept buzzing. “I’m sorry.” I turned away, reached into my purse, and fetched my phone. “Tina?” I said when I saw who was calling.

“I thought Tina was taking care of everything today,” Kelly said in a sing-song voice.

“Kelly, shut up,” Yessi said.

“What?” I said as the reality of Tina’s words registered in my mind. “Okay. I’ll be right there.” I hung up, suddenly emotionally numb and ready for action. “I’m so, so sorry, Kelly, but I really do have to go.”

Ignoring her pout, I rushed to grab my mother, take her back home, and then head to the hospital. Gayle Gale had had a stroke.