Chapter Seven

While Kit gathered her measuring equipment and her box of pins, readying to cinch Gram’s dress around Co-Co’s scrawny body, Co-Co droned on about Shane. “I can’t believe you’ve been keeping that boyfriend of yours a secret. When were you going to let people know?”

Kit swallowed hard. “I guess today.”

Co-Co threw her arms around her. “Yay for you, Kitty-Cat. The whole family is going to be so happy for you. And Brian, too. He’s going to be so glad.”

Oh God. What had she and this fireman done? Maybe she’d have been better off with an axe murderer. This was going to flood the family’s pipeline like a spark to a gas can. Every relative near and far would learn this fake news before day’s end. That was how her family worked. And her mother! Oh God. How was she supposed to explain this to her mother? She had until Saturday to explain this away. Right now, though, she wanted a vat of rocky road ice cream and a shovel.

Co-Co interrupted the flash of thoughts going on in her head. “So tell me, tell me, how did you meet him?”

“I’m serious, Co-Co. Stand still unless you want to be a human pincushion.”

“Okay, okay, but I’ve got lots of questions…”

“Later. Now shut up and let me do my job.”

Co-Co’s cell phone sounded. “Wait,” she said, rummaging through her purse. “I have to get this. I’m waiting for a call from the travel agent.”

Kit groaned. This was like trying to train a puppy. She snapped the fabric measuring tape held taunt between her hands while her cousin yapped on about a trip to some luxurious island she insisted had to have personal hammocks. “No time for this,” she said, and Co-Co merely held up her index finger. Kit stormed out of the dressing room.

“Everything okay?” Aunt Dee Dee asked from where she sat like Miss Muffet on a tufted cushion outside the bank of dressing cubicles.

“She’s on the phone with her travel agent.”

Rylee had just finished up with a bride-to-be and her mother, the older woman having come to the weighty decision to go with a teal-toned, knee-length, mother-of-the-bride dress rather than an eggplant-colored chiffon. She pinned Kit’s gaze and motioned toward the stockroom. “Can I see you for a moment?”

“Sure.” Kit turned to her aunt and pointed toward Co-Co, who had her cell phone pressed to her face and was rattling on about honeymoon details. “Tell her she’s got five minutes.”

In the workroom Rylee put her hands to the sides of her face. “Kit, did I just see what I think I saw?”

“This is insane. I’m insane.” Kit’s voice was a rasp of incredulity. She couldn’t help it. She felt as if she’d been hit by a truck, sideswiped by a pair of lips to her temple.

“I thought I was seeing things. What the heck was that all about?”

“Keep your voice down. My cousin’s in there champing at the bit for details.”

“What details? I’m so confused.” Rylee shook her head. “Why’d that guy put his arm around you, and did he give you a smack?”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

Rylee laughed. “No, really.”

“Yeah, I am officially living a lie.”

She explained how it went down, and the entire time Rylee was slack jawed. By the time Kit was done talking, she’d worked herself up again. Her heart flew around in her chest, looking for a way to escape.

“This is a disaster.” Kit began to pace.

“Maybe.”

“What do you mean maybe? It’s a total horror show. When I tell everyone that the guy’s just renting my loft, they’re going to laugh their asses off about what a pathetic loser I am. Or they’ll want to lock me up for being delusional. I think I need to move. Someplace far. What’s Oregon like?”

“Kit, I kind of like the fact this fireman of yours is willing to play along.”

“He’s not mine. I’ve rented him. He has a girlfriend, for God’s sake. Wouldn’t she love to hear how her boyfriend likes to play along?” She groaned. “Hawaii. You can’t get there by car. I should move to Hawaii. Has the volcano calmed down? Who cares? I’m my own volcano.”

“Okay, stop and listen, friend. Think about it for a second. If this Shane guy is willing to assume the role of your boyfriend for a while, I say why not? Think about the grief it’s going to save you. Weren’t you just telling me how you’re dreading going to this wedding and all its hoopla because you’re sure everyone is going to think you’re all sad and pining away over the groom? Well, now this little turn of events changes that. Problem solved. Poof.”

Kit put her hands over her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to perpetuate this lie. It’ll never work.”

“Look at me.” Rylee pulled at one of Kit’s hands. “Look at it as a misconception that just so happens to be a gift dropped right into your lap. When the wedding’s over, you can say you broke up with the guy. You said he’s only going to be at your place for a few months. It’s perfect. Genius, even.”

“A perfect disaster, more like.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“Kitty-Cat, look,” Co-Co’s voice came from outside the room. “I’m ready.”

Kit groaned and went to the doorway. Co-Co stood on a pedestal in front of a full-length mirror. Gram’s gown clung to her frame with Aunt Dee Dee again pinching the excess in her fist from behind. Under the overhead light, Kit saw that the fabric was still in such good shape, and the passage of time’s pearly tone made it all the more beautiful. A tear pricked at her eye, but she was quick to blink it away. What hurt most was that she knew damned well Co-Co didn’t go for things like this. She liked shiny and new. Co-Co went for bling. This dress situation was just more of the little snake’s upstaging.

“Well?” Co-Co turned away from the mirror and tilted her head as she fixed her gaze on Kit. “Say something.”

It was a long moment before she could formulate any words. She had to admit Co-Co’s figure did Gram’s gown justice. But her cousin was an imposter in the heirloom, and that’s what fit her best. Kit took a deep breath; she couldn’t believe she was really going to do this. But it seemed like the only right thing in this wrong moment.

“Let’s get this done,” she said. “I’ve got a boyfriend to get home to.”

It was interesting how at this moment the big fat lie tasted better than a boatload of ice cream.