I was still staring at my phone when it rang. I searched the caller ID, but unfortunately, it was the imminent bride and not my boyfriend.
Trying my best to sound chipper, I said, “Hey, Emily. Any sign of the missing best man yet?”
“He showed up three minutes ago,” Emily said. “He’s got a black eye, and the knuckles on his right hand are bruised. I don’t know what happened, but Max is pushing him for the details right now.”
“Who could he have gotten into a fight with in April Springs? Does he even know anybody here but the three of us?”
“I don’t even want to think about that right now,” she said. “Mom called, and she needs to see us both immediately. Can you drop everything you had planned tonight and come over to her place?”
“Why not? I’ve got nothing going on,” I said, although it pained me to admit it to her.
“That’s perfect. I hope you haven’t eaten yet; Mom’s made a feast. Oh, I have one more favor to ask of you, if you don’t mind.”
“Hey, I’m the maid of honor. I live to serve you,” I replied.
She laughed at my attempt at humor. “We both know better than that, but would you mind swinging by and picking up Grace?”
“Is she in the wedding, too?” I asked.
“She and Emma both,” Emily answered.
“Are there going to be enough matching groomsmen to go around?” I asked. Max wasn’t known for longevity in his friendships, with the possible exception of Peter, and that was one that I wished hadn’t stuck all those years.
“He’s asked a few actors that he’s worked closely with before.”
“How festive,” I said.
“Emma’s already here, but it would be great if you could give Grace a lift.”
“We’re on our way,” I said, and I hung up before she could give me any more assignments.
“Well, if it’s not the bravest woman in all of April Springs, North Carolina,” Grace said after I pulled up in front of her house just down the street from the cottage that I shared with Momma.
“Why do you say that?” I asked as she climbed into my Jeep.
“You’re the maid of honor at your ex-husband’s wedding,” she said. “And you don’t think that’s brave? I think you should get a medal for doing this.”
“I’m doing it for Emily,” I said.
“There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that’s true,” she answered.
“I didn’t realize that you were going to be in the wedding party, too,” I said.
“Emily and I are pals, too,” she said. “I’m surprised Emma’s not in it, though.”
“She’s already there,” I said as I drove to Emily’s place.
“To be honest with you, I’m a little surprised that she’s not the maid of honor,” Grace said, “not that you won’t make a perfectly lovely one.”
“It turns out that I was asked because I persuaded Emily to give Max another try.”
She grinned at me. “Oh, boy, I’m willing to bet that you’re regretting that now.”
“You know me too well,” I said as we neared Emily’s parents’ house.
“Suzanne, are you okay?” What was it with Momma, and now Grace? Was I giving out some kind of signal that I was in desperate straits?
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Really?”
“No, I’m a train wreck waiting to happen, but I don’t want to talk about it right now. How about if we table it until after we leave tonight? Would you do that for me?”
“I will,” she said, and then she squeezed my hand. “Whatever it is, I’m here for you, okay?”
“I know,” I said as I squeezed her hand back. “Now, let’s go see what we can do to make the bride’s life a little easier, shall we?”
“Sounds great to me,” Grace said. I noticed her watching me closely, searching for some kind of sign of what was really wrong with me, but I wasn’t about to tell her now. This was Emily’s time, and I was going to do my best to help make her shine.
At least I had my early hours as an excuse to get out of there. It had all turned out to have been one big false alarm, a pretense to gather us all together so we could see how thoroughly we’d been replaced by Emily’s mother.
“Thanks for being my ride,” Grace said as we headed back home.
“You’re welcome. I was glad to do it.”
“Oh, I appreciate the lift,” Grace said with a smile, “but what I really loved was the excuse to get out of there early. Don’t get me wrong. I love Emily to death, but I thought that her mother would never shut up. Do you feel left out?”