To which Greg would reply, "She can smell your fear."
"How long did you have to plan that wedding, Marie? Two months? Something like that. A huge Boston wedding. Insanity." Fiona shook her head at me.
"Hey. Katherine did a lot of the work," I pointed out, avoiding Matt's gaze. My feelings in chaos, I was barely treading water. I'd been avoiding him-his gaze, and just him in general-since I'd entered the room. "And Quinn's ex-girlfriend helped find Janie's dress."
Dan snorted, shaking his head. "That lady wasn't his girlfriend, they just used to fu-"
Fiona cleared her throat loudly, lifting her eyebrows meaningfully at Dan.
"Sorry. Sorry." He held a hand up as though he surrendered and peeked sheepishly at Katherine.
Quinn's mother smiled at Dan; Dan and Quinn had grown up together, therefore Katherine had known Dan his entire life. "It's okay, Daniel. I think Des and I are ready for a nap. Come on."
As she stood, she pulled her husband up as well. They made their rounds to each of us: Katherine handing out hugs-even to Matt, I noticed-and Desmond shaking hands with everyone but Fiona, Kat, and me.
After Quinn's parents shut the door behind them, Dan said, "They were acquaintances. At best. I don't think he even remembered her name."
Kat was looking at him like he was hilarious, shaking her head.
His eyes slid to hers. "What?"
"Nothing." She shrugged.
"Didn't you ladies used to call Quinn's ladies slamps or something? I think I remember that."
"That was Elizabeth's shorthand for describing the dynamic between men and women who have lots of sexual partners. And she called Quinn a Wendell. She reads a lot of Urban Dictionary entries, I think." Fiona, who was knitting, said all of this without glancing up.
Kat's smile slipped and she glanced at her fingers, then pulled her left hand through her hair, something glinting off her third finger. "Where is Elizabeth, anyway?"
I squinted at Kat, my attention dropping to her left hand where it rested on her lap, and I had to suppress a gasp.
"Hopefully taking a nap." Greg switched the babe from one shoulder to the other. "She worked a full shift yesterday and was up all night checking on us and Janie. I was going to have Matt take a look at her."
"Why?" Kat asked.
"I suspect she's a robot."
"You think everyone is a robot." Fiona shook her head at her husband.
"Matt should create a robot test," Greg persisted. "You all have to take the test before you can hold the baby."
"Is anyone thirsty?" Kat stood, picking up her empty soda can. "I'm going to go get another drink."
Dan stood too. "I'll help."
"No." I stood, walked to Kat and looped our arms together as I pulled her out of the room. "I'll help."
She gave me a startled look, but didn't argue or ask why she needed help buying another soda. As soon as the door shut behind us, I spun on her.
"Kat."
"Yes?" Her eyes were wide, bracing, even though she was smiling.
"Why are you wearing a wedding ring?"
She stiffened, her smile growing similarly hard, less natural. Sighing, her smile completely dissolved, leaving her eyes anxious and the corners of her mouth pinched.
"I had to," she whispered.
"You had to?"
She nodded, swallowing. "I had to."
I attempted to parse through what I had to might mean. "Did your family make you marry someone?"
She shook her head, but said, "Yes. But it's not like you think."
Giving her a hard stare, I stepped closer, holding her shoulders, and tried to keep the worry out of my voice. "What's it like, then? And why didn't you come to me for help? Or if not me, then Fiona? Or Sandra and Alex? Or-"
"I went to Dan for help," she admitted on a rushed whisper, closing her eyes and releasing a shaky breath. "Dan helped me."
"Dan?" I searched her face, looking for a clue as to what she could possibly mean. "Helped you how?"
Kat opened her eyes, ripe with tension and guilt, and said, "He married me."
Kat filled me in on her predicament. The story had been . . . concerning. I was concerned for her and Dan. I'd also pledged to help however I could. What she needed was my support, and that's what I would give her.
Selfishly, I appreciated the distraction from my own worries, which felt small and silly in comparison.
I left the hospital around 3:00 PM, feeling worn out. Matt left with me, giving me the impression he'd been waiting until I was ready to depart. We found one of Quinn's SUVs ready to take us home, our luggage in the back.