Oh, lord save me from female bonding. “We’ll play it by ear,” I say. “If something comes up or there’s a break in the case…I’ll do my best.”
“You have to be there. At least for the fitting. Half an hour, tops.”
“I can’t control these things.”
“But if you’re not there, then they won’t have time to alter the dress.”
Why do I get the feeling that after this I’m going to get a nasty call from Justin? “Look, I’ll do everything in my power to be there. I promise. Same with the party tomorrow night.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” she says with sincerity. “I swear I’m turning into the supervillain Bridezilla. It’s just that my last wedding was at city hall, and I always regretted that.”
Her previous husband Micah, the father of Daisy, was an abusive bastard who she divorced when she was seven months pregnant. Brave of her. He is currently doing a stint in prison for assaulting his boss and shares a cell with Big Bubba. The woman learned her lesson and has definitely upgraded.
“Maybe we should just fly to St. Tropez and elope,” Rebecca continues. “Get married on the beach with just family there, but I guess it’s too late. The invitations are out and the food is ordered.” She sighs. “I’m just so exhausted. It’s like I have three full-time jobs, what with here, the wedding, and Daisy. I wish I knew Dr. Avatar. Maybe he could clone me. Never a supervillain around when you need one, huh?”
“I seem to be having that problem as well.”
“Oh! I’m sorry! That was a silly thing to say. How is that going? Have you been working around the clock? I’ll bet you have. Justin says you’re the most tenacious person he’s ever met.”
“It’s going well. We have a few leads. We’ll find him.”
“Well, Justin is just frantic with worry about you. I had to convince him not to phone the mayor and bar you from the case.”
“He was going to do that?”
“He had the phone in his hand. But I told him you were a grown, more than capable woman who the people of the city needed out there if we expected to find this monster,” she says with utter conviction.
“Thank you,” I say, and to my surprise I actually mean it.
“He is just so protective of you.” She takes another bite. Almost all my food is gone, but half her salad and all of the soup remains. “To be perfectly candid, it bothered me a little in the beginning. I thought maybe he was in love with you, or vice versa.” My heart skips a beat. “But then, as I watched the two of you, I sort of fell in love with him because of your love for each other. How open, how honest and warm he was with you. It showed me what a good man he is, and how much I wanted someone to feel those things for me too. That connection. That love.” Her smile doubles, if possible. “And having you in my life is just an added bonus. I would like nothing more than for us to be best friends.” She shakes her head. “You’re so strong and fearless. I feel like a meek little nothing compared to you. I wish I could be that way. And I can’t believe I’m admitting this to you, but I’m still sort of threatened by you. I mean, I know Justin loves me with all his heart, and I know you both have too much integrity to ever cheat, but I am. You two have this bond like nothing I’ve ever seen. I’m a little jealous. I just hope one day you and I could have a relationship like that. I want it more than almost anything.”
Okay…I feel like total and utter shit. They could do a full-scale model of the Eiffel Tower with the amount of shit I feel like right now. For months I’ve been praying that a hole would swallow her up. Or aliens would abduct her. I’ve been standoffish, and just a bitch behind her back. And all this time she’s been admiring me, and wanting nothing more than to be my best friend. They’re reserving my spot in hell right now.
It’s hard to process that she’s been comparing herself to me and not stacking up, as I’ve been doing with her. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m sorry I put you on the spot like that.” She covers her face. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. It’s…I’m sorry if I did anything to cause you to feel like that,” I say, genuinely meaning it.
“You didn’t. It’s me. It’s all me and my stupid insecurities.” She lowers her head, shaking it. “Anyway, the uncomfortable soul bearing portion of our meal is over with.” She smiles again. “Time for the fun stuff. Are you bringing anyone to the engagement party tomorrow? Or the wedding?”