Page 87 of Dreams and Reptiles

I took delivery of the equipment for the wedding, but other than setting up the tent, which was going on my back lawn nearest the lake, the rental company said we were on our own for labor. That meant Shay and I had to set up the chairs next to the gazebo for the actual ceremony, then set up all the tables and chairs in the tent. The bridal party was staying in the guest wing, so I needed to keep them in towels and fresh linens like a damn hotel—I had so many things to add to the contract when this was all over—and then I helped Shay decorate the cottage for their wedding night, which made me want to vomit. I had indeed ordered a new mattress. Because ew. I didn’t want Kaiju babies sprouting out of the earth.

Thanks be to all the deities, they’d decided to have their rehearsal dinner in town. Shay and I collapsed onto the couches in my great room when they left.

“Everything’s done. The florist, caterers, and bartenders will be here at eleven tomorrow morning. Ceremony is at one, reception to follow, and the guests should all be out of here by five.”

“If we’re lucky.” I needed to have a positive outlook, but I just couldn’t dig deep enough to find it tonight.

“Then the bridal party will move out of the guest wing. Do you want to do clean up after⁠—”

“We’re barely going to be conscious after the disaster—I mean, the wedding is over. I’ve got Francine and her crew coming in to do the guest wing and the cottage on Monday. You should take Sunday and Monday off, Shay. You’ve been so helpful through this whole thing. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Are you kidding? Francis, this is the dream job. I love working with you. This wedding has been a mess, but that doesn’t mean they all will be. You have two more planned this year, right?”

I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

“Oh, come on. They can’t all be like Karen.”

We both snorted.

“I keep wondering, is she a Karen because her parents named her Karen, or is it just a coincidence?”

“We’ll never know.”

I sent Shay home and was just grabbing a glass of water when my phone buzzed. Assuming it was Kendall, I answered it.

“Francis, please don’t hang up.”

My back stiffened, and I set the glass down crooked, spilling water everywhere.

“Dad?” I hated how shaky my voice sounded.

“You have been ignoring my messages, but I need to speak with you. It’s very important.”

I’d read the transcripts of the first few, and then I started deleting them. It was awful of me, I know, but I didn’t want to deal with him. Not now. “Dad, I’ve got a really big event I’m in the middle of. Can we do this next week?”

“What I need to tell you cannot wait. Francis⁠—”

“Sir, I know this is disrespectful, but I can’t have this conversation right now. Goodbye.”

I hung up the phone, dropped it, and sank to the floor.

“Francis? Are you down here?”

“In here.”

Mom came around the corner of the kitchen counter and saw me on the floor.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought it was Kendall, and I answered the phone. It was Dad.”

She slid down next to me. “He’s tried to call me, too.”

She took my hand in hers, and we sat there very much like we had the day she’d helped me move into this place.

“I just couldn’t talk to him tonight, not when I need to keep it together to get through this wedding.”

She huffed. “Yeah, this girl could try the patience of a saint. And her grandmother. Hmm. Some of the ladies in town warned me about her when Judy and I were eating at the diner. They felt sorry for you hosting this wedding.”