“Hi Willow. Oh my gosh, how are you?”
Willow Shaw is the daughter of two of my parents’ bandmates, Solstice and Michael. Yeah. Michael Shaw. Bet his parents didn’t see Solstice coming from a mile away. Anyway, even though the band was largely apart when we came along, our parents still traveled a lot together. Willow and I spent a good part of our childhood as the only constant for each other. I haven’t heard from her since my freshman year of high school.
“Excellent. Holy shit, yeah, your parents are in the studio, I’ll go get them. Hey, when are you coming out here? Your parents have gone on and on about your voice, you’ve got to jam with us.”
As irritated as I would have been a few months ago by her voice and her general enthusiasm, she invigorates me somehow.
“Soon, I hope. That’s what I’m actually calling to talk to them about.” I can’t keep the smile off my face.
“Sweet, I’ll go get your parents.”
After a few seconds, my mom picks up. “Hey you!”
“Hey Mom.” My lip quivers instantly.
“What’s the matter, Ember?”
Breathe.
“I was hoping to come out and see you guys soon.”
“You want to come to San Diego?” Her cautious optimism makes me giggle.
“Yes. And, I’m calling you Mom from now on. It’s just something I need to do. Pass the message along to Dad, would you?”
Pause.
“Mom?”
“It’s good.” Her voice sounds tight with tears.
“Thanks for sending a card to Bo, by the way. He said it was really nice.”
“Oh? You’ve spoken with Bo?”
“I have.”
“I can hear the smile in your voice.”
“Good. Monica and Josh’s wedding is tomorrow and then they go on their honeymoon, so I shouldn’t ask for next week off, but maybe the week after?”
She tries to rein in her enthusiasm, but fails spectacularly. “Sounds great, just keep us posted.”
“I love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him, too.”
“I love you too, Baby Blue.”
Chapter Forty
“You are absolutely stunning, Monica,” I whisper with tears in my eyes.
Monica spins once, crisp sunlight highlighting the lace overlaying her princess-cut dress.
“Really? Thank you. Also, thank you for helping my mom so much this week.”
“Of course. My duties, you know.” I wink and hand her a glass of champagne.
“Look at you. God, Ember, yoga and Bo Cavanaugh do a body good, huh?”
Last week, when I got home from Concord, Monica was waiting—in true Monica fashion—at my apartment. She wanted details. She got them. She asked lots of “what now” kinds of questions, questions that I don’t yet have the answers to. I hope in the next few weeks Bo and I can sort out the nuts and bolts. But, today is about my two best friends getting married.
As the music cues the opening of the chapel doors, I walk down the aisle, tearing up at Josh’s expectant smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Bo, sitting in the front row next to Monica’s mom, beaming at me the way Josh is looking past my shoulder to Monica. I give him a wink and blush the rest of the walk toward the altar.
This is the good stuff.
*
Bo
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Joshua, you may kiss your bride.” Josh’s father concludes the ceremony amongst the hoots and hollers of the small beachside chapel. I’m sure it’s freezing outside, but the atmosphere in here is absolutely perfect.
The procession begins, and after Josh and Monica breeze by in a flurry of applause, Ember steps down the aisle. The champagne-colored dress sets her auburn hair on fire. And her smile? I’ll take complete credit for that full smile cast in my direction. She’s responsible for mine, too.
A half-hour later, I’m waiting anxiously inside the Inn for the wedding party to arrive. Thank God they didn’t request a zillion pictures from the photographer—I want to dance with the love of my life. When the wedding party and Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are announced, and they have their dance, Ember joins me at my table for dinner.
“You are drop-dead gorgeous in that dress, November,” I whisper into her ear as she sips her wine. Her ear turns pink as she blushes.
“Thank you.” She tries to be polite at a table that holds her boss and some co-workers, including David Bryson. David just looks at me and winks. “I’ve got to get up there for my toast. Be back in a few.”