“Give my best to Justin and Zack’s sister,” he called over his shoulder as he plodded away. Susan gazed after him with shining eyes. She was never going to see him again.
She thought about Peter the whole bus ride home, comparing his forlorn expression with Amy’s haunted one. Why were all her favorite people wrapped in regrets?
Susan trudged up her street with her mind a million miles away. She gazed at her house without really seeing it. It was the center structure in a row of five decrepit buildings. A short, gently sloping driveway led to their recently redone front porch, compliments of Zack and their too generous landlord. Zack, himself, was standing on this front porch, all tall and handsome in a black suit and tie. His messy copper hair had been painstakingly tamed with gel which made his chiseled face appear even more sculpted than usual. His crystal blue eyes narrowed at the sight of her. “Where’ve you been?”
Susan lurched back to Earth with a jolt of alarm. Zack’s brand new Maserati rested majestically in their driveway. Chris, blond and blue-eyed, lay sprawled on her front lawn in dress pants and a crisp white shirt. He looked like a dog who had been sunning himself a little too long and lacked the energy to crawl to the shade.
“I was out for a walk,” Susan lied with effortless innocence. “Where’ve you been?” Why had they chosen this exact moment to stop by? She would be in crazy deep trouble if they found out she had visited Peter by herself. Zack, especially, would flip his lid. He had declined the offer to testify in Peter’s defense and blown up at Amy over her decision to help out. Zack was the furthest thing from Peter’s number one fan.
Chris yawned. “We’ve been waiting for you. You are so, so late!”
“What? No, I still have⸻” She checked the time on her phone and nearly dropped it in shock. “Crap! Mom is going to kill me!”
Susan, Zack, and Chris were supposed to have met up with everyone for wedding photos half an hour ago. She charged into the house, threw on her fancy pink lace dress, and careened outside barefoot, stupid heels in hand. “Drive!” she screamed at Zack as she dove headfirst into his back seat.
Chris laughed as they tore down the street. “You’d make an awesome getaway driver! You should have mentioned that skill on your college applications.”
Two
AMY EVANS WAS melting. She was a swiftly shrinking ice cube that would never be cool again, an exhausted, dried-up flower wilting beneath the sweltering August sun. Clarisse had chosen the finest rose garden in Toronto for her wedding picture locale. The grounds were flawlessly beautiful, much like the bride-to-be. Amy stood next to her in the center of an explosion of riotous color, the late afternoon air thick with the perfume of flowers and the sun beating down as if determined to cook her alive. She shaded her eyes against the flash as the photographer snapped her millionth photo.
“Let’s get another one of the bride and groom.” The photographer was relentless. She was in her early forties with short, dyed blonde hair and a thick, squat figure. She was suffering through a blistering sunburn but refused to let it hamper her impeccable work. Her squinty gray eyes fixed on her target and click, the moment was captured on camera.
The photographer positioned Justin and Clarisse beneath a vibrant arch of lush red roses. Amy sagged with relief and stepped out of the line of fire. She longed to collapse in the shade. Her cheeks hurt from smiling too much, and her feet ached from the four-inch heels her mother had made her wear. If it hurt this much to be beautiful, she’d take a permanent pass.
“Don’t they look lovely?” Mrs. Donnellson glowed with pride and beamed at the couple in their wedding finery.
“Yeah.” Amy stifled a yawn. The early morning at the salon had cut into her beauty sleep.
Mrs. Donnellson tsked at her lack of enthusiasm and pounced on someone much more likely to appreciate her gushy commentary, Amy’s own mother. Amy rolled her eyes at her brother in his new suit and tie. How had Justin managed to charm the rich, sophisticated Tatiana Donnellson? The lady adored him and simply tolerated her.
Tatiana looked and acted as if she had been groomed for royalty. She came across too perfect, like an emotionless manikin in a fancy boutique. Her outfits were purchased by a personal shopper, each one tailored to her exact measurements and particular specifications. Her pretty, youthful face was always beatifically made up, and she never had a golden blonde hair out of place. Her ocean blue eyes conveyed genuine understanding, even while outlining the reasons Amy wasn’t good enough for her son. Amy happened to agree with her but resented her hammering it home every time they spoke.
Zack’s father was easier to like. William Donnellson was tall and fit with youthful dark red hair and twinkling sky blue eyes. Unlike his wife, he had an easygoing personality and showed human signs of aging in the laugh lines around his mouth. He liked to quiz Amy on her automotive knowledge, and she enjoyed his sense of humor. His primary flaw was his annoying habit of favoring Clarisse over his sons. An entire afternoon of Clarisse worship was still worlds better than five minutes with his uptight wife.
Zack’s prissy parents looked like gracious patron saints next to their daughter. Clarisse had taken an instant dislike to Susan, claiming her siblings spoiled her and it would hurt her in the end. Amy gave Clarisse a mental eye roll in her custom-made Valentino silk gown. It was the Donnellsons who had spoiled Clarisse. Amy huffed out a sigh, each molecule of oxygen laced with bitter resignation. Soon the girl would be her sister-in-law, meaning everywhere her brother went, Clarisse would follow. Family reunions, birthdays, Christmas, anytime she visited Justin, there Clarisse would be with her perky attitude and perfect platinum hair.
Clarisse was beautiful, as well as brilliant and charming. She looked like a supermodel with her tall, slender figure and impeccable fashion sense. Her perfect spray-tanned skin glowed with an inner light lesser mortals never attained, and her dancing mint green eyes were intelligent, yet warm. Amy was far from insecure, yet felt like a short, awkward duckling next to Clarisse’s swan-like beauty.
She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and vowed to focus on the good. Clarisse made Justin happier than he had been in years. She lit up her brother like a Christmas tree in the window, encouraging him to shine just as bright as she did herself. Clarisse had even tried to bond with Amy by taking her shopping for a wedding outfit. They had chosen a strapless, satin midi dress of a deep forest green. “It’s so you,” Clarisse had exclaimed that day at the store. The genuine compliment had made Amy jerk in a startled double-take to check if the other girl had meant she looked slutty. They had paired the dress with solid black heels and a black velvet clutch and delightedly called it a day. Susan had made her model the outfit when she got home. She claimed it brought out her eyes and made her look like a queen. Amy laughed to herself. Her little sister went overboard with the flattery. Still, being called a queen was better than the cliche and overused princess. Queens had all the power. Princesses were dressed up little girls.
Amy’s phone buzzed inside her clutch. She carefully retrieved it between two manicured fingers. A text from Zack had lit up her screen. Sue’s still not here. Can you ask if we should keep waiting or pick her up later?
Just can’t wait to see me in this dress, huh?
She was opening her mouth to ask what Zack should do, when her phone vibrated in her hand. Never mind, she’s here. You bet your sexy ass I can’t wait. We’ll be there in 10.
She tucked her phone into her clutch with a goofy grin. “They’re on their way,” she told the group of fussing parents. “Sue must have confused the times.”
“I’m so sorry,” Amy’s mother apologized for the billionth time.
Mrs. Donnellson dismissed the apology with a gracious wave of her manicured hand. “Don’t worry about it. Chris is always getting into mischief. Did I tell you what he did last week?” They laughed together as she recounted her youngest son’s latest escapade. Amy rolled her eyes behind her mother’s back. Why did everyone get along with Tatiana except her? Ev
en her mother, whom Amy would have thought Mrs. Donnellson would have taken offense to having as her housekeeper, never mind as an in-law, had been welcomed with open arms. Apparently, her mother’s questionable past paled in comparison to the nerve Amy had demonstrated in dating her oldest son.
Amy’s mother, Erica Evans, had been stunning once. Years of drug and alcohol abuse had stolen her good looks. She was too thin, though not as scary thin as she had once been. She had wispy hair, sunken cloud gray eyes, and a gentle, careworn smile. Amy and her siblings had helped her through rehab a couple years ago, and their mother had managed to stay sober. Amy was proud of the little things, like the weight her mother had gained and the whimsical way she dyed her hair. This month it was golden blonde, modeled after Zack’s mother, no doubt. Amy threw Tatiana a look of deep disdain. Mrs. Donnellson got along with her mom because she was easy to control.
“You’d think it was my funeral.” Justin had towed Clarisse over to the elegant maple tree Amy was sheltering beneath. “Cheer up, sis.”
She gave him a tight smile. Justin did not understand the horror of photos with the in-laws or the pain high-heals inflicted. How was Clarisse still smiling like an angel? “I’m cheery! This is going to be a beautiful wedding. You guys picked the perfect day.”
“You think so?” Clarisse allowed her face a troubled frown. “What about those clouds over there?”
“It’s blue skies overhead.” Justin pulled her into his arms, taking care to avoid wrinkling her dress. “You’re worrying like an old mother hen. Only instead of eggs, you’re clucking about the weather.” His smoky gray eyes twinkled with mirth.
Amy smirked. Her brother had done well in marrying Clarisse. She was way out of his league. Justin was attractive but not in the heart-stopping, double-take sensation his bride created. He was about five foot ten with thick onyx hair and a slim physique. His smile was open, genuine, and naturally included everyone he saw. His company brought solace to the most troubled of souls and gave sorrowful spirits a place to call home. Sudden tears pricked Amy’s eyes. She would miss being able to call him at all hours to laugh and chat about stupid sibling stuff.
Clarisse smiled at him with stars in her eyes. Amy looked away as they kissed. Had she and Zack ever gazed that dreamily into one another’s eyes? Somehow, she doubted it. Amy chalked their sickening joy up to wedding day induced sappiness, because she refused to accept a lifetime of those dreamy looks.
Zack, Chris, and Susan sped up in Zack’s new Maserati. Amy winced at the twinge of guilt she always got seeing Zack’s current ride. She had totaled his last car, a powerful black Lexus, when Zack had tried to teach her how to drive one eventful afternoon last summer. Zack had had issues trusting her behind the wheel ever since, a blanket mistrust that far surpassed her successful completion of Driver’s Ed.
“Sorry, sorry!” Susan tumbled from the car and ran to Justin with her arms thrown wide. “I’m here now. Let’s get snapping!”
Justin laughed. “Put your shoes on first. We can wait a few more seconds.”
“Let’s get one of the bride and her siblings, then,” the photographer said as Susan slipped into her shoes.
“Chris!” Mrs. Donnellson’s eyes grew wide with horror at the sight of her preteen son. “Why are there grass stains all over your shirt? What on Earth have you been doing?”
“Getting reacquainted with Amy’s lawn.” Zack slipped an arm around Amy’s waste and leaned in for a kiss.
Susan made a face and jerked her gaze away. Amy smiled softly. Maybe she and Zack had a sprinkling of wedding dreaminess themselves.
“Mom, stop.” Chris flapped his hands in an effort to ward her off.
Clarisse giggled, a babbling brook of contagious joy. “Mom, leave him. It’ll give our photo an authentically natural look. Zack has obviously just rolled out of bed, and Chris is an adorable homeless boy.”
“You’re always so complementary,” Chris said, slouching into position on her left.
“Yeah.” Zack snickered. “It’s not my fault my hair is naturally messed up. I had it perfect before Sue made me drive like a maniac.”
Amy smiled at Zack as the photographer snapped pictures. The Donnellson siblings looked good on camera, posing with effortless, joyful ease. Clarisse made a gorgeous bride with her tall, willowy figure and long platinum hair. Chris was a preteen girl’s heartthrob with warm, sky blue eyes and blond hair like his sister’s. Zack also shared the family’s good looks. Tall, fit, and freckled, you could tell at a glance he worked out. Plus, he had adorably messy red hair and amazing crystal blue eyes. Amy had no problem admitting her boyfriend could star in infomercials.
Amy and Susan shuffled into position and posed on either side of Justin. “My siblings look prettier than yours,” Justin teased his bride with an arm around each sister.
“True, true.” Clarisse waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “But I look prettier than you.”
Amy smiled as the flash went off. Clarisse and Justin brought out the best in each other. The joy of seeing her big bro happy far outweighed her dislike of his future wife.
“Excellent!” The photographer looked ready to dance with delight at catching Amy smiling on camera. “Only one more photo to go. Can we have the bride, the groom, and all their siblings in this last one?”
She positioned them in couples. Susan leaned against Chris and grimaced at the camera. Amy put an arm around each of the Donnellson brothers and did her best to smile for the trillionth time. Was the makeup melting off her face? Was it leaking into her eyes and blinding her, or was that a side effect of too many camera flashes in bright sunshine?
“I love you,” Zack and Justin murmured to their girlfriends in unison. Both women burst out laughing as the camera flashed.
“We say we love you and you laugh?” Zack pressed a hand to his chest. “Justin, you sure you wanna marry this heartless bitch?”
Clarisse released an unladylike snort. “It sounded as though you were confessing your undying love for each other before Justin loses his chance at a gay relationship.”
Justin smirked. “I’ll take my chances with her.” The couple kissed, gazing deep into each other’s eyes.
Susan groaned as if she was in physical pain. “If I ever get married, I’m never gonna act this gross. Shouldn’t we be getting to the church?”
“You’re right. See you at the altar.” Clarisse blew Justin a kiss and climbed gracefully into a waiting limo. Her parents followed behind, her mother clucking about wrinkles and invisible makeup smudges.
The group scattered as soon as the bride had departed. Justin and his best man hitched a ride with a crowd of their university friends. Amy, Susan, Chris, and Mrs. Evans piled into Zack’s Maserati. Chris and Susan mocked each other’s fancy outfits, while Mrs. Evans checked her supply of tissues. Amy was quiet during the drive, content to share tender looks with Zack. Oh, how she loved this boy who loved her.
The ceremony flew past with heart-stopping speed and finality. Amy beamed at Justin’s love-struck expression as Clarisse floated down the aisle like a pageant queen. She passed tissues to her mom and Mrs. Donnellson as the happy couple said their vows. She held Zack’s hand as their siblings pledged to love and honor and respect each other until death parted them.
“Someday that’ll be you and me,” Zack whispered as their siblings shared their most magical kiss yet. Amy glowed. Her heart was full to bursting.
“That’s gonna be us up there someday,” Chris whispered to Susan, as usual copying his big brother.
Susan shot him a scornful look. “No way!”
Amy and Zack silently cracked up and struggled to keep from giggling out loud at Chris’s insulted expression.
Three
ZACK DONNELLSON GRINNED, incredulous and amused, as Amy dragged him onto the dancefloor for a fifth consecutive song. Who knew his badass girlfriend would love twirling in a lacey dress so much? He smirked at a group of guys eyeing her. Sorry, suckers, she’s taken. The familiar
cocktail of smugness and jealousy sent him dancing her away from her fans.
He flicked his gaze over the wedding guests, keeping a sharp eye out for additional Amy admirers. Susan and Chris were sampling cupcakes by the buffet, giggling at the dancing couples and snapchatting their friends. Across the room from them, on the opposite side of a sea of wedding guests, Zack’s own best friend was busy knocking back drinks at the bar. Ken Richards had a friendly salesman’s face that could sell a Porsche to someone who had wanted a minivan. His effortlessly perfect blond hair was a constant thorn in Zack’s ego, and his china blue eyes had been the talk of half the girls at their school.
Ken’s girlfriend, Jessie Davis, had elected to miss the wedding in favor of catching an earlier flight to Vancouver. She, Zack, Amy, and their best friend Charles were off to the University of British Columbia for school. Ken had applied as well but hadn’t been accepted. He was drowning his sorrows with endless tequila shots and taking advantage of the loss of his plus-one by flirting shamelessly with Raquel Nickels, a pretty cheerleader from high school.
Amy followed Zack’s gaze. “I wish he wouldn’t do that the second Jessie leaves him alone.”
Zack sighed. Jessie was like a sister to him, and if she had been with anyone but his best friend, he would have told her to dump his ass years ago. Instead, he was forced to defend Ken’s bad habits and hope Jessie wasn’t the one who got hurt in the end. “I know. But he’s crazy about her. He’s not gonna do anything stupid. He’s just drunk and waiting to FaceTime her the second her plane lands.” His words, though true, still left him feeling hollow. The song ended, and the couple weaved their way through a crowd of chattering guests.
Amy made a face. “That’ll be a sickeningly sappy convo. Jessie, oh Jessie. I miss you, babe. I’m ever so lonely without you! Please come home and never leave me again!”
Zack chuckled at her impression of Ken drunk. “Hey, check them out!” He nodded to Chris who was dragging a furious-looking Susan onto the dance floor.
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