Lost Along the Way(62)

“Meg, aren’t you going to eat anything?” Jane asked as she returned to the platter centered on the kitchen table and grabbed a small plastic plate. “There are still plenty left.”

“Oh my God, no way. I’m too nervous to eat, and I don’t want my lipstick rubbing off on my teeth. I’m not eating or drinking anything until the cocktail hour.”

“That’s like, four hours from now!” Cara protested. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Nothing is going to ruin this day for me—especially not a smudge on my dress from a vinaigrette. Keep those sandwiches away from me!”

“Fair enough,” Jane said. “Point taken.”

“You guys really look gorgeous!” Meg said. “I’m so happy you like the dresses.” Meg stared at her friends in their matching navy-blue satin dresses and felt like her insides were going to burst. They were so happy for her. She couldn’t wait until it was their turn and she could do for them what they’d done for her. She’d make sure they’d feel exactly how she felt right now—like life was perfect.

“They’re fabulous,” Jane said. “And navy looks good on everyone. Thank you for giving us such a great color.”

“Not that it even matters,” Cara added. “No one is going to be looking at us after you walk in the room. You’re stunning. You honestly have never looked better.”

“You look like a porcelain doll. You’re so perfect I’m almost afraid to touch you,” Jane said, letting out a deep sigh.

“Thank you! Do you think Steve will like the dress?” Meg asked, even though she knew he would. Steve thought she looked beautiful in her pajamas. She had no doubts that he would love the way she looked in her gown.

“He’ll love it. It’s perfect.”

“Okay, while it’s just the three of us, I wanted to do a quick toast.”

“Without the other bridesmaids?” Cara asked.

“Yes. Just the maids of honor and the bride for this one.”

Cara and Jane held up their glasses as Meg cleared her throat. “I know you guys think I’m sentimental,” Meg said.

“Oh, you’re the worst!” Cara laughed. “You cry at long-distance phone call commercials.”

“You define ‘sap,’” Jane said with a laugh.

“Fine. I don’t care if I’m sappy. I like that about me.”

“So do we,” Jane said.

“I just want you to know how happy I am. I’m so happy that I have the two most important people in my life up until this point with me in this kitchen, and I have my entire future waiting for me in a tux a few miles away. I don’t know what I did to deserve you guys, but in case I forget to tell you later, I love you more than anything and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Okay, now you’re making me cry!” Cara said, waving her hands in front of her eyes so the makeshift wind could dry her impending tears. “You’re going to ruin my mascara!”

“I want a group hug but I’m afraid I’ll get wrinkled,” Meg said sadly.

“Screw it,” Cara said.

“Totally!” Jane added.

They flanked Meg and wrapped their arms tightly around her waist. Suddenly, Meg heard a small click and saw a quick flash.

“That’s going to be one great picture,” the photographer said as he adjusted the lens on his camera. “Gorgeous!”

Meg wondered if they ever thought about that day, or how when Cara got married, Jane didn’t stay for the whole reception, or how when Jane got married, neither Meg nor Cara was there. Meg had been first, before their rope had frayed so much that it broke. She’d been the only one who was able to have that kind of moment with them. She was sorry they’d been denied that.

“You need help?” Cara asked as she sauntered into the kitchen, snapping Meg out of her nostalgia and back to the present, where the person who stood before her wasn’t the girl in the navy-blue dress, but a woman in jeans whom she no longer really knew.

“You want to slice the bread for me? There are knives in the drawer next to the stove.” Cara removed a bread knife and began to saw the baguette, the crust splintering into shards that scattered all over the countertop. “How are you doing?” Meg asked.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like I’m sleepwalking. I don’t know how I ended up here. Here in this house, here with you guys, here with my life. I didn’t really think any of this through. Running away isn’t going to solve anything. Eventually I have to go back. Jane made such a good argument for why I should leave, and the next thing I knew, we were on the expressway.”

“That’s Jane for you. She has a way of making really rash decisions sound like fantastic ideas.”

“Like when she told me I should get bangs,” Cara laughed.

“Or date that guy you met at the Blind Melon concert! What was his name?”

“George. What a loser that guy was! I never did have good taste in guys. Neither does Jane,” Cara said sadly. “We should have looked to you for that.”

“None of this is your fault. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that, especially since I don’t even know what’s been going on, but it doesn’t matter. You didn’t do anything to deserve this. Don’t let him tell you differently.”