Stone Cold Fox (45)

“Yes, I did,” Haven said. “Oh, Chloe. It’s all right. It’s very easy to go off the rails after leaving home for the first time. All of those snacks available at all hours of the night. It could happen to anybody.”

“And the beer!” Wren added. “At least that’s what I imagine with the traditional college experience. My college wasn’t really like that, since it was so specific to fashion. Sometimes I regret not going to a Big Ten school or someplace like that. I think I would have loved it.”

“I went to Yale,” Chloe said definitively, slow-blinking in Wren’s direction. Wren took a submissive bite of her lobster quiche in response, so I thought I’d take the heat off her momentarily and really get things going. Gale was suspiciously quiet and I wanted to poke the bear. It was time. I licked my lips.

“So, I’m sure you’re all wondering why Haven is generously hosting us here today, and the reason is that, well, you’re all very special to me, and to Collin, and so I wanted to ask the four of you to be my bridesmaids for the wedding.”

“Yay!” Calliope cheered, genuinely happy at the request. “Nobody’s ever asked me to be in their wedding before.”

“I wonder why.” Chloe took the opportunity to bite back at her sister, tapping the side of her nose out of Haven’s sight.

“Bitch,” Calliope muttered under her breath, but didn’t deny the accusation.

“Of course we will, Bea,” Chloe said, nonplussed. “It’s an honor.”

“On that note, who is the maid of honor?” Haven asked me.

“I don’t want to play favorites. It’s not really necessary,” I replied. It seemed old-fashioned to denote a maid of honor, plus I wasn’t actually close with any of these women. It didn’t make any sense, but I had a feeling Haven wasn’t going to let me off so easily.

“Someone has to be your maid of honor, Bea. It’s tradition,” Haven implored.

“I’ll do it!” Wren offered, a bit too eager for everyone’s taste. I realized I wasn’t going to get out of making this decision so I went with the obvious choice.

“While I appreciate the enthusiasm, Wren, I’d like to ask Gale,” I said without a moment’s hesitation. Gale just about choked on her p?té. “Well, you are the closest to Collin. That’s very obvious,” I challenged her. “I’m sure it would mean a lot to him. And to me. You know him better than anyone, right?”

She blushed. How embarrassing.

“That’s sweet,” Calliope said, albeit skeptically. “Isn’t that sweet, Mom?”

“Very. Nora and Royce will be touched, too.”

“I cannot wait to meet your parents, Gale,” I said to her. “It will be so nice to get to know each other better through this experience.” She still hadn’t uttered a word or formally accepted my invitation.

“Marcy and I already got started on the guest lists for the shower and the wedding. We can review them together soon,” Haven said to me.

Gale’s lips parted. She was about to speak. Something had compelled her. Finally. Where was my girl?

“Are you inviting the Bradfords?” Gale asked Haven, but she was looking at me as if the question were a mysterious trump card, ready to play when the moment was ripe. This was the first I’d heard of the Bradfords, but by the way she said it, I knew it wouldn’t be the last. Haven looked deep in thought at Gale’s question. It was clearly controversial.

“Hmm, we should probably discuss that with Collin before making a decision.”

“I agree it should be run by him, but I don’t see how you could omit the Bradfords from the guest list,” Gale said to Haven. “It’s Collin’s wedding.”

“It’s not Mr. and Mrs. Bradford that she’s worried about,” Chloe said cryptically.

“Who are the Bradfords?” I asked, taking the bait.

“Friends of our families,” said Gale, accentuating the pronoun in an attempt to hurt me. “Were they on the list for the engagement party, Haven? I noticed they weren’t there.”

“Alan and Pippa were in Europe for weeks at the start of the summer so we didn’t formally invite them, but they know of the engagement. I didn’t think to include David in their absence and Collin didn’t correct me when he reviewed the list.”

“The boys definitely won’t want Dave at the wedding. The girls, however . . .” Calliope erupted into laughter and Chloe joined in. Gale remained stone-faced, laser focused on me.

“Calliope, stop that right now,” Haven chided Calliope.

“I know, I know. I’m just saying. Come on, Mom. You know I’m right.”

“It’s not the boys’ weddings, though,” Gale said. “It’s Collin’s. It won’t look good if the Bradfords aren’t invited. It won’t look good at all.”

“I suppose not,” Haven agreed.

“There’s always the possibility that Dave might not even come. He’s always traveling,” Chloe said.

“Dave always comes,” Calliope said, adding quickly, “to parties. Events. Weddings. If he’s invited, he’ll make it a point to be there.”

I was getting supremely annoyed that I wasn’t in the know about this person, but I couldn’t let on and give Gale the satisfaction. Luckily, Wren did my dirty work for me. “Who’s Dave?” she asked, then hopefully added, “And is he single?”