Page 58 of Fathers of the Bride

“The psychology of nonverbal language,” Martha supplied. “I studied the deeper meaning of what’s not said.”

“Kelly is very good at articulating what she wants,” I said. And that was true, most of the time. It was also true that Kelly had hidden her desire for a big wedding so that we wouldn’t have to pay for it. Which was, of course, exactly what Martha was suggesting.

“Oh no!” Raj said. “Those pictures I posted of Pudge, Lissa and me. They’re getting all sorts of angry emojis and I’ve lost five thousand followers. We have to do something!”

21

Miles Kettering-Lane

“There you are!”Bradley yelled. “Did you have trouble getting in? I am so sorry about the protestors. We had no idea that was going to happen.” He went on, “I mean, if we’d had any idea, even an inkling, we’d have hired our own security force to run them off.” Then he silently mouthed the word, “Blackwater.”

“They’re not hurting anyone.”

“Not hurting anyone? That’s ridiculous.I’mdeeply wounded. Why do wealthy people’s feelings never count?”

“The thing is, Bradley, if you want to get on Kelly’s good side, you’ll make sure all the protestors are fed any leftovers.”

“Kelly’s good side? Please, she’s the sweetest child. She loves me.” Then he added, “Besides, there won’t be any leftovers.”

“Come on, I used to be a caterer. There are always leftovers.”

“All right. I guess I said that wrong. Any leftovers are mine. We’re paying for them, after all.”

“Another option would be feeding the homeless if the protestors really—”

“What did you do to her to make her like this?”

“Nothing. I mean—wait a minute. Kelly is a kind, generous, thoughtful person who’s concerne—”

“And why exactly do you think those are virtues?”

“Because… they are?”

“It’s not that I’m against being charitable. Pudge and I are the most charitable people we know. It’s just that you can’t let certain kinds of people get out of hand. And feeding protestors, or for that matter the homeless, comes under that umbrella. You do see that, don’t you?”

That was the kind of question best left unanswered, so I smiled at him and said, “I really must find my daughter.”

“They’ll be making their entrance any minute.”

I was too afraid to ask what that meant.

Walking back down the pier, I passed a sort of donut cart. They looked to be free, so I almost stopped. I was starving, after all. But it was more important to find Kelly. Plus, I could always double back later.

In front of the carousel, I saw an elderly woman wearing a mint green dress from the sixties and a pillbox hat, while using a cane to propel herself along six inches at a time. I was tempted to rush right by her but felt like I should at least ask if she was all right.

“Hello, do you need some help?”

“If you touch me, I’ll scream rape.”

“You must be on the groom’s side.”

“I’m Pudge’s aunt. Well, aunt by marriage. Or rather, I was… now I’m aunt by divorce or… Well, I suppose I’m no relation at all. But somehow, I’m still Aunt Peggy. And I got invited.” Rather than asking who I was, she wanted to know, “Do you know where the bar is? I need a drink.”

“I don’t, I just got here.”

“Idiot.”

I stood there and waited until she’d managed to get a good two feet away from me. Then I turned and went back to fighting my way through the crowd of complete strangers. It wasn’t until just that moment that I realized no one had asked formylist. No one had asked who I might like to invite to the party. Lucas was there, so someone on our side had been asked for an invite list. Had Kelly done it? Or had it been left to Andy? Should I be angry about not being asked? I did have friends. Well, I did until Andy and I broke up. They seemed to disappear after we separated.