Tales From a Broad by LLC Melange Books Read Free Book Online Page B

we’ll get used to the timed
showers,” I continued, forcing a chuckle. “I probably could have
bucked up for the extra shower token. As you know, it is my wedding
day.” I pressed my lips together and gave Tess a half-smile,
mid-babble. “We would’ve been blowing a load at the salon anyway,
right?”
    “Oh, Aunt Lu.” She looked at me with
sympathetic eyes as she reached across the table and squeezed my
hand.
    “Sorry.” I cringed.
    “Sorry? Are you kidding me?” Tess held my
gaze as she slipped an elastic hair band from her wrist and twisted
her honey-colored hair into a knot on top of her head. “I didn’t
want to bring it up, but I didn’t want to not bring it up either.”
With creases of worry deepening on her forehead, she sunk back into
the booth and cradled her coffee cup, resembling a therapist
waiting for her patient to speak.
    I nodded and poured some sugar in my coffee,
stirring it. A lump rose in my throat and made me avoid looking her
in the eye. When I drew in a breath, I could actually taste the
sweet smell of syrup that wafted throughout the diner. I continued
to stir.
    “Do you want to talk?” she asked.
    I whisked the coffee fast and furiously,
making it splatter on the table. “Oh, shoot.” A few of the hot
drops soaked through my shirt to my skin. “This was my good tank.”
I blotted at my shirt with a wet napkin.
    Tess grabbed a napkin and wiped up my mess
while I sat staring into my coffee cup. She reached across the
table and placed a gentle hand on my arm. Tears instantly clouded
my vision, and even though I tried not to blink, they spilled over
on their own.
    “I’m sorry, I just feel so ... so ... empty,”
I admitted, surprised by how hard it was to get the words out.
    “That’s normal, Aunt Lu. Today was supposed
to be a big day for you.”
    “I just want it to be over,” I sighed,
pressing my fingers under my eyes. “This day has been hovering over
my head like a black cloud.”
    “Actually, that’s pretty ironic. I talked to
my mom this morning and, if it makes you feel any better, New
York’s having the storm of the century. There are power outages all
over the city.”
    “So, I’ve heard,” I replied dryly. Morgan had
already left me several voicemails and text messages. “But isn’t
rain on your wedding day supposed to bring you luck?”
    “Oh come on. That’s total bull. Someone must
have fed that line of crap to a lunatic bride when it rained on her
wedding day. What else were they supposed to say?”
    “Good point.”
    “No, really. How can a torrential downpour
bring you luck? Your hair would’ve been a disaster and the
reception would’ve sucked.”
    “I’d have taken that bet.” I leaned my elbows
on the table and rested my head in my hands.
    The waitress appeared with a massive platter
of Dutch pancakes, causing me to sit up and collect myself.
    “Eet smakelijk,” the waitress said
with a smile before she disappeared.
    Tess looked at me quizzically.
    I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. “I
have no idea. She could’ve just said ‘eat shit’ for all I care.” I
unfolded the napkin and placed it in my lap.
    “Oh. My. God. These pancakes look amazing.”
Tess drooled. “Cheese, bacon, brown sugar...”
    “Pretty lethal. Well, it’s not like I have a
Vera Wang tank dress to squeeze into.” I forced a smile as I helped
myself to a pancake.
    “Now that’s a plus,” Tess said, her mouth
already full. “Because, let me tell you, these are to die for.”
    I took a big bite and closed my eyes as the
flavors melted in my mouth. “Yum. You know what?” I paused to
swallow. “Let’s talk about something else. We need to enjoy this
breakfast.”
    “Yeah, but...” Tess paused and rocked her
head from side to side, “I feel like it might be good for you
to...”
    “Indulge me. Please.” I leaned on the table
and gave Tess a closed-mouth smile. “Plus, I’m dying to know. Have
you talked to Mark?”
    “Yeah, he called this