of this family. You are not the person who will have to deal with the fallout of what you’re advising. Stop being so selfish and immature and do what your father should be doing and walk your sister down the aisle.”
I stand up now. Sick of her browbeating insults and her disdain.
“Or what? You don’t have basketball to use as your stick anymore. You got rid of Kal, so what do you have to hold over me now?”
Her hand flies to her chest and her face is a picture of indignation. But I know my mother and indignant isn’t an emotion in her tank. She’s pissed and can’t believe I would dare speak to her like that.
“Yes, I wanted her to know that she’d never be one of us. But how am I responsible for your little tart’s disappearing act?”
“Um, well let’s see. How about blackmail and extortion?”
“Remi!” Regan gasps loudly. I take in her shocked expression and immediately decide to stand down.
“I’m sorry. It’s your wedding day.”
“Yes, you can chase your conspiracy theories another day. And one day, you’ll thank me. She wasn’t suitable, and she’s the reason you became obsessed with civil rights. And now instead of working for your family’s corporation, you’re about to become a low-level civil servant. Joni being your partner is the only reason you still have any clout in Houston. If you marry her, you can go off on your legal journey gallivanting and still have the social status to do the Wilde name credit. I won’t apologize for what I did.”
I stand up then, even though I don’t move from my sister’s side.
“Of course not. That would require you to actually care about how I feel.”
She sneers and steps toward me. “The girl you love is marrying someone else because she didn’t love you enough to come after you, Remi. She chose that. I didn’t do that. You can’t blame me for all of your troubles—”
“Please stop,” Regan stands up and shouts. “Please don’t fight. Don’t say such ugly things to each other. Please. Not today.” She looks between us and her eyes are full of a begging plea.
The fight in me dissipates. It’s not about me today. My grandfather asked me to walk Regan down the aisle and I’ve seen it as a solemn and sacred responsibility.
“I’m sorry, Reg. You’re right. But you have to decide because it’s not fair to keep him waiting. Do you want to go or should we walk down that aisle?”
She looks down at her hand and twists the large solitary-stone engagement ring around on her finger. Her fiancé Marcel is twenty years her senior. He’s the owner of the multinational media company that owns the television station Regan works for. And he got her pregnant. When she told me I hadn’t taken it well.
“I want to do it.” Regan’s quiet statement jolts me back to the present.
“Of course you do. You’re not a fool.” My mother casts her eyes on me so that it’s clear what she was leaving unsaid.
“Come on. I’ll let them know you had a snafu with your dress and are on your way out.”
“Oh, and Remi… you should use the ring I gave you soon.”
“Oh, Mother. I’ve decided I’d rather pluck my eyes out with hot pokers than marry Joni. So, I’ll be giving it back to you. Maybe give it to Tyson. He’ll need it before I ever do.”
“You are such a disappointment.” She casts those words over her shoulder as she walks out and I look at Regan in shock.
“Remi. It’s okay.” My sister tucks her arms through mine and pats my hand reassuringly. “We’ll get through this together. Like we have everything else. I’m just glad you’re here and able to give me away.”
“I am, too. Come on. Let’s go get married.”
Chapter 20
TRY
KAL
* * *
I don’t know why I came. I didn’t decide until an hour ago. When I got back from CASA, I told Paul I was sick. He believed me. For once, he relented and would have let me stay where I was if I’d insisted.
But, the truth is, I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing Remi again. I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation at CASA, and the way he’d looked when I said I was pregnant. The way it felt to hear he didn’t get my letters. There is so much unsaid between us. So many moments deferred by life.
I have managed to convince myself that everything is as it should be. We’re