“You wanted them here,” Conor points out when I pace before their arrival.
“Yeah, because I was thinking about cementing the alliance shit, but what if they start trouble? Or Needy beats up Immee? Or my cousins punch me, and Lowell breaks them in half with his super-daddy-powers?”
Standing nearby, Dad smirks at my comment. Though he’s on edge about their visit, too, he does love when I claim he can kick everyone’s ass.
Lowell and I have been closer since our trip to Cedar Point, where we rode roller coasters, ate overpriced food, and made up for lost time. He even held my hair when I barfed that night in the hotel. I ended up in bed, smiling at my daddy taking care of me. We finished the evening by watching one of those “Planet of the Apes” movies on cable. Even since we returned to Elko, our relationship no longer feels awkward.
And now he gets to walk me down the aisle at my Woodlands clubhouse wedding. Topanga, Needy, and I designed the décor, going with an autumn theme. I didn’t want anything over the top. Conor isn’t a showy person, and anything too glam would turn him off.
Even lowkey, our wedding is beautiful. Lowell tells me that he loves me before walking down the aisle. Needy and Amity are my bridesmaids. Conor asks Dunning to be his best man, already thinking of a future when my brother will watch his back. Carina acts as our flower girl, and Future is the ring bearer. Bambi wanted her grandson to have that role, so I promised he could do it at my next wedding. Bambi flipped me off in response. We’ve found a good groove in our relationship.
While Rooster officiates the wedding, Bambi sits with Bronco and Barbie. The groom’s side is filled with the Executioners and their families. My side is bunnies and out-of-towners, including one from Missouri.
For weeks during preparations, Conor insisted Aja attend. Barbie said no. He claimed she would pretend to be my cousin. Barbie said no. I said Aja might move to Elko. Barbie got upset and stormed off. Then, we just pretend Aja is my cousin when she shows up for the wedding. By then, Barbie is cool with the lie, and the wedding goes off flawlessly.
“You picked a good one,” Uncle Clive tells me during our dance. “That puss in Bismarck would have given you flat-faced kids.”
That’s the closest he gets to admitting he fucked up. Much like the Barbie and Aja situation, I take what I can get.
Despite the betrayal, Needy and Immee don’t fight. I suspect they’re done with each other now. Uncle Clive will keep in touch, just in case he ever needs an ally in this part of the country. My aunt, though, doesn’t want to see me married with kids. I realize why when I’m dancing badly with Conor toward the end of the night. Her emotionless mask slips, and I notice the resentment and grief she feels. There’ll be no wedding for Immee’s baby girl. Every time she sees me, Zella’s absence hurts more. The distance between Ohio and North Dakota proves to be a godsend.
Before leaving for Missouri, Aja orders me to keep doing right by her brother. “I don’t want to high kick your head.”
“No one wants that,” I tell her, and she winks.
After the wedding craziness dies down, Conor and I focus on our future house. He’s got design ideas and even sketches while I lack any strong views on décor. I only want comfort and warm colors. Oh, and bedroom suites for my mom and Amity. Plus, a decked-out basement with a ping-pong table.
“A pinball machine, too,” I announce while Conor and I go over ideas. “And a basketball arcade game.”
He grins, not only because I remember our first date, but because I’m solely focused on the superficial crap. Room sizes, outlet locations, and plumbing is all stuff I don’t understand or care about. He can be the big brain in charge of those details.
“I want bedrooms enough for two kids,” I insist one day during dinner with Needy, Barbie, Lowell, and Topanga. “You didn’t like being an only child, and I occasionally wished for a sibling. We’ll have two, at least.”
“I never wanted more,” Barbie announces. “I was sick of dirty diapers, and that thing where babies vomit without warning. Once I had a perfect kid, that was enough.”
“I felt the same way,” Needy says and pats my knee.
The women share a knowing grin. Recently, they started a “Mom Squad” with Fairuza and Lana’s mother, Lineke, who regularly visits Elko. The four single women hang out one night a week—playing games, drinking wine, and talking shit about people. Well, that last part is just my assumption.
“What happens in Mom Squad,” Needy tells me when I ask for gossip, “stays in Mom Squad.”
I’m thrilled my mom is building a life in Elko, rather than only remaining here for me. She’s back to journaling, hates gardening with Barbie and Fairuza, but loves to go dancing both at Rooster’s and a few places in Cincinnati. She’s even learning to ride a motorcycle, and I’m planning to buy her one for her next birthday.
Conor’s relieved his mom has a new group of friends. He also encourages her relationship with a local podiatrist.
“He rides a Harley like a schmuck,” Barbie says when Topanga asks for details at Bronco’s backyard get-together. “He’s a wannabe tough guy.”
Smirking, Conor hugs his mom. “And now he has a tough hottie riding bitch on his hog.”
“It’s nothing serious.”
“That’s okay. Not everything has to be love.”
“I had my one great love. Now, I just want someone to take me out to dinner and give me sloppy oral sex.”
This comment broke the weaker men around us, but Conor denied his mother a grossed-out reaction. I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew she was about to say something to rile up her brother and Lowell. Conor is always two steps ahead of people.
That’s why, even before the wedding, he knew I needed to quit working at Bambi’s Bar & Grill. I already missed nearly a month of work when Conor and I traveled to six East Asian countries on an extended pre-honeymoon. Next year, we’ll spend time exploring Western Europe. Conor hopes to get as much traveling done before we create our first mini-him.
Despite barely working, I was reluctant to give up my job.
Conor explained, “Lowell won’t want his daughter serving locals.”
“Elko dorks don’t know who I am,” I assured him.
“Lowell’s ego can’t allow the townies to order around his princess.”
I admittedly blushed when Conor pushed that button. “Okay, then. But what do I do with my days when you’re not around?”
“Hang out with your mom, nap, play with the kids in the neighborhood to give their parents a break.”
“Nap, you say?”
And that’s my life now. Hanging out with my friends, playing with their kids, waiting for Conor, and then clinging to him when he’s done with work. That next summer, I start a soccer team for the Woodlands kids. Plus, Pixie’s teenage sister, Dove, and I often take the kids on walks to wear them out.
Over time, I find my niche in this community, and not in a kiss-ass way like I did in Minton. I’m the real me here, good and bad. And the Woodlands community knows I’ll take good care of Conor. Despite him often feeling alone, he’s loved by these people. Many have known Conor since he was kicking Barbie from the inside. He’s also the spitting image of the man they miss. And, now it’s Conor’s time to shine.