The Sinner

58

"I'll have the Chicken Alfredo, thank you."

I smile at the waiter before he gives me a nod and leaves. I look over at Maggie just as she takes a sip of her white wine from the transparent glass.

"That sounds good," She says. "Should we have that for dinner at the wedding?"

"I think if you want it, it could be one of the options," I tell her, resting my arms on the table. "Have you thought about a color scheme yet?"

"Well, since it's going to be at the end of September, it should correspond with fall," She continues, "So maybe some version of a maroon?" I nod in agreement.

"That would be pretty," I tell her. "Are you still thinking about that Vera Wang dress?"

"Yes," She says with a grin. Planning things wasn't my forte, but she seemed so happy. I couldn't not help her. "Maybe the bow that's tied around the waist line could also be maroon."

"I think that would tie everything together nicely," I tell her. "Could I have a sip of your wine?"

She raises her eyebrows, "Just a sip."

"Thanks," I smile at her. "So, tell me what else you were thinking. The venue is going to be here, maybe Chicken Alfredo as one entrée, is there anyone in your family that's gluten free or vegetarian?" I ask.

"I don't think so." I raise her glass to my lips.

I nod, "Are you thinking of a bigger wedding?"

"Considering this is my second one, I was thinking a bit smaller," She explains. "Definitely under a hundred people."

"That's fair," I tell her. I chew on my lip as I look around the golf course that surrounds us. "I've never been to a wedding before."

"You could bring Ryan if you wanted," She says. "Or we can just send her an invitation if you want, and then bring someone."

"Who would I possibly bring?" I ask, pushing my lips out. "I'm not close with anyone like that." It was awkward to admit that I didn't have many friends. I tend to hang around with a small circle of people, partly due to trust issues, but also because I rarely put myself out there. Rafe was the outgoing one.

"What about Topper? And Kelce? The Cameron's will be invited, so maybe Sarah will show up and you two can make amends," She suggests. I don't want to speak to Sarah.

"I doubt she'll want to talk to me," I say with a shrug. "She said some pretty nasty things when we got into that argument."

Maggie nods, "Whatever you want. I just don't want you standing in the corner the whole time." That was kind of her to say, to think of me.

"It's your wedding Maggie," I smile at her. "You shouldn't be thinking about me the entire time."

"I know," She says. "You're just apart of my family now as your father is, I want you to be happy too."

"I appreciate that," I say. I watch her shoulders sink as she stares at something behind me. Almost like she was shocked, her face seemed to turn into a scowl. I slowly turn around, and I feel her touch my wrist to stop me.

"Our appetizer is coming," She distracts me. "Let's clear our little plates, yeah?"

"Yeah," I agree. What did she not want me to see? 

The waiter did bring over our appetizer just a moment later. My stomach growls as I see the Arancini set down in front of the pair of us.

"Remind me to take my pills after I eat," I tell her. "I'll definitely forget." I learned the hard way that taking the meds the hospital gave me on an empty stomach was the wrong decision.