ALEX

COLD

"How did you manage to get a dress," Andrew grins as he looks me up and down from head to toe.

If I admitted to Edith investing her time to find me a decent dress for this wedding then he'd look at me like a maniac. Andrew knows that we're not the best of friends, but he doesn't know that we've become close within the past days. I am living with the woman for the time being.

I insisted on showing Elliot the dress tomorrow before her pre-wedding dinner with the family but no, she couldn't wait till then. So, here I was in the middle of the room as everyone scurried around to get some last minute decorations done before the big day.

"Doesn't she look gorgeous," Edith winks as she pats me on the back.

A gasp runs through my lips as I look at her in shock. She didn't have to knock the air out of me in order to set her point across. I'm glad that everyone else seems to think that I look good.

Kit who stands not so far from us looks over his shoulders. I think that he also agrees with Edith as his eyes kiss every inch of my teal dress. Yup, it's official. I am going to be part of this wedding and not by choice. But why would I turn down my brother on his wedding? If he wants me to walk down the aisle also as a bride's maid then that is what I am going to do.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," I mumble as I bow my head to the ground to avoid any eye contact.

"Please don't make that small head of hers any bigger, or else no one will be able to see me on my wedding day," Elliot snickers underneath her breath as she yanks Andrew to her side.

Andrew laughs to her comment and kisses her passionately.

My eyes look elsewhere as I find Kit still there staring as Molly comes strolling in the background with his daughter. "Oh God, bring on the drama," Edith mumbles as she walks away from me quickly. The room becomes silent as if a gust of cold air had swallowed the atmosphere. Am I the only one missing something here?

"Hey Molly," Andrew clears his throat as he passes her by.

The aura between them is almost hostile as they only stare at each other for a second. Elliot on the other hand just turns her back and walks out of her own venue. I look over my shoulders to find Edith already down the hall preoccupied by other means, ribbons. She's swirling ribbons here and there between some teal and cream colored wedding balloons.

"Daddy."

Claire runs to her father where she dives her nose to his leg. She's grown a lot. She's beautiful.

Molly who sees me but a few feet away looks at me and rolls her eyes. She hands Kit a green canvas bag and heads her way to Edith. Kit grabs Claire in his arms and overwhelms her with kisses. She must be at least three years old now. "I love you daddy," she caresses his beard with her tiny fingers.

"I love you too," he answers as he walks out of the room with her.

There is something that I am most definitely missing here as I head back to the vacant room where I once was before, in order to change out of my dress. I've got a lot of catching up to do in so little time, I have no plans of staying here. I just want to show Andrew that I am not a terrible sister like everyone has me out to be, I want him to see that I care despite the chaos I've welcomed in my life. My problems are not his. I want my brother to be happy knowing that I am always going to be there when he needs me.

A few minutes later I step out of the room only to hear my name being called. I turn around to find Chris standing there with a ghost of a look on his face. What is he doing here? From the time that I've showed up never have I seen or heard anything about him.

"Yup," I muster up the courage to breathe as I watching him approach me slowly.

Oddly enough I am not afraid nor nervous to see him.

Chris looks really good. He's cleaned off his beard and trimmed his hair. He's still the same handsome guy that I met at the grocery store, he is still charming as ever as he rushes to me with his arms open wide.

"Barbara," he groans deeply as he picks me off the ground and holds me tightly. But instead of feeling comforted in his arms I find my flesh fighting back to keep him at a distance. Don't get me wrong, it is nice to see him again but I just need some time to take all of this in.

"I'm sorry," he whispers as he kisses my forehead.

I am just here allowing this man to smother me as I listen to his broken voice. His touch is unsteady, his breathing rushed but there he is staring into my eyes with tears in his eyes.

"I am sorry that I've let you down, I am sorry," he mumbles. Now he's got snot running down his nose as he breaks down falling to his knees.

I don't know how to comfort him as I just stand there.

Chris...

"Chris you've made it," Andrew breaks up the awkward moment as he helps Chris back up to his feet. Andrew pats him on the back and gives him a hug. I think that Andrew could also sense Chris's pain.

"We've got a lot of things to do before the big day, how about we get some things done," Andrew points out as he walks Chris away from me.

I stare as they disappear down the hall.

It is so unlike me not to comfort him but during that point I didn't know what to do.

It's almost as if I had gone completely cold towards him.