Page 89 of You Fall First

So I plaster on a phony smile, and we all wander out of the garden and into the main building of the venue. Across from the grand ballroom is a smaller reception hall where tonight’s rehearsal dinner is being hosted.

Tomorrow, the larger ballroom will be filled with elaborate floral centerpieces, sparkling crystal, and gleaming silver. Fairy lights will hang from rows of fake plastic trees along the wall. Tonight, though, only a few tables are set in the smaller hall. And instead of a buffet, this dinner is plated. A gilded dish.

Fantastic.

“There’s no seating chart tonight,” Brock announces, while everyone’s milling around getting drinks.

“Informal vibes only.” Landry shrugs. “My brain couldn’t handle even one more detail.”

“Everything is just perfect, dear,” my mom sniffles. “Everything will continue to be perfect. Such a wonderful day. So much happiness.” A fresh wave of tears clogs her ducts, and she pulls a tissue from her sleeve.

While she dabs at her eyes and nose, Tim approaches Kendal and me. “Gotta tap out to use the restroom.” He hands TJ over to Kendal. The bigger kids are hiding under a table in the corner. Six feet stick out from under an almost floor-length cloth, wiggling back and forth.

Adorable.

“I’m gonna go make up a bottle for TJ before dinner,” Kendal says. “Tim’s been doing everything else today. Least I can do.”

“Good wife,” I say. As she leaves to grab her bag of supplies, the scent of smoky pine and leather wafts up from behind me. I spin around to find Noah standing there.

“That was my first wedding rehearsal,” he says, as a wave of hair falls over his forehead. “You did great.”

“Thank you, kind sir.”

“And your dad is hilarious.”

“Please don’t encourage the man.” I scrunch my nose. “His jokes are the worst.”

“Possibly.” Noah’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “But a little laughing’s always good, right? Especially when people are nervous or emotional. Laughter breaks the ice, I think.”

“But the whittling, though.”

“Better than the farts.”

I snort. “True story.”

“And the laughing is good.” Noah glances at my dad, who’s across the room pulling a chair out for my mom. “Paige got the giggles at the memorial service for my parents. The harder she tried to stop, the funnier things got. By the end, everyone was snort-laughing and wiping away tears. It was messy, but we all felt better afterward. Like a release we all needed.”

“No, I get it,” I say. But I increase my grip on my clutch.

Noah and I have never really discussed our pasts in terms of loss. I’m aware that his mom and dad are gone, obviously. That’s why he feels so responsible for Paige and Dutton.

Beyond that, though, I’ve got few details.

As for my family’s loss, I’ve told Noah nothing. Maybe Dex has. But I’ve always felt weird for not remembering much about that time, even though I was only six. Still, I sometimes worry there’s something wrong with me, so I never bring it up with anyone.

Which maybe makes me even more strange.

“Did you see the kids over there?” I nod toward the feet under the table in the corner.

Smooth change of subject, Jo.

“Dutton’s having a blast.” Noah pushes his hair out of his eyes. “In fact, I want to thank Brock and Landry again for inviting us.”

I glance around the room. “Where did they disappear to?”

“No idea, but they can’t be too far.”

As Noah heads off in search of the happy couple, Dex appears at my shoulder, nudging me. “Greetings, little sister.”