“Drew, why didn’t you wake me?” Shoshana asked as she looked at her bedside clock. It was 9:45 a.m. and she had to be ready in 15 minutes.
“I figured you’d want to sleep as long as you could before the alarm,” Drew said.
“My alarm! Did it even go off? I didn’t hear anything.”
“I kept hitting snooze; you like to sleep late on Saturdays.”
She glared at her fiancé. “Yes, normally! But not when I have to be with your family all day!”
“It’s just the girls,” Drew said.
“Please, your sisters-in-law are not like normal ‘girls;’ it’s like a beauty pageant slash couture fashion show,” Shoshana said as she sprung up from bed.
She sped walked into the bathroom and began brushing her teeth with fervor.
“I guess you’d better get your crown ready,” Drew said and winked at her.
“I don’t even think I have enough time to shower!” Shoshana protested between mouthfuls of toothpaste foam.
“Why do you have to shower?”
Shoshana spit into the sink. “Are you serious?” She marched out of the bathroom and looked at him incredulously.
“Yeah, your hair looks fine, you don’t seem dirty,” Drew said with a shrug.
“Drew! Your sisters-in-law have perfect hair.”
“Stop, you’re making yourself crazy.” Drew walked into the bathroom to shave.
“Forget it, there’s no time to shower,” Shoshana yelled after him.
“Sounds good,” Drew said barely listening.
Shoshana rummaged through her closet. She threw on a black cotton dress and black flip-flops. She figured black was a chic-enough color and it would hide any sweat marks. It was August in Washington, D.C., which meant, it was hot.
“I’ll wear black and then I’ll fit in—”
“Why do they bother you so much?” Drew asked as Shoshana emerged from the closet.
Shoshana stopped and looked at him. “It’s not that they bother me.”
“What is it then?”
“I can’t really describe it.”
“They’re nice, they mean well, I really don’t get it,” Drew said as he buttoned his shirt.
“You wouldn’t get it, you’re a guy. They’re gorgeous and they’re well-dressed, always. And by the way—I’ve never seen them without makeup. They’re not human.”
“Sometimes you act like you’re not human,” Drew said, shaking his head and laughing. “Try to relax, everything will be fine.”
“Thanks for those uplifting words,” Shoshana said sarcastically as she started to apply mascara.
Drew grabbed his keys off the entrance hall table. She knew that it was his signal that the conversation was over.
He came back into the room and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “They’re only in town because of the engagement party, you usually get to avoid them.”
“Zoey still lives nearby . . .”
“Well, then you usually get to avoid two of the three.” Drew headed toward the door; Shoshana followed him.
“I like them; I just don’t feel like myself around them. I feel quiet and awkward.”
“Maybe that’s not because of them, maybe that’s a larger issue you have to tackle within yourself.”
She shook her head and smiled, it was such a classic Drew comment. ‘Maybe you’re projecting,’ ‘Maybe the larger issue is . . .’
“Let’s talk about it later.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked out the door.
She knew he wouldn’t bring it up later, but she was okay with that. One of things she loved about Drew was his ability to move on. He didn’t harp on issues or create drama. He was calm and sensible.
Shoshana waited for the door to close behind him.
“Ugh.” She walked back into the bedroom and stared into the full-length mirror that hung on the back of her closet door. “The Walsh girls.”
