Replacing Four Grooms in One Day novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The 7:40

"Congratulations," I said to Austin. "Two thousand for the breach, plus the courtyard, less your thousand back. You owe me fourteen hundred and fifty dollars."

"I know," he said, and took out his phone. "I'll Venmo it. For closure."

He paid it on the pier, with the woman in the yellow raincoat watching.

I wrote PAID on the second page of his agreement.

The woman held out her hand.

She had a very bright smile and a handshake that went on one beat too long.

"I've heard so much about you," she said. "I'm so glad Austin has a friend who is gracious."

"He's very lucky," I said, and meant that, too.

Austin laughed, the laugh he apologizes for.

"We got engaged last night," he said. "On the bridge. I couldn't wait."

"You were engaged to me on Saturday morning," I said.

"To be fair," Austin said, "I was your Number Two."

The commuters from the 7:40 had not left.

They had formed a loose half circle on the pier, with their coffees.

Alana came out of the ferry office with her binder and stood at the front of it.

"Tell it," Austin said to the woman. "Please. Tell Vin the story. She'll love it."

The woman put her hand on her chest.

"It was a camp pond," she said. "He was eight, and he went under."

"I was the only one who saw," she said. "I grabbed his collar."

"Pulled him out," Austin said, with his eyes wet. "Mom says it was a miracle."

I had a sudden taste in my mouth, green and warm.

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