Youre not answering my question, Susan said. Since when are you psychic?
I know youve got Travels with Marlee linked to your home page. You read the new post, didnt you?
Whats this about losing your license? How does a grown woman lose her license?
Its
not my fault, Marlee protested. Some people are born without a sense of direction. Thereve been studies.
Youre a study all right. The big question is, how are you going to get to my wedding? Dont think Im going to go through this without you. Besides, theres a groomsman I want you to meet.
Susan! Marlee rolled her eyes. Though Susan fancied herself a matchmaker, the truth was, her fixups always ended up broken. Im coming to be with you at your wedding, not to meet a man.
But this one would be perfect for you.
Right. Like that accordion playerwhat was his name, Terry?
Larry. And I thought youd appreciate his quirkiness.
He was a horrible accordion player. And his idea of a hot date was a visit to the Air and Space Museum, to look at every single exhibit.
So I was a little off with that one. This guy I know youll like. But first you have to get here to meet him. Without a drivers license, how are you going to do that? I know you wont fly.
Marlee shuddered. Looking at all those planes at the museum had been bad enoughno way was she getting on one. Maybe I could take a bus. She glanced over at the computer on her credenza. A chorus line of chimpanzees tap-danced their way across the monitor screen. Could she look up bus schedules online?
Ick. It would take a week. Youd be a wreck by the time you got here. I dont want my maid of honor looking like she slept sitting up for a week.
Marlee sighed. She didnt particularly want to try sleeping sitting up. Now that she was on the downhill slide toward thirty, even a couple of nights of less than blissful slumber made fine lines and dark circles appear out of nowhere. What about the train?
Hello? Have you ever checked an Amtrak schedule? To get from D.C. to San Diego you have to change trains umpteen times and it takes like four days. It would be as bad as the bus. And way more expensive.
I guess I could try to catch a ride with someone else. Any other guests driving from D.C. to San Diego for the wedding? Susan and Bryan had met in the capital city, so it stood to reason other wedding guests were from here. Though most of them were probably flying. Let them trust their lives to a heavy metal tube floating on air. Shed stay firmly on the ground, thank you very much.
Thats a brilliant idea! Susan sounded thrilled.
It is? As ideas went, it didnt sound particularly spectacular to Marlee. She spent every day designing wildly creative ads for non-profits. Using rappers to promote the Reading Is Fundamental programnow that was a brilliant idea, but this?
Craig Brinkman is driving from D.C. You can ride with him.
Uh-huh. Who is Craig Brinkman? She picked up a pencil and wrote a note for herself to call the metro library about a photo shoot.
Hes Bryans old college roommate. The best man, as a matter of fact. Its the perfect solution.
This isnt the guy youre trying to fix me up with, is it? Because I really dont want to be fixed up right now. Or ever, if Susan was doing the fixing. She was a great friend, but she didnt have a clue what Marlee really wanted in a man. But then, Marlee wasnt too sure on that score either.
Craig? Susans laugh came out more like a snort. Absolutely not. Craig Brinkman is definitely not your type.
Why do you say that? If hes so awful, why are you suggesting I travel all the way across the country with him?
Hes not awful. In fact, hes a really nice guy. But hes sort of uptight. A real overachiever.
Marlee looked around her closet office. And Im an underachiever. Ouch.
Youre just not as ambitious as Craig. I mean, this is the man with a planfor everything.
She made a face. Craig Brinkman definitely didnt sound like her type of guy. And not someone she wanted to spend a week in close quarters with. With her laid-back approach to life, shed have him driving off a cliff inside of two days. Three, tops. I dont know, Suz. Drive cross-country with a man Ive never even met? It seems kind of weird.
Craigs a nice guy, really. One thing about being anal, he wont get lost. And hes one of Bryans oldest friends. You like Bryan, dont you?
As if Id be clueless enough to tell you if I didnt like the man youre going to marry. But thankfully, she didnt have to fake liking Bryan Fredericks. He was a genuinely good guy. Chances were this friend of his was a good guy too. Still
Craig will probably appreciate the company, Susan continued. And you can split expenses. Ill have Bryan call him and set it all up.
Marlee chewed her lower lip. If she was going to make Susans wedding, it was either gut it up to get on a plane, or accept a ride with mysterious Craig. Okay. And
thanks. I dreaded the thought of having to miss your wedding.
No way are you going to miss this. How many other best friends do you think I have? Its too late to order another dressor to find another gal pal.