───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"Hello?" I mumble, my voice sounding hoarse from the sleep I was just awoken from. It was currently eight in the morning and I was not exactly thrilled at being woken up so early on a Saturday.

"Avery?" My whole-body freezes as I shoot up in bed. I clear my throat and reach for the water bottle on my bedside table, "It's me, Noah. Did I wake you up?"
I half wanted to say no but then I decided my voice probably gave it away anyway. "Yeah, oh well though, what's up?"

"It's Mhamó,"
"NO!" Please no.
"Whoa, nothing like that!" He said quickly causing me to exhale in relief. Oh my goodness me...

"What happened?"
"Well she kind of fell down the stairs,"
"The day before the wedding? Wow talk about timing."
"That's what I thought. Anyway, she kind of injured her hip bone,"
"Is it fractured? Broken? Does she need surgery? Oh my God this woman!"

"No, no. Nothing like that, not that severe to be specific. It's not fractured, but she can't walk,"

"She can't walk or she's not allowed to walk?"
"Well, both actually. It probably hurts like hell but she technically can walk, the doctor just said if she walks she'll probably lengthen her recovery just to get her off her feet,"
"Smart doctor,"
"That's what I said. So anyway, she told me to call you and ask if you could come down to the hospital, she wants to see you. Well actually I'm pretty sure she just wants your baked goods, so make sure you don't come empty handed or so help you God."

"Right, good point. Not looking for a death wish or anything. Hopefully there's still some cookies left from the last batch I made." There probably isn't. My siblings are cows.

"Great! Bring extras. You know, for me."
"No, fall down a set of stairs and only then will you get cookies."
He sighs dramatically; "If I must."
I laugh, "Idiot. Okay I'll be there by...I don't know, eleven?"
"Perfect, see you!"

I hang up and throw my phone across the bed. Ugh what a way to start the morning.

Making a beeline for the bathroom, I open the curtains and take a peak outside, grinning at the backyard covered in autumn leaves. If there's one thing I love about Gardenia, it's Autumn. Okay that's probably not true, I just love Autumn.

I quickly got dressed in a pair of leggings and a cropped blue sweatshirt before heading downstairs to get started on these cookies.

"Morning dad," I said, kissing his cheek. He smiled up at me before taking a sip of his coffee and looking back at his newspaper. I quietly walked into the kitchen to find my mum frowning at the toaster.

"Uh? You okay mum?"
"No. My toast is burnt. I go give your dad a cup of coffee and the toast burns. I go to the bathroom AND attempt to wake your sister up, and the bread does not burn. We need a new toaster."
"No I think you just don't know how a toaster works. Anyway, I'm going to bake Mhamó some cookies, do you want to help?"
"Course I do, but at eight o'clock?"
"Oh right, she fell down the stairs sometime today, I'm going down to the hospital to see her,"

"Oh my God, is she okay?"
"Well, would you be okay if you fell down the stairs?"
"Probably not, okay how is she?"
"She didn't break anything, but she's not in a position to walk,"
"Right before the wedding,"
"Basically."
"That woman,"
"Basically,"
"So what are we making?"
"Gingerbread crinkle cookies,"
"Okay...what are those?"
I laugh and start emptying out the cupboards.

"Just gingerbread cookies, with like cracks in them."
"Crack?? LIKE DRUGS?"
"Please stop trying to be funny."

"Okay then, lead the way Moody Margaret,"
...

Forty minutes later the kitchen is smelling like pre-Christmas and Myla is drooling at the tray of cookies on the kitchen island.

"Touch one and you'll have both Mhamó and Noah coming after you,"
"I'll risk it." She says reaching for one, I slap her hand away and glare at her.

"Well unlike you I am not looking for a death wish, now be helpful and help tidy this mess up, I need to leave in a bit."

"Oh alright. So, about Mhamó...doesn't it seem a bit, I don't know, odd that she fell down the stairs right before Aiden's wedding; the one she doesn't approve of?"
"It's Mhamó, Myles. Everything she does is just about odd."

"Okay true. But this is odder."
"I don't agree, I don't think she did it on purpose. No one just throws themselves down the stairs on purpose. It's not that deep."

"If it was any other person in this world I would agree and end the argument there, but this is MHAMO. So I will not. Okay maybe she didn't throw herself down the stairs, but no doubt she put herself in a position to fall,"

"In that case I put myself in a position of falling down the stairs everyday by simply going down the stairs." I scoff, rolling my eyes at the imbecilic person I call my sister.

"Oh...okay all I'm saying is that it seems too much to be a coincidence."
"The only reason I disagree is because if Mhamó was trying to look for a reason to get out of attending this wedding she wouldn't jeopardise her ability to do things on her own. Now she's stuck in a wheelchair and that's probably her worst nightmare."
"Twenty-four years of my living and I still haven't learnt not to argue you with you." Myla grumbled causing me to laugh.

"Well anyway, I better take these to the hospital before Theo and Blair show up."
"What about us?"
"Oh no, Myla this is all your fault." I grumble staring at the blonde female walking into the kitchen.

"Hello familyyy!" Theo says as he saunters into the kitchen, kissing both me and Myla on the cheek before freezing in front of the cookie rack on the counter, "And he-llo cinnamon cookies,"
"They're gingerbread FYI and get your hands OFF!" I say slapping his hand away.

"What? Why?"
"They're not for you." I shrug as I began placing the cookies into a container. His eyes following my every move.

"Aww are they for me? Avery, this is why you're my favourite Maxwell," Blair said, engulfing me in her arms.
"Aw jeez B, thanks! But they're not for you either," I hugged her back.
"Ew okay I lied, Myla is my favourite, you're just a rude goat," She huffed, walking to one of the high swivel chairs and giving me a glare. I winked at her causing her to spin the chair around so that she's facing the other direction.

"The cookies are for Mhamó, she's in the hospital," Myla explained in my behalf, I nodded causing Theo to freeze and Blair to swivel back around quickly, almost falling off in the process.
"WHAT!"
"She's okay! She just injured her hip falling down the stairs,"
"How did she manage to do that?"
"Not sure, she probably missed a step or something," I replied, picking up the container, "Anyway, I'll see you three later, let me go deliver these before hell breaks loose. Also, I'm taking the car so if you're planning on going anywhere Miles, walk. Kay, bye!"
I quickly legged it out of the house and drove down to the hospital Mhamó was admitted in. Quickly checking the message Noah had sent me, I headed towards room twenty – two B.

"Acushlaa!! Just the person I was waiting for. Those better be for me." Mhamó said, eyeing the blue transparent container in my hand. I rolled my eyes before walking over to her bedside and handing it to her.

"Of course, who else would wake me up at eight in the morning to bake cookies,"
"Pardon me dear but that is the least you can do for a disabled woman,"
"You are not disabled," I rolled my eyes once again, this woman and her ability to exaggerate things.

"Okay fine temporarily disabled."

"Luckily it's not too bad,"
"I can't walk dear, this is as bad as it could possibly get,"
"I could think of a hundred possible ways it could have been worse,"

She frowned, "Okay stop talking and give me a cookie."
I laughed and handed her the container, her eyes lit up as she quickly scanned the tin for the biggest one. An old habit of hers. Greedy woman.

Once she had devoured almost half the batch, I took the container – more like hauled the container – from her and placed it like ten metres away from the bed. I wasn't about to take any chances with her.

"So, Avery, are you going to the wedding tomorrow?"
"Of course not."
She rolls her eyes; "Just go, it'll be fun,"
"Uh no. That's not happening. Nothing sounds more unfun than watching my ex and my I don't know, nemesis? Get married."

"GREAT! You can keep me company then, oh how lucky you are,"
"Speaking of luck, how did you fall down those stairs?"
"I missed a step." She said without missing a beat. Either she was telling the truth, or she practised her excuse repeatedly in her head.

"Very coincidental that it happened right before the wedding, don't you think."
"Oh don't be silly, Acushla. You know I don't believe in coincidences, this seems more like fate to me."

"Mhamó!"
"What?"
"Aiden is your grandson. You have to attend his wedding,"
"No I do not. I don't approve of it. I'm not going to watch my grandson practically ruin his life,"

"Mhamó stop that, that's rude. Aiden has the right to marry whomever he pleases and you as his grandmother should respect his decisions."
"Do not lecture me darling, I know that. All I said was that I didn't approve and therefore I will not go. I did not say that I want the wedding to be called off. I do but I didn't say it."
For some reason I laughed. It was a serious matter that was affecting the McGregor family and I am horrible, horrible person; but it was funny, and I could relate.

"You should still go though. What if in a few years' time Brooke grows on you and you regret not attending their wedding? What if their children ask you stories about the two and you don't have any to share because you didn't approve."
"What did I just say Avery. Don't lecture me. My decision is final, I am not going. Instead we are going to go home and have some me and you time while the whole town is at the church tomorrow." She gives me her 'do not question me' look before scooting lower in bed, she sighs, "Sorry dear, I'm just a bit exhausted that's all. I think I'm going to take a nap before Noah comes to pick me up later. Do you mind?"
"Of course not! I'll hang around for a bit just because I don't trust you to pass over the cookies to Noah,"

"Humph," She pouts before I tuck her into the hospital bed, kissing her forehead before walking out of the room in search of something to do while I waited for Noah, who was supposed to be here in like twenty minutes so I don't really know why Mhamó went to sleep.

I took a lap around the entire hospital wing before concluding that hospitals are boring and that there is literally nothing to do, so I headed back to Mhamó's room.

When I got back the woman had already knocked out and I had literally been gone for only a couple of minutes. I quietly sat down on the beige love-seat outside her room and took out my phone and opening my chat with Blair.

Me: Hey

Blair: How's Grace?

Me: She's alright. Kind of cranky though. She's asleep right now.

Blair: Thank the Gods

Me: I know right. Anyway, have you decided what you're wearing tomorrow

Blair: Lol nope. I don't exactly have a lot of clothes that fit atm

Me: Ah shit...you'll find something

Blair: Well Theo's brought me to the mall, but I can't find anything

Me: There must be something that could fit

Blair: Honey, it's not about me fitting. It's about me looking good. I look like a whale.

Me: You do not. You're not that big

Blair: Even Theo agrees with me

Me: Theo's an idiot so Idk why you're listening to him

Blair: Lol true. Anyway, how long are you gonna be at the hospital

Me: Just waiting for Noah to come pick Mhamó up, he'll be here in a bit

Blair: Uh no he won't

Me: What

Blair: He's at the mall. I just saw him. He's looking for shoes apparently

Me: I'll kill him. The mall is practically half an hour away!!

Blair: Make that an hour, there was a lot of traffic on the motorway

Me: Wonderful. Okay let me call him

Blair: Kay, text me when you leave x

Me: Will do x

I'm actually going to hit him.

He's going to take forever getting here because for some God forsaken reason Gardenia doesn't have a mall, we have to drive to the next town over.

I dialled his number and waited rather impatiently for him to pick up; he picked up on the fifth ring.

"Hello?"
"Noahhh, what are you doing in freaking Evermore!"

"Well apparently the shoes that I own are disgraceful to the eyes and so I had to buy a new, less disgraceful pair."

"Well how long do you think you'll be?"
"Uhm another hour I guess? Why what's up?"
"You were kind of supposed to pick Mhamó up five minutes ago,"
"Oh shit. I completely forgot! Okay don't worry, I'll fix this."
"Fix it? It's not that deep, I'll just drop her,"
"Avery, how are you going to fit a wheelchair in your car,"
"That is a valid point."
"Just give me ten minutes,"
"Wait no it's ok- "He hung up. I tried to call him back, but his line was busy, so I gave up and got comfy on the seat.

Five minutes later I was debating on whether I should also fall asleep or not when the door opened and in strolled Aiden, the devil himself. I quickly sat up straight, rooted to the chair. My pulse quickened, and I sucked in a shaky breath. Wonderful.

"Avery?"
"Uh, hey Aiden."
"What are you doing here?"
"Came to check up on her,"

"Ooh cookies," He said, reaching for one.

I bit my lip to prevent me from slapping it away. He could have a cookie. It was alright. It's just A cookie.

The fool took two. I clenched my fists.

"Sooo," He said before stopping and looking at Mhamó. You could practically hear the awkwardness in the room.

"Are you ready for the big day?"
"Nervous, but yeah, kind of. You're going to be there, right?"

"Wasn't sure I was invited,"
"I invited you at the store,"
"Ooh a pity invite, how lucky I am."
"Sorry but you haven't been home in like five years, didn't think you'd come back for our wedding. I mean you didn't even come for Theo and Blair's, you know? Your brother and your best friend?"
I gritted my teeth, the nerve he had.

"You're right. I wouldn't have. But an invite would have been nice. As for their wedding, well, that's none of your business."

"In my defence, Brooke would have thrown a fit, and fair enough. I shouldn't have said anything, don't want to hear your excuse anyway,"

I force out a laugh. "Of course,"

He rolls his eyes and I had to fight the urge to punch him. But I calm down when I see him shift his weight onto his other foot, looking awfully uncomfortable standing by the door. Good.

"How are things with you and...Mason was it?"
"It is. They're good, we're good." I lied. If anything, we were quite the opposite. But I had too much pride to admit it, besides what kind of woman talks to her ex about her current relationship problems? Not me. I just pretended to be surprised he even knew about Mason, even though I'm pretty sure he must have come across that headline a couple of times.

"And Los Angeles?"
Ugh, small talk with my ex. Great.

"Hot. Like unbearably hot," If he remembers correctly, he'd know that I hate the heat.
He laughs; "Why don't you just move?"
"Right, cause that's so easy to do."
He shrugs, "Must be. You did it in like three weeks before."

I narrowed my eyes, what is he playing at here?
"That is entirely different."

He shrugs again, "It would probably be a lot easier now though, you must have a lot of opportunities."
"That's true, I could move to London if I wanted to, or Milan,"

"Whoa that's far," He mumbles, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah well, it wouldn't make much of a different though. But anyway, LA's not so bad. What about New York."
He chuckles, like as if I said something funny. I didn't.

"New York is well, New York. Not really describable."
I scoff; "Really? I could think of like a bunch of adjectives for New York."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Hectic, busy, scary, dangerous, big, crazy in the omg I'm going to die today kind of way. Coming from experience, of course."

He raises a brow again before shaking his head and grinning; "You get used to it eventually. Food's great though."

"Okay, yes. There's that, and the shopping is good too."

"Right, can't relate."
I laugh. Like a real, genuine laugh. Growing up, Aiden's mum would always buy his clothes. If not her then Blair because Aiden cannot shop to save his life and both women would constantly nag him about the abomination of an outfit he'd be wearing. I don't think I've seen Aiden going shopping since tenth grade. Granted I haven't seen him in like half a decade so...

"I should probably check Mhamó out of here,"
I nod and stand up, "I'll go wake her up,"
"Thanks, and Avery? Come tomorrow."
"Aiden I could think of a hundred reasons as to why I will not come for your wedding. No, why I won't come for Brooke's wedding, aside from the obvious."

"What's the obvious?" He asks tilting his head to the side and giving me the look I used to know so well.

"The whole point of me saying that is for me to not have to actually say anything," I say, rolling me eyes before pushing the door to Mhamó's room open and ducking inside.

I am not going to watch the man I unfortunately still love marry someone who I unfortunately still hate.

I may be a nice person, but I am not that nice.

Besides, how sad would it be, sitting in one of the seats – undoubtedly in the back, far away from the alter (much to Brooke's delight) – and watching them actually go through with the wedding. Something that I never got to do.

After waking Mhamó up and having Aiden pinkie promise to give the cookies to Noah, and Noah ONLY, I left the hospital and headed home.

I couldn't help but welcome the feeling of dread that was boiling inside of me; there was no way I was going to sleep tonight knowing the day of what I hoped was just a nightmare is only hours away. The Wedding.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────