Dead West by Matt Goldman

Author:Matt Goldman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

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Spoon and Stable is a nationally ranked restaurant by whoever is in charge of ranking things. The place is booked months out, which is why Molly Ellegaard made a reservation months ago after learning of our engagement. It’s in an old building on North First Street, just blocks from my former residence in a coat factory. The restaurant had white walls and exposed brick and soft light and was full of the kind of people who make reservations months in advance.

We sat at a table for four in the middle of the dining room. Ellegaard, the son of a bitch, wore a suit. I kept my promise to wear jeans, though I did wear a collared shirt under my sweater and a pair of oxblood wingtips I kept on reserve for special occasions. Gabriella wore her hair down and straight and had wrapped herself in a cashmere thing that looked like a sweater but wasn’t. Molly Ellegaard looked lovely in her black dress with long sleeves. She wore her dark hair pulled back, highlighting her heart-shaped face and warm brown eyes.

A waiter brought a bottle of champagne I wasn’t aware we’d ordered. Ellegaard said, “Close your mouth, Shap. We’re celebrating.”

“Now,” said Molly, “we want to hear all the details about the wedding.”

“Details?” said Gabriella.

“Have you locked the date? Where are you getting married? Who’s officiating? How many guests? Have you chosen a cake? Where’s the reception? Who’s doing the flowers? Will there be live music or a DJ? Where are you registered?” Gabriella and I looked at each other. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell us. It’s fun to keep it a surprise. It’s romantic.”

“Uh, no,” said Gabriella. “It’s not that we’re keeping anything a surprise. Our plan is just, well, more simple than most weddings.”

“Simple’s good.”

I said, “Extremely simple.”

“Uh oh,” said Ellegaard.

Molly caught on. “Oh come on, you two. Don’t tell me you’re eloping. Or going to the courthouse.”

“We were going to elope,” said Gabriella, “but we realized our mothers would never forgive us. So … You tell them, Nils.”

“Our wedding is on the second Sunday in March. That’s prime blizzard season so we didn’t have to compete with a lot of other weddings.”

“Practical,” said Ellegaard.

“And the potential for bad weather will discourage out-of-towners we’re obligated to invite from coming. We rented out a small restaurant. The guests will be my immediate family, Gabriella’s immediate family, and a handful of friends, including the Ellegaards and their daughters.”

“Really?” said Molly, disappointment all over her face. “Why do you want to keep it so small?”

I said, “Because we just want to enjoy our wedding with the people we love. We don’t need anyone else there.”

Molly said, “But more people is more festive. And you’d get more gifts.”

“That’s another thing,” said Gabriella, “no gifts.”

“No gifts?!” said Molly. “That’s not fair. We want to buy you gifts. To commemorate the best day of your lives.”

Gabriella said, “Best day of our lives? Have you been to a wedding before?”

Ellegaard laughed

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