“Sheree, you are only twenty-one. What do you know about being married? And who in the hell are you marrying?”

“I don’t know anything about being married. But every time I listen to Momma talk about you, I know about how it feels not being married!”

Staring into Sheree’s eyes, I realized that she was more willing to save face than to find love. Instantly, we both burst out in tears, hugging and crying. Even Muggly began crying. Finally, after there were no more tears to cry, we sat on the couch in silence.

“Do you want to know his name?” Sheree asked.

I playfully responded, “No, I just want to show up at the wedding and refer to him as ‘what’s his name’ or ‘who’s the guy.’ Of course I want to know his name.”

“His name is Jalen. Jalen Howard. He’s very good-looking. Smart. He’s a pre-med major at Temple. He wants to be an ophthalmologist and start his own private practice. He has his own townhouse that his grandfather left him, so it’s not like we have to even start out living in an apartment. He has his own car. Not a new car, but it runs. He has—”

“Sheree,” I cut her off. “Enough about what he does and what he drives. Do you love him?” I asked, afraid of her response.

“What kind of question is that?”

“One that I want you to answer. Sheree, do you love the man you’re about to marry?”

“No, Montana. Okay? No. Not yet. But that doesn’t mean that over time I won’t grow to love him. I like him. I like him a lot. That’s a start, right? I mean, after hearing Momma and the rest of the women in the family talking about how overrated love is, I figured it wasn’t that important.”

The only word that seemed to fit the moment was “Wow.” Staring at me, she awaited my response. Even if in my mind what she was doing was ruining her life, I at least owed her my support. “Well, little sister, I can’t say I agree with this, but I’m your big sister and I love you. And no matter what, I’m always going to be here for you.”

“Thank you, Montana. You don’t know how much that means hearing you say that.”

“Well, I’m glad.”

“There is one thing that would make me happier than anything in the entire world,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

“Sure, what do you need? I could probably get you a free honeymoon trip to Hawaii or someplace. Do you need some help with money? Whatever it is, I’ll do what I can.”

“Mo, I want you to be my maid of honor.” I gasped, holding my chest, feeling like I had been struck with a five-ton brick flung from a hundred-story building.