I gawk over at Cheryl. She tricked me?

“We better get going. We don’t want to be late.”

When we arrive where other wedding guests have congregated, waiting to be seated, I can’t help but take some satisfaction in the surprised looks on the faces of Yu-Jin and Moon.

“You make a lovely couple,” says Mr. Liao as he greets me and Darren.

Amy hurries over and tugs me away. “OMG, Bridget! You look gorgeous! You are so lucky that you got a new wardrobe with this trip. Darren must be seriously into you.”

“I wish he hadn’t, to be honest.”

“Why?!”

“It makes me feel, I don’t know, like his plaything, this doll that he dresses up so he doesn’t have to be embarrassed by me.”

“I wouldn’t mind if JD dressed me up.”

“He doesn’t have to. You always look amazing.”

“You think so? I actually wish I had brought a different dress, something a little sexier, like what she’s wearing.”

I look over at a pretty young woman who looks eighteen, smiling and laughing with some other wedding guests.

“She was totally flirting with JD last night at the club,” Amy tells me. “I went to the ladies’ room and when I came back, she and JD were laughing together.”

I can tell Amy is concerned. I want to assure her it was probably nothing, but what if it wasn’t?

“Do you know anything about her?” I ask.

“Just that she goes to Cornell,” Amy says.

“Then she’ll be out of sight soon enough.”

“I guess. Are you sure you don’t want to stay longer than a week?”

I would love to see more of Phuket. Earlier in the day, Darren and I went canoeing and snorkeling. But I don’t want to overstay my welcome. Nor do I want to witness more of Elaine or Yu-Jin hitting on Darren.

“I’d like to,” I reply, “but I already feel guilty taking a week off.”

“Oh, they’re seating the guests now. I’ve got to be up front with JD.”

Amy leaves me. I look for Darren and see that Yu-Jin is talking to him. He manages to disengage himself from her, only to wind up being accosted by Elaine a few steps later. I’m not thrilled to see it, but I manage to shake my head and laugh. The trials and tribulations of being attractive.

“What’s so amusing?” asks Sharon as she stands beside me.

“Your son,” I answer. “He can’t make it ten feet without a woman accosting him.”

Sharon follows my line of sight and frowns. “And you’re okay with this?”

“I don’t think it’s my choice. I just gotta trust he’ll do the right thing.”

“And you trust him?”

I think for a moment. “So far, yes. And if I turn out to be wrong, then I’d rather know sooner than later.”

“That’s very practical.”

“If I was going to get jealous over every woman who flirts with your son, I think I’d be exhausted.”

We watch Elaine put a hand on Darren’s arm.