Lost (Liam Payne)

Part 62

The week of the wedding was busy. Penny and the other bridesmaids had taken Marian out to celebrate her last night as a single woman. Penny offered to drive and got to laugh as Marian tried to beat Rachel at a shot contest. The biggest surprise was that Rachel didn't win. Her mother, Marjorie beat them both. Penny and Ellie both laughed so hard that they had to excuse themselves to the bathroom.

When they got back, Sandee, Marian's sister was posting pictures on Marian's instagram account. Penny tried to look, but Marian snatched it away. "What? Why can't I see?" Pen asked.

"He commented. He said it was funny and wished me well, okay. I don't need the waterworks right now, okay?" Marian said.

"What?" Penny yelled. "He's talking to you? Why didn't you tell me?" Pen asked. She grabbed the phone away from Marian.

She sighed. "I didn't know he was. He has never said anything to me before. It's kinda a shock."

Pen took her phone and walked away. She went out to the car and looked at what he had said. No hint of him being happy or sad. No snide comments. Nothing to make her think he missed her. Marian could just be any random fan. She sighed and clicked on his name, just to see his face. His account came up and she looked at the pictures he had posted. One of his dog and another one of him sitting on a couch with his laptop that said 'working hard on my EP. Expect it soon.' There was something in the background that she could have sworn was a painting. A painting she made. But, she had never given him any. She took a screen shot of the photo and zoomed in. Behind him was the painting of Liam and Carly playing in the leaves. Next to it was the one of just Carly and her shovel. He had been the person buying her paintings? Did he ship them to his house? And how did he even know about the new one? Had he bought them all? Why did he even buy the new one?

She went back to the picture of his dog. She examined the background. She could see the edge of a painted and she was certain it was Liam and Carly sleeping. Maybe he had bought them all?

Marian got a text message as she was thinking about all of these things. It was Liam. He said, "I don't see Pen in the pictures. Is she okay?" Seconds later, it was followed by "Never mind. Don't tell me. Not my business."

Penny let her fingers hover over the keys, trying to think of the perfect thing to say but before she could, the girls all came out to the car and Marian took her phone back. She had no idea if she answered him or not.

All of the woman were getting ready at the Lake House and all of the men were in Saginaw, at Sam's house. Sam's mom was even there. Penny had avoided her, but watched as her mother and Sam's talked and laughed about making Jon walk them both to their seats, just to make him squirm. She wanted to join in, but was afraid. Sam's mom, Christine, had always scared her. When she was small, she didn't like her, because whenever she came, she took her brothers away. As she got older, she held onto that feeling, even though she understood better than 3 year old Cricket did. Plus, she always called her Penelope, which kinda liked and kinda hated. Why didn't she just called her Cricket like everyone else?

Pen was at the breakfast bar, eat a sandwich and making Marian eat something, too, when she walked up. "So, Penelope, I understand that you almost weren't going to be in the wedding?" Christine said. Penny just nodded. "Because of my son?" Penny nodded again. "Well, that's foolish! Trying to ruin his wedding because of an accident!" she said.

Penny dropped her sandwich and started to walk away. Then she stopped and turned to her. "Why do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you." Christine said.

"Don't play games. You do. It's pretty clear." Penny said, firmly.

Christine shifted, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't 'hate' you. I just, well, I guess it's because Jon spends more time with you than he does with his sons. It bothers them, so it bothers me. I don't mean to show it."