“You okay, Sammy?” Leave it to Jennifer to think about someone else on the biggest day of her life.
“Yes,” Sam lied. A sense of dread crept into her bones. “We need to get back.” She tried to smile, but the corners of her mouth refused to cooperate. “You’re going to be married in a couple hours.”
The fact was she had a lot to think about. What would she say to Kyle? Could they pick up where they left off? Could she ever look at him and not see Cathy, naked, in his arms?
Time was pressing hard on them as they returned to the makeup counter. Cathy and their mother were nowhere in sight. Inquisitive glances flew their way, but Sam ignored them. No matter what had happened earlier, today was Jennifer’s day. For her sister’s sake, Sam needed to keep focus. There was time to deal with the fucked-up situation later.
“Lovey, come take a seat.” Francois dabbed at the black smudge across Sam’s face, and then he quietly began to repair the damage.
The cosmetician who had been working on Cathy took Jennifer aside. “Your mother and sister took a taxi home.” She spoke softly, but Sam heard every word, thankful that they wouldn’t be locked in the car for the thirty-minute drive home. She wasn’t ready to face anyone and that included her mother.
Finished, Jennifer and Sam moved hastily through the mall. Nothing was said as they located the car in the parking lot and her sister slid behind the wheel.
“Jenny?”
“Huh?” She steered the car onto the side street.
Sam inhaled a steady breath. “Don’t let this ruin your day.”
Again, large tears blossomed in her sister’s eyes, but didn’t fall as she blinked them away. “I just wish things had been different. If you want I’ll send Cathy away.”
Oh God. How had this day gotten so screwed up?
“No. You can’t do that. If Cathy isn’t present everyone will notice and start asking questions. I can’t go through that and neither should you.”
Jennifer nodded. “What will you do about Kyle?”
The truth was Sam had no idea what she would do or say, until the opportunity was forced upon her.
Jennifer, always the voice of reason, spoke the obvious. “He deserves a second chance.”
“I know, but—”
“Sammy, do yourself a favor—let it go. Both of you deserve more.” A grin spread across her sister’s face. “You know, we could make it a double wedding.”
Unexpected laughter burst from Sam’s mouth. “You’re kidding, right?”
Her sister’s mischievous grin said differently. “Just think about it. The four of us could tear up Italy.”
No. Sam and Kyle had too much to talk about. They lived different lives now. And, in truth, Sam was scared. She wasn’t the same person she had been two years ago and neither was Kyle.
Arriving late to the house, they had to park down the street due to all the vehicles. Like two schoolgirls they giggled as they weaved through the empty cars trying to sneak inside the house without being seen. Abruptly Jennifer stopped, Sam running into the back of her.
“Look.” Her sister’s voice was filled with awe. “There he is.”
Sam’s breath caught with something close to the same admiration her sister must have felt, because Kyle was standing next to Brad. Both men were dressed in black tuxes, but Sam only had eyes for Kyle, even though the yard was overflowing with guests. His dark skin was a stark contrast against his white shirt. Ebony hair framed a handsome face that sent her heart fluttering.
All those thoughts she hadn’t allowed herself to consciously think about for the past two years flooded her head with feelings that tugged at her heart. As she gazed upon him everything seemed so different—so clear now that she could look at him again with no barriers, no feeling of betrayal. She’d missed him so very much. But what really mattered was that she loved him—had always loved him.
Sam released an audible sigh at the same time as Jennifer. They glanced at each other
“Yes,” Sam lied. A sense of dread crept into her bones. “We need to get back.” She tried to smile, but the corners of her mouth refused to cooperate. “You’re going to be married in a couple hours.”
The fact was she had a lot to think about. What would she say to Kyle? Could they pick up where they left off? Could she ever look at him and not see Cathy, naked, in his arms?
Time was pressing hard on them as they returned to the makeup counter. Cathy and their mother were nowhere in sight. Inquisitive glances flew their way, but Sam ignored them. No matter what had happened earlier, today was Jennifer’s day. For her sister’s sake, Sam needed to keep focus. There was time to deal with the fucked-up situation later.
“Lovey, come take a seat.” Francois dabbed at the black smudge across Sam’s face, and then he quietly began to repair the damage.
The cosmetician who had been working on Cathy took Jennifer aside. “Your mother and sister took a taxi home.” She spoke softly, but Sam heard every word, thankful that they wouldn’t be locked in the car for the thirty-minute drive home. She wasn’t ready to face anyone and that included her mother.
Finished, Jennifer and Sam moved hastily through the mall. Nothing was said as they located the car in the parking lot and her sister slid behind the wheel.
“Jenny?”
“Huh?” She steered the car onto the side street.
Sam inhaled a steady breath. “Don’t let this ruin your day.”
Again, large tears blossomed in her sister’s eyes, but didn’t fall as she blinked them away. “I just wish things had been different. If you want I’ll send Cathy away.”
Oh God. How had this day gotten so screwed up?
“No. You can’t do that. If Cathy isn’t present everyone will notice and start asking questions. I can’t go through that and neither should you.”
Jennifer nodded. “What will you do about Kyle?”
The truth was Sam had no idea what she would do or say, until the opportunity was forced upon her.
Jennifer, always the voice of reason, spoke the obvious. “He deserves a second chance.”
“I know, but—”
“Sammy, do yourself a favor—let it go. Both of you deserve more.” A grin spread across her sister’s face. “You know, we could make it a double wedding.”
Unexpected laughter burst from Sam’s mouth. “You’re kidding, right?”
Her sister’s mischievous grin said differently. “Just think about it. The four of us could tear up Italy.”
No. Sam and Kyle had too much to talk about. They lived different lives now. And, in truth, Sam was scared. She wasn’t the same person she had been two years ago and neither was Kyle.
Arriving late to the house, they had to park down the street due to all the vehicles. Like two schoolgirls they giggled as they weaved through the empty cars trying to sneak inside the house without being seen. Abruptly Jennifer stopped, Sam running into the back of her.
“Look.” Her sister’s voice was filled with awe. “There he is.”
Sam’s breath caught with something close to the same admiration her sister must have felt, because Kyle was standing next to Brad. Both men were dressed in black tuxes, but Sam only had eyes for Kyle, even though the yard was overflowing with guests. His dark skin was a stark contrast against his white shirt. Ebony hair framed a handsome face that sent her heart fluttering.
All those thoughts she hadn’t allowed herself to consciously think about for the past two years flooded her head with feelings that tugged at her heart. As she gazed upon him everything seemed so different—so clear now that she could look at him again with no barriers, no feeling of betrayal. She’d missed him so very much. But what really mattered was that she loved him—had always loved him.
Sam released an audible sigh at the same time as Jennifer. They glanced at each other
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