leave.”
“Let’s just see what they want.” Sucking in a long breath, she couldn’t help wondering the why of Mark’s parents’ visit. They hadn’t taken the news of her remarriage well when she’d told them Sunday, which caused her understandable trepidation when they’d called early this morning, her wedding day, and asked to speak with her. “I’m glad you came over earlier than you’d planned though, so I don’t have to face them alone.”
“Where’s Josh?”
“Playing in his room.” Her eyes darted to the door then back to Shep. “With instructions to stay put until I tell him to come down."
Lowering his hand, Shep cut in front of her and grabbed the doorknob. Twisted it in what seemed like slow motion. With a smile on his face, he opened the door. “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Come in.”
How did he manage to greet them with zero symptoms of malice in his tone? She could hardly manage a smile of good will toward her in-laws, not after the nasty words they’d spewed her way on Sunday.
She released the breath she’d held deep in her lungs. “Dad Allen, Mom Allen.”
Portia Allen took small, hesitant steps to reach Lyndsey. “Thank you for allowing us to come today.”
Jaw taut, she nodded, then slacked her mouth. “What can I do for you?”
Gary Allen joined his wife at her side “There are several things we’d like to say to you and your fiancé.”
Didn’t you say enough on Sunday? Are you going to create another way to accuse me of never loving Mark? It was all she could do not to make a snide comment. Their words burned, stung, and left scabbing wounds. But this afternoon she would marry Shep, and she wouldn’t start their wedding day by exchanging harsh words with anyone.
“May we sit?” Portia Allen’s eye shifted from the foyer, to the room on her right, and back to each person.
Shep and Lyndsey made eye contact, each raising a brow, asking for silent permission. Shep mouthed “It’s your call.”
“Have a seat.” She waved a weary hand to the furniture.
Portia sat on the far end of the couch, her husband on the spot beside her.
Lyndsey lowered her body onto the loveseat and Shep claimed a seat next to her. Her leg grazed his, and he threaded their hands. The touch provided a needed calming force and projected a solidarity between her and Shep. Or so she hoped. It did in her mind if nothing else.
“This isn’t easy for us to admit, but it’s the right thing to do.” Portia scooted to the edge of the cushion. “Gary and I owe both of you an apology for our behavior the other day.”
Gary took his wife’s hand. “Your news took us by surprise, and we reacted poorly.”
Furrowing her eyebrows, Lyndsey switched her gaze from Gary to Portia. “I loved Mark.” She stopped short of saying she still did—even if true, it was an inappropriate time to declare that affection. “I have tried for years to be a good daughter-in-law, but nothing I’ve ever done has been good enough for you.”
“That’s not true.” Portia paused and snapped her mouth shut.
“I admit, we’ve treated you unfairly.” Gary’s features tightened with remorse. “We knew how much Mark loved you and that you were a perfect match for him.”
Anger churned through her. “Then why did you treat me no better than a discarded washcloth?”
“Mark was the child we thought we couldn’t have. He was our entire world.” Heavily mascaraed lashes blinked. “I don’t think I realized it until last night, but I was jealous. A mother’s bond to her son is strong, and I felt you invaded that.”
“Your son had a large heart with room for everyone.” Her bottom lip trembled, and Shep moved his hand around her shoulder. She leaned in to him for support. “His affections weren’t a competition.”
“I know and I’m sorry.” Portia looked at her husband.
“We’re both sorry,” Gary added. “Sunday we took our pain and selfishness to a new low, and it took that to make us
“Let’s just see what they want.” Sucking in a long breath, she couldn’t help wondering the why of Mark’s parents’ visit. They hadn’t taken the news of her remarriage well when she’d told them Sunday, which caused her understandable trepidation when they’d called early this morning, her wedding day, and asked to speak with her. “I’m glad you came over earlier than you’d planned though, so I don’t have to face them alone.”
“Where’s Josh?”
“Playing in his room.” Her eyes darted to the door then back to Shep. “With instructions to stay put until I tell him to come down."
Lowering his hand, Shep cut in front of her and grabbed the doorknob. Twisted it in what seemed like slow motion. With a smile on his face, he opened the door. “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Come in.”
How did he manage to greet them with zero symptoms of malice in his tone? She could hardly manage a smile of good will toward her in-laws, not after the nasty words they’d spewed her way on Sunday.
She released the breath she’d held deep in her lungs. “Dad Allen, Mom Allen.”
Portia Allen took small, hesitant steps to reach Lyndsey. “Thank you for allowing us to come today.”
Jaw taut, she nodded, then slacked her mouth. “What can I do for you?”
Gary Allen joined his wife at her side “There are several things we’d like to say to you and your fiancé.”
Didn’t you say enough on Sunday? Are you going to create another way to accuse me of never loving Mark? It was all she could do not to make a snide comment. Their words burned, stung, and left scabbing wounds. But this afternoon she would marry Shep, and she wouldn’t start their wedding day by exchanging harsh words with anyone.
“May we sit?” Portia Allen’s eye shifted from the foyer, to the room on her right, and back to each person.
Shep and Lyndsey made eye contact, each raising a brow, asking for silent permission. Shep mouthed “It’s your call.”
“Have a seat.” She waved a weary hand to the furniture.
Portia sat on the far end of the couch, her husband on the spot beside her.
Lyndsey lowered her body onto the loveseat and Shep claimed a seat next to her. Her leg grazed his, and he threaded their hands. The touch provided a needed calming force and projected a solidarity between her and Shep. Or so she hoped. It did in her mind if nothing else.
“This isn’t easy for us to admit, but it’s the right thing to do.” Portia scooted to the edge of the cushion. “Gary and I owe both of you an apology for our behavior the other day.”
Gary took his wife’s hand. “Your news took us by surprise, and we reacted poorly.”
Furrowing her eyebrows, Lyndsey switched her gaze from Gary to Portia. “I loved Mark.” She stopped short of saying she still did—even if true, it was an inappropriate time to declare that affection. “I have tried for years to be a good daughter-in-law, but nothing I’ve ever done has been good enough for you.”
“That’s not true.” Portia paused and snapped her mouth shut.
“I admit, we’ve treated you unfairly.” Gary’s features tightened with remorse. “We knew how much Mark loved you and that you were a perfect match for him.”
Anger churned through her. “Then why did you treat me no better than a discarded washcloth?”
“Mark was the child we thought we couldn’t have. He was our entire world.” Heavily mascaraed lashes blinked. “I don’t think I realized it until last night, but I was jealous. A mother’s bond to her son is strong, and I felt you invaded that.”
“Your son had a large heart with room for everyone.” Her bottom lip trembled, and Shep moved his hand around her shoulder. She leaned in to him for support. “His affections weren’t a competition.”
“I know and I’m sorry.” Portia looked at her husband.
“We’re both sorry,” Gary added. “Sunday we took our pain and selfishness to a new low, and it took that to make us
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