Chapter 24
twenty-four
All the snow has melted, the sun is shining, and I’m finally having a good hair day.
It’s like the engagement party gods are smiling down on me, rewarding me for the abysmal winter I’ve endured.
In only a few hours, I’ll be in the same city as Brian, spending time with Chelsi, and regaling my friends with my love story.
It’s exactly what I need after the past few days and the spiral I’ve been in.
I run my fingers through my hair, separating the loose curls before locking in the style with enough hairspray to stop a hurricane.
I’m taking absolutely no risks with my hair.
Great hair days are few and far between when you’re me.
Thank goodness someone invented touchable hairspray, so I can freeze my hair in place without it feeling like straw.
My phone dings with another text, bringing a big smile to my face as I look in the mirror.
It’s probably Chelsi or my mom again. They’ve both been texting me nonstop this morning.
Chelsi is using voice-to-text to provide me with hilarious real-time updates as she drives, sharing made-up insane backstories for the drivers she passes.
Every message from her is a hoot. My mom keeps sending texts asking for photos as I’m getting ready, like it’s my wedding, and she wants to document every aspect of it. It’s equal parts sweet and annoying.
When I glance at my lockscreen, my grin intensifies when I see Brian’s name, knowing he’s likely already on his way. He’ll be here in a few hours, and we can finally talk. Deal with all the lingering concerns I have and move forward. Together.
I swipe to unlock my phone, and my smile falters when I see the message. Instant panic overwhelms me. He can’t be doing this.
Brian
I’m so sorry, but I’m not going to be able to make the party. Something came up at work. It’s all hands on deck for the weekend.
I wish I could be there with you. Especially when you get the surprise I worked on with your mom.
I love you. Have fun at the party. I can’t wait to hear about it later.
An uncontrollable sob escapes my chest as the tears start pouring.
My heart breaks into a million pieces as I realize I’ll have to walk into my engagement party alone.
No time to cancel. No chance to explain or prepare my mom for Brian’s absence.
No way to come back from the hurt gripping every cell in my body.
While leaning against the wall, I slide down to the floor, clutching my knees and letting the pain consume me. It doesn’t take long until my breathing is ragged, every inhale a struggle, thanks to the tightness in my chest and the choking sounds coming out of me. This can’t be real.
My face is pressed against the cold bathroom tile when I hear three rapid-fire knocks on the door. I don’t move a muscle, unable to force myself to speak. Unwilling to deal with whoever is outside.
“Kate, are you okay? I thought I heard crying coming from your house,” Jake asks calmly.
A barely audible whimper comes out of me. One he shouldn’t have heard, but the soft gasp from the other side of the door tells me he has.
“I’m coming in. Tell me to stop if you’re not dressed.” His voice is slightly trembling.
I don’t bother lifting my head when he walks in the room. I don’t care if he sees me at my worst.
“Oh my God, Kate. What’s wrong?” He squats next to me, appraising my current state. “You’re scaring me. Tell me what’s going on. Please.”
I swallow hard, squeezing my eyes shut tightly, wishing today was another bad dream I might wake up from at any minute.
Jake sits on the floor, scooting until his back is against the wall, and sets my head onto his lap. “Please talk to me, Kate,” he begs. He starts to run his long fingers through my previously perfectly curled hair, lightly stroking my scalp and sending shockwaves through me.
“I can’t—” Another sob breaks free, and my chest shudders against him.
“Shhhh,” he whispers, continuing to loosen my curls and softly rubbing my back. “It’s going to be okay. Tell me what’s happened so I can help you.”
I choke back sobs and try to prevent myself from dry heaving. “He’s…he’s not…he’s not coming.” A guttural wail comes out of me as I curl my knees toward my chest.
“Who’s not—” Jake’s tone shifts quickly from confusion to utter rage. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Brian isn’t coming?”
I shake my head, unable to say the words out loud. Refusing to confirm that my fiancé is skipping out on our engagement party because of work.
“What do you need? Tell everyone the party’s canceled? Drive to Chicago and kick his ass? Say the word, and I’ll do whatever you need.” His body freezes, and his muscles tighten, waiting for my next command. He’d do whatever I ask, without question.
A charged silence fills the small bathroom, both of us waiting for what comes next. The hard part. Deciding how the rest of this day is going to go.
I exhale all of the air from my lungs, relishing in a few seconds of emptiness in my chest before I force myself to sit up, my back against the wall.
“I can’t cancel the party. It’s too late,” I whisper, instantly regretting the words because there’s nothing I want to do more than cancel the damn party.
“The hell you can’t. I’ll call everyone myself to tell them it’s not happening.”
I shake my head, wiping away my tears and the snot dripping from my nose. “We’re having the party. My mom has put too much effort into today for me to cancel because of Brian’s absence.” I start to feel nauseous at the thought of telling my mom that Brian isn’t coming.
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. I’ll play the role of devoted fiancée to keep up appearances today, but Brian and I need to have a serious conversation about our relationship,” I reply, voice quivering and a tremble in my chin. “He warned me. Mentioned something like this could happen. I just didn’t think—”
“None of this is your fault,” Jake says softly, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me closer to him. “How can I help?”
I press my lips together and close my eyes for a few seconds, forcing myself to push down the raging pain inside me. I don’t have time to wallow in pity. I lay my head on Jake’s shoulder and sigh. “Be my support system at the party. Stand by my side. Placate my mom. Shut down any gossip.”
“I can do that. Anything else?”
“No. Just be there for me. I really need you.”
Jake gently kisses the top of my head. “I’ll always be there for you, Kate.”
A few hours later, I’m in the front seat of Jake’s truck, fiddling with the ends of my curled hair as we pull up to the Southmount Country Club.
Today was supposed to be a celebration; now it feels like another item on my to-do list that I can’t wait to check off.
Telling my mom that Brian wasn’t coming didn’t help.
She was livid—at me, not him. Jake was about to crack a tooth when she started admonishing me for Brian’s absence.
Although he desperately wanted to put her in her place, I refused to let him, knowing it would only make things more difficult.
I blow out a deep breath, watching Jake in the rearview mirror as he helps my mom get out of the back seat.
Her displeasure at having to use a walker is evident in the scowl on her face.
She refuses to accept her status as a fall risk, even after tumbling in the bathroom earlier this week.
Her stubbornness has made her recovery more challenging, and I fear it will take longer because she chooses to push any boundary she doesn’t agree with.
It’s comical how she expects everyone else to follow the rules, especially any directives set by her, while she doesn’t hold herself to the same standard.
Jake opens my car door with a tentative smile, offering his hand to help me down because three-inch heels and sheath dresses weren’t meant for climbing in and out of pickup trucks.
His steadying presence is how I’m getting through this day, knowing he’ll play traffic cop with my mom and handle any other drama that pops up.
He squeezes my hand before releasing it as we slowly follow my mom inside, unsure of what the next few hours might bring.
“Thanks for being here,” I whisper to Jake.
His head turns toward me. “Always. Whatever you need, Kate. Tell me, and I’ll make it happen.” His eyes soften as a gentle smile appears on his face. “You look really beautiful.”
A blush creeps up my neck, and my cheeks are reddening. I nod, fully believing he’ll keep his promise, which causes my heart to crack open a little wider.
My mom stops in front of the tall mahogany doors outside the main ballroom, glancing at the gorgeous welcome signs that perfectly match the wedding motif I selected only a couple of weeks ago.
She clenches and releases her hands before turning her walker around to look at us.
Her expression is unreadable, giving me no clue what’s going through her mind and what diatribe she might launch into.
She presses her lips into a thin line, blowing out a soft breath before making eye contact with me.
Her floral knee-length dress is a mix of spring colors, perfectly complementing the color scheme of the party, and her pearl necklace and diamond dangly earrings sparkle in the light.
Everything about her appearance is meticulously styled, the complete opposite of how I look.
No matter how hard I tried, my previously flawless hair and makeup weren’t salvageable, so everything about me looks average, except for my stunning white lace dress.
Thankfully, I hadn’t put it on before I broke down on the bathroom floor.
My mom clears her throat. “I had help planning this party due to the accident.” She glances from me to Jake. “I trust the person who helped me finish organizing it used my recommendations, but I can’t be certain.”
“I’m sure it will be beautiful, Mom. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to host this party.”