Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hayden
I’ve kept my composure in a lot of high-stakes business meetings over the years, but nothing could have prepared me for being in the Sumac Falls town square, waiting to see if Cara would stand me up at the altar.
At no point, right up to when Aaron was helping me slide my arms in my suit coat, did it occur to me that leaving me alone and humiliated on the gazebo steps would be excellent revenge for me standing her up for the homecoming dance.
It’s occurring to me now.
Maybe she and Gin were even in on it together.
It would explain why Gin had given in so easily.
Why she’d been willing to cross a Reilly threshold and share a meal with us.
Because she knew they were going to humiliate me and my family in front of all the residents of Sumac Falls who’d gathered to see a wedding.
Now that the idea has popped into my head, I can’t seem to shake it.
I’m trying not to hyperventilate, and Taylor grips my hands in hers. She keeps her voice low, but her tone is intense. “You’re going to pass out, Hayden. Unlock your knees and take a deep breath.”
I try to do as she says, while her husband glances over to see how I’m doing. Taylor had tasked him with distracting Aaron while she calmed me down.
“I never would have pegged you for the wedding jitters type,” she says. “You must really be gone for this woman.”
I am, actually. “I’m marrying her, aren’t I?”
I hope. If she shows up.
“As soon as you see her walking toward you, all the nerves and your awareness of everybody watching will fade away.”
I nod because I know she’s right, even though it won’t be for the reason Taylor thinks. Once I see Cara walking toward me, I’ll know it wasn’t all some elaborate revenge scheme.
Well, it is, but the revenge is supposed to be mine. Not hers.
Aaron escapes Bill’s conversation and joins us. “Hope says they’re on their way, and rumor has it the bridal party was spotted getting into their cars.”
She’s on her way.
“I’m going to go meet Hope. I’ll help her get Mom and the kids to their seats.” Aaron grins and slaps my shoulder. “And then I’ll meet you in the gazebo.”
“I’m going to make sure everything’s ready to go,” Taylor tells me. “Then Bill and I will sit. If anything at all seems to go awry, you give me the look and I’ll take care of it.”
I laugh and pull her in for a hug. “You’re here as my guest today.”
Once she goes to make sure the kid with the playlist and Debbie—our officiant, much to my dismay—are in place and ready to play their parts, I turn to head toward the gazebo.
And I almost run straight into Georgia Gamble.
Or whatever her married name is. I have no idea if she changed it or not, but I know if there’s anybody on the planet who hates me more than Gin does, it’s her older daughter.
“Hi, Georgia.”
“Hello, Hayden.”
“It means the world to Cara that you could be here today.” I look at the man standing next to her. “We haven’t met. Hayden Reilly, groom.”
He shakes my hand. “Tony Holt. Bride’s brother-in-law. Soon to be yours, I guess.”
Georgia snorts, but since I’m not wearing the glass of punch in her hand—yet—I ignore it.
“Tony, can you go see if Mom’s arrived yet? I don’t want her to have to sit alone. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Once Georgia’s husband walks away, I glance around to make sure we’re actually alone. And that nobody’s within earshot, since I probably don’t want my other guests hearing whatever she’s about to say.
Georgia doesn’t make me wait. “Listen, I’m not stupid. You wanted the house. Gin said no. Now suddenly you and Cara are rushing down the aisle.”
I’d rather not lie to the woman who’s about to be my sister-in-law if I can help it—especially since it sounds like she and Mel are the only supportive people in Cara’s life—so I just arch an eyebrow and wait.
She arches an eyebrow right back at me, and it’s an impressive look. Perhaps dealing with uncooperative patients is good practice. “What I want to know is whether you’re both scamming Gin together, or if you’re scamming them both.”
I don’t know what, if anything, Cara’s told her sister—hopefully not the truth, since I couldn’t even tell Aaron—and I don’t want to get in the middle of that relationship.
But I’m also an older sibling, so I try to put her mind at ease without confessing to anything.
“This sounds like a conversation you should have with Cara. But she and I talked about our future, and how we can’t wait until Gin sells the house to us—once I’m officially family, of course—so Cara can see her mother settled in a small place where she’ll be comfortable and not having to worry about maintenance.
Having Gin out from under that house will be quite a load off Cara’s shoulders. ”
She must get what I’m not saying, because the corners of Georgia’s mouth quirk, though she manages not to give me an actual smile. “Yes, it will.”
The crowd shifts, murmurs spreading through the guests. And they make their way toward the rows of white folding chairs while chatting, which means somebody has spotted the bridal party arriving. I glance at the gazebo and see Aaron gesturing for me to join him.
“I need to get up there,” I tell Georgia, who’s still looking at me as though staring hard enough will make me cough up every secret I’ve ever had.
I don’t wait to see if she has anything else to say. I need to be standing in the gazebo when Cara appears at the end of the aisle made by the gap between the chairs.
My heart hammers in my chest while my brother does a final check, ensuring my suit still looks as good as it did the first three times he checked.
I look out at the guests, Cara’s side first—there’s definitely a bride’s side and groom’s side at this wedding—where I watch Georgia take her seat between Gin and Tony.
Mel’s parents and her husband fill out the first row.
Various other friends are behind them, and it looks as if guests kept the rear rows well balanced between the two.
My mother sits in the front row on the other side, and the smile she gives me helps chase away some of my jitters. But I also feel a twist of guilt in my gut. I wish this was real.
Daisy and AJ sit between her and Hope. Daisy has her hands clasped as if she’s about to witness a fairy tale come to life, and AJ’s swinging his feet and watching the birds swirling around the trees.
Instrumental music I don’t recognize begins playing, and Mel steps between the last row of chairs. I take in a deep breath, hold it, and then slowly exhale, straightening my shoulders and relaxing my knees.
It seems to take forever for her to make the short walk down the aisle, but I keep the smile on my face. She finally climbs the steps and stands opposite me on the gazebo, giving me a beautiful smile.
Then “Pachelbel’s Canon in D” blasts through the town square, the music swelling around us, and Cara is there.
She’s gorgeous. Her dress is perfect, and her hair’s pinned back, showing off what looks like old family pearls gracing her ears and neck. Cara Gamble has always been the most beautiful girl in the world as far as I’m concerned, but today she takes my breath away.
I can see the nerves. Her smile is wobbly as she looks around at the surprisingly large gathering of guests.
Look at me. I think the words over and over, willing her to hear me.
Then she does. Our gazes lock, and when I smile, she smiles back. Her back straightens, and she takes the first step toward me.
Here comes the bride.