by Kay Correll
"I don't think you should listen to them. It's not the end of the world, even though I'm sure it feels like it. Nobody likes to be made fun of.” Jamie reached over and tucked one of her flyaway curls behind her ear "I'm not sure why they were picking on you. That's pretty mean-spirited.”
“After my second tumble, I would've liked the ground to just swallow me whole like my cousin suggested."
"I sure would miss you if the ground swallowed you up." Jamie smiled at her and squeezed her hand.
“And it’s not only that I’ve made a supreme fool of myself.” Cindy sniffled back more tears. “I’m ruining everything for you. I know you need the recommendations. A good write-up in the magazine. I’m just… ruining it.”
“You haven’t ruined anything.”
But Cindy knew she had dashed any hopes of people from George’s crowd recommending the inn as a wedding venue. Between George down-talking the place, and her tripping, falling, and spilling… things hadn’t been very impressive so far. She knew that wasn’t fair to Jamie and his mother, because none of this was their fault.
She squared her shoulders and dashed away the last of the tears.
The last of them, silly woman.
She was going to find a way to turn things around for Jamie. Point out all the lovely things about the inn. She was going to be a one woman PR person for him tomorrow and also after she got back to Kentucky.
You know, along with getting married tomorrow.
“I probably should go upstairs and try and get some sleep.” Cindy brushed the sand off her dress.
Jamie jumped up and reached a hand down for her. She took it and let him slowly pull her to her feet.
“Thanks.” She swished her hands together, knocking off some more sand. She turned to look at the inn. Lights shone from a handful of the windows. Laughter drifted down from the large deck, lit only by Tiki torches. She hoped Jamie and his mother could find a way to save the inn. It was such a grand old place to stay, a charming surprise among the polished and generic hotels and condos along the beach.
She loved this inn with her whole heart.
She turned to Jamie. “I need to get something from my car, before I go up to my room.”
“Here, we’ll go around the side. It will be quicker than up and through the inn.”
Jamie took her elbow and led the way through a break in the dunes, along a narrow pathway towards the side of the inn’s property. They came up to the corner of the inn and Cindy saw a couple lounging on a small patio near the kitchen entrance.
She felt Jamie stiffen by her side and glanced up at him. She followed his gaze over to the couple on the dimly lit patio. She heard George’s low voice and a young woman’s laugh. That waitress. What was her name? Alexis.
Cindy stood, trapped, unable to move. She watched the scene, like a bystander would watch a train wreck she couldn’t stop. The woman stretched up and placed a quick kiss on George’s lips.
He didn’t pull way, he just laughed his ever-so-charming laugh.
“Hey now, I’m going to be married tomorrow.” George’s voice drifted back to where Cindy stood frozen in place.
Cindy heard, rather than felt, the quick gasp of breath she took.
Jamie reached out for her elbow and steadied her.
“Well, you could have one last night of fun.” The woman sashayed in front of George.
“That’s mighty tempting, young lady. Mighty tempting.” George stood in the low lamplight.
Surely he’d say no and go inside. It was just the girl flirting with him. Right?
The girl brushed up closer to George, wrapped her arm around his neck, and planted a good long kiss right on his lips.
George wrapped his arm around the girl and pulled her tight.
Jamie pulled away from Cindy’s side and strode along the side of the inn and up to the patio. Alexis pulled back in surprise while George let out a low laugh.
“You’re just everywhere, aren’t you Jamie boy?”
“Alexis. Why are you here? I fired you.”
“I was just stopping by.” The young woman stood her ground.
“You were just leaving.” Jamie stood between George and Alexis. “Oh, and as a rule, I don’t encourage my fired employees to kiss the groom-to-be the night before his wedding.” Jamie voice held more than a tinge of anger.
“It was just some harmless flirting.” George’s voice spilled over with the tone of superiority that annoyed Cindy.
“Alexis, you should leave.” Jamie stood there until the young woman walked away.
“Cindy is too good for you.” Jamie turned toward George and shook his head.
“It was just a kiss. Anyway Cindy’s chosen me and you can quit being her protector. She’s mine. She’s marrying me tomorrow.”
“Not if I can talk her out of it.” Jamie walked back towards where she was hiding in the shadows.
“You can’t talk her out of it. She loves me.” George tossed the words after Jamie’s retreating back.
Jamie returned to where Cindy stood in the shadows and took her hand. “I—”
“No. Don’t say a word. Not a word.” Cindy pulled away from Jamie and ran back across the sand to the deck. She brushed past the partiers and fled into the inn and up to her room.
Only when she reached the safety of her room did she take in a deep breath of air. She flipped on the lights and looked around the room, not seeing anything. She sank to the floor, her back to the door, and hugged her knees close to her chest.
* * *
Jamie stood at the corner of the inn, watching Cindy rush away from him. He froze in place, staring out into the night. Cindy’s pain had been palatable. It had spread over him, squeezing his heart, like the betrayal had happened to him, not to Cindy.
He’d half expected her to go marching up to George and tell him it was over.
She was going to tell George it was over, wasn’t she?
She couldn’t possibly marry the man. He was a cheater, that was obvious. And a pompous jerk. She deserved so much better than that.
He couldn’t stand by and let her throw her life away. Even if it’s what her mother and family wanted for her.
He stood for a moment and wrestled with the hard truth, not quite willing to let the thoughts fully develop.
He sighed then and gave up.
He couldn’t let her marry George, because—
Time to admit the truth, old boy.
Jamie scrubbed a hand across his face. The truth was—and he could just now admit it—he was in love with Cindy. He couldn’t bear for her to marry another man… much less that blockhead of a man, George.
Chapter 16
The next morning, his wedding day, George stood in his room, still annoyed at that Jamie guy for catching him with Alexis. He’d hoped to have a bit of fun last night, but Jamie had squashed his plans. Who could deny a man his last bachelor night fling?
Jamie had probably gone straight to Cynthia with his tattle telling. George needed to do something to smooth things over.
Now would probably be the perfect time to give Cynthia her wedding present, the way-too-expensive necklace. But he’d had to spend that much, both to impress her father and make his friends think he was doing better than he really was. He considered it an investment. Besides, soon he’d be married into the Pearson family. The sky was the limit then.
He crossed over to the desk in the room and pulled out a sheet of stationery from the drawer. He sat down and glanced at the page for a moment, then started to write in his precise, strong handwriting.
Dear Cynthia,
Just a small token of my affection for you. I look forward to becoming your husband this evening. I know I have my shortcomings, but I appreciate how you understand me and take me as I am. You know you are the only one for me. I’m so glad you said yes and I can’t wait to be married.
Love,
George
There, did that sound like something a woman would want to hear? The take m
e as I am line should work on her guilt and sense of obligation if Jamie did talk to her last night. The whole only one for me line was pretty good too, if he did say so himself.
He sealed the letter and went to find his best man to deliver it, and the necklace, to his bride-to-be. For some reason, the woman believed in that crazy tradition of not seeing the groom on the day of the wedding before the ceremony. Well, he’d humor her today.
He opened the door to his room and ran into Vanessa. Oh, even better than giving it to his best man. Vanessa would be sure to tell her parents about the necklace.
“Vanessa, could you do me a little favor? Won’t take you long.”
“What is it?” Vanessa looked a little unsure. He couldn’t blame her, she probably had a million little details to wrap up as the maid of honor. He paused for a moment and looked critically at Vanessa. A fine looking woman. Always so well put together. She seemed to truly enjoy all the social obligations and functions her family went to. It’s too bad Cynthia wasn’t a bit more like her sister, but surely he could get her to change over time. One thing he wanted to do was to buy her a whole new wardrobe. After the marriage, they’d be invited to all the big events in Lexington and around on the big horse racing events. They needed to make a good impression, a super-couple if he had anything to say about it. He’d waited a long time to find the perfect match, he just hoped Cynthia didn’t mess that up for him.
He was fond of the woman. She was intelligent and had some charming friends he’d gotten to know. Well, not quite friends, but acquaintances.
“The favor?” Vanessa’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Yes, I have this present for Cynthia. I wonder if you could bring it to her room for me. She doesn’t want me to see her before the wedding.”
“Ah, that’s our Cynthia. Always lost in one of her fantasy versions of life.” Vanessa shook her head. “Yes, I’ll drop it off now.”
“Thanks, Vanessa. I appreciate it.”
He watched as Vanessa headed down the hall to Cynthia’s room and smiled to himself. Hopefully the necklace would get him firmly back in Cynthia’s good graces if that Jamie character had tried to interfere.
* * *
Cindy woke up to a stream of sunshine flooding in through the window. She glanced at the clock and saw it was already after eight in the morning. How could she have slept in so late? She had so much to do.
Her wedding day!
She rolled over, pushed up, and sat on the side of the bed, excitement rushing through her.
Then she remembered.
She remembered everything.
All the events from yesterday came flooding back. Tripping at the rehearsal and again at the dinner. George kissing the waitress.
She flopped back down on the mattress and threw an arm across her eyes, blocking the sunshine, blocking the memories that taunted her.
She lay motionless on the bed until a knock at the door broke through her thoughts. With a sigh, she pushed up off the bed and went to answer the door.
Cindy opened the door and Vanessa pushed into the room. “The humidity here is going to ruin my hairdo today. Can it get any muggier?”
“The breeze is supposed to pick up this afternoon. That will help blow some of the humidity away.” She’d been obsessively checking the weather all week. It looked like it would be ideal weather this evening.
“I heard they are low on hot water. I took a shower early this morning so I wouldn’t be caught taking a cold one later.” Vanessa walked over to the mirror and looked at herself. “Unless, of course, I die of heat stroke before the ceremony even begins.”
Cindy went back and sat on the bed, waiting for her sister to end her litany of complaints.
“Oh, before I forget. George gave me this to give to you.” Vanessa reached into the large leather handbag she was carrying and handed Cindy a small wrapped package and an envelope.
Cindy stared at the obviously store-wrapped gift.
“Aren’t you going to open it? Go ahead. See what it is.” Vanessa stood expectantly beside the bed.
Cindy pried open the envelope and pulled out the letter. She read it quickly. George was always a good one with his words.
“Open it.” Vanessa nodded towards the present.
Cindy slowly untied the ribbon on the box and unwrapped the present. A pretty emerald-green jewelry box was emblazoned with the name of the most renowned jeweler in Lexington. She pried the box open and gaped at the diamond necklace. It was exquisite. She’d give him that.
Vanessa squealed. “Oh, look at that. It’s gorgeous. It must have cost a fortune.” She reached out for the box. “All those diamonds! Here, try it on.”
Vanessa pulled the necklace from the box and Cindy obediently pulled her hair up so her sister could fasten the necklace. She got up and crossed to the mirror and locked eyes with the stranger looking back at her. The diamonds encircled her throat and glistened in the light.
“You are one lucky woman.” Vanessa’s voice held a tinge of awe. “That is gorgeous.” Vanessa stood beside her.
Cindy looked at her sister’s reflection in the mirror. “It is pretty. He does have good taste in jewelry.”
“That’s all you’re going to say about it? He has good taste in jewelry? You are wearing a fortune around your neck. Wake up. You’ve caught the most eligible bachelor of the century.”
Cindy reached up to touch the stones. “I’ve been thinking about that.”
“About how lucky you are?”
“Thinking about George.” Cindy bit her lower lip.
“Don’t bite your lip like that. So unattractive.” Vanessa shook her head. “Wait a minute. Someone is at the door.”
Her sister crossed the room and swung the door open. “Mother, come in and see what George just gave Cynthia.”
Cindy watched her mother cross the room, impeccably dressed in a light blue linen suit with shoes that cost over a month’s salary for most of the real world. Here she was, slipping into her mother’s world, where zeroes didn’t seem to matter on the price of things… or maybe the zeroes were all that did matter.
“Cynthia, that necklace is just perfect. Look at it. You must be thrilled. That George is a keeper. You’re so lucky.”
“I was just telling her that.” Vanessa sank onto the bed. “But she was just about to tell me what she’s been thinking about.”
Her sister said the word “thinking” like it was a sure sign of crazy.
“I said I’d been thinking about George.” Cindy started the subject tentatively.
“Well, that’s good. You’re marrying him today.” Her mother picked at a mythical piece of lint on her skirt.
“That’s the thing.” Cindy summoned up her courage.
Vanessa eyed her suspiciously. “What’s the thing?”
“Last night I caught him kissing that young waitress. Or she was kissing him, but it’s not like he stopped her.”
“Don’t be a goose. It was probably just one of those last-night-of-being-a-bachelor things.”
“He flirts with a lot of women.”
“But, for some unknown reason he chose you, didn’t he? So, what’s your problem? Men are like that anyway. Anything flashy catches their eye. Marriage is more like a… business arrangement. You need to marry someone compatible. Someone who runs in your same circles.” Vanessa jumped up and went over to stand beside Cindy. “You need to realize, he might flirt a bit. That’s okay, but with any luck, he’ll still come home to you.”
“What if that’s not enough?” Cindy’s heart pounded in her chest. “I’m just not sure.”
“Of course you’re sure. You can’t embarrass your father and me like that, by changing your mind now. We have business associates here, our friends. It’s time to stop living in your fantasy world. George is a good catch.” Her mother crossed the floor with precise steps on her very high heels. “You need to quit this ridiculous talk.”
“Mother, I’m confused. Worried. Sometimes I’m not
even sure he’s in love with me.”
“Of course he is. Look at that diamond necklace he just gave you. That says he loves you.”
“Does it?”
“You are the most frustrating sister of all time.” Vanessa flounced back across the room and sat on the bed. “I will never understand you. Look at that necklace. Of course he loves you.”
“I don’t know how I feel about him anymore. He was so… non supportive when I fell yesterday. Like I did it on purpose to embarrass him.”
“Well, you did embarrass him in front of all his friends and our friends.” Her mother arched an eyebrow.
“I didn’t mean to. I just… tripped.”
“Yes, well, let’s try not to do that today, okay?” Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Cynthia, you need to stop this nonsense now. You’re just having normal bride nervousness. Put it out of your mind. Promise me.” Her mother turned away before Cindy even had a chance to answer. “Come on Vanessa. We should give Cindy time to shower and get ready. The hairdresser will be here soon.”
“We talked you out of all this craziness, didn’t we?” Vanessa paused with her hand on the doorknob. “You’ll quit the over-thinking thing?”
Cindy nodded, because she’d learned long ago that it was easier to agree with Vanessa and her mother than not.
“Good. We’ll see you soon.” Vanessa swept out of the room with her mother right behind her.
Cindy sat on the bed and stared at her recently manicured nails and the glittering diamond ring George had given her for their engagement. She reached up and touched the diamond necklace. Now this. His way of asking for her forgiveness? By way of an apology?
True, he hadn’t even said he was sorry or asked for forgiveness. He probably didn’t even know she knew he’d kissed someone else last night. Kissed Alexis for longer than he’d kissed her any time since he’d gotten to Belle Island. Maybe longer than he’d ever, ever kissed her.
Chapter 17
Susan gathered her courage and knocked on the doorframe of her son’s office. “You got a minute?”
