Memories of Andi’s own wedding flashed through her mind. The extravagance of the affair had highlighted the differences between her family and Chad’s. Her mother couldn’t afford it, but Chad’s mother insisted and paid. Of course, that also meant that she planned the event. Maybe Dana had the right idea, keeping it simple. âWow. Youâve thought this through.â
Dana continued to talk about Atlantic City, and the chapels and hotels, while Andi half-listened. Images of the vaulted ceilings of the cathedral, the sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows, and all Andi’s hopes and dreams — it seemed so perfect at the time. When Chad slipped that gold ring on her finger, she thought it was happily-ever-after come true. And now her finger bore the marks of wearing that ring for the past six years. Even with the ring off, the faint indentation remained as a reminder of her marriage.
Danaâs voice broke Andi’s reverie. âHey! You tuned me out!â
The corners of Andi’s mouth twitched up. âIâm sorry. Just zoned out for a moment.â
âThinking about Chad?â Dana rested her elbows on the table.
Andi looked down and nodded.
âI thought so.â Dana gestured towards her friend’s left hand. âI noticed youâre not wearing your wedding ring anymore.â
Andi rubbed the dented area on her ring finger and shrugged. âIt was time to take it off.â
Dana brightened and said, âHey, I’ve already talked to Kelly Anderson about being my wedding planner. Are you free Friday afternoon to go for an appointment?”
“She owns Blissful Beginnings, right?” Andi took a sip of iced tea.
“Yes, and she’s agreed to find me a gorgeous vintage gown.”
Andi smiled. “That is so you.” She pushed down the worry about money. How could she afford a bridesmaid dress, a gift, all the other stuff that came along with a wedding?
Dana grinned. “I know, right?”
Friday afternoon, the girls met at Blissful Beginnings, located in a quaint little white cottage just west of the harbor. The sisters who owned the business built up quite a reputation for putting together weddings on a budget, featuring “pre-enjoyed” dresses. While Kelly selected dresses that met Dana’s style requests, Dana filled Andi in. The meal with Derekâs parents went well, and they welcomed her into their family with open arms. They pretty much had already, one of the reasons Andi was so happy for her friend. Since Dana’s parents died when she was in her early 20s, she felt like an orphan, but didnât fall into the traditional child orphan category. Holidays were always tough for her, and Andi had been relieved when Derekâs parents invited her to join them for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
That had always been a sore spot between Chad and Andi. She invited her best friend to join them for Thanksgiving the previous fall, but he pitched a fit, claiming it interfered with his plans, that he worked hard and deserved some time alone and didnât want to entertain anyone. He forbid Andi to invite her friend to join them, but she’d already done so. He didnât care, and sneered, told her that if she didnât tell her friend not to show up, heâd make sure the rest of the holidays would be miserable. The fact that Derekâs parents invited Dana to their holiday get-together saved Andi the embarrassment of having to uninvite her.
âHey! Youâre doing it again!â
Andi started. “What?”
“You’re zoning out.” Dana frowned, concern in her eyes. âYou know, if you donât want to be my maid of honor, itâs okay. Really. I know this is difficult for you.â
Andi glanced at her friend and grinned. âYour maid of honor? Of course, Iâd be, well, honored!â
âAnd you’re looking forward to going to A.C. with us?â The excitement in her friend’s voice bubbled over.
âItâd be fun. Iâve always wanted to go. Chad went a couple of times …â Her voice trailed off as she remembered the credit card receipts in his dresser. He could afford to go, surely she’d be able to find a way to. She ran a hand through her short hair.
Dana reached out and touched Andi’s forearm. âYou okay?â
Andi shrugged. “I found receipts in Chad’s stuff. He was seeing someone in Atlantic City.”
“How can you be sure? I mean, he went to conferences right? So he’d keep receipts for his taxes, right?”
“Receipts for double rooms? For steak dinners at romantic restaurants? I’m not that stupid.”
“I’m so sorry, Andi.” Dana paused. “But you kind of suspected, didn’t you?”
Andi’s lips pressed into a thin line and she stared at her friend through narrowed eyes. “Did you know?”
“No.” Dana answered quickly, then shrugged and looked away. “Maybe. I mean, I suspected. But didn’t know for sure. If I’d ever known for sure, I would’ve told you. You know that, right?”
Andi nodded. She’d had her doubts, but hadn’t had the guts to confront him about it. Couldn’t blame Dana. Or herself. Chad was the one who’d cheated.
âSo, will this be too tough for you? Going to a wedding so soon, I mean?â
âNo,â Andi shook her head firmly and met her friend’s earnest gaze. âThis is for you. Chad is in the past. Over and done with. Iâm moving on with my life, and not looking back.â
âGood for you.â Dana pulled a binder of invitations off the table and flipped through it. Just then, Kelly and Noelle entered the room, each laden with gorgeous gowns. They made the pair feel like real VIPs. The friends sipped on champagne and nibbled on hors dâoeuvres while Kelly talked to Dana about what she wanted, the feeling she wanted to convey with her event. The consultants treated Dana like royalty, and had her try on several gowns. Dana grinned from ear to ear the whole time, but when Kelly helped her into a flowing ivory gown with a deep v-neck, Dana absolutely glowed. The column of elegantly draped fabric, with incredible crystal detail at the waist and a slight flare at the foot, fit the redhead perfectly, as if it were made just for her. Andi wiped away a tear when her friend turned and the skirt swirled around her. There was no question â that was the dress.
And then it was Andi’s turn. She tried on dresses from designers, but she and Dana agreed that the one-shouldered pale pink dress that hit her just above the knee was the best fit. The simple, elegant gown hugged Andi’s rounded hips and generous bust as if it were made for her. And to Andi’s relief, she could afford it. Thank goodness for vintage!
The two women congratulated themselves on finding their dresses, then Kelly came in with a selection of veils and shoes. Dana tried several veils, but didn’t find anything she liked, until Noelle brought in an elegant pearl and crystal headband decorated with a delicate feather flower. They turned their attention to shoes, and took turns trying them on and walking like models, but they opted for white flip flops accented with crystals. Both consultants assured them modern brides often opted for casual footwear, that eliminated the chance for falling down the aisle.
Before they knew it, everything was picked out and the pair finished shopping. It had been such an enjoyable experience, a welcome escape from the everyday stress of life, Andi almost hated for it to end.
The friends toasted their good fortune at finding their dresses while they waited for the dresses to be hung up and accessories bagged. Dana reached for her purse, but Andi stopped her and pulled out her MasterCard. She could pay it off a little at a time.
She handed the credit card to Kelly. âThis is on me.â
âNo,â Dana shook her head, and pushed a stray ringlet of red hair behind her ear. âThereâs no way I can let you do that.â
âYes, you can. I wouldnât have gotten through the last couple of months without you. Your friendship means a lot to me, and this is my wedding gift to you.â
Dana smiled and hugged Andi. When they pulled apart, a tear ran down Dana’s cheek and Andi’s heart swelled.
Kelly appeared in the doorway. She smiled apologetically and handed the card back to Andi in two pieces. Dana gasped. Andi frowned and looked at the woman with rounded eyes, torn between confusion and anger.
Kelly said, âIâm so sorry, Andi, but your card was declined. When I called to check on it, they instructed me to destroy the card, as it’s a frozen account and no longer valid.â
22
âI donât understand.â Andi’s jaw dropped. She’d never been so much as late with a payment, and paid on the account every month since Chad’s death. Of course, before that the account had been paid in full every month. Now all she could pay was the minimum payment, but still. She paid on time, and the balance was small.
âYou’re welcome to use our telephone if you would like to call your card issuer,â Kelly said, gesturing to the phone on the glass-topped end table next to the sofa.
Dana opened her wallet and interrupted, âHere, just use my card for now and weâll straighten this out later.â
Andi blinked and nodded. The woman took the offered card and left to process it. Stunned, Andi flipped the card pieces over and held them together so she could make out the customer service number. She dropped onto the sofa and dialed the number. After navigating the automated maze, she finally reached a live customer service representative and explained the situation.
To Andi’s utter horror, the representative explained the account had been frozen. In heavily accented English, he said, “We received the notification from the cardholder’s attorney informing us that the cardholder has become deceased.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes, that is correct. My husband is deceased, but I am his widow.”
With a bored voice, the representative explained, “There is nothing further for to do, since the cardholder is deceased. The account is frozen and not to be used.”
Finally, after trying in vain to explain, Andi hung up, frustrated and irritated and embarrassed. How could this happen? Every time she started to feel happiness, Chad reached out to hurt her yet again.
Kelly returned and Dana signed the charge slip. Andi hovered in the background as the other two women discussed the arrangements to have the dresses and accessories delivered to Dana’s house.
As they walked out of the store, Dana said, “Still okay if we stop by the jewelry store? Maybe it’d be fun for you to have your wedding ring reset?”
Andi glanced back at the store front, still smarting from the embarrassment of having her credit card destroyed. She lifted her chin and patted her purse, where she’d put her wedding ring just that morning. “You read my mind. I’d been considering doing just that.”
They drove past the harbor and pulled into Jewels by the Sea, where they started in the bridal section, and Dana tried on several beautiful rings. She kept going back to a thick gold band sprinkled with diamonds. It was unlike anything Andi had ever seen before. The price tag made Andi’s eyes pop, but the saleswoman, Josephine, pointed out that a wedding set is something you wear every single day, with every outfit, for life, so it should be something that you really, truly love.
Perhaps that was why Andi had been disappointed when Chad surprised her with her ring. The solitaire was huge and her wedding set wasnât what she would’ve picked. It looked more like a fancy cocktail ring than a wedding ring. It stuck up too high from her finger and caught on everything. Not practical, not beautiful. Her mother described it as ostentatious.
After Josephine helped Dana, she turned her attention to Andi and asked if there was anything she could show her. Andi explained that she wanted to reset her wedding ring and engagement ring. Given the recent credit card fiasco, she hoped it wouldn’t be too expensive.
The woman nodded and said, âAh, yes, we see a lot of divorced women come in to have their stones reset into right hand rings or pendants, or even earrings.â
Andi caught the word divorced, and saw Dana wrinkle her nose. She’d caught it, too. Apparently widows didnât usually have their stones reset. But Andi wasnât an average widow. Her wedding ring didnât hold happy memories. She pulled the box from her purse and flipped it open. The diamonds sparkled under the bright lights of the store displays.
âI was thinking something in a pendant,â Andi said, almost as a question.
The saleswoman took the ring out of the box, then produced a jewelerâs loupe from her pocket and held it up to her eye. She squinted and said, âOh, I think we can find something special for you to commemorate your lost love.â
The door chime rang. Andi glanced up and felt her heart drop. The raven-haired beauty she’d seen with Paul walked towards her. No, she didn’t walk. She floated. Her thin t-shirt and skinny jeans clung to her slender form, long lashes framed dark chocolate eyes, and her flawless complexion completed her perfection. Her straight, black tresses reached nearly to her waist. Her face broke into a wide smile as she approached, and Andi froze.
23
Andi swallowed hard, and wondered what to say to the woman, but she walked right past, never even so much as making eye contact. Her eyes focused at a point at the rear of the store. Andi let her breath out in a rush, and blinked as the woman glided past.
Danaâs fingers gripped her arm, squeezing tightly.
âHere we go, maâam. Perhaps we could do something in platinum?â The saleswoman pulled out a couple of empty settings while Andi watched the images in the mirrored wall.
Andi shook her head, “No, I don’t think I can afford platinum. Perhaps something in silver?” She looked over Josephine’s shoulder as Paulâs wife greeted a lanky, scruffy looking man with wavy blonde hair who looked even younger than she did. She tipped her head up and presented her cheek for him to kiss, then he put his arm around her shoulders in a casual gesture of protectiveness, and they bent to look at watches in the case.
Andi half listened as Josephine chattered on about the various settings that would work with the stones from her ring. She nodded and mmm-hmmmmed, while she continued to watch the mirror with curiosity as Paulâs wife â it occurred to Andi that she didnât know his wife’s name - selected a matching set of Citizen watches, and paid with a gold credit card. The two of them admired their new purchases as they walked past Dana and Andi and out the door, the chime merrily announcing their exit.
Andi felt frantic with the need to follow them. Maybe this meant Paul was telling the truth about his marriage. She rubbed her temples and said, âDana, Iâm sorry, but Iâve suddenly got a horrible headache. Iâm going to go out and get some fresh air.â
Dana looked at her sideways and frowned, but followed Andi out the door. As soon as Andi pushed through the door, she looked to her right and saw the handsome couple strolling away, arm in arm.
âWhat are you doing?â Dana demanded. She stepped in front of Andi.
Andi pushed past her, shrugged and tracked the couple so she wouldnât lose them in the meandering tourists that filled the sidewalks.
Dana hissed in a loud whisper, âAre you out of your mind? Donât get caught up in this. Itâs a tangled up mess, and you donât need any part of it.â
Dana grabbed Andi by the arm and spun her around. Her green eyes flashed, her cheeks flamed and her lips pressed together in a thin line. âWould you get your head out of your ass, just for a moment? I have put up with your sorrow, your guilt, your whining and going on about messing around with a married man, but I am not going to let you ruin my engagement.”
“I’m not-” Andi protested.
Dana cut in, “Oh, yes, you are. We came up here to pick out my wedding ring. You drag me out of the jewelry store before I’m ready, and now you want me to tag along with you while you chase after your lover’s wife?!”
Andi jerked her arm away, feeling her own cheeks burning. “First of all, he is not my lover, and second of all … “
“Second of all, what?” Da
na’s fists perched on her hips, green eyes flashing.
Suddenly, Andi deflated.
Her best friend was right.
Dana deserved to be the center of attention today. Andi shook her head and sagged. “Damn. I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
Dana stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets and turned to walk toward the Jeep. Andi followed, feeling like a heel, but couldn’t help glancing back down the street one more time. She spotted them a couple blocks down, where they disappeared into another store. There was a sandwich board outside. Whoopie’s. Andi quickened her step, and caught up with her best friend just as Dana put her hand on the passenger door handle.
Andi grabbed Dana’s arm and said, “I’m sorry. Do you want to go get something to eat, then go back to the jewelry store?”
Dana sighed. “I don’t know. I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have blown up at you like that. It’s just that I saw Chad treat you like dirt for so long, and now I can see the same thing happening with Paul, and-”
Andi protested, “Oh, no, Paul treats me great-”
Dana’s red curls swung as she shook her head. “No! No, he doesn’t. Canât you see that? He’s married.”
Andi latched onto the only thing she could. “To a woman who’s cheating on him.” She lifted her chin stubbornly.
“And he’s cheating on her. Sounds like an upstanding guy to me. Perfect marriage material.” Her best friend’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
To Andi’s surprise, her temper flared. She took pride in the fact that she and Paul hadn’t let it get physical. The muscles in her jaw clenched. “He’s not cheating on her. He and I are just friends.”
Dana snorted. “You may be just friends now. But he’d sleep with you in a heartbeat if you gave him the signal. And who knows how many other ‘friends’ he has.”
Andi did not like the way the conversation was going, so she tamped down her anger. “We’ll have to simply agree to disagree. What are you hungry for?” Seemed like she was always trying to placate those around her, trying to keep them happy, avoid confrontation.
Fatal Impulse: A Widow's Web Novel Page 14
