by Amanda Tru
“Very well, then,” Rhonda sighed sadly. “If things don’t work out, just know that you’ll always have a place at Snow White Bridal with me. With TeraLyn taking classes at the university, I don’t know that she will stick around as my assistant. And I care too much to let you fail completely.”
Why does her concern feel so insulting? London wondered, feeling very confused. Rhonda had a heart of gold. London just couldn’t figure out why Rhonda’s concern ruffled her feathers so much. She should feel grateful, not angry.
Rhonda left with a cheery goodbye and a wave of her hand, finally leaving London in peace. Several customers came and went, and London easily found orders, rang up purchases, and played the part of wardrobe assistant to those customers trying on the wares.
Estimating that Rhonda should be back any minute, London wandered back to her side of the store and checked her messages. With her brother, Dallas, getting married in two days, London wanted to make sure there weren’t any last-minute details that needed attending. London had designed and created the wedding dress for Dallas’s fiancée, Kate, and those for her bridesmaids as well. While the gowns hung ready and waiting on the hangers, it was London’s sister, Brooke’s, turn to work her florist magic and get the flowers ready. London was already planning on a late night tomorrow assisting Brooke’s preparations for the big day.
Then they’d do everything all over again for Brooke’s own wedding at the end of the summer. With the summer flanked by two family weddings, it promised to be busy. In fact, her siblings announcing their engagements is what prompted London to consider coming home. Both Dallas and Brooke immediately asked her to design the wedding dresses, and she knew that would take considerable time in the area. She’d grown so weary of living in southern California, especially after last year, and a few months in New York hadn’t quelled the longing for something different, or maybe it was the longing for something familiar.
London wanted to go home.
It had taken months of back and forth travel to move her business, and she’d only had her apartment and truly lived here for the past six weeks. While she still would need to travel at the request of certain clients or for the occasional fashion show, the move went better than London expected, and she felt convinced she’d made the right decision.
The bell jingled again, drawing London’s attention back to Rhonda’s shop. She glanced at the clock, hoping it was Rhonda arriving back and not another customer. While she didn’t mind helping, the steady stream of customers prevented London from getting her work done, and with the busy weekend ahead, she really needed to contact a few clients and mark some items off her to-do list.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t Rhonda who stood inside the door. Recognizing the visitor immediately, London stopped so suddenly that she dropped the scissors she held in her hand. It took the space of a few seconds to recover from seeing one of the last people she’d expected to step into a Crossroads bridal shop.
“London?” he asked, his face registering the same surprise that surely showed on London’s.
“Adam?” London choked out, completely forgetting the scissors still on the floor.
Adam suddenly laughed and hurried forward to give London a warm hug. “I heard you were back in town, but when I didn’t hear any more, I assumed you’d left again.”
“I guess I didn’t realize you were in town either,” London said, starting to regain her senses. “It’s good to see you! You look great!”
He really did. His face was different—more masculine and mature—but those eyes were the most familiar. Their beautiful amber color still held her captive as they peered at her from behind a pair of glasses that only served to make him look even more intelligent and appealing.
Adam’s laughing gaze turned serious as it searched her face with the same intensity that she searched his and finally ended locking with hers. “You look great, too, London. Of course, I’ve always expected you to be just as beautiful as you were in high school.”
London smiled tolerantly. Adam had been her high school sweetheart. She knew he’d loved her, but in the kind of puppy-love, fantasy way. “You had young eyes then, Adam. I’m afraid you always saw me as more than I was. I don’t think anyone could ever measure up to that teenage boy ideal.”
“I disagree,” Adam said easily. “Clearly, you haven’t looked in the mirror lately. I said I expected you to be just as beautiful. I didn’t expect you to be more.”
London laughed outright. “You flatterer! You must have taken a few lessons in charm since you asked me to the prom. I don’t remember you being so smooth!”
Adam grinned, showing a vision of the boy London once knew, but growing up had only done good things for him. His brown hair neatly waved across the top of his forehead above those amber-colored eyes. The planes of his face were strong but not rugged, handsome yet refined. He wore a suit that fit his lean body well, and in many ways, he resembled that tall, lanky boy she’d fallen for over a dozen years ago.
“I don’t recall a charm class in law school, but I probably picked it up along the way.”
“I heard you were a lawyer,” London acknowledged. “I think our mothers keep up with each other. So, are you in Crossroads visiting?”
“I live here,” Adam said. “I have law offices a few doors down from the bridal shop After law school, Murray Law here in town offered me a position. With the growth of Crossroads and the fact that Murray intended to retire in a couple years, it seemed like a good opportunity. I run the business myself now. You’ll have to look for the sign for Caldwell Law Offices.”
How could she not have realized that Adam was still here in Crossroads? True, there were many years when she hadn’t returned home at all, but she thought her mom kept her pretty up to date about the happenings around town. However, admittedly, when her mom’s conversation inevitably shifted to insinuating that London should really choose a guy to settle down with and offering nominations on candidates for the role of husband, London tended to tune her out.
“What about you?” he asked. “Are you here for Dallas’s wedding?”
“I actually moved back about six weeks ago,” London explained. “I’m renting space from Rhonda for my fashion designing business.” London gestured in the general direction of her end of the shop.
“Good for you!” Adam said brightly. “It’s great to see you following your dreams and starting a business. I hope you do well here. It’s often easier to be successful in a small town versus a place like Hollywood. Smaller pond and all that.”
And there it was. The automatic assumption that London had moved back to Crossroads because she’d failed. In reality, she’d moved back because her business was successful enough that she could live wherever she wanted. Did no one in town realize she was a top designer? Did no one recognize her name as the designer of wedding dresses and gowns featured in magazines and on nationally televised award shows? Surely her mom had bragged just a little around town!
Smiling tolerantly, London moved on from small talk, “So how can I—”
“Adam!” Rhonda greeted enthusiastically as she bustled through the front door. “I’m so glad I caught you!”
“Here are the papers you requested,” Adam said, extending a manila folder to Rhonda. “The renter’s agreement and terms and conditions should all be there. I just didn’t realize your tenant was London!”
“You two know each other?” Rhonda asked, warily looking from one to the other.
“Oh, yes! We graduated high school together,” Adam supplied.
“Papers?” London questioned, wanting to skip any further explanation of their relationship.
“We asked Adam to draw up a formal rental agreement for you to sign,” Rhonda explained. “It’s just putting in writing what we’ve already discussed. Of course, I didn’t think it necessary, but Mr. Snow insisted. You know how he is.”
“I don’t mind signing at all,” London said. She actually preferred it that way. She liked business dealings to
be formal and spelled out. Extending her hand to accept the folder, she offered. “I’ll look over the papers and sign them tonight. Then I’ll get them back to you tomorrow. Will that be okay?”
“No hurry,” Rhonda said easily, drawing the folder closer to herself. “Let me just look over it first, and I’ll give it to you in just a bit. It’s just a formality, of course.”
She turned and told Adam warmly, “Thank you for drawing those up. Can you stay a while? I know TeraLyn should be here shortly. I’m sure she’d like to see you.” Her carefully drawn-in eyebrows pumped up and down suggestively.
“I’m sorry, I’ve got to get back to the office,” Adam said, taking a step back and looking at his watch as if suddenly short on time.
The phone rang. With a reluctant goodbye, Rhonda hurried to answer it.
Instead of retreating for the door, Adam turned back and casually asked London. “Hey, London, how would you feel about going out and catching up sometime?”
London blinked, momentarily startled by the unexpected invitation. As her mind scrambled to keep up, she heard her voice responding. “That sounds like fun!”
What is this? Is this a date? Is it just old friends meeting?
“Great! Are you free tomorrow night?”
London breathed a sigh of relief. “No, I’m sorry,” she replied honestly. “My weekend is booked with Dallas’s wedding. We might need to get together some other time.”
On the one hand, London hoped he’d accept the vague “maybe someday” answer. Adam Caldwell was a good guy, but London’s heart still felt so bruised from last year that she hated to risk hurting him.
On the other hand, she felt a tingling of excitement at the idea that maybe his offer included more than a friendly catch-up session between friends. After all, they had been more than friends before, and London’s memory was good enough to clearly recall how Adam had made her feel in high school. This adult Adam seemed even more qualified to set a woman’s heart racing, and that thought alone was enough to terrify her.
“What about tonight?” he suggested. “We could grab some dinner when I’m done with work. Maybe about 5:30?”
London found herself nodding and smiling. “I’d like that.”
“Great!” Adam beamed. “Where should I pick you up?”
“How about the same place as usual—my parents’ house?” she said with humor. “I’m headed over there to help with some wedding preparations.”
Adam laughed. “Sounds good. It’s been a while, but I know the way. I’ll see you at 5:30.”
When Adam turned and headed toward the door, London caught sight of Rhonda standing by the cash register. She was no longer talking on the phone, and her face shone bright red and upset.
What’s wrong? London thought in alarm. Was the phone call bad news?
As Adam reached the front door, it opened, and TeraLyn Snow walked into the store.
“Oh, hi, Adam,” she said in surprise.
“Hi, TeraLyn,” Adam answered, shuffling around her while trying to make it out the door. “I was just dropping off some papers for your mom. Good to see you!” Having managed a successful maneuver, Adam hurried out the door as TeraLyn looked after him, her expression almost forlorn.
“TeraLyn, dear, I need you to go clean out the dressing rooms and hang the gowns back up on the racks where they belong,” Rhonda immediately instructed.
Before TeraLyn could respond or London could greet the young woman, Rhonda turned to London and said brusquely, “I need to speak with you privately.”
“Is something wrong?” London asked in concern. “Was it the phone call?”
Rhonda didn’t say anything but led the way back to London’s side of the store. Only when she positioned herself behind the display did she whirl back around and choke out. “London, dear, are you aware that Adam is TeraLyn’s boyfriend?”
Alarm shot the length of London’s spine. “No, I had no idea. I haven’t seen Adam in years and didn’t even know he still lived here.”
Rhonda nodded. “I was afraid of that. And now you’re going out with him, and I’m just so concerned about my TeraLyn!”
“I don’t know that Adam and I are going on a date,” London clarified. “I think he just wanted to catch up. I can explain that to TeraLyn.”
Rhonda waved away her suggestion as if it were an annoying gnat. “No, I think maybe it would be better if you just canceled. It hasn’t been very long since Adam and TeraLyn broke up. I think him eating dinner with anyone would just be too upsetting for my poor TeraLyn.”
“So, he’s her ex-boyfriend, not her current one?” London asked cautiously, wondering at what kernel of truth lay beneath Rhonda’s drama.
“It really is just a tiff,” Rhonda said briskly, brushing at an imaginary speck of dust on a nearby shelf. “I’m sure they’ll be back together in another week.”
London paused, trying to make sense of the situation, but not really getting anywhere. Finally, she managed. “I think I’ll keep our dinner plans for now and talk to TeraLyn. Thanks for the heads up, I didn’t know she and Adam had dated, and I certainly wouldn’t want to hurt her in any way.”
“Hmmph… well, it’s not just TeraLyn I’m concerned about.” Rhonda said, obviously not yet satisfied with London’s response. “I’m concerned about you as well. Your mom told me about the bad breakup you had last year. She was really worried about you. Wasn’t your boyfriend someone you met in Hollywood, like a set janitor or prop guy or something?”
“Something like that,” London conceded dryly, trying to conserve her patience in a reservoir that was beginning to run low.
“Well, I’m just not sure you’re ready to start something new after such heartbreak.” Rhonda’s brown eyes were warm and caring. “I don’t want you to get hurt, dear.”
London took a deep breath and responded quietly. “As far as I know, having dinner with someone doesn’t necessarily carry the label of ‘date’ with it. In which case, you’ve wasted a lot of worry. On the flip side, if it is a date, it certainly won’t be ‘starting anything new.’ Adam was my boyfriend in high school. Regardless of whether there is a continuation of anything romantic, I would like to talk and see what he’s like past age 18.”
Rhonda sighed dramatically. “I can see you’re going to stretch my prayers to the limit, my dear.”
London smiled. “I’ll take prayers over worry any day!”
Rhonda still didn’t seem satisfied, but London ignored her and came out from behind the display to get to work. Sighing every few seconds, Rhonda eventually wandered over to her own side to help TeraLyn, but it wasn’t until customers arrived and Rhonda became busy putting on the charm that London felt any relief from Rhonda’s disapproval.
Right before London left for the day, she finally saw her chance to talk to TeraLyn. While occupied with a client who seemed intent on auditioning every dress in the store, Rhonda didn’t notice London call her daughter over to her work table.
Not knowing how long she had until Rhonda’s all-seeing eyes combined with her exceptional eavesdropping talent, London spoke quickly and to the point. “TeraLyn, your mom mentioned that you and Adam Caldwell are dating, or were dating recently. She was a little vague on the timing.”
TeraLyn shut her eyes briefly and sighed. “I’m sorry. Mom wishes we were still dating, but we aren’t. Adam and I broke up several months ago, and Mom can’t seem to get over it. You can’t always tell the difference between reality and what Mom wishes were reality.”
“Adam asked me to dinner,” London said honestly, watching TeraLyn carefully for a reaction. “Your mom is worried that knowing Adam is going out with another woman—in particular, me, would hurt you. I tried to tell her that going to dinner didn’t necessarily signal anything romantic, but she’s just concerned for you.”
TeraLyn shook her head. “It’s always because she’s ‘concerned,’” she muttered. Then to London, she spoke clearly. “Adam is doing nothing wrong by asking you out. I alrea
dy knew you two dated in high school, and I think you both deserve to go out and have a good time. I don’t begrudge it at all, and I would like to see Adam move on. He’s a great guy.”
“So, it wouldn’t hurt you for me to date him?” London clarified. She didn’t want any gray area remaining.
TeraLyn smiled sadly. “I don’t have the right to feel hurt. After all, I’m the one who broke up with him.”
London startled, looking at the young woman carefully. There was so much that TeraLyn was not saying. Not only about her relationship with Adam, but about her life in general. She was quiet and, in many ways, the opposite of her mother. London wondered what lay beneath the calm exterior she presented to the world. Was she happy working here with her mom? What did she want out of life?
Yet, London didn’t feel close enough to her to ask for more personal information. With her perpetual aura of sadness still in place, TeraLyn said she hoped London had a nice time with Adam tonight and retreated back to finish her work in the dressing rooms.
London watched TeraLyn try to avoid her mother’s line of vision, choosing a zigzagging path to get back to the other side without being delegated to do something else.
While relieved that TeraLyn wasn’t hurt by the idea of her going out with Adam, London still felt mixed feelings. She didn’t know how to think or feel about Adam. She’d wanted to come home and return to the way of life and values she’d once held dear. After searching the world, even in the literal sense, she’d found that nothing quite compared to her memory of home. But did that include Adam Caldwell?
Now, she had the way clear to resurrect the past and not just in her faith and lifestyle. At one time, she’d thought Adam was the one she’d one day meet at the end of the aisle. Could that still be a possibility, even after all this time?
