The Wedding Truce

by Kerri Carpenter

  She felt like she was in the middle of a fairy tale. Finally. Xander was making all her dreams come true. He was just perfect. When they were together, everything was perfect.

  After all the years of angst and heartache, it was a strange feeling to be happy with how things were. She’d never gotten over the abandonment from her mom. That’s why she wanted things to go on a certain way. With Xander, she had that chance.

  And nothing could go wrong. She wouldn’t allow it. Her fairy tale had to come true.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “You realize you just poured syrup in your coffee and milk on your pancakes.”

  “Huh?” Xander looked up at Jack’s statement.

  Jack pointed at Xander’s plate. Xander glanced down. “Oh, damn.”

  “What’s with you? Enjoy those strawberries last night?”

  Xander offered a finger of choice to his best friend, who only laughed. “The only thing I’m going to say is that Grace loved them, so thanks for that.”

  “I’m here for you. For example...” He gestured for the waitress to come over. “Could you please get my lovesick friend here a new plate and mug? Love has blinded him.”

  “How sweet.” The waitress smiled and rushed to fulfill the request.

  “I am not lovesick, you ass. I’m just tired.”

  Jack winked. “I’ll bet.”

  Xander threw his napkin at him. “Not like that.” Well, maybe a little. “I was busy planning a party all day yesterday for you.”

  Jack was enjoying every second of this. Since it was the day before his wedding, Xander decided to let him have his moment of triumph. Luckily, his cell rang, anyway.

  “My dad.” He waved the phone in front of Jack. “Be right back.”

  “Great. I’ll try to get labels for the milk and syrup while you’re gone.”

  Xander flicked his finger up again and walked out of the restaurant into the hallway.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  “Hi, son.” Alex Ryan’s strong, loud voice bellowed through the phone. “I wanted to tell you that I had a client reschedule a meeting to this afternoon so I won’t be able to make it there until tomorrow morning. Can you relay that information to Jack and Emerson?”

  “No problem.”

  “I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend the rehearsal dinner,” he said.

  “I don’t think it’s a big deal. But I’ll let Jack and Em know, and Grace, too.”

  “Who’s Grace?”

  Jack started at the question. Who was Grace?

  She was everything.

  He leaned back against the wall in the hallway. “She’s the wedding planner.” Xander found it odd that he actually wanted to tell his dad about Grace. He held himself back, though. There was something else he needed to talk about first.

  “Dad, I have to ask you a question.”

  “Uh-oh, this sounds serious.”

  “It kind of is.” Xander was underplaying the importance of what he was about to ask. This was the question he’d had most of his life. He couldn’t even begin to fathom what the answer would be.

  “Let’s hear it,” his dad said.

  He raked a hand through his hair. “Why have you and mom stayed together?” He paused, taking a big breath. “With all the fighting and cheating and insults, why have you never just gotten a divorce?” He sucked in a sharp breath. As much as he wanted to know the answer, he was terrified of hearing it.

  “Ah, I wondered if you’d ever ask me that.”

  Really? He had? “And? What’s the answer? Why have you stayed together?”

  His father remained quiet for a very long moment. Finally, Xander heard him cough. “Because we didn’t have a prenup.”

  Xander blinked. Then he waited. There had to be more to it.

  “You’re thinking there’s more, right?” his father said, reading his mind. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that’s the reason.”

  “You’ve put up with all of this angst and fighting and discord over a little money.”

  His dad sighed. Xander could see him now. He was surely in his home office, sitting behind the massive oak desk that had belonged to his grandfather. He would turn at some point and wander over to the large picture window that looked out over the gardens.

  “We’re not talking about a small sum of money,” Alex continued. “I’ve informed you of all the assets, gone over our portfolio.”

  “Sure, but, Dad—”

  “I don’t care about the money I’ve made. But I do feel protective over my family’s money. I know how hard my father, and his father, worked to build our business from the ground up. There was so much blood, sweat and tears that went into it.”

  Xander’s mind was racing as he tried to process this very strange news. “Does Mom know...? I mean, did you ever discuss separating, er, is it really about the money?”

  Despite everything, his dad laughed. “It’s about a lifestyle.” He sighed again, loudly. “I hate to admit this, but it’s also about appearances. Your mother may not like me sometimes, but she does enjoy her lifestyle.”

  Xander wanted to punch the wall. This was absolutely ridiculous.

  “Listen, Xan, your mother and I weren’t always like this. We really got along in the beginning. I wouldn’t have married her if it had been like this. She was fun and sweet and full of life. I couldn’t wait to marry her.”

  “You married her because of me,” Xander said softly. At least, that’s what he’d always thought. He was born eight months after his parents’ anniversary date.

  “What?” He heard shock in his father’s voice.

  “Mom got pregnant and that’s why you married her.”

  “Who told you that? It’s nonsense.”

  Xander froze, quickly redoing the math in his head. “It is?”

  “We got married because we were in love. Or we thought we were. Maybe we were in lust. We were definitely young. You were conceived on our honeymoon.”

  “But my birthday...”

  “You were born a month earlier than your due date. Tiniest little thing I’d ever held.”

  Xander’s mouth fell open. For most of his life, he’d assumed his parents married because of him. He’d hoped they hadn’t stayed together because of him. In fact, he realized that was why he hadn’t had this conversation earlier. He didn’t want to be the reason for two people’s ongoing unhappiness.

  His dad went on. “We met as college students. Your mother was working in a restaurant that I used to frequent quite often.” He chuckled. “I went there because she worked there, if you must know. The food was horrible. She was poor. Really poor.”

  “Did that bother you?”

  “Not in the slightest. But it did irk your grandfather. He liked your mom for the most part, but he was definitely of an older generation with very set and stringent ways.”

  Xander’s grandfather had passed away when he was ten. They hadn’t been superclose, but he had enjoyed the time he spent with Poppa Ryan. He’d spoiled Xander with toys. But he also used to talk about the value of a dollar and hard work.

  “I’m surprised Poppa didn’t make you sign a prenup.”

  “I’m sure he would have if your mother and I hadn’t eloped.”

  His parents had eloped? How was it possible that Xander never knew this? “Wait a minute,” he said suspiciously. “There’s a wedding photo of the two of you hanging in the front sitting room.”

  “After we eloped, and your poppa yelled at me for a couple of days, he threw us the society wedding that was expected of someone in my position. Then we went on our honeymoon and eight months later, we had you.”

  “When did it start to go bad?”

  His dad mumbled something under his breath. Xander waited.

  “You know, Xan, it doesn’t really matter.” He exhaled lou
dly. “I know our marriage has affected you. I tried to ignore that fact over the years. I’m sorry about that because it hasn’t been fair to you.”

  “You didn’t answer my question about when things went bad.”

  “I’m not going to.”

  Xander knew that resolute tone. He’d heard it many times over the years. Don’t take the car out this weekend. Be home by eleven. Get an A in algebra or no summer camp. There would be no talking his way out of it.

  “It doesn’t matter when things went downhill. It’s between me and your mom. You need to stop worrying about us. Go out there and live your own life. Make your own mistakes.”

  Xander shook his head, feeling a massive headache beginning.

  His dad reaffirmed that he would be at the wedding tomorrow and they ended the call.

  Xander’s mind was swimming with a million new things to obsess over. From his parents eloping to the fact that they didn’t get married because of him. But the one thing that stood out was the prenup. At least, that’s what Xander focused on. After all, he saw countless clients with the same issue. They postponed divorce due to a money issue.

  He watched Emerson bounce into the restaurant with her sister in tow, reminding him of why he was here. His best friend was getting married.

  Suddenly, he felt a renewed energy. Maybe he didn’t find out everything about his parents today but at least he learned one thing. And it was something he could make sure Jack, his oldest friend, didn’t have to worry about.

  He whipped out his cell and punched the button for work. Rachel picked up on the first ring.

  “Rach, I need you to do me a favor. I’m going to be putting together a quick file.”

  He couldn’t save his parents’ marriage, but he would make certain that he helped his best friend.

  * * *

  “What did you call me up here for? I was about to take a little pre–rehearsal dinner nap.”

  Jack sat down in one of the chairs in Xander’s room, leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankles.

  “Nap time can wait,” Xander said. “I have something that is much more important.”

  Jack snorted. “According to my soon-to-be bride, nothing is more important than beauty sleep.”

  Xander rolled his eyes. “You’re beautiful enough. Now take a look at this.” He presented him with the file he’d been working on for the last couple of hours.

  Jack scanned the document, confusion showing on his face. “What is this?”

  Xander sat in the chair opposite him. “Granted, it was rushed. But we can hash out the specific details and go through any assets and such.”

  “Is this...?” Jack glanced up, meeting Xander’s eyes. “Is this a prenuptial agreement?”

  “Yes.”

  “For me and Emerson?”

  “You see anyone else getting married around here?” Xander said. Jack clearly needed that nap, and not just for beauty reasons. He wasn’t making any sense.

  Jack read through the prenup for another minute. Then he closed the folder and handed it back to Xander.

  “What are you doing?” Xander asked.

  Jack shook his head. “I don’t need this.”

  Xander clutched the folder in his hands. “Dude, listen, you should really consider this.”

  “Seriously, I’m good. Emerson and I aren’t doing a prenup. We’ve discussed it already.”

  “You have?”

  Jack laughed lightly. “Don’t you think if I was going to require any kind of legal document pertaining to my marriage I would have come to you?”

  Xander placed the folder on the coffee table. He opened the cover and scanned over it again. Then he met his best friend’s stare. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He gulped. “Listen, I just wanted to make sure you were covered.”

  “Ah, gee, I knew you cared.” Jack slapped his leg. “I’m not mad. But I am curious. What made you think to do this?”

  Xander rubbed at his temples. Then he told Jack all about his conversation with his father. When he was done, he felt spent. He ran a hand through his hair. “So I just thought that I would make sure you were never put in the same position as my mom and dad.”

  Jack nodded. “I get it. I do. But Em and I are not your parents. We’re never going to be your parents,” added quickly when Xander tried to protest. “And I have some more news that’s going to blow your mind.”

  “Hit me,” Xander said, tired, but mildly curious.

  “You are not your parents, either.”

  “Thank God for that,” Xander said dryly.

  Jack’s smile faded. “Listen, I know I’ve been giving you crap about this thing between you and Grace. But I’m actually really excited for you, and not just because it’s Grace. I’ve seen what you’ve been through over the years. I’m happy that you’ve finally realized that you can be happy, too. Especially with a woman as hot as Grace.”

  Xander leaned forward and punched him in the shoulder. “Shut up.” As he sat back, he frowned. “Can I be happy?”

  He was truly asking. He thanked his lucky stars for Jack, because his best friend seemed to understand that he needed a real answer.

  Jack’s brow wrinkled as he narrowed his eyes. “It doesn’t matter that your parents have a crazy relationship. It doesn’t even matter if every couple on the planet showed up in your office wanting a divorce.”

  “What does matter then, Obi-Wan?”

  Jack leaned closer and rapped his knuckles against Xander’s chest. “What’s in here. Your relationship with Grace is what’s important and other people’s relationships have no bearing on that.”

  Xander felt like someone had just dumped a bucket of cold water over him. He’d just woken up from a lifelong sleep that had kept him from relationships.

  Jack was absolutely right. It didn’t matter that his parents kept up their insane charade or that he dealt with crappy marriages on a daily basis. None of those things had anything to do with Grace.

  Because when he closed his eyes and thought of her, he was filled with good feelings: positivity, hope, laughter...and love.

  He was in love with Grace. Holy crap!

  Xander waited for the fear. None came. He searched for dread, but only felt excitement.

  He looked over at Jack. “I’m in love with Grace Harris.”

  Jack grinned. “Well, then. It’s a good day.”

  * * *

  It was a good day. Grace felt like her fairy tale was coming true and she couldn’t believe it was due to Xander Ryan.

  Plus, her best friend was about to marry the man of her dreams. Despite the short timeline, the wedding was on track with minimal issues.

  Yes, everything was good today.

  She practically strutted into the lobby of the hotel. She needed to swing by the restaurant and make sure everything was set for the rehearsal dinner.

  “You look happy.”

  She stopped at the sound of Xander’s voice, butterflies assaulting her stomach. “Hey, handsome.”

  “Back at you, gorgeous.”

  He was propped against the far wall, near the fireplace, looking every bit the GQ model. She would like nothing more than to ravish him right here and now. Instead, she would settle for the small kiss she laid on him. Even that sent sparks of electricity all through her body.

  “What are you doing down here?” she asked, putting some space between them so she didn’t follow through on the ravishing.

  “Waiting for Jack. He’s under the impression he’s going to hear my best man’s speech. Little does he know I have no intention of sharing it.”

  “Ah. Are you going with funny or sentimental?” she asked.

  “Both. It’s going to be epic.”

  She laughed. “We’ll see.” His confidence was so damn appealing.

  Her phone let out a littl
e chirp. She read the text message and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Hmm? Oh, nothing. My phone is almost out of juice.” She rifled around in her large tote bag. “I think I left my portable cell charger in your room. Can I go check?”

  “Sure. Want me to come?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  She hit his arm. “You have to meet Jack and I have a feeling that you have no interest in getting my charger.”

  “Sure I do. But as long as we’re up there...”

  She hit him again. “Down, boy.” She pocketed the key he handed over.

  His face had been relaxed as they’d bantered back and forth. But suddenly, a line formed on his forehead and his eyes darkened. “Listen, Grace, when you get back, I’d like to talk to you about something.”

  She clamped down on the worry that crept up her spine. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  He framed her face with his hands and kissed her slowly and thoroughly. “Things are very okay.”

  She would have to accept that for now. With a last look, she turned and walked away.

  Grace made her way to Xander’s room and let herself in. She saw her charger immediately. After she threw it in her bag, she turned and Xander’s key flew out of her hand. She bent to retrieve it, but as she straightened, something on the coffee table caught her eye.

  It looked like Xander had been doing some work this afternoon. Next to a small portable printer, an official-looking document was lying on the table for anyone to peruse. She bit her lip. She didn’t want housekeeping, or anyone else, to go through someone’s personal files so she lifted her hand to flip it over. But at the sight of Emerson’s name, she froze.

  Grace knew she shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t help it. Her eyes were faster than her brain and they scanned the document.

  It was a prenuptial agreement. For Emerson and Jack. Made by Xander. She frowned. She didn’t realize Em and Jack had a prenup.

  None of your business.

  Still, she couldn’t keep the disappointment at bay. Anyone who saw the two of them together would have no doubt they would be together forever.

  Then she spotted something else. The document had today’s date.