by Rachel Hanna
“So, I take a yoga class down on the square at the spa where I work. They have a new teacher there named Monica. She’s beautiful and super sweet.”
“Get to the point.”
“Anyway, we’ve become friends over the last several months. She had a boyfriend who was working overseas for some engineering firm. She talked about him all the time, and when he finally came home, he proposed to her. She was so excited and kept talking about it in class. She asked if Rick and I wanted to go on a double date…”
“Oh my gosh…”
“Right. I was so shocked when Clark comes driving up in his sports car. My mouth dropped open. I didn’t know what to do.”
“So you invited them to your wedding?”
“Monica was already one of my bridesmaids, Sammy. She’d already bought her dress and had it fitted by the time I knew anything. This is very recent information…”
“And she never mentioned her boyfriend’s name?”
“I guess she did, but there are other men named Clark in the world. It just never dawned on me, especially since your Clark lived in Atlanta the last time I checked.”
“He’s not my Clark,” Samantha said under her breath. “I’m your sister.” Now she was holding back tears, and crying wasn’t something she did easily.
Katie squeezed her sister’s arm. “I know, and I will un-invite them if you want me to. I just didn’t know if it still bothered you…”
Samantha stood up abruptly. “Are you kidding me? Let’s see… why would it bother me that the man who broke my heart three years ago is going to be at your wedding with his new fiancee? Hmmm…. Let me think….”
Katie hung her head. “I guess I thought you’d moved on, sis.”
“With who?”
“Not with a person. With your life. With your business. You seem… I don’t know… walled off.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“Oh, come on now, Sammy. I know you loved Clark, but you weren’t in love with him. You two were never compatible. Even I could see that.”
“We were engaged, Katie.”
“That doesn’t always mean you’re in love.”
Samantha leaned over the railing, looking down into the darkness. “I can’t believe I have to see that man again. And his perky yoga teaching fiancee. You could’ve warned me, Katie. Now I’m going to this wedding all alone. I’ll look like an idiot in front of them.”
“No, you won’t, You’re a strong, independent woman!”
“AKA, a sad and lonely single woman with no prospects.”
Katie hugged her sister from behind, sliding her petite arms around her waist. “Now you know that’s not true.”
“You know I hate you, right?” Samantha asked, not meaning a word of it.
“I know. I hate me too.”
Samantha tossed and turned in her bed. The quiet was enough to keep her awake at night. She was used to honking horns and the occasional siren. Now all she could hear were crickets and frogs.
This new information about Clark coming to the wedding was gnawing at her. She didn’t dare to have Katie un-invite them as she didn’t want to seem jealous or affected, but she was affected. Greatly, in fact.
She’d met Clark in Atlanta when he was a witness at a civil trial she was involved in. It was just a business case, but his engineering expertise had been a godsend, and it helped her client win a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
Love hadn’t bloomed immediately, but over the few weeks they’d worked together, she found it to be comfortable spending time with him. He wasn’t as fast paced as she was, and he donated his time to charitable causes when she was too busy to see him. Samantha didn’t have much free time as she was building her client base and trying to keep her eye on the prize.
Still, they eventually started dating seriously, and Samantha had started to see a life with Clark. They traveled together when she could get time off, and they spent lazy Sundays drinking coffee in her apartment and reading the newspaper. It felt like there might be a future, and when Clark proposed over dessert at a fancy restaurant one night, she felt a different kind of hope for her future. Maybe a house. Maybe kids.
But three months after their engagement, Clark abruptly called it off. He said they weren’t compatible and that she was too caught up in her work. He said she didn’t have enough time for him, and he didn’t think that would ever get better. He wanted something else.
Samantha had given back her beautiful ring, changed her social media relationship status back to single and sulked in her apartment with tubs of ice cream for days. But, in true Samantha fashion, she’d eventually used her personal pain to win cases for her clients. And her business flourished because of it.
Never again had she planned to see Clark. And now she’d see him within days. And she’d see his fiancee tomorrow. This was turning out to be a very long visit to Whiskey Ridge, and it was only the second day.
“Isn’t this place beautiful?” Katie asked excitedly as they stood in the rented ballroom space.
“Yes, it is,” Samantha said, nervously looking around for any sign of Clark or his fiancee.
“The shower will be in that room over there, and we’ll hold the reception in this big ballroom after we get married at the church next door,” she repeated for the third time since they’d gotten there. Katie was definitely anxious about her wedding day.
“I think I see some cars pulling in,” Samantha said as she peered out the window.
“Yay! I can’t wait. I love presents!” Katie was still such a kid at heart, and Samantha envied that about her. She was always so positive and happy, no matter the circumstance.
A few minutes later, women started pouring into the building, each one hugging Katie as they made their way to the room where the shower was being held. Samantha, realizing she was the official hostess, did her best to smile and shake hands with each and every stranger. All the while, she kept an eye out for a hot woman in yoga pants, but no such woman appeared.
“I’d like to welcome you all to my baby sister’s bridal shower,” Samantha said as she stood at the front of the room. She was no stranger to speaking in public, so at least this part should be a breeze, she thought to herself. “Katie, I know Mom would be so proud of the woman you’ve become and the choice you’ve made in a husband. I wish you and Rick all the happiness in the world…”
Before she could finish her thought, a young woman snuck into the room, hugging people along the way. She was firm and curvy at the same time, with her long auburn hair and bright blue eyes. It had to be Monica.
“Sammy, are you okay?” Katie asked in a loud whisper as she waited for her sister to finish her sentence. She was suddenly aware of everyone staring at her.
“Yes, sorry. Lost my train of thought there for a second. So, let’s all raise our punch cups to Katie and wish her well in her new journey as a wife!”
As everyone cheered and clinked their little plastic wine glasses together - which made a very odd sound - Samantha slinked to the side of the room and sat down. Katie soon followed.
“What happened up there?”
“That’s her, isn’t it?”
Katie craned her head and looked through the group of people before hanging her head and turning back to Samantha.
“Yes.”
“My God, she’s like a freaking model,” Samantha said. “And Clark isn’t even that good looking. I mean he’s okay, but…”
“Apparently he really romanced her,” Katie said.
“Well, if she was the prize, then I guess so. Men can be so…”
“Katie!” Monica said as she ran over to her. Katie stood as Monica hugged her tightly. “You look adorable! Where did you get that cute little dress?”
Katie shot a glance down at her sister. “I got it at Callie’s Dress Shop over on Elm. Have you been there?”
“Not yet, but I’m definitely going to! Your shower is just beautiful. I love all the decorations.”
“Thank
you. Actually, my sister here did all of this,” Katie said, pointing down at Samantha.
“Your sister? Oh, wow. This is a little awkward,” she said with a smile and a slight look of what appeared to be pity. “Hi. I’m Monica,” she said, reaching out her perfectly manicured hand to Samantha.
“Hi,” Samantha said, quickly shaking her hand before standing up. “Oh, dang. I totally forgot to bring out the cupcakes. They have little wedding dresses on them. Just adorable! I must go grab them from the fridge. Super excited to meet you!” she said in her fakest voice with an even faker smile, before making a quick escape to the back room.
She closed the door behind her, needing a moment alone to catch her breath. Why was this all so upsetting to her? That might require some soul searching, and she hated soul searching.
But soon she heard a click alerting her that the door was opening. Why couldn’t she just get a moment of peace?
“Katie, I…”
“It’s not Katie.”
Clark. His booming voice was unmistakable. She wanted to throw up.
Samantha slowly turned around and saw him standing there across the room. It’d been three years since she’d seen him last, but he looked much the same. Preppy clothing, short haircut, no facial hair. He looked like he stepped right off the golf course in his khaki shorts and pale pink polo shirt.
“Hi, Clark.”
“Hey, Sam. It’s really good to see you.”
“Is it?”
“Of course. It’s been so long,” he said as he crossed the room with his big toothy smile. Without warning, he hugged her. She didn’t reciprocate, and he quickly pulled back.
“Why are you at a bridal shower?”
“I’m actually not. I just brought…” He stopped short of finishing his sentence.
“Don’t worry. I already know about Monica.”
He let out a relieved breath. “Good.”
“She’s very pretty,” Samantha said as she leaned against the wall.
“That she is. But she’s so much more than that, Sam. She’s smart and talented and loving.”
“Ah, so the exact opposite of me?”
Clark rolled his eyes. “Really? This is how you’re going to act? Defensive and sarcastic? I see not much has changed.” He turned to walk toward the door.
“Actually, a lot has changed,” Samantha said loudly.
Clark turned back to her. “Oh yeah? And what is that?”
And then she said it - the dumbest thing she’d said in a long time. Maybe ever.
“I’m engaged too.”
Samantha sat in her chair beside Katie and watched her open her gifts. She plastered a big smile on her face as she wrote down what was in each package and the person who gave it so that Katie could send thank you notes later.
She was really trying to enjoy the moment, but all she could think about was the big, fat lie she’d just told to Clark before basically sprinting out of the room with the excuse that she needed to be there for her sister.
But the look on Clark’s face had said it all. He was stunned, maybe even more than she was at her own stupidity. Now she’d painted herself into a very tiny corner that there was no way out of. And when her sister found out, she was going to laugh and point her finger. This was a huge mess.
Right now, her best bet was to keep Clark and Monica away from Katie until she could tell her what she’d done. And then she would make up another huge lie about how her fiancé was on a secret mission somewhere and unable to attend the ceremony. Yeah, they would definitely believe that.
“Look, Sammy! Isn’t this beautiful?” Katie said, holding up an ivory silk and lace peignoir set that Monica had given to her.
“Gorgeous,” Samantha said, smiling so hard that her jaw was starting to lock. She really did want to be the bigger person, but instead she felt like she was reverting back to middle school. Or maybe they were more mature than she was. Whiskey Ridge had to be affecting her. Perhaps the air was too thin in the mountains?
Katie finished opening her gifts and guests finally started to leave. But not Monica. Nope, she was apparently hanging around until the very last second.
“Sammy, this was an amazing shower. Thank you,” Katie said, hugging her.
“You’re welcome,” Samantha said louder than needed. “I told Clark I’m engaged so don’t be surprised if he says something to you,” she whispered into her sister’s ear.
Katie pulled back, her eyebrows knitted together. “What?”
“Beautiful shower, Katie Poo!” Monica said, running up and hugging her.
“Katie Poo?” Samantha muttered under her breath. Monica shot her a look, but didn’t say anything.
“I have to get going, but I’ll see you at your bachelorette party tomorrow night!” The two women squealed like schoolgirls before Monica trotted off like some kind of high school cheerleader, yoga-teacher robot with the perfect butt.
Samantha finally let out the breath she’d been holding for the last hour. Katie waved at the last few guests before turning back to her sister.
“What in holy heck is going on?” she asked, throwing her hands up in the air.
“I know, I know. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your shower…”
“Sammy, you didn’t ruin my shower. It was lovely,” she said, putting her hands on Samantha’s shoulders. “But I am wondering what’s going on in that very intelligent mind of yours?”
“I don’t know! Whiskey Ridge is making me some kind of stupid, immature middle schooler.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Whiskey Ridge is doing that.”
“I feel like I’m losing my mind here, and it’s only been a couple of days,” Samantha said, hanging her head. “I’m never like this, sis. You know that.”
“You have been a little… scattered… since you got here.”
Samantha stood up and walked over to her sister’s table full of gifts. She ran her fingers across one of the frilly bows.
“You know, I really thought Clark and I were going to make a go of it at the time. I kept picturing the big house in the suburbs that we’d buy and the huge swing set he’d build on his days off. We’d have two kids, a boy and girl, of course.”
Katie slid her arms around her sister. “I’m so sorry, Sammy. I had no idea you were so domestic.”
Samantha turned and straightened. “I’m not. It was temporary insanity.”
Katie stepped back and sighed. “It’s okay to want a family.”
“Look, this day… actually, this whole month… is about you and Rick. I’m sorry I made it about me. It won’t happen again, okay? Let’s just forget this ever happened and enjoy this wonderful time in your life. You’re going to be such a beautiful bride.”
Katie smiled. “Changing the subject. Such an old tactic.”
“And yet such a good one, right? Come on, you promised to take me by to see your dress.”
Chapter 5
Samantha looked at her tablet carefully. “Okay, the Bremont case should be wrapping up by the end of the week. Tell Hal that we aren’t budging on those revisions we made to the contract.”
“Yes, Boss,” Eileen said from the other end of the phone line. Managing her booming business from two hours away was proving to be challenging. Samantha definitely liked having more control over the day to day running of her business.
“And then I need you to check on the status of the Moore contract. If we can’t come to terms on that, we’ll have to take it to court. I really don’t want to do that because Abe Moore is a very unpleasant man to deal with. And he smells weird. I hate being cooped up in a conference room with that man.”
“Got it. Order air fresheners for the conference room…”
“Don’t forget next Thursday, I need someone to file the merger papers on the Lyle case.”
“Right.”
“Any questions?”
“Yes. Can we go back to the beginning of this conversation where you accidentally blurted out that you’re pretend e
ngaged to an invisible mountain man?” Eileen asked. Silence hung in the air.
“I’m just a little tired.”
“And being tired made you invent a fiancé?”
“Not funny.”
Eileen giggled. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you as rattled as you seem to be now. Are you okay?”
“I’m telling you, it’s the air up here.”
“Doubtful.”
“It’s just that seeing Clark and his perfect little yoga teacher fiancee made me feel…”
“Jealous?”
“No!”
“Envious?”
“Isn’t that basically the same thing?”
“Nauseous?”
“That’s more like it.”
“Look, I was there for the whole Clark fiasco. I know how much you were planning on a life with him. But come on, Sam, you know you two were never right for each other. He wanted something… else.”
“Thanks for reminding me how unwanted I was.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Clark wanted a woman who would dote on him. He wanted someone he could control, and that definitely isn’t you.”
“Just forget it, okay? I’m tired of talking about it, and tonight is my sister’s bachelorette party. I need to get myself together and focus on making this event about her and not myself. From now on, I’m going to be the perfect maid of honor.”
“Well, if you’re an expert at anything, it’s perfection,” Eileen said dryly. “Gotta go. The pizza and male escorts just arrived.”
“Very funny,” Samantha said, but Eileen had already ended the call. She sat for a moment wondering if she was serious about those escorts. And then she wondered how much it would cost to hire a really hot looking one and make him drive to Whiskey Ridge.
The nightclub they’d chosen for Katie’s final night as a single woman was just outside of Whiskey Ridge in a little shadier part of town. It was like something straight out of a Western movie, complete with rough looking wood floors and a real jukebox blaring 90s country music.
