by Eliza Ellis
“Because that’s what the two of you agreed on?” Kat said hesitantly.
Parker snorted. “I didn’t agree to that. If Drew thinks that’s what’s going to happen, then he’s been misinformed.” The waiter delivered the soup and salad. Parker stabbed her salad with a fork. “I mean, the only reason I agreed to do the wedding here is because of his grandmother. She doesn’t want to travel and is sick or something. If it were up to me, I’d do it back in Boston. Fly my family there.”
Muriel was ill? Kat sipped on her soup, thinking about her mother, who relied heavily on Muriel’s friendship. Did she know the snarky woman was sick? “It isn’t serious, is it? Her illness.”
Parker waved a hand. “Maybe terminal, I’m not sure. I half think Drew lied to get me to come here.” She chomped on her salad.
Kat shook her head to clear the heavy fog that had begun to settle. Parker had to be exaggerating. Muriel sick and Drew lying about it? She would never believe her old friend was a liar. That didn’t sound like him at all. And he hadn’t mentioned his grandmother’s illness. “Drew said you’re staying in a hotel? Why not stay with your parents?”
Parker narrowed her gaze. “Because I know they’ll want me to go here and there and do stuff and, Kat…I have this major project I’m working on. I barely have time for this lunch, which was why I was late.” She groaned and put a hand to her head. She stirred her soup. “I feel like I’m so behind—for weeks now, and I don’t feel like I can catch up.” Her intense gaze met Kat’s. “When I say ‘major,’ I mean if this deal falls through, it’ll hurt our profit share. As the VP, I can’t let that happen. My head is on the chopping block.”
“Parker…I didn’t know.”
“No one does, really. Not even Drew, at least, not how important it is to me. I don’t want him to worry about me when he’s still so emotionally fragile.”
Drew was still fragile? She recalled how he went silent when she asked about Afghanistan and then changed the subject. It didn’t surprise her that he wouldn’t want to talk about what happened to him in the war. He might’ve seen and done things that would stay with him for many years—if the memories would ever leave. Kat’s heart squeezed uncomfortably for Drew. She wished he had relied on her for comfort, and she silently prayed he was getting better.
“That’s why I’ve put off wedding planning for so long. I didn’t even have time to announce my engagement. This project could literally double the size of the company and bring in major players to partner not long after. I feel like I’ve been training for this my whole life, and now it’s the Olympics. I can’t bring home anything less than the gold, or I’d be a loser.”
Kat ate her meal in silence, taking everything in. She’d never seen her friend so stressed, but now she understood why she hadn’t been told about the engagement nor had really heard from her friend in weeks. “I get it. You’re under a lot of pressure.”
“Exactly. Staying downtown keeps me away from the parents, and I can be near the office and do my job. Plus, I don’t want to be influenced by Muriel. Have you met her? She’s got her own ideas about life—particularly mine—and how it ought to be lived. Like she can even relate! She’s like a hundred years old. Ancient.”
Kat sputtered. “Parker! She’s not that old. You’re exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not!” she countered firmly. “I made some excuse about work to cut our visit short. I could tell Drew was ticked, but I didn’t care. I did have work to do, and his grandmother isn’t going to tell me what to do or how to live my life. I haven’t gotten that from his own mother, why would I take it from Muriel?”
“You’ve met his parents?”
“Just over the phone. They’re flying in next week for the wedding. Oh my goodness!” She cried and put her hands to her head. Kat felt the eyes of the other patrons on them. “I can’t do it, I can’t do it, Kat! You’ve got to help me.” She grabbed Kat’s hand, the soup on the spoon spilling onto the table. “Please, please say you’ll help me.”
“I’m making the cake, don’t worry.”
Parker shook her head furiously. “No, I mean do the whole thing. Get the venue booked, make sure Drew dresses in a tux, and find a place for the reception. We need flowers, and music, and—”
“Parker! Have you planned anything for this wedding?”
Parker folded into herself. “Just the dress,” she said meekly.
Kat’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding. The wedding is…?”
“Next week. Plenty of time. I mean, this place…how busy could it be?” She looked around, her expression chagrined. “It’s not like it can’t happen. And you’ve planned weddings before, right?”
Kat cocked her head to one side. “I’m not a wedding planner. I’ve baked cakes for—”
“Close enough. You’ve seen weddings and you know what I like. Please, Katrina, I’m begging you. You know you’re my maid of honor, right?”
Kat narrowed her eyes on Parker. “Am I? Or did you just say that so I’d have to plan the wedding?”
Parker feigned innocence by smiling pleasantly. “Is it working?”
Kat sighed and moved a few pieces of lettuce around with her fork. She didn’t want to do this. Be the maid of honor? Sure. Plan the wedding of her best friend with her childhood best friend and fast-becoming crush? Hard pass. What could be more tedious? “Give me one good reason.”
Parked leaned in close. “So, I’m really busy with this work project.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. You’re always busy. Not good enough.”
She waved a hand. “I’m not finished! Okay, so if this deal goes through—get ready—this would set me up to be president of the international firm.”
Kat’s mouth dropped. That was a good reason. “Parker, are you serious? What does that mean?”
“It’s one step away from being president of the whole company.” She squealed for a couple of seconds and then turned serious. “It would mean working at an international corporate office. London.”
“London…” Kat breathed. She’d never been anywhere outside of the continental United States. To visit London would be amazing.
“Exactly. Then it would be quarterly trips all over the world. Monthly trips. I’ll be going to China, Taiwan, Brazil, South Africa… Kat! Kat, I would bring you with me. You could be on retainer for parties and anything I’d need pastries and desserts for.”
Kat put two hands on her chest. “Me? How would you be able to—”
“I would be president. I could hire whomever I wanted. In fact, I could probably start now, now that I think about it. Retainer means you’d be paid regardless of whether or not we would need you on any type of regular basis. Guaranteed payment. It would be big. Huge. And you’d come with me, and we’d travel the world just like we had always dreamed. Remember those dreams, Kat?”
Kat looked off into the distance, seeing the beautiful old-town city she had come to love so much. It was home, and she couldn’t imagine herself anywhere else.
Until now.
She did remember those dreams. When they had built tents out of blankets in Parker’s bedroom on the nights Kat was allowed to sleep over. They’d stare at Parker’s paper map and plot the adventures they’d have once they were old enough to get away from their parents. Traveling around the world, experiencing different foods and clothes, and—of course—marrying princes of some royal houses.
When had she forgotten about those dreams? It seemed Parker had made plans to actually realize her dreams. Kat suddenly felt anxious and a little irritated that she was stuck at Susie’s bakery. There was a whole world outside of home that she hadn’t explored. Was she going to live here forever and then die without seeing what else was out there?
Short answer: yes.
Unless she took Parker up on her offer.
“Okay…” Kat began, “so, let me get this straight. I help plan your wedding so you can focus on nailing down this deal?”
Parker nodded once. “Exactly. Once the deal g
oes through, we’ll be on a plane back to Boston and then straight on to London. Shouldn’t take long for my promotion to go through. There’s a quarterly meeting in London for the international firm in a few weeks. I’ll be there as the new president of our company’s joint firm.”
Kat blew out a breath. “That’s a lot to think about. What about Drew? He wants to stay here.”
“Drew doesn’t know yet. I wanted to surprise him. We had talked about doing a world tour for our honeymoon, and what better way to start it off than actually moving to London?”
All three of them in London at the same time? The bottom of the appeal bucket dropped suddenly. “I don’t want to feel like a third wheel.”
“No, no, no. You won’t. We won’t go on our honeymoon until after I’ve finished with the meeting. Conference, actually. It’ll last a week. Then you can fly back while we’re on our honeymoon and wait until I need you again.” She wagged her brows and smiled like she had an ace up her sleeve. “South Africa next month. What do you think?”
It was a chance of a lifetime. And her mother had been telling her recently that she needed to get out and experience more of the world—and life. Kat shrugged. “How could I say no?”
“Exactly.” Parker looked at her watch. “Shoot. I’m late. I’ve gotta go. Don’t worry about lunch, it’s on me.”
“No, I’ve got this.”
“You sure? Oh, thank you, Kat, you’re a lifesaver. And I’m counting on you.” Her gaze held Kat’s. Her thumb nearly touched her index finger. “I’m this close to having it all. The perfect job, the man, the travel… Please help me. Whatever you need, promise. Like always.”
“Like always.”
“Good.” Parker shot her a smile and waved before rushing off to whatever else she had to do.
Kat took her time eating the rest of her salad and soup. She too could be traveling and be the boss of her own bakery—albeit a traveling one—if she helped her friend get married. Then she’d have enough money to pay the bank off.
All Kat wouldn’t get was the man.
Her friend already had him.
Chapter 6
Drew sent another text to Parker asking where she was. He’d been sitting at the tailor’s for ten minutes, and she was nowhere to be found.
Typical Parker.
He was amazed they still communicated enough to get married. Well, if she wasn’t around, she might miss the wedding. A few of his guys already had a pool going about that. Odds were against Drew that he’d get Parker down the aisle.
It frustrated him that Parker wasn’t taking this as seriously as he thought all brides did. Sure, she agreed to the wedding in his hometown, and he actually got her on the plane, but since they had arrived, she’d been virtually M.I.A. Would she be that way during marriage? What would happen when they had kids? Would he be raising them alone?
“Hi, Drew.”
Drew’s head snapped to the side, and there stood Kat, who shrugged and awkwardly smiled. Drew stood from his chair. “Kat! What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to help you get the perfect tux for your wedding.”
“What?” he deadpanned.
Kat’s gaze went up and to the side. “Yeah, yesterday Parker asked me to help fill in as the wedding planner. Something big is going on at work that needs her full attention right now.”
“Well, her fiancé needs some attention,” Drew muttered.
Kat pressed her lips into a tight line and frowned. Drew blasted a breath in frustration. “Okay, so what are you supposed to do?”
“Everything. I’m the official wedding planner. We can get you in a tux today, and then we can go look at venues—”
“Shouldn’t you be at work?”
Kat shoved hair behind her right ear, and averted her gaze. Today she wore it down in spiral curls that touched her shoulders. She looked carefree and beautiful, but the woman he wanted to be here was Parker.
“Um, I went in really early and baked the supply we needed for today. Typically Tuesdays are slower because everyone’s started their week off right with sweets. Susie said I could have a couple of hours off to myself since I never take any time off.”
Drew figured being a wedding planner was a huge inconvenience to her and Susie. “Okay, no offense, but you bake cakes. You’re not a wedding planner, or do I have that wrong?”
Her lips slanted down to one side. “You’re not wrong. I told Parker that. She thinks I’d probably have a better eye for this because I’ve baked cakes for weddings and, well, I know her. I have a pretty good idea of what she likes, and we could marriage that up with what you like.”
Drew chuckled. Marriage. Was his even going to happen? “Right. That’s funny. If you really knew Parker, this is her show. I’m just supposed to show up and say ‘I do.’”
Kat laughed to be polite. “No, you’re right. But…I think a wedding involves two people. If you want any say-so, then now’s the time to do it.”
“Tap into my Marine training and assert my authority going into the marriage.” He slowly nodded. “I like that, Kat.”
Kat touched her cheek. Were they warm? “I…I didn’t exactly mean it—”
He winked. “Yeah, you did. When did you become so meek? You used to have no problem asserting yourself when we were younger.”
“Asserting herself?” A harsh laugh barked behind them. “Katrina? That’s funny.”
Kat stiffened, her eyes shooting to Drew’s, her gaze crying out for help. Drew eyed the guy from head to toe. He didn’t recognize him at all, but apparently he knew Kat.
Kat slowly faced him. “Marcus,” she said coolly.
“Katrina,” he sneered. “Where have you been hiding? Still at that bakeshop?”
“Would’ve been in my own bakery if it wasn’t for you.”
Marcus shook his finger in the air. “No, no, no. That’s not how I remember it.”
Kat’s fists were balled by her side, and she was physically shaking. “You backed out of our deal and left me holding the debt.”
Marcus pointed his finger at her. “You signed the paperwork without getting all the proper inspections done.”
“You said everything was good!”
Drew wrapped a hand around her upper arm and moved her behind him. “Hi, I’m Drew.” He held out his hand. “And you are?”
“The new boyfriend, huh?” Marcus had to stand on the tips of his toes to cast a mocking stare over Drew’s shoulder to Kat. “That was fast. I figured you’d at least wait a couple of years.”
“Kat’s an old friend.”
Marcus nodded. “Exactly.” He shook Drew’s hand. “I’m her ex-boyfriend. The one she screwed over in a business deal. Now I’ve gotta clear my name.”
“I did not!” Kat shouted.
Drew turned around and placed two hands on her shoulders. “Kat. How about you go check out the tuxes for me, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I’m just here to pick up my order. I’ll be gone in a minute.” True to his word, Marcus picked up his order and left with a mocking grin and wave.
Kat had taken a seat in Drew’s chair, her face in her hands. Drew squatted and gently moved her hair out from around her face. “Kat? Look at me.”
Kat’s hands fell away, her face marred with tears.
His heart shuddered. He hated how defeated she looked. “Oh, Kat…”
“He’s such liar,” she whispered. “He’s the one who left the deal and…and the relationship, and I’m left having to owe the bank all that money.”
“Forget about him.”
“It’s hard to when every month you get a letter from the bank reminding you of your stupid mistake. I trusted him.” Her eyes bored into Drew’s. “It’s hard to get over that. To trust again.”
He nodded. “To forgive yourself for making a mistake,” he added softly. He knew exactly how she felt. Not about getting dumped, but about choices that end up affecting others in ways you couldn’t imagine.
Sometimes permanent ways.<
br />
“You’ve got your job at Susie’s.”
She nodded. “Susie’s been good to me. She’s really helped me.” Fresh tears filled her eyes. “But I still feel like such an idiot and a failure. There were so many dreams I had had for that place and…” She grinned and blinked the remaining tears out of her eyes. “New doors open, right? New dreams…”
Drew squeezed her shoulder and then caught a tear with his finger. “It’s not the end of the world. I can help find you another place, if you want. I do flips—and I don’t lose money. You can have your bakery.”
She shook her head quickly. “No. No, it’s okay. Dreams change, that’s all. I want to focus on paying off the debt so I can get loans in the future, if I need them.” She used her hands and wiped the remaining moisture off her face. “I’m sorry.” She stood abruptly. “We’re supposed to be here shopping for you. Why don’t we get started?”
She moved to a sales associate and began chatting with him, pointing at Drew, who hung back near the chair and stared at his childhood friend. She had changed. Not only was she more fearful, she was easily deterred. He’d never known her to be a quitter before today. He didn’t like this version of Kat. He’d take the old one in a heartbeat.
Kat beckoned for him to come over to the two of them, and for the next thirty minutes, Drew endured being poked and tugged and hands moving around his end seam. He had hoped to spend this time with his actual fiancée and discuss plans for their honeymoon and then their life in town. He had plans he wanted to share. It never seemed to be a good time for her to listen anymore. Strange, because she used to be so good at it.
His eyes found Kat, who stared at him with large, round, questioning brown eyes. “What? I look ridiculous, right?”
She lifted her gaze to his and smiled. “No. You look very handsome, Drew.”
He shrugged until the coat fit and turned around to look at himself in the mirror. He liked the fit and the charcoal color. Even without the pants and a proper shirt and tie, Kat saw something that he didn’t. He needed the whole outfit to claim he looked handsome. What was she looking at?
