“Hello, Rick,” Lessa said as she opened the door to her apartment. She looked beautiful. Her long hair was swept up, away from her face. She was wearing a blue dress that alluded to the beautiful curves underneath. “Come on in,” she said, motioning for him to follow.
He glanced around nervously. “Where’s your aunt?”
“She’s not here. She went out to lunch with some friends.”
He entered and shut the door. In the foyer, he looked at the wall of pictures. They were old family photos featuring Lessa and her father. At the top was a picture of Howard with his arm around a woman who looked very similar to Lessa.
“That was my mother,” Lessa said. “That was taken at El Vitro, their first property.”
“Your mother was beautiful,” he said. “She looks a lot like you.”
“Thanks.” She pointed out another picture. “There they are with me outside of my father’s office. That was the day he incorporated Lawrence Enterprises.”
From the pictures, Rick could almost feel his deceased boss giving him the evil eye.
Lessa put on her coat and grabbed an overnight case from beside the door. “Ready.”
“Are you planning on staying a while?” he joked, nodding toward her bag.
“No,” she said quickly, embarrassed that he might think she was plotting to get him alone. “After our last trip, I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. I prefer my own swimsuit, thank you very much.”
“I thought that other one looked kind of nice.”
“Thanks,” she said uncomfortably, ushering him out the door and down the hall.
They didn’t speak until they were seated in his car. She asked, “So do you like the guy your sister’s marrying?”
“Sure,” he said with a shrug.
“You don’t seem that happy about it.”
Not happy about it? The truth of the matter was that his sister had suffered a nasty divorce that had been finalized only months before she’d met her new fiance. Rick thought she was a fool to open herself up to more pain, but she was determined to be with her new love. And he gave her credit. “It’s her business.”
“Not a very romantic thing to say on the way to the wedding.”
“Maybe not. But it’s practical. She’s been married before. You wouldn’t know it though. She’s going all out for this.”
“She hasn’t given up on love.”
“Or maybe she’d just a glutton for punishment. She should’ve learned her lesson the first time.”
“Does she seem happy?”
“That’s how most relationships begin, don’t they?” There were exceptions, of course, like his and Lessa’s. They had begun as unhappily as most marriages end. What did that say for them?
They rode the rest of the way in silence, talking only when necessary. When they got to the chapel, Rick ushered Lessa past his stunned family, not stopping to introduce her. When he went back into the lobby, his sister said, “
As a groomsman, Rick was required to work the crowd, seating people on either side of the church. Every now and then, he found himself glancing back toward Lessa. She seemed to be totally relaxed, busying herself by making conversation with the elderly woman next to her.
After the ceremony, Rick barely had time to say hello to Lessa before being whisked into the family photo session.
“I’ll meet you at the reception,” Lessa said.
An hour later, Rick and the rest of the wedding party finally made their way across the street to the reception. As the bride and groom made their grand entrance. Rick scanned the room, looking for Lessa, but it soon became clear she wasn’t there. He finally found her in the hall, helping an elderly woman out of the ladies room.
“This is Rick,” Lessa said, introducing him to the woman.
“Oh, your wife has been so sweet to help me,” she said. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. My daughter was late and-”
“Here I am, Mom,” a woman said, hurrying into the hall. She thanked Lessa profusely as she took hold of her mother’s arm and helped her the rest of the way.
“Wife?” Rick asked when they were out of earshot.
“It was a misunderstanding. She knew I came here with you and she just made an assumption. I didn’t see any reason to correct her.”
“Look,” he said, “I just have to stay for a little bit longer-”
“And who is this?”
Rick turned to see his parents were standing behind them.
“This is Lessa Lawrence,” he replied.
His mother smiled and held out her hand. “How nice to meet you, Lessa.”
“Lawrence,” said his father, shaking her hand. “Any relationship to Howard Lawrence?”
“I’m his daughter.”
“You’re the one,” his mother said, then looked at Rick. It was obvious by his mother’s confusion that the only thing she had heard about Lessa was that she was a pain in the neck. Lessa smiled sweetly.
Rick felt the need to explain. “Lessa and I have a meeting later on. It makes sense to bring her here.”
“I see,” his father said. “Well, welcome, Lessa. It’s very nice to meet you. You’re so much younger and prettier than I imagined. Rick, you didn’t do her justice.” His father winked. “He told me you were pretty but he didn’t say you were a knockout.”
Her heart did a little flip as Rick winced. Rick had told them she was pretty?
As his parents walked away, Rick looked at his watch. “I think it’s time to go.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said with a smile. “We haven’t even eaten yet. Besides, you don’t have to entertain me. I’m perfectly fine by myself. Go be with your family.”
A woman in a red bridesmaid dress came barreling their way. “Rick? Rick Parker! How have you been? I’m Jane Turner, remember?”
Rick shot the woman a grin that Lessa recognized immediately. Rick had no idea who the woman was.
“Would you dance with me?” she asked.
He glanced at Lessa, looking for help.
“Oh,” the woman said, her face dropping. “Is this your date? I’m sorry. I thought your sister said you were coming alone.”
“I’m not his date,” Lessa said quickly. She turned to Rick. “Go ahead. Take your time. I’m fine.”
Giving her a pained look, he walked to the dance floor with Jane Turner. Lessa went to the ladies’ room and found Rick’s newly married sister in there alone, struggling with her dress.
“Let me help,” Lessa offered.
“You’re Rick’s date,” Susan said with a smile. “I’m so glad he brought you. How long have you two been seeing each other?”
“Actually, we’re not really seeing each other. We work together. We have a meeting later today and it made sense to go directly from here.” Before his sister could say anything, Lessa added, “I’m so glad I could be here, though. It was a lovely wedding.”
“You’re not seeing each other?” his sister asked suspiciously.
“Not technically.”
His sister laughed. “Technically, huh? I saw the way he was looking at you. He appears quite smitten.”
“We’ve only spent a couple of days together.”
“So? I only met my husband three months ago. My mother married my father only six weeks after meeting him. Fast courtships are a family tradition. When Rick was engaged before, he proposed after only…” Her voice trailed off as she looked at Lessa. “You did know he was engaged before, right?”
Lessa nodded.
Susan smiled. “You see? I knew you were special. He must really care for you if he told you about Karen.” She sighed and said, “We were all so worried about him after Karen’s accident. He just withdrew from everything. Fortunately, he found that job. It was just what he needed. Or at least we thought so at the time. With him traveling to all those exotic locales, we felt certain he’d come home one day with a bride. But he hasn’t dated
