“Mama and Charles,” said Zelda. “If ever two people were meant to be together, it is you. You are an example and inspiration to everyone. You have waited so long to find your way to each other, but you are living proof that true love won’t be denied, that true love is real. It exists. Even if we have to wait sixty-five years for the timing to be right. Here’s to the two of you.”
Zelda raised her glass and everyone else did, too. Kate felt Aidan’s gaze on her. When her eyes met his, he raised his glass in a private toast to her. Did the look in his eyes telegraph that he was willing to wait as long as it took for her? Kate’s stomach flipped at the romantic thought.
But just as fast, the hopeful feeling gave way to sorrow and shame. It was so unfair to even imagine something so one-sided.
It was selfish and wrong that in the midst of planning to dissolve their marriage, she would think the two of them might one day find their way back to each other.
Why couldn’t she just let herself love him? Why couldn’t she just get herself together and realize that the perfect man for her was standing right in front of her?
He was her husband. Her mind could intellectualize it and make a solid argument for why staying married to Aidan was a good thing, but her battered heart and her self-preserving reflexes were not buying it.
Her heart had already packed its bags and moved out.
This was how it would go: she would lose him. Another woman with a whole lot more sense than she had would scoop him up and—
Kate tore her gaze away from Aidan’s.
She had to put an end to that line of thinking right now. It was what it was and she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself, because she could not have it both ways.
She set her full glass of champagne on a side table and slipped out of the dining room into the lobby, and then exited through the beveled-glass front doors and made her way to the dark edge of the wraparound front porch. Maybe some fresh air would calm her upset stomach—and given the way she was feeling, it wasn’t a bad idea to be close to a bathroom. Just in case.
No one would miss her before dinner was served. They were all busy congratulating Gigi and Charles, listening to tales about their Paris honeymoon and filling them in on what had transpired in Savannah while they were gone.
The night air was balmy and what she could see of the sky through the moss-laden live oaks was clear and starry.
Kate had only been on the side porch for a few moments when she heard the front door open and close. For a split second, her heart raced when she worried it might be Aidan. She tried to disappear deeper into the shadows of the inn’s magnificent front porch, hoping to remain out of sight.
“Kate?” It was Elle’s voice. “Are you out here?”
So much for no one missing her.
“I’m here.” Kate stepped forward.
“What are you doing out here? Is everything oaky?”
Elle was the most intuitive of her sisters. It didn’t surprise Kate that Elle had picked up on her retreat. Kate now wished she hadn’t left the party.
“I’m fine. I just need a little fresh air. I’m still not feeling great.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Yeah, I noticed you didn’t drink your champagne. It is the good stuff. Jane and Liam brought it from the restaurant for the party tonight. Do you want me to go get you some? Maybe the bubbles will settle your stomach.”
“No, thanks. My stomach is still feeling a little off-kilter.”
“Do you think it’s the stomach flu?”
“I don’t think so. It sort of comes and goes. A stomach bug is pretty consistent until it runs its course. I just have a lot of stress right now. Some things I can’t really talk about.”
“Really? You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“Oh my gosh, no! Don’t even joke about that. A baby is the last thing I need right now.”
Kate laughed a nervous laugh, as if making light of it might ward off any bad juju that would swirl together and manifest the godforsaken possibility.
Even though their passion was strong enough to sweep them away, they’d always held on to good common sense, and made sure they used condoms. That was because Aidan had Chloe and she certainly didn’t need a baby to further complicate already complicated matters.
The only thing that frightened her more than the thought of being someone’s wife was being someone’s mother.
“What are we doing today?” Kate asked as her client Karen settled herself in the salon chair.
“I don’t know. I think I need a change, but I don’t know what to do.”
Yeah, I hear ya, sister. Isn’t that the story of all of our lives?
Kate fluffed Karen’s dark brown, shoulder-length bob. The woman had worn it this way for as long as Kate had been doing her hair—actually, for as long as Kate had known her.
At every appointment, Karen said she wanted to try something different, but she ended up second-guessing herself and leaving with the same cut freshened up, saying she’d think about it next time. But not before they went through the very same song and dance they were starting right now.
“Can you help me, Kate? I’d love some advice on what to do with my hair. I feel like I’m stuck in a rut.”
Here we go again.
“How big a change were you thinking?” Kate asked. “Do you want a new style or a change of color? Or both?”
Karen’s pretty, round face flushed. “Oh dear, I don’t know. I’ve never colored my hair other than to touch up the gray. And you know that I do that myself
