“I haven’t been rushing you. I’ve been—”
“I know working.”
She huffed. “So I’m just supposed to forgetabout my life and be what you want?”
“No.” He rubbed his forehead. “All I’m askingis for you to take a break.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very.”
“Whose idea was this? Your mother’s? She’salready controlling the wedding.”
“You said she could help, but if you werehere, she wouldn’t have to. What do I care about if we have a DJ ora band? It’s not my job.”
“Why don’t you say what’s really botheringyou? Is it work, Lance?” Her voice mellowed as if she were tryingto remain calm. “Talk to me.”
He stood on his carpeted floor and paced backand forth. “I don’t understand why we can’t have a destinationwedding or even go to the courthouse. All this fancy stuff is notworth it to me.”
“Lance, almost every woman in life hasdreamed of her wedding. I’ve been imagining this since I was alittle girl. It’s a dream come true for me. I don’t think a perfectwedding is too much to ask for.”
Perfect. A word he had tried to live up tohis entire life. If he wasn’t trying to please his parents, he wastrying to be the best lawyer and beat the record of other attorneysat his father’s firm. Lance pinched the bridge of his nose. Heslowed his breathing.
He couldn’t keep doing it. Something had tochange. His parents were another topic altogether, but he could trywith his future wife. “Perfect, huh?”
“You don’t agree?” Her voice sounded full ofconcern.
Lance’s chin dropped to his chest. “I’m notperfect, Andrea. If that’s what you’re expecting, I’ll never liveup to that.”
She sighed. “Are you having second thoughts?Does this have to do with your—”
“That’s the past. I told you that,” he said.He didn’t want to open old wounds. Not with her, especially sincehe hadn’t told her about Chantelle being back in town. When was theright time?
Andrea continued. “Then can we talk aboutthis later? The wedding plans, I mean.”
“Why can’t we talk now? You have myattention. Don’t I have yours?” Lance asked.
“It’s just… I have a few appointmentstomorrow, and I can’t be late. I need to get some sleep.” Her voicesounded regretful.
Lance blew out his cheeks. He forgot aboutthe time difference. “Alright, when will you be available again?Should I call you or check with Roland, your agent?”
“I can’t believe you! This is important tome, and you don’t even care. You know what, yes. Call my agent whenyou want to talk like the man I’m marrying.”
She hung up. His last comment went too far,and the lump in his throat only worsened. He could call back toapologize, but she wouldn’t listen. Andrea was the type that neededto cool off. Chantelle faced an argument head on.
Lance pressed one fist to his forehead. Hewouldn’t compare them. Clutching his phone, he thought aboutcalling Andrea again. Knowing still she wouldn’t answer, he stuffedhis phone in his pocket. To his surprise, his phone buzzed. Andreacalled back.
“Sorry,” she said.
Lance released a deep breath. “Me too.”
“What’s the problem, Lance? It has to be morethan the wedding.”
“Why haven’t you come to Delta Heights?”
“I’ll be there soon enough. I plan on—”
“No, I mean before.” Chantelle’s question hadrang in his ears. Why didn’t Andrea visit him? A relationshipworked both ways. “I grew up here. I’d like for you to see where Igrew up. My old high school. The community center.”
“I didn’t know it meant that much toyou.”
“I guess I never mentioned it.” They had toget better at communicating or they wouldn’t work. Communicationand trust. Those words stood out to him more than anything. Hecould trust Andrea. He knew that from their first conversation thatshe was confident and strong. They shared the samevalues—somewhat.
Would it be enough to sustain a marriage?Where was this tension between them coming from?
“Why didn’t you?” She asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Do men have that much of a problem sharingtheir feelings?”
Her comment didn’t sting. Lance knew thestereotypes and worked hard to prove people wrong. He’d made dumbdecisions as a boy. Some he couldn’t forget. It etched in hismemory like an epitaph to a gravestone. “My family doesn’t doemotion, Andrea. We deal with life and move on.”
Move on. That idea had cost himeverything.
“I see.”
“But I… don’t want to do that with you.” Hehoped she heard his honesty.
“I know.” Then she groaned. “Lance, I have togo. Can we please talk later?”
He wouldn’t argue this time. There was nopoint. “Sure.”
Andrea hung up. Lance stared into space.Their future marriage wasn’t off to a good start.
Chapter 12
Chantelle passed the parked cars on MainStreet. Striped awnings shaded the storefronts, and colorfulwelcoming signs displayed in store windows. Pedestrians strolledalong and she waved to a few faces she recognized. Careful in herheels, she avoided the cracks in the sidewalk with grass tuftspoking through.
Cars drove past while older trucks chuggedalong. Warm sunshine surrounded her, and passing the local coffeeshop, she inhaled yeasty bread. It was a gorgeous day. Sunlightbrightened everything it touched, adding glimmers to shiny surfacesand making colors appear more vivid. Reflecting off a store window,it gave a prism and refracted a mini rainbow.
Chantelle took out her cell to take a photo.She wouldn’t post it on social media, but this she would keep forherself on those nights in her apartment when she missed home.Zooming the photo closer, she focused to steady the photograph.
Something hard hit her from behind. She lostbalance in her heels and stretched out her hand to break her fall.A muscular arm enveloped her waist. She held back a screech.
“I’m sorry I didn’t see you.” A bass voicesaid. “Are you alright?”
A dog barked, and Chantelle’s eyes lowered tosee the Yorkie wagging its tail. Its pink tongue hung from itsmouth.
“No, I wasn’t paying attention,” shesaid.
“Chantelle?” He said as if he recognizedher.
“Do I know you?” She asked, regaining herbalance and stepping away from his embrace.
“We graduated the same year together.”
She shrugged. His shaved hair in a Mohawkfitted his square face. His olive skin was smooth, and his smilegleamed, making her grin back at him.
“Javier? Javier Flores?” She
