Ashley snagged a piece of pizza from the pie and her stomach rumbled as she bit into it. Aah. Heavenly. “Yeah, of course.” One of Shannon’s favorite students, the five-year-old had lived with his grandma on the outskirts of town since his mom left early last year.
Shannon tugged on a piece of her hair, her expression somber. “I found out today his grandma, Mary, has Alzheimer’s.”
“How bad is it?” Ashley reached into her desk and pulled out a napkin from her emergency stash, then wiped her fingertips.
“Her memory’s been questionable for a while now, so unfortunately, I’m not all that surprised. But last week there was an incident at the mall.” Shannon’s face contorted, like she was trying not to cry. “She left him behind in a store because she forgot he was with her. Social services got involved. Mary had a breakdown and got admitted to the hospital for observation.”
“Oh, Shan. I’m sorry to hear that. What’s going to happen to Noah now?”
“A neighbor with foster certification is watching him while Mary is in the hospital, but after that, I don’t know. He doesn’t have any other family around. Poor kid looked miserable at school today.”
“I’m sure you’re a comfort to him, though. A constant.”
Shannon got a faraway look in her eye before refocusing. “Anyway. I didn’t come by to discuss that. I’ve been trying to give you your space since I know you’re busy. But you aren’t answering my calls and texts, and this isn’t the first time I’ve stopped by—but it is the first time that you’ve actually been available.” She paused. “Is everything okay? It must be really hard to be the one in charge of Derek’s wedding. I know how you felt about him.”
The pizza she’d just eaten sank in Ashley’s gut. “I’m fine. Really.”
“I think you want to believe that, but the fact that we haven’t hung out in over two weeks tells me something is going on.” Shannon worried her bottom lip. “I talked to Bella last night …”
Ashley slumped back in her chair. “Did she tell you what happened last week?”
“No, just that she was concerned about you.” Shannon leaned forward. “Ash, you can talk to me, you know.”
“Oh, I know that. But I don’t even know how I feel about everything that’s going on.”
“With Derek, you mean?”
Ashley nodded.
“You don’t have to know. But as I tell my students on a regular basis, sometimes we have to talk things out to understand how we’re actually feeling.” A smile flitted over Shannon’s face. “And then of course I go into why that’s a better course of action than hitting or biting.”
“Maybe I’d feel better if I bit someone.”
They both laughed, but the levity was short-lived. Ashley sighed. “He doesn’t love his fiancée, Shannon.”
“What do you mean?” Her cousin’s nose scrunched in confusion.
Yeah, well, she wasn’t the only one.
Ashley told Shannon about her and Derek’s conversation-turned-fight the other night at the vineyard. “The thing is, as much as I try not to, I still love him. And there are times when …” She huffed out a frustrated groan.
“You think he loves you too?”
“Yes!” She paused. “What do I do now? The only thing I can do is keep moving forward, right? Keep planning their wedding even though it’s like a knife in the gut every moment I think about it? I don’t think I can change his mind. And I shouldn’t want to. Maybe he’s right. Maybe this will save his family’s business. Maybe that is more important than love.”
“You don’t really believe that.”
“No, but he does. And that could just mean we’re too different to ever work out, anyway.” Ashley shut the lid of the box, trapping the unfinished pizza inside. “Maybe I’m in love with the pre-France Derek, and that man is gone.”
Before Shannon could think of a reply, Ashley’s phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she stiffened. It was as if the caller had heard the confession from across the Atlantic.
“I’ll let you get that.” Shannon stood. “I didn’t mean to keep you from your work for so long. But I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
“Thanks, cuz. I really appreciate it. Same goes for you.”
As Shannon slipped out the door, Ashley forced a smile. No, the caller wouldn’t be able to see it, but maybe the gesture would help infuse enthusiasm into her voice. “Hi, Claire. What can I do for you?”
“Ashley, thank goodness. I need your help.”
“Of course.” Her heart picked up speed at the panic in the other woman’s voice. Claire always seemed so put together. “What’s wrong?”
“I had plans to return to town later this week, but complications have arisen and I cannot get back until next Monday.”
“All right, well, that’s okay. Derek and I are taking care of all the details here, so you don’t—”
“Non, you have not taken care of this detail. My dress, Ashley. They need at least a week for alterations, and I was going to be getting in just under the wire, as you say, but now, it will be impossible. And I cannot have a dress that does not fit, not for my wedding day.”
“Oh.” That was a problem. “All right. Well, I’ll try to find another seamstress in town who can do the alterations in a few days’ time.”
“I suppose that could work, but it makes me nervous.” A pause. “What size are you?”
“Me?” The squeak fell from Ashley’s lips before she could stop it.
“Yes. We are the same size, I believe. Close enough, anyway. Lucky thing you are tall.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” Please don’t be what I think it is.
The room suddenly felt extra warm.
“You need to go to the boutique and stand in for my alterations. Oui, I think that will work.”
“No, it might—”
“Thank you, Ashley. You are a wonder. I need to run. Let me
