“Okay,” she took a steadying breath. Although she’d visited as often as she could, it had been tough living so far away. “I’m just done with the whole thing. You and Dad are so good together. I’m surrounded by all these people that are able to make it work. After three failed attempts at getting serious, I’m scared.”
“Of course you are. Trust me. When it’s right? You’ll know.”
Freya wasn’t so sure about that. She’d known enough times to get engaged. But her mother was a hopeless romantic. Like Freya used to be. “Have you seen Lulu or Uncle Joe or Aunt Noelle yet?”
She shook her head. “They’re still over at the cabin with the rest of the wedding party. But I think most of the guests of the hotel are here for the wedding.”
“Really? There are some rowdy folks here. I figured there was some frat reunion or something.”
“Yep,” Tammy muttered. “Lulu and her fiancé’s friends. I talked with your Aunt Gloria after we arrived yesterday; apparently Lulu is a bit of a partier.”
Wincing, Freya paused for a sip of coffee to wash down that image. “Well this should be an interesting evening. Six o'clock?”
“Ceremony is at six. Shall we meet you at your room at five thirty? The ceremony will take place on the hotel lawn, then, from what I hear, all of those doors will open up to the dining room for the reception.”
As they strolled back toward the hotel, she watched as uniformed hotel employees were already starting to set up a few hundred chairs. It was a nice spot, but holy shit, there had to be three hundred guests coming. And she’d felt like her hundred-guest wedding had been big.
Resting his feet on the deck rail, Zane sipped his coffee and looked out over the lake, already alive with tourists escaping the sweltering cities downriver. Or, hell, these might all be wedding guests. Below, a few hundred chairs were being set up, a portable arbor, flowerpots holding down a red carpet. Fancy. Wonder how much this weekend set them back. Almost as overdone as his own wedding had been.
His phone buzzed on the table. Rising to his feet, he left the crisp morning breeze. The blankets were in a tangle on the floor, too far gone to be remade without starting fresh. Damn, Freya had been insatiable. He didn’t know it was possible to do it that much, and still want her again. After their naked room service breakfast, she’d left for a walk with her mom, and he’d wandered down to the giftshop and bought out their stock of condoms.
Remembering what he’d come in for, he picked up his phone before it went to voicemail.
Gritting his teeth, he almost didn’t answer. Shouldn’t have. And he’d been having such a nice vacation.
“Yeah,” he answered. It had either been that, or about fucking time.
“Zane, dear. I’m so glad we finally connected.”
Connected. Sure. Whatever you want to call it. “Hey, Mom.”
“So you’re home and safe now?”
What?
“From your deployment?”
“No. I’m out. Done. Civilian. Moved to Washington.”
Long pause. “Oh, that’s just wonderful. DC is so nice this time of year.”
“State.”
“Even lovelier. Why don’t you come for a visit?”
“Thanks, but I’m really not looking to travel right now.” As far as they needed to know anyway.
“So the reason I called today is to let you know that we finally welcomed Blaire as a full partner in the firm.”
“What?” He’d known she’d transferred back east after their divorce, but that she’d had the gall to join his parents’ firm?
“Yes. She interned with us after leaving San Diego. I thought you knew?”
Uh, no.
“Zane?”
“Yeah. I’m here.”
“Well, I was talking with her about you two and how good you two had been together–”
What the fuck? “No. We were awful together.”
“And I was thinking you should come home, at least for a visit. I’m sure you’ve both grown up so much.”
“I’ve got to go.”
“Wait, dear. I know you must have hard feelings about the way things ended.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Come visit and see for yourself. I think you two will get along famously if you give her a chance to show you how much she’s changed.”
“Fuck no.”
“You might change your mind, see what sparks are still be there. Wouldn't that be wonderful, if you two could reunite, the firm will grow and be fully Harris-owned, and we’d get to share more of your life. I’m sure you’re rusty, but you could start slow and it will all come back to you.”
“I like where I'm at.”
“Then we would love to come for a visit. To see what you’re up to. I have no doubt Blaire would love to come, too.”
“No.” He cringed, walking back outside to figure out how to get through to the dense woman that Blaire and he were never going to happen again. He looked down and saw Freya strolling down the sidewalk, her wild curls wickedly tossed about from the windy walk, her black cotton dress dancing over her skin with each step, tangling in her legs with each gust. “That might get weird. I, uh… I remarried.”
Shit, had he really just said that? He knew his mother wouldn't stop once she'd found something worth hounding him about. Didn't she ever wonder why he never came home to visit? Normally their calls were easier; his parents loved talking about themselves. When he’d called at Christmas, they told him all about their new puppy. The Christmas before, they’d decided he should invest in a bamboo manufacturer with them.
Usually, it was more work-based, like today. The Blaire approach was new. And horrible. Had they been
