She couldn’t deny, even now in her dress, that Finn would possibly always have a piece of her heart. She’d given it to him unknowingly, and it was likely she’d never get it back. But Asher had the other half. He’d worked for it. He’d earned it. Asher didn’t deserve to have his heart broken.
Not that Finn did, either. But Finn had chosen to leave. He’d chosen to hide his past rather than just be honest and take the risk. He’d made the choice for her, and at the end of the day, that was what mattered.
As she stared at herself in the mirror, at the perfect makeup and hair, the dress she never could’ve afforded before, and the ring that glistened on her finger, she couldn’t help but be sad that her mother wasn’t standing next to her. She was supposed to be, after all. This was a day they’d dreamed of for most of her life. She was supposed to wear her mother’s veil, but it had burned up in the fire, like most of her belongings. Everything she’d owned had either been stolen in flames or ripped from her grasp the day she arrived in New York.
Everything about this day was fresh, new—just like the life she was walking into. It didn’t feel the way she’d imagined it, but somehow that was okay. As long as she had Asher, as long as he loved her, everything would be okay.
“I wish you were here, Mom,” she whispered, running a hand over her nervous stomach as her lip began to quiver. The next thought wasn’t spoken aloud, but she hoped her mother could hear it anyway. You’d know what to do.
A knock on the door startled her, and she quickly brushed the tears from her eyes. Cathy, a girl she catered with and had chosen to be a bridesmaid, poked her head inside. “Hey, love, you about ready?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, um, someone wants to see you first.”
Her heart fluttered at the possibility. Who could it be? Rather, who else could it be? He shouldn’t have come, but she couldn’t deny the hope she felt at hearing her words. “Sure. Send them in.”
She nodded, shutting the door for just a moment. When it opened, it was Jacob, not Finn, standing in front of her. The hope deflated from her chest like a balloon that had been popped. “Jacob,” she said, trying to sound happier than she felt. “Everything okay?”
He shut the door before he responded. “You look beautiful.”
She smiled at him, confusion coming out in her expression. “Thank you.”
He cleared his throat. “I need to tell you something, Blythe. You can make of it what you will, and it’s probably not my place to say anything, but I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, leaning against the white chaise lounge beside her. Her head pounded at the way he was looking at her. Something was very wrong.
“Finn told me about what happened between the two of you…er, the three of you, I guess. My son included.”
Was he mad that she’d been in love with his son’s friend? “I didn’t know Finn and Asher were friends,” she began to explain. “What Finn and I had was very brief, practically non-existent.”
He smiled, holding a hand up to get her to stop talking. “You don’t have to explain it to me, but there is something I want to explain to you.”
Was it about money? Was this where he told her she’d have to sign a prenup? “Okay, sure.”
“When Asher and Finn were growing up, they were inseparable. More like brothers than friends. Mona and I…well, to this day, we consider Finn our other son. We’ve taken care of him most of his life.” He paused, pressing his lips together. “I’m not sure what all you know about Finn’s upbringing…”
“Nothing.” She answered the question he hadn’t really asked.
He nodded. “It wasn’t good. His parents are useless. His father is a big, mean man with a temper out of this world. He never had a kind thing to say to or about his son. His mother…” He raised his eyebrows. “His mother was on drugs his entire life. She had men in and out of Finn’s life. When his father would run off for a month or two, she’d bring someone new home. There was no consistency. He turned out much better than we could’ve hoped for based on the people who raised him. Mona and I took him in when he was fifteen, after his mother overdosed for about the fourth time and his father took off again.” He looked away, and she wondered if she spied tears in his usually happy eyes. “They never even asked about him. For over a year, we had him and they didn’t even realize he was gone.”
“You did all you could for him,” she said, unsure if she was supposed to be comforting him.
“No,” he said softly, rubbing a thumb under his nose with a sniff. He looked back at her. “No, we didn’t. I’ve always said I feel like I have two sons, but there was a time when they both needed me and I chose one over the other.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
“What are you talking about, Mr. Grace?”
“Asher loves you, Blythe. He does. You have turned his life around since you walked into it, and his mother and I couldn’t be more proud of that.”
“I love him, too.” She tilted her head toward her shoulder, waiting for him to go on.
“Mona would never forgive me if she knew I was here,” he said, though it seemed like he was talking to himself more than her. “But you need to know the truth.”
“The truth about what?” she asked.
“You need to talk to Finn,” he said. “If you love him, too. If you care about Finn…you need to talk to him before you go through with this.”
“Are you saying that I shouldn’t get married today?” She touched her chest, trying to find a message within his guarded words.
“No,” he said quickly. “I want you to marry my son more than I’ve ever wanted anything. You are the…best thing that has ever happened to him. But I can’t be selfish this time. I can’t choose one son over the other.”
“I chose, Mr. Grace—”
“Jacob, Jack, please,” he corrected her.
“Jacob,” she said. “Jack?” Wheels in her mind began turning as she wondered why that rang a bell. “I’ve never heard anyone call you Jack.”
“My father always did. Kids in school. Mona thinks it’s childish, but I always liked it.”
“Jack…” She thought back as the memory surfaced. “Finn’s father. Was he…bigger?” She held her arms out to her side. “A big, white beard?”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s him.”
“He came to Finn’s apartment. A few weeks after I’d started dating Asher. Said you—Jack—told him where Finn lived.” She nodded, feeling it all fall into place. “That’s what you’re talking about. You knew Finn would run away if his father found him. You knew he’d come to you and I’d go back to Asher.”
He furrowed his brow. “No,” he said softly. “No, of course not. I didn’t know who you were at that time, Blythe. Let alone that you were dating both of my boys.” He sighed. “I did tell Tommy where Finn lived, but only because he said he needed the address for a lawyer. Finn’s mother passed away, and the will was being read. I asked Finn if it was okay, and he said yes. Neither of us expected that Tommy would show up there.”
“So, if that’s not what this is about, what are you talking about? When did you choose one son over the other?”
A knock on the door interrupted them, and Cathy stuck her head back in. “They’re ready for us.”
Blythe nodded, waiting for her to shut the door again before Jacob said anything else. “If you love Asher, and there are no doubts in your mind…then I hope you’ll marry him. But, Blythe, if you have even one small doubt about going through with this…please talk to Finn first. I’m trying to protect all of my children here. That…that includes you.” He smiled, walking forward and taking her hand. He pressed his lips to it, pulling her into a hug that made her miss her own father terribly. “Good luck,” he whispered as he pulled away. “I’ll stall for a few minutes if you need me to.”
She nodded, but didn’t accept or decline his offer at first. �
��I love Asher,” she told him. “And he loves me too, right?”
He nodded. “He really does.”
She smiled, despite the tears still in her eyes. “Is Finn here? Did he ask you to talk to me?”
“No,” he said quickly. “Finn would never allow me to tell you all that I have. He didn’t want me talking to you at all.”
So, Finn hadn’t chosen to fight for her. Again. He had given up. “Thank you for telling me what you have, Jack. I love your son, and he loves me. I don’t have any doubts.” The last sentence was a lie and she knew it as the words left her lips, but she couldn’t take them back. She hugged the man in front of her again, turning toward the door. “Now, we’ve got a wedding to get to.”
He looked incredibly relieved, though a bit troubled, as he pulled open the door. Blythe smiled as the three bridesmaids she’d chosen began to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at the sight of her.
She entered the hallway as Cathy stuck her head through the large set of double doors to give the go-ahead. Instantly, the music started playing, letting them know the ceremony was starting.
Jacob started to take his place near the maid of honor but stopped and glanced back at Blythe.
“This may be overstepping…but would you like me to walk you down the aisle?”
His words slammed into her chest, causing her to suck in a deep breath as the tears she’d been keeping mildly at bay began to pour down her cheeks. She hadn’t mentioned to anyone how much this day made her miss her father. Everyone talked about missing her mother, how hard it must be for her to get married without her, and that was completely true, but she longed to wrap her arm through her father’s in that moment. She had hidden the dismay she felt over the fact that there would be no father-daughter dance. Every part of this day was a reminder of what she had lost.
“I would love that very much,” she said finally.
He stepped out of the way as the procession began making its way down the aisle. Asher would wonder why his father, his best man, wasn’t with them. As the doors closed and it became their turn to walk down the aisle, Jacob leaned down close to her ear.
“I’m sure your father would be so proud of you.” The doors opened, and Asher met her eyes from the end of the aisle. He smiled warmly, his eyes never leaving hers as they made their way toward him. The guests stood in unison, watching her with encouraging smiles on their faces. It wasn’t lost on any of them that the entire crowd was filled with Asher’s guests. A few of her friends from work had been invited, but excluding the three in her wedding party, none had bothered to come. Even her aunt, her only living family despite their tense relationship, had claimed it was too far a drive to attend.
She couldn’t focus on that. No matter how sad it made her, the man waiting for her at the end of the aisle made her so incredibly happy she could burst.
When they reached Asher, Jacob placed her hand into his son’s before taking his place next to Asher as his best man.
“You look beautiful,” Asher whispered, leaning in toward her slightly as they made their way up the red velvet staircase in front of the pastor. She smiled at him, her heart so incredibly full, and yet there was something bothering her. Jacob’s words. The warning he’d given her. That she should talk to Finn. Why couldn’t he have warned her before this moment?
She thought about the other thing he’d said to her, the one about her father being proud of her. Would he, though? As she looked around the room, the wedding that had been planned by well-meaning people, yet nothing looked as it would if she would’ve done it herself. The crowd was filled with unfamiliar faces.
The wedding felt like Asher’s and Asher’s alone, and though she had thought it wouldn’t bother her, as she stood in front of strangers—her new family—she couldn’t help missing her old family. She thought of the words her father had told her just before her graduation. He’d pulled her aside just before they’d gotten in the car.
“You know we’re proud of you, right?” he’d said.
She’d rolled her eyes at the time. “Daaaad.”
He’d kissed her forehead, squeezing her shoulder. “I know, I know. I’m just saying it now while I have you alone. After tonight, the world is yours, sweet pea. You can do and be anything you want.”
She’d smirked. “You know I’m not, like, running off backpacking around Europe or something. I’m not even moving out yet.”
“I know,” he’d said. “But you could. This moment right here is so full of possibilities. And the truth is, Blythe, as long as you follow your heart…you can’t go wrong. Be true to yourself and what it will take to make you happy. Your mother and I will support you no matter what that is.”
She’d leaned into his hug. “Thanks,” she’d whispered. “Now, let’s get going before we turn into a cheesy Hallmark movie.”
He’d chuckled at her joke and walked with his daughter out the door. Her parents were dead just a few years later. She hadn’t thought back to that day since then, hadn’t remembered his advice until that moment. It was as if he knew she’d need to hear it someday.
Was she following her heart? As much as she wanted to believe she was as she stared at the man in front of her—the good man, the man who loved her more than anything else, the man who’d given her everything she thought she wanted—she knew it wasn’t true. The piece of her heart that remained with Finn was too big. It had the majority vote, if she were being honest with herself. Maybe she’d always known it. Maybe the memory of her father on such an important day had forced that truth to the surface. Either way, she couldn’t give up on him just because he so willingly conceded.
The pastor had made it through part of the ceremony and he was looking at her, waiting for her to say the words he was saying. Asher squeezed her hand.
“Blythe?” he whispered, looking confused. Her eyes met Jacob’s, who gave her a knowing look. He’d known this would happen. Somehow, he’d just known.
“I, um—” She looked out into the crowd, trying to find the words to say the very thing that would crush his heart more than anything else. It wasn’t easy to destroy someone you loved, to destroy the future you pictured together. It was even more difficult to do so in front of a crowd of people who’d all come because they loved said person. Her eyes landed on a woman in the front row, all the blood draining from her face instantly.
It was the woman from the restaurant the night she and Asher had had their first fight. The girl he’d been dating at the same time as Blythe. She couldn’t recall her name. As much as her presence shocked Blythe, that wasn’t what made her heart race. She squinted her eyes, trying to determine if she was right. From such a distance, it was hard to tell. But she knew. In her heart, she knew, and yet, it wasn’t possible. Was it?
She dropped Asher’s hands quickly, walking toward the woman. The crowd gasped.
“What are you doing?” Asher asked.
The woman looked shocked; she scooted back farther on the pew without a word, trying to determine what was happening. As Blythe grew closer, her suspicions were confirmed.
She stared at the large, green emerald hanging from her neck, three smaller gems on either side. She’d know that necklace anywhere.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Where did you get that?” Blythe asked, her powerless voice carrying across the room. Asher was at her side in an instant, holding her shoulders.
“Sweetheart, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Where did you get that?” Blythe screamed, her power returning as anger filled her.
Jacob was at her other side. He cleared his throat. “Maybe we should take this to another room.” He pulled Blythe, motioning that she and Asher should follow.
Mona stood up, her hand on her chest. “I’m so sorry about this, everyone,” she announced. “You know how nerves go on a wedding day.” The crowd chuckled half-heartedly. “We’ll be right back, but please feel free to mingle.” She hurried after them, her footsteps thudding on the red carpet that led down the aisle.
They arrived at the room in which Blythe had gotten dressed, and Blythe spun around, ready to rip the necklace from the pretty, tan neck of Asher’s ex.
“Now, what is this all about?” Mona asked. It was the first time Blythe had seen her look even remotely angry.
Blythe pointed a finger at the woman, her hand and voice both shaking with fury. “Where…did…you…get that?”
“Blythe, what’s going on?” Asher asked. “Bianca hasn’t done anything—”
“Where?!” she squealed.
Bianca jumped, her hand flying to her necklace. “Asher gave it to me,” she whispered. “Do you want it? I’m sorry. I just…I’ve always loved it. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Blythe choked back tears, holding out her hand as a terrified-looking Bianca reached behind her neck and unhooked the necklace, handing it over without a fight.
Asher looked at her as if she’d lost her mind—maybe she had. That was the only explanation that made sense. She turned the necklace over in her hand, the weight as familiar as the last time she’d held it. She looked at the back, the way the silver had begun to blacken with age, but yes, there they were. The initials she’d spent years tracing with her fingers. AJ.
“Where did you get it, Asher?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
She shoved the necklace into his face. “Where did you get my mother’s necklace?”
His face went ashen instantly. “I, um, I bought it at a pawnshop.”
“A pawnshop?” she asked. The possibility hadn’t crossed her mind.
“Oh my God,” Bianca said, covering her mouth. “No. Asher. Tell me you didn’t.”
Blythe had other things to worry about than whether Bianca was opposed to wearing pre-owned jewelry. “Which pawnshop?” she demanded.
“Um…the one…” He tried to think, his eyes trailing to the ceiling.
“Asher, you need to tell her the truth,” Bianca said, her eyes darting to the necklace and then back to Asher.
The Better Choice Page 13