Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes

by Nancy Naigle

  Maybe that’s why I’m struggling with the slower pace. Maybe Connor’s right about me needing other things in my life. But what? Work has always been enough.

  The words painted around the yoga studio played in her mind. She closed her eyes and thought about them and what she’d tell someone else about life balance.

  Health. Family. Work. Play. Friends. Give.

  She eyed the list and crossed out the words family and play, then reluctantly the word give. I’m healthy. But then, she knew being healthy and living healthy were not the same thing. She crossed that one out, too. Two out of six wasn’t a winning combination.

  Health. Family. Work. Play. Friends. Give.

  I’ve got work to do.

  She crumpled the piece of paper and tossed it in the trash can next to her desk. Then she leaned over and retrieved the wadded paper and smoothed it back out. Health will be easy. I already have that time to meet with Anita on Monday for the yoga. I could do some walking.

  Family. Even looking at that word was hard.

  Harsh realities. Jill was right. I’ve never been good at dealing with them.

  Carolanne folded the piece of paper and stuck it in her front pocket, then Googled information on the estate auction in Hale’s Vineyard. There were tons of items listed. She scrolled through some of them, then stopped and looked at the jewelry. Some of the pieces appeared to be quite old. She glanced at her watch. Connor would be back any time—why not close up early for the day?

  Chapter Seven

  Carolanne raised her number in the air for the fourth time in a row.

  Connor nudged her. “Is that necklace worth that much money?”

  “I have absolutely no idea.” She threw her bidder number up again. “It’s worth exactly what I’m willing to pay, right?” Carolanne leveled her stare on the bleached-blonde woman standing next to the fat guy who kept trying to outbid her on the antique pendant. “At this point, it’s the principle!”

  Been there, done that. Connor laughed. “All righty, then. Don’t get swept up in the competition of it, or you could way overspend.”

  “Don’t spoil my fun. I didn’t spoil yours when you spent a fortune on that gun.”

  “But that wasn’t just any gun, and it was still a steal.” She’s tuning me out.

  “Well, I really like this piece. It’s special.” She thrust her number in the air again. “I’ve got to have it.”

  I know how you feel.

  The couple at war with Carolanne over the necklace started muttering between themselves. That was a good sign they were nearing the end of their purse strings. “One more time,” Connor encouraged Carolanne, “and don’t drop your arm.”

  She threw her number in the air and didn’t lower it.

  The auctioneer scanned the crowd for last bidders. “All in. All done. Sold to the little redhead.”

  “It’s mine? I got it?”

  “You did,” Connor said.

  Carolanne pumped both fists in the air, then turned and hugged Connor. He could feel her heart pounding, and the scent of something mystically spicy and flowery all at the same time filled his head. “Thank you! I was getting ready to quit. You knew.”

  “Shhhh.”

  Carolanne shrank back, apologizing to the people sitting around them. “Sorry. I’m so excited.” She leaned close to Connor and whispered, “What do we do now?”

  He took her hand and led her out of the room as the auctioneer began a round of bidding on a piece of nineteenth-century artwork.

  “That was practically dizzying.” Carolanne could barely stand still.

  “I’ve created a monster.”

  Joy bubbled in her laugh. “You might have. Who knew this would be so much fun? Battling with that couple over the necklace—now, that was cool.”

  “That’s because you love to win.”

  “Guilty as charged,” she said.

  Since the auction was still in full swing, the line to check out was short. Connor settled his tab, and then Carolanne did the same.

  They both stepped over to the second counter, where they traded paid receipts for their goods. Connor walked out to his car while Carolanne waited for her jewelry.

  He placed his rifle in the back of the car, then turned and leaned on the trunk lid just as Carolanne came out of the building. She walked toward him, clutching a black velvet box like she was one of the three wise men offering up a gift.

  “So, let me see this to-die-for necklace up close.”

  Carolanne snapped open the jewelry box and held it out in front of him. A diamond-crusted bow hung from the center of a delicate chain, and below that, a stunning teardrop-shaped emerald matched the color of Carolanne’s eyes.

  “White gold?” he asked.

  “No. It’s platinum.” Carolanne’s hands shook as she lifted the chain out of the box.

  “No wonder it was so expensive.”

  She lifted the chain to put it on.

  “Here. Let me.” He took the necklace from her.

  Carolanne spun around with her back to him.

  He took the delicate clasp between his fingers and then raised his hands up and over her head. The pendant settled just right at her cleavage. He could feel her racing heart as he hooked the chain. Then he unhooked the barrette that held her hair back and slowly pushed his fingers through the loops of her braid, freeing her rich auburn waves.

  She turned around, taking a deep breath and looking up at him. “What do you think?”

  He stared for just a second. Something innocent—hopeful, maybe—seemed to dance in her eyes. That you’re the most beautiful girl I know. He leaned forward and pulled her closer to press his lips to hers, then gently covered her mouth. He felt her shiver beneath his touch, and as he roused her passion, his own grew even stronger. Her response was undeniable, but she pulled away all of a sudden.

  “Wait.” She swept her hand across her mouth. “What was that?” She twisted from him and shoved the box into her purse as she made her way around to the passenger seat.

  I wish I knew. He let out a sigh and got behind the wheel of the car. “It was just a kiss.” Well, almost a really good kiss. He wanted to let it go, but she looked even prettier sitting there at a loss for words. It wasn’t his imagination. He’d felt the attraction, and it wasn’t one-sided.

  She fondled the pendant hanging around her neck. “Why—”

  “Don’t ask. Don’t analyze it. Just let it be.” He kissed her again, on the cheek this time. “It’s OK.”

  She mouthed the word OK and avoided eye contact as he started the car.

  He squeezed her hand and smiled, hoping maybe she was feeling something. She hadn’t gotten mad—well, not redhead mad—and that had to mean something. “It’s all good.”

  They’d ridden in complete silence for more than ten minutes when Carolanne said, “Do you want to know why I wanted this necklace so badly?”

  “Because you thought it was pretty?”

  “No. It’s more than that.” She shifted in her seat. “I don’t know if it’s even remotely like it, but in my mind, the one piece of jewelry that my momma always treasured was a pendant that had been in the family for years. I remembered the bow of diamonds above the teardrop stone mostly. She lost it when I was a little girl. I remember her crying. She was so sad to have lost it and so scared to tell my dad.”

  “That sounds special.”

  Carolanne swept her hand underneath her nose, then pushed her hair behind her ears. “Dad wasn’t mad, though. I remember how gentle he was with her. He never liked to see Momma sad.”

  “Ben loved her. Still does as much today as back then, I think. You should have heard the way he talked about your momma with my mom. That’s the real deal right there.”

  “He loved her more than anything.”

  “Do you think that necklace belonged to her?”

  “I don’t know, but it sure hit those memories hard. I knew I had to have it. At whatever cost.”

  He brushed hi
s thumb across her knuckles. “I’m glad you shared that with me.”

  She smiled. “I am, too. This has been a really special night. Perfect timing. Thank you, Connor.”

  “You’re welcome. I enjoyed it, too,” he said. “It’s still early. Do you want to stop by your dad’s and see what he thinks of the necklace?”

  She involuntarily tensed under his grip, and he tugged his hand back from her.

  “Oh, I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

  “He’d probably like to know you have good memories of your mom. He worries about you.”

  That kiss may have confused her, but her guard was clearly up again, and she managed a feeble answer. “I’m not ready to just pop in on him.”

  Connor knew his disappointment showed on his face. “One of you is going to have to make a move someday. Seems like this necklace is as good a reason as any for y’all to get together to talk.”

  She turned and stared out the window. “Not tonight. OK?”

  He didn’t want to push, but it was hard to understand how Carolanne could shut out her father. His own dad had walked out on them when he was just a kid—no hero, by any stretch of the imagination—but he’d never turned his back on his dad. Parents are parents—flaws and all. He’d give anything to have even five more minutes with his mother. He hoped Carolanne would never regret the time she didn’t spend with her father.

  When they got back home, Carolanne made a hasty retreat to her apartment—saying good night and slipping inside the safety of her apartment before Connor could corner her for a good night at the door.

  Confused, she paced the room, then dropped down on the couch, hugging a throw pillow. “Don’t overanalyze it,” he’d said, but that was impossible.

  That kiss was a mistake. But her heart refused to listen to what her mind was trying to tell her. There was no mistaking that when he’d kissed her, she’d felt something. Something different. A reckless abandon to the tenderness of his touch in a way she’d never felt before.

  How did that happen? Why in the good Lord’s name did I like it so much?

  “This is nothing but trouble,” she muttered to the dark room. “Not a good idea.”

  Carolanne had nothing against having fun, but Connor wasn’t a have-some-fun-and-move-on kind of guy. Plus, she’d have to face him in the office, and that was already going to be awkward.

  She ran her hand through her loose hair. When he’d pulled that barrette from her hair and run his fingers through it to loosen the tight braid, she’d felt his every pulse tweak her own into a double count that had almost made her hyperventilate. Heck, I might hyperventilate just thinking about it. She swung her legs around to lie flat out on the couch, then took in a deep breath and let it out slowly to a three-count. Get it together. The streetlight danced against the panes of the turn-of-the-century windows, sending a wavy stream of light against the ceiling.

  The thought of how she’d gotten lost in those blue eyes forced her to take another deep breath, but the truth was, in that moment, it felt like the safest place on earth.

  She laid her hand against the jewels that hung from her neck. Is this you, Mom, sending me a message? Was this your necklace, or even anything like it? Or am I just wishing so hard for you to be here, to guide me, that I’m making all this up?

  Lying there in the quiet, Carolanne took a deep breath and tried to let the images go.

  She jerked with a start at what sounded like the snarling of a wounded warthog, which made her sit up and start laughing. Just as she was thinking of Connor all sexy and romantic, his snoring blasted her perspective back right-side up.

  She looked to heaven. “Mom, I know that was your doing. You always had the best timing.”

  Chapter Eight

  Carolanne tossed and turned all night, thinking about the random kiss Connor had planted on her. She kicked the covers off. I’m never going to figure that out. I wish I could talk to Jill but dumping this on her the day before her wedding isn’t the best timing. It’d be selfish, if anything.

  She forced herself out of bed and got dressed in a black scoop-neck T-shirt and slacks, then put on the necklace even if it was a little fancy for the outfit. She brushed her hair without taking her eyes off the lovely pendant reflecting in the mirror. She could almost see her mother’s image rather than her own, brushing with long strokes. There was something peaceful about feeling so close to her right now. Mom, I wish you could give me some guidance, a sign, anything.

  Carolanne picked up her purse and headed for the door, but at the last minute, she went back and tucked a note under the edge of the coffeepot on the kitchen counter that simply read:

  Good morning.

  Off to help Jill with wedding stuff.

  Help yourself to the coffee.

  See you tonight. C-

  Pulling the door closed, she left it unlocked so Connor could still get his coffee. He’d be shocked that she was already up and out at this hour. Comfortable with the time that note would buy her until the rehearsal dinner tonight, she hurried to leave before he woke up.

  Carolanne felt like a criminal on the run the way her adrenaline was pushing her to rush to her car. A sense of relief washed over her once she backed away from the building. It was still too early for Jill to be at the artisan center, so she rode through the neighborhood, trying to waste a little time, and then took the long way to the artisan center, turning down Old Horseshoe Run Road toward the church. She pulled into the church parking lot and sat there, trying to understand the tangle of emotions she felt right now.

  Years ago, she’d walked hand in hand between Mom and Dad every single Sunday up the long walkway to the front doors of this church. Even when Mom was really sick and had to wear a scarf over her bald head from the chemo, they’d never missed a service.

  She’d been a daddy’s girl up until Mom died. Everything changed then. She’d been shepherded along from neighbor to neighbor the first couple of weeks, and then Pearl had taken control. Almost a month passed, and she hadn’t only lost Mom, but hadn’t seen her dad, either. Carolanne remembered crying night after night wondering if Dad had died, too.

  That sadness had long since been replaced by anger, and she wasn’t sure how to start again without the weight of that negativity. She shoved the gearshift back in drive and headed to the artisan center.

  Carolanne parked next to Jill’s car, relieved that Dad’s car wasn’t there. She went inside. “Hello, anyone around?”

  “Back here,” Jill’s voice came from somewhere toward the back of the building.

  Carolanne followed the voice but didn’t spot Jill until she looked down behind the counter. “There you are.” Carolanne laughed at the sight of Jill on the floor surrounded by packing peanuts and Bubble Wrap. “Looks like you just popped out of that box. Are you practicing for Garrett’s bachelor party tonight?”

  “Oh no. Garrett already promised me that he and the guys will be having a calm evening.” Jill stood up and tried to brush the peanuts off her pants, but the static kept reattaching the white nuggets to her legs. “Are you OK? You look awful.”

  The day before Jill’s wedding was not the day to dump all of her drama on Jill. “I’m fine. Sinuses, probably the weather changing, and I didn’t put any makeup on this morning.”

  “Or maybe it’s just that you pale in comparison to that necklace. Get over here. How did I not notice that when you first walked in?” Jill stepped closer to Carolanne. “I love that. When did you get it?”

  “Isn’t it amazing? It’s like one my mom had.”

  “Where’d you find it?”

  “I went to an estate sale with Connor yesterday. It was so much fun.” Too much fun. There was that tingle again. Better change the subject or Jill will be matchmaking, and I can’t take that right now. “But tomorrow’s your big day. Anything we need to do for tonight or in the morning?”

  “No. Patsy’s handling the rehearsal dinner. I swear I’m going to have the best in-laws in the world. She won�
��t even let me help. I’m meeting Izzy in town in a little while to go over the limo stuff one last time.”

  Carolanne started scooping the packing trash into one of the boxes while they talked. “Only Izzy Markham could make a limo service work in Adams Grove. I still can’t believe she married a mortician. Don’t you think that’s creepy?”

  “I met him a couple times before they divorced. He seemed like a really nice guy.”

  “Until he turned into a cheater?”

  “Yeah, until then. I don’t know what would have made him think he could get away with something like that with Izzy. That’s one girl who doesn’t take any mess,” Jill said.

  “I know. I always thought I was tough, but Izzy makes me look tame.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Jill said with teasing laughter in her eyes.

  “Well, you know what I mean.” Carolanne helped Jill put the items from the boxes on the shelves and price items until it was time for Jill to go to town to meet with Izzy.

  “Want me to give you a lift?” Carolanne asked.

  “No. Then you’d have to drive back out here before going back to your house for the dinner. That doesn’t make any sense.”

  Out of excuses to stay away from the office, Carolanne figured she’d just have to face Connor, and if that kiss came up, she prayed for some quick thinking. She followed Jill all the way back to town. Carolanne waved when Jill turned off, and she headed to the office.

  She knew what she’d felt when Connor kissed her, because every time she even thought about that kiss, it sent the same powerful zing through her veins again, but she wasn’t sure she really wanted to feel that way. And she knew she didn’t want to admit it to him.

  It was about lunchtime, so with any luck he’d already be out of the office. She parked along the curb since she’d be heading out again in a little while anyway and scolded herself for feeling disappointed that the BE RIGHT BACK sign was not flipped.