by Lisa Scott
The One That Got Away
By Lisa Scott
Something was off. Miranda wasn’t sure what, but the back of her neck tingled as she and Luke walked into the hotel ballroom. She’d had that feeling before and it was always followed by bad news. Miranda frowned. It’s not because she was crashing a wedding to check out their band; the band had said it was okay. Maybe it was the couple sitting with a little girl devouring a sundae, all three of them giddy and happy. Miranda hadn’t laughed like that in a long time. Strange.
She looked at her enormous engagement ring glinting in the light of the chandeliers. She had every reason in the world to bubble over with joy, she thought. So, what was niggling her? She tried to shake off the feeling while she and her fiancé, Luke, settled at a table to listen to the music. Luke had decided he wanted a band for the cocktail hour of their reception and this jazz group had a last minute cancellation. Everyone had expected her to be bridezilla, but Luke had taken over the role nicely. He liked to be in control; she didn’t mind letting him. They’d have a great marriage.
Miranda swung her foot to the beat of the music, aware that most of the men in the room were looking at her—even though her hand was linked with Luke’s. Too bad her best friend, Jane, wasn’t there to shoo the boys away. Sure, she’d used her looks to her advantage for years. But now it was tiresome to have men bumble around her just because they liked how she looked. If only they knew she hogged the covers, ate the cookies out of the cookies-and-cream ice cream, and hoarded magazines. She just couldn’t throw them out without reading all the articles, and that never happened. She had plenty of faults; she should have them all printed out on a t-shirt. But then that would just invite more stares at her chest.
That’s one of the things she liked about Luke. He didn’t go on and on about her long blond hair or her figure that had been called a perfect ten by one of the Red Sox pitchers the morning after they’d hooked up. Luke was the son of a rich Australian businessman and he’d certainly dated women far more beautiful than her. It was a relief, really, not to be treated like a Faberge egg.
She stared at his handsome profile. She was a lucky woman. “Do you like the band?” she asked.
He shrugged, tossing back the last of his scotch. “They’ll do. I don’t think we have much other choice at the last minute here in bloody Springfield. It’s not too late to push the date back, and move this whole thing to Australia, you know. We’d have plenty of jazz bands to choose from there, love.”
“I don’t mind having another reception there, but the wedding is going to be here. My mother wants it here.” As the band stopped for a break, Miranda stood up. “I’m going to book them.”
Luke’s eyes wandered across the room to a pretty photographer snapping shots of guests mugging for the camera. “Maybe we should add another photographer, too,” he said.
Miranda rolled her eyes and headed for the band. Luke liked to pretend he was a ladies’ man, but it was just an act expected of an attractive, wealthy heir to a fortune. She knew he loved her.
As she approached the stage, she realized someone else was heading that way, too. She and Luke probably weren’t the only couple hoping to scoop up the group. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and quickened her pace.
But before she could get the singer’s attention, she felt a touch on her shoulder. “Miranda?”
She froze. That voice cut through a thousand memories to a time when she was joyful and innocent, filled with dreams of the future. Slowly she turned to him. His curly brown hair had started receding more than he probably liked, but that just showed off his big green eyes better, she thought. His face was thinner, and he was still an inch shorter than her, but it was him. “Kevin.” Her hand fluttered over her throat as her voice barely registered.
His grin was huge. “Miranda!” He hugged her and she caught her breath. “I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen you since…” His smile fell.
So did hers. She knew the exact date she’d last seen him: March twentieth, 2002. “I know. It’s been a long time. You look great. What are you doing here?” If she were near a wall, she would’ve leaned against it for support.
He looked over his shoulder. “I’m here with my fiancée, checking out the band. We had a DJ lined up for our wedding, but she wants a band instead, and they had a last minute cancellation.”
She felt her face pale. “You’re getting married? On July fourteenth?”
“Yes.”
Miranda tottered on her heels. “So am I.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. Wow.”
With that, Luke was behind her, slinking his hand over her shoulder. “Any problems, dear?”
“No. No. This is Kevin Fulton. He and his fiancée are getting married the same day we are.”
“We dated back in high school,” Kevin offered.
“Then I better go book the damn band before they do. Either that, or I’ll offer them double their going rate.” Luke grinned and walked up to the group while Miranda and Kevin stared at each other.
“Sorry,” Miranda said. “He really wants jazz for cocktail hour.”
Kevin waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about it. He’s an Australian? Of course the lovely Miranda would have to travel across the globe to find a worthy guy. Slim pickings here in Springfield, I suppose.” He tried to sound like he was joking, but his grin was fake, she knew it.
“Hardly. I met him at McGinty’s. He went to college here and stayed for a job.” She shrugged.
“So you’ve lived here since...”
She had to force herself to say it. “Since we broke up? Yes. Haven’t gone anywhere. What about you?”
He looked at his shoes. “I moved to Florida for a while.”
“I thought you were going to Umass?”
Laughter and chatter filled the room as he paused before answering. “I needed some space.”
From me, she wanted to say.Miranda wasn’t surprised to see the woman with an engagement ring make her way toward Kevin. She was pretty, with silky brown hair pulled back with a headband, a trim figure, and a lovely smile. And most surprisingly, she didn’t sneer at Miranda. Not a whiff of envy rolled off her. Kevin had done well.
“Did you tell the band we were interested?” she asked him.
Luke walked back over. “Got ‘em, Miranda.” He looked at Kevin. “Sorry, mate. Can’t always get what you want, right?”
Kevin squeezed the woman’s shoulder. “We’ll figure something out.” He looked at Miranda, then back at the lovely brunette. “I want you to meet someone. This is…Miranda and her fiancé, Luke. And this is my fiancée, Beth.”
After Luke said hello, Miranda held out a shaky hand. “So nice to meet you.”
Kevin cleared his throat. “Miranda and I were…”
Beth could probably conclude what Ben had meant to Miranda by her flushed cheeks and the way she was examining the floor.
Then Luke said, “A long time ago, I imagine.”
Miranda nodded.
Beth didn’t seem phased at all. “Nice to meet you.”
Miranda forced herself to look up. “Turns out we’re getting married on the same day.”
Beth crossed her fingers. “Let’s hope the weather cooperates. We got engaged three months ago and it’s been interesting trying to get everything together by next month. But we can pull it off.”
Miranda’s throat felt like it was closing. How many times had she and Kevin talked about the dream wedding they’d throw? Sure, they’d been smitten, silly teenagers, but the love had seemed real. The dreams, too. He was going to open a landscaping company and she was going to open a floral shop, and they’d live in a big house and love each other forever. Until I screwed up everything.
“We still haven’t been able to find a photographer,” Beth said.
Luke gestured to the attractive woman snapping photos. “She seems more than competent.”
“Moira Moore,” Beth said. “She’s the best in the business and totally booked
up.” She shrugged. “It’ll all work out.”
“Why do you have to plan it so quickly?” Miranda asked. If a baby was on the way, Miranda might have to wobble her way to a chair.
“Beth starts a new job in the marketing department at Villa Nova in Philly. We wanted to get married here before we move.”
“Sounds like everything’s working out for you, Kevin. I’m so happy,” Miranda said, grateful she’d always been able to fake a wide range of moods and reactions as needed. But usually, people just wanted her to smile pretty.
“I’m happy for you, too, Miranda.” His smile was half hearted; Kevin wasn’t a good faker at all. Never had been.
He and Beth turned to leave, when Miranda said, “Wait!” She pulled out a notepad and pen from her purse and jotted down her number. “Call me if you need any help with the rest of your plans. Maybe I can offer some suggestions. I’ve done a lot of ground work already.” She held the slip out, expecting Beth would take it, but hoping Kevin would.
He did. “Thanks so much.” He stuffed the paper in his pocket, then smiled at Miranda like no one else was in the room. “It was great running into you. And nice meeting you, Luke.” Then he and Beth walked away.
The pit in Miranda’s stomach felt bottomless.
Luke snickered. “Should I assume you were an ugly duckling? I never have seen any photos from when you were a kid. Were you fat? Acne-ridden?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He jerked his chin toward the door. “He’s hardly in your league.”
Miranda whacked him with her purse as they walked out to his Maserati. She hadn’t been a late bloomer, but she’d been very shy and unsure how to handle the attention she got because of her looks. But she’d always been more than a pretty girl to Kevin. “Kevin was incredibly sweet and funny and creative. He was a great boyfriend.”
“Yeah, those are all the things women want in a man. He probably got that suit at a two for one sale. Doesn’t look like he’s doing that well. Lucky break for you. So why’d you end things?”
She was too caught up in a memory to criticize him for being so snide. “I don’t remember.” But she did. And she was still ashamed of what a coward she’d been just disappearing from his life without an explanation.
She put down the car window as they drove home to let the night breeze cool her flushed cheeks.
Luke hit his control and put her window up. “It’s freezing.”
Miranda had to hide her smile, remembering how she and Kevin loved to drive around on a cold night with the windows down and the heat cranked up. She’d lean against him as they drove, totally content to be snuggled at his side. All they had to do was dream up a future and it was theirs. Or so they thought.
Before she knew it, Luke had pulled into her apartment complex. “Can I come up?” Luke asked. “I hate your place, but we’re here.”
“I’m really tired. I’ll call you tomorrow.” After an absentminded kiss, she went inside hoping she could forget she’d ever seen Kevin. Instead, she stayed up, researching local photographers in case he called.
God, she hoped he’d call.
***
“Aren’t you staying over tonight?” Beth asked Kevin. They were sitting in her parking lot while he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“I’ve got a few landscaping estimates to draw up tomorrow morning, and how can I do that when I wake up with you? I’ll never get any work done.” He chucked her under the chin.
Beth pouted, but not for long. There wasn’t much that could knock her off her stride. “Okay. Call me if you want to grab something to eat tomorrow.” She gave him a quick smooch and climbed out of the car.
He drove home, hating himself for being a liar. He didn’t have any work to catch up on. But what was he supposed to say? I’m so preoccupied with my ex I couldn’t possibly spend the night with you?
He climbed into a cold shower when he got home, then quickly changed the temperature to hot. There’d be no washing away memories of Miranda. Even though it had been ten years, he still thought about her whenever he heard spring frogs peeping or saw a shooting star. Miranda wasn’t the kind of girl you forgot.
And not just because she was gorgeous; somehow, she’d become even more beautiful. Back in high school when they’d dated, her hair wasn’t as long, and her curves hadn’t popped yet. What he remembered about Miranda was her laugh. Her encouragement. The way she believed in all his dreams; the way she’d woven hers with his.
And then she’d just stopped calling. Wouldn’t return his calls. He went to Highland Academy across town, and she went to the public high school, so it’s not like he saw her at school to demand an answer. He’d pleaded with her mother just to let him know what he’d done wrong, but she’d never let him in the door or pass along the phone when he called. He gave up after a month and always wondered if he should’ve fought harder, or if maybe she’d finally realized he just wasn’t good enough.
The memories chased him round and round until he fell asleep just as the sun was rising.
***
The phone rang and pulled him out of a dream where Miranda was floating on a cloud while he desperately tried to grab a string dangling from it. He answered, hoping he sounded awake. “Hello?”
“Kevin?”
Was he still dreaming? It was her voice. “Miranda? How did you get my number?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I googled you, and your landscaping company popped up. I was hoping the number you left on your voicemail for landscaping emergencies was your cell.”
“I’m assuming you don’t have an infestation of Japanese beetles.”
She laughed and he had to lay back at the sound of it. Her laugh was as beautiful as she was.
“No, no beetles or pruning mishaps. I hope I’m not bothering you. I just wanted to pass along the names of a few photographers who might be available on our wedding day. I mean your wedding day. Well, technically it is our wedding day since we’re both getting married on the same day, but it’s not our wedding day—you know, you and me.” She paused. “I just thought it might be helpful.”
He thought he heard her gulp. “That’s really thoughtful of you.” He checked the clock. It was twelve-thirty in the afternoon. He should’ve reached for a pen to write down the contact information for the photographers, but he didn’t. “Why don’t we meet at The Sundowner for lunch, and you can give me the names.”
“The Sundowner. Haven’t been there since…well, since I last went with you.”
“They still have your favorite: the barbeque ranch burger with extra onion rings.” He’d ordered it every time he went there for two years after they broke up.
“Great. I’ll see you there.”
After he got dressed, the phone rang again and he hoped she wasn’t changing her mind. “Hello?”
It was Beth. “Just checking in. Want to grab a bite to eat?”
Damn, he was a shit. He rubbed the back of this neck. “I’m still not caught up yet. Better count me out for today.”
“Okay. I’ll try searching for another band. And a photographer.” She sighed. “It’ll all be worth it. Just four weeks away! Love you, honey.”
“You, too.” Love you so much I’m meeting up with my ex. He closed his eyes and sighed. For closure, he told himself. Closure. He had to find out what had gone wrong.
Yeah, couldn’t have asked that over the phone.
***
Miranda was waiting at a table in the far back corner of the restaurant. He held his breath just looking at her. What were the chances they’d reconnect right before they were both getting married? What kind of sign from the gods was that?
She spotted him and waved. There was probably no chance anyone in the place thought they were together; a guy like him didn’t end up with a girl like her. He felt bad for Beth thinking that. Beth was great in so many ways. But Miranda had been his first.
He slid across from her and his chest ached. This was kicking up a lot of
old emotions that had never been properly settled.
She swept her long blond hair over one shoulder and propped her chin in her hand. “Can’t believe we’re both getting married on the same day.”
“Way back when, we both thought July would be the best month.”
She nodded. “Because of the fireflies. We decided there were more in July.”
“I still think that’s true,” he said. He didn’t tell her he thought of her every time he spotted one. Even though he hadn’t seen her in ten years, she was often on his mind.
Miranda reached into her purse. “Here are a few photographers I’d called for our wedding. I checked this morning and Heritage Photography has an opening that day.” She passed over a slip of paper.
Their fingers brushed as he took it from her, and he tried to hold back all the memories of the times those fingers had grazed his face. Twirled his hair. Curled in between his. He shifted in his seat and set the numbers down. “Thanks so much. Beth’s been handling everything, but she’ll appreciate this.”
“She seems great. Where did you meet?”
“My company was installing a landscape project in her office complex. One of our trucks was blocking her car and here we are.”
Miranda closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Your own landscaping company. I’m so proud of you for following your dream.” She smiled and opened her eyes. Nearly knocked him over.
He took a long drink. “With all that gardening knowledge from my grandma’s nursery, it would have been a waste not to use it. But I love what I do and the business keeps growing. What are you doing these days?” Besides marrying movie-star stunt-double foreigners….
“I’m a kindergarten teacher. It’s great, but Luke’s been talking about Australia quite a bit. Not sure what I’ll do if we move there.” Her lips twisted, just like they used to when she was unsure about something.
He wanted to reach across the table and grab her hand and tell her she could do anything there. But he reached for the menu instead, even though he knew what he was going to order, because Miranda would never order her own burger and onion rings, but loved to pick at his.