The Wedding March

by Tara Randel

  “That’s what I’ve been telling everyone.”

  With his heart pounding, Luke set off for his car. He had to convince Cassie he was wrong to let her go. That he’d used his fear as a shield, but she’d worked her way through his defenses with her light and love. And just like that, a freedom he’d never thought to experience made his hopes soar. He could do this.

  Darned if Denny was right. Who would have thought a sixteen-year-old would have wise words he needed to hear? He only hoped Cassie would listen.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CASSIE MANAGED TO contain the tears as she drove home. Once in Lauren’s driveway, she ignored the moisture on her cheeks, refusing to give in to the pain. As she exited the car, she nearly tripped on her high heels. Hurt, anger and frustration had her yanking them off and hurling them into the front yard. Barefoot, she stomped to the house, then fumbled with the keys and the lock. She’d jammed the key for the second time when the door flew open.

  “What’s your hurry?” her sister asked, her amused smile fading at the sight of Cassie’s face.

  Just over her sister’s shoulder, Cassie glimpsed her father standing under the arched opening to the living room. Great. Could this day get any worse?

  “Cassandra, you look terrible,” he stated the obvious.

  “Dad!” Lauren gasped.

  “Well, she does. It’s not fitting for her image, either.”

  Cassie scrubbed her face. At this point, her mascara was probably streaked down to her chin.

  “We have business to discuss,” he announced, apparently unmoved by his daughter’s distress. With a broad sweep of his hand, he motioned for Lauren to leave the room.

  Her sister hesitated, looked at Cassie for guidance. Cassie nodded. Might as well get this over with before she suffered a complete meltdown.

  “I heard the news about Mandy Rose and her headlines.”

  Swallowing a sudden lump of emotion, she said, “I’m fine.” She couldn’t remember a time her father had been concerned for her welfare.

  “Do you realize what this means?”

  She stepped into the living room, hoping for a comforting hug as her father kept talking.

  “The word is out. The music industry will see that Luke is back in the picture. Now we can move ahead as planned.”

  Cassie stilled. “What plan?”

  “To work on my music score. The three of us.” He rubbed his hands together as he paced the length of the room. “I’ve already put together some ideas for a new concept. You’ll contact Travis. Luke will work on his end. It’ll be perfect.”

  “Perfect for whom?”

  Her father stopped. Stared at her in surprise. “For all of us.”

  “Dad, we aren’t helping you.”

  “What are you talking about? Of course you are. I offered Luke a large donation so he’ll be motivated to do this.”

  “Wow. You bribed him?” This was news to her. Luke never mentioned the money—only that her father had promised his time to the center. Yet from the conversation they’d had the other day, she knew he wasn’t throwing in with her father. Did that mean while Kids’ Klub was important to Luke, he wouldn’t sell his soul to keep it alive? That he really wasn’t hiding behind the Klub like she’d accused him?

  Her father grimaced. “Bribe is such an ugly word. I like incentive better. I merely suggested that a donation was on the table if he did his part.”

  “I can’t believe you. Do you even care about what Kids’ Klub does? How it helps troubled teens?”

  “That’s all fine and good but my career is in serious need of revamping.”

  A niggling thought bothering her suddenly became clear. “You’re the source Mandy was talking about?”

  “She mentioned my name?” His face lit up and a satisfied grin crossed his lips. “I haven’t read the article yet.”

  Cassie gaped at him. “You’re unbelievable. Pretending to be a family? Getting Luke on board? All of this was about you.”

  “Stop acting like you’re the only one with a reputation to maintain here,” he snapped. “I need this.”

  “Well, I don’t. I’m not working with you and it’s pretty safe to say Luke isn’t, either. Go try to coerce someone else to get what you want.”

  Her father’s face turned a dangerous red. “You’ve always been ungrateful.”

  “And you’ve never been a father.”

  Her words hung in the air.

  “You’ll regret this.”

  “I doubt it.”

  He stormed from the house. When she heard the front door slam, she let out the breath she’d been holding.

  Strung out from the encounter, she eased the elastic band from the end of her braid and began to loosen the plait. She heard a muffled sound and looked up to find Lauren in the doorway, her face pale, lips trembling.

  “You heard all that?”

  Lauren nodded.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No,” came her shaky reply. “Deep down I wanted to believe he’d changed.”

  Cassie didn’t know what to say. Her sister had to work through this disappointment on her own. Find her own way to deal with their father just as she had.

  “Is this when you say ‘I told you so’?” Lauren asked with a bitter laugh.

  “Never.” Cassie moved close and wound her arms around her sister. Hugged her tight.

  “I should have listened.”

  “Now you know.”

  Both of their lives had been upended in the span of a few short hours. Cassie always suspected who their father was deep down. Hoped she was wrong, but with startling clarity realized now that his renewed interest in her life had diminished her confidence, contributing to the writer’s block. She’d never reach his ridiculous standards, but now, after showing his true colors, his degrading words to keep at it would never ring in her head again. She didn’t need to prove her worth to anyone but herself.

  Lauren pulled away. “What an awful day.”

  “Preaching to the choir, sister.” She brushed her loose hair over her shoulder. “I need to get far away from here.” She moved past Lauren to get to her bedroom. Pulling her suitcase from the closet, she yanked open the dresser drawer.

  “Cassie, you’re scaring me,” Lauren said from the doorway.

  “I’m tired of trying to please everyone and failing,” she said as she balled up the dress from her father’s wedding to stash in the case.

  “Hold on.” Lauren grabbed her arm. “What happened? You looked devastated when you got home.”

  Suddenly all her energy dissipated. She sank onto the edge of the bed then slid to the floor, landing in a leap. Tears flowed freely now, heaving sobs strangling her. Lauren grabbed the tissue box and sat beside her, silently taking her hand.

  When she finally got over the worst of the onslaught, she swiped at her face. Choked out the source of her meltdown. “Luke.”

  “Ah.” Lauren yanked a tissue from the box. “Isn’t it always a guy who brings out the best in us?”

  Cassie sputtered at her sister’s attempt at levity as she pressed the tissue to her face. Unfortunately, it was too little too late.

  “Mandy Rose released a story about us, thanks to Dad. Luke didn’t take it well.”

  “Luke is a stickler about his privacy.”

  Cassie’s chest grew tight. “But he thought I leaked it for publicity.”

  “You’d never stoop so low.”

  “He thought otherwise.”
/>
  Sniffles sounded in the quiet room.

  “So you’re leaving?” Lauren asked.

  “What else can I do? I put the final touches on the song I came up with this morning, so I’m ready to start recording.”

  “How many songs do you have now?”

  “Eight. I usually go into the studio with more, but I’m thankful I came up with that many.” She glanced across the room to the closed guitar case containing the songbook full of her newest lyrics and melodies. “Nothing like cutting it short.”

  “Do you really have to go back?” her sister asked. Cassie recognized the sadness in her voice. Felt it to the depth of her soul. “I’ve loved having you around.”

  “I’ve been gone too long already. I have to be in the studio next week and still have to meet up with the band to go over the new material.”

  When she’d arrived in Cypress Pointe, she’d been sure her career was history. Coming up with fresh songs had been the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she’d confronted the block and overcome her fears. No, she needed to go back and remind the world who she was.

  “Besides, I can’t hang around here and risk seeing Luke.” She blinked back tears that wouldn’t stop falling. “What a mess.”

  “I’m going to miss you.”

  Cassie rested her head on Lauren’s shoulder. “At least someone will.”

  The sisters sat in quiet until the doorbell started ringing like crazy. Someone held their finger over the button, impatiently pressing.

  “I suppose I should see who that is,” Lauren said, standing.

  “And I need to finish packing.” Cassie hauled herself up as Lauren left the room. In reality, she really couldn’t just escape like she wished. She had to say goodbye to her mother and Bud, stop in to make sure Erin was okay, say goodbye to the kids at the Klub. Plus, she’d promised Nealy she’d sing one of her songs at her engagement party tomorrow. So much for fleeing.

  Loud voices carried her way. Heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway. Luke appeared at her doorway, Lauren right behind him.

  “Sorry, sis. He shoved right in without being invited.”

  Of course he did. “It’s okay.”

  Lauren looked at her. “Are you sure?”

  Cassie nodded.

  “I’ll be out back on the patio if you need me.”

  Flustered now, Cassie grabbed a bunch of tops from the open drawer to dump on the bed.

  “Running away?”

  “No. Leaving a place where I’m not wanted.”

  He frowned. “That’s not true. Everyone in Cypress Pointe loves you.”

  She shot him a sideways glare. “Not everyone.”

  He placed one foot in the room. Stopped. “May I come in?”

  “Like I could stop you?”

  “Yes, with one word you could.”

  With a sigh, she waved him forward.

  “I owe you an apology.”

  Lifting her head, she said, “That’s right, you do.”

  “Mandy’s story caught me off guard. I don’t take surprise well.”

  Cassie picked up another shirt, only this time she folded it in slow motion.

  “I shouldn’t have assumed you had anything to do with the story.”

  “I agree, but that’s not the real problem, is it?”

  Luke rocked on his heels. “No. You told me you loved me and I pretty much threw it back in your face.”

  Cassie looked over at him. Wanted answers. “Why?”

  “A lot of people told me they loved me throughout my life. Most of the time they ended up hurting me.” He met and held her gaze with an intensity that took her breath away. “You were right. I do hide behind the Klub. But you showed me that I should take a chance on love. Real love this time.”

  “And you’d recognize real love how?”

  “By you telling me you wouldn’t record our song.”

  Cassie placed the folded top in the case and grabbed another. “So, what, we just go back to...” she held out her hand to point between them “...whatever was happening between us?”

  “We can try. It may be long-distance, with you recording and traveling, but we can work at it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I should have said it earlier, but I love you, Cassie.”

  She snorted at his declaration.

  “Okay. Not the response I was envisioning.”

  “What else did you expect? With my busy schedule and all?” Surely he wouldn’t miss the sarcasm in her voice.

  “Right now, I’m not sure.”

  “Well, when you figure it out, let me know. If you’ll excuse me, I’m busy.”

  “Tough room.” He took a step back. “You can’t leave town yet. You agreed to sing at Dane and Nealy’s party.”

  “It’s one of the reasons I’m not headed to the airport this second.”

  “I know I don’t deserve to ask you this, but will you promise me you’ll keep an open mind to the possibilities between us?”

  Like she was ever going to stop loving Luke. But still, her heart couldn’t cope with getting stomped on again.

  “I’ll show you how much I love you, Cassie.”

  Oh, how she wanted to believe him. Throw all caution to the wind and run into his arms.

  If he’d told her he had faith in their relationship, that the music angle didn’t bother him or that they’d meet halfway when it came to their schedules, maybe then she would have reacted differently. But she had no assurances. No proof he’d ever accept her career tied to the music industry. So she restrained herself in fear of taking another blow she’d never recover from.

  “I’ll be the judge of whatever you think is strong enough to change my mind.”

  A somber expression crossed his face before he left the room.

  Once she was alone again, Cassie lowered her trembling body to the bed. Was she the biggest doormat on earth? First Luke was upset with her, then he said he loved her. And how did she respond? By wanting to forgive him, no questions asked.

  But she couldn’t. Not and still retain her pride.

  Suddenly a huge weight settled on her shoulders. Travis and the label had been constantly after her to show her loyalty, to the point she’d almost lost her love and passion to write songs. Her father, always after something, never truly loving his children. And Luke, how did he expect them to have any kind of relationship if he wouldn’t let go of the past?

  She had to make changes or keep making the same mistakes. But how?

  The words she’d shared with Erin echoed in her head. Choose your own path. Could she follow through with her own advice? She wanted to make her kind of music, but if the label disagreed, would she back down? Or Travis. Sure, he had her best interests in mind, but he still had his own rep to think about. Could she stand up for herself and finally be her own person? Recover if she walked away from the LA music scene because she wanted to control her destiny? Share the kinds of songs that touched her soul? Find a new way to share her craft and love of music?

  She could, as long as she stuck to her own principles.

  The revelation scared her, but made her lighter. She’d deal with whatever came at her. It couldn’t be worse than telling Luke she loved him, hoping for the same declaration and have him not answer her at all.

  She still had a few days to come up with a plan, but she was finally going to live her life on her own terms. She’d make her stand with the label and take whatever consequences came as a result. With Luke, things were a
little more murky because her heart was involved, but she wasn’t going to sell her love short. Either they were in this together, 100 percent, or they weren’t in it at all.

  Squaring her shoulders, she went to the bathroom to throw water on her face. Grimaced at the reflection in the mirror. Blotchy cheeks and chipmunk eyes. Still, when she’d looked at herself in the mirror at her father’s wedding, there’d been nothing but fear in her face. Now there was a spark of life. Taking command of one’s own life had power.

  Even if it masked a broken heart.

  * * *

  THE FOLLOWING EVENING, Cassie entered the exclusive restaurant fashionably late. Not to make a statement, but because of cold feet. She had no idea what Luke would do or say. How on earth could she sing a love song to the happy couple with her heart so bruised and battered?

  Out of habit, she reached for her braid, only to come up empty handed. In a pique of independence, she’d decided to have her hair cut in a completely different style. Gone was the long, streaked braid that defined Cassie before this visit to Cypress Pointe. Now she sported a sophisticated, layered bob that brushed her shoulders. She’d added subtle highlights to her sandy-brown hair color. Now, dressed in a silver sleeveless sheath dress with black strappy heels, she felt like a confident, in-control-of-her-destiny woman, ready to take on the world.

  Moving farther into the throng of guests, she searched for a familiar face. Nealy noticed her and hurried over.

  “I wasn’t sure you would come tonight.”

  “I told you I would and I always keep my word.”

  Someone called Nealy’s name. “Get a drink. Mingle. It is a party, after all.”

  It may be a party, but all Cassie wanted to do was sing and leave. By the looks of the rowdy crowd, it couldn’t happen soon enough.

  Making her way to the bar, she asked for bottled water. Her throat, already tight with emotion, had her lowering her expectations of getting through a song without cracking. She swallowed the cold liquid anyway, making do with what she had.

  “You made it,” Dane said as he approached her.