“Well, lookee here. If it ain’t Miss Ellie Mae. I never thought Jared the type to hook up with a country bumpkin. Come in from the tobacco fields fer a chaw, darlin’? Or maybe you had to apply more powder to cover up that red neck.”
Shocked by the vicious words, Stacy looked up and saw two women dressed in short black cocktail dresses smirking at her in the mirror. Both were tall, towering over Stacy even in her high heels. One was giggling as the other looked down on Stacy with a sneer. What the hell?
Uncomfortable with her back to the troublemakers, she turned and gave them both the once-over. Acting unimpressed, she brushed a piece of imaginary lint off her dress then pretended to examine her manicure. “I’m obviously at a disadvantage here. Are you invited guests or did you get lost on your way to your Woodward Avenue street corner?”
The giggling woman gasped at the insult. Everyone knew that Woodward Avenue was hooker central in Detroit, even a southern transplant like herself.
“Listen to that twang, Angie. I was mistaken. It’s actually Paula Deen’s sister. She’s just louder, dumber, and full of shit, instead of butter.” The taller woman’s voice dripped with disdain as she addressed her friend while staring smugly at Stacy. Her hands drew Stacy’s gaze as she slid a familiar cream-colored card with lavender print through her fingers, gave it a quarter turn and slid it through again, repeating the motion over and over turning it tauntingly in her hands. It was an invitation.
“Paula Deen jokes, seriously?” Stacy sniffed with contempt. “Is that all you got? What’s next, redneck jokes? Please, I’ve heard them all.”
“What about dumb blonde jokes? I bet you’ve heard all of those, too.”
That was a direct hit, she had to admit, and thoroughly ticked her off. Where did this skinny, flat-chested Amazon get off calling her names? It was inconceivable and she’d had enough. “Exactly who are you and why are you bustin’ my chops?”
The sidekick answered that quickly. “Rachel was dating Jared.”
“Was? Aw… did you get your heart broken, Olive Oyl?” Stacy’s voice dripped with sarcasm and in her anger, her drawl became more pronounced. “Well, bless your little pea-pickin’ heart.”
“You’re just a dumb hick.”
“Gee, did it take you all day to come up with that one? And I’m still unimpressed.” Stacy turned back to the mirror, dismissing them as she checked her hair and makeup one more time. “Although this has certainly been a lovely interlude, you’ll have to excuse me. I have a handsome fiancé to get back to at my engagement party. So I’ll have to outwit you both some other time.”
“Overblown hussy, you don’t deserve him. If you think your fake boobs and bleached hair are going to keep him interested, don’t count on it. Anything over a handful is a waste according to Jared.”
“Really, what did he think about your thimble full?” She smiled at the evil woman in the mirror, noting the crimson blush that suffused her face and extended all the way to her ears. Stacy smirked and dusted her hands together before declaring, “My work here is done,” as she sashayed out of the room.
As she walked back toward the ballroom, her suppressed emotions surfaced and she felt her legs tremble. Who would invite Jared’s ex-girlfriend to her engagement party? Visibly shaken, she was hurrying down the corridor, heedless of her surroundings when she turned the corner toward the ballroom and ran straight into Jessie. They both let out a soft ‘oof’ as they collided, each steadying the other as best as they could with outstretched hands.
“Why does that keep happening? Am I invisible?” she exclaimed in a near shriek of frustrated emotion, tired of continuously bumping into people.
“Stace! Where’s the fire, girl?”
“Oh my God, Jess. You won’t believe what happened. I was accosted by Jared’s ex in the ladies’ room.”
“Good heavens! What happened? Are you okay?”
Stacy watched Jessie go into nurse mode as she swept her eyes up and down, looking for injuries. “It wasn’t physical, just a lot of verbal bitchiness.”
Jessie’s sigh of relief at her answer was distinct as she pulled her in for a hug. Seeing a friendly face after such a vicious attack was comforting, but she couldn’t prevent the tears from forming and blurring her vision. She expelled a shuddering breath of pent-up emotion.
“Don’t let their cattiness spoil your night,” Jessie encouraged. An instant later, she whispered in her ear, “Don’t you dare let those tears fall, missy.” Jessie suddenly pushed her away and began to gush. “Oh, Stacy, your engagement ring is simply gorgeous. Jared must have dropped at least ten grand on that beauty alone, but to add the matching stud earrings, well… he must really love you. He sure is a keeper.”
Blinking rapidly, she puzzled over Jessie’s odd behavior, which was also very effective at dispelling the tears. What matching earrings? They’d been talking about the bitches in the bathroom, then she’d suddenly gone off on jewelry; had she lost her mind? High heels clicking on the floor alerted her to a presence behind her.
“Don’t look!” Jessie urged in a hushed voice.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the two women approaching. Ignoring them as they flounced by, her eyes stared daggers into their backs as they passed and continued down the corridor toward the ballroom.
“If looks could kill, those would be two dead tramps.” Jessie’s presence was heaven sent—once again. Stacy was too upset to focus on anything but the question burning in her brain. “Who would invite them? Do you think Jared’s mom would have?”
“Joanne wouldn’t do something like that. She is really a very sweet woman. Now Marc’s mom, I guarantee would be spiteful enough to do that, and worse.”
“Then who could have done it?”
“Does it matter at this point? Have Jared ask them to leave.”
She couldn’t refocus her thoughts. Why would someone invite her? “If he dated her before me, it’s been over a year, at least. She’s obviously not over him. There has to be some connection between them.”
“Tough! If it’s been a year, she must be some kind of pathetic psycho stalker or something.”
“Maybe they’re still friends or colleagues? Have you seen her before, at the hospital maybe?” Stacy’s mind was wandering frantically over all different explanations, in particular possibilities that didn’t mean Jared was still involved with an old girlfriend.
“Come on, Stace. Think about it. What kind of friend or colleague attacks that friend or colleague’s fiancée in the ladies’ room?”
“That means someone invited her on purpose to cause trouble. Who would do that?”
“I don’t know, honey, but this is your night so here’s the plan. You go back to the party and tell Jared to get rid of them and to nix any lingering associations he has with tramps from previous relationships, especially with any bitches who are going to accost you in the bathroom at your own freakin’ engagement party. There’s a law against it, or an ordinance or something.”
Stacy shot her a disbelieving look.
Jess raised her right hand and winked. “I swear.”
This brought out a smile. Jessie could always make her laugh. “Oh, Jess, what would I do without you? I love you like a sister.”
“Me too, Stace. Now chin up and go tell your man it’s time to take out that trash.”
Jess was so fierce in her convictions that Stacy burst out laughing.
* * *
Jessie walked back toward the ballroom with Stacy’s hand clasped firmly in her own. She was pissed on her behalf, but tried to stay upbeat for her sake. That someone would purposefully try to ruin her engagement party was incredible. That Jared might be involved with an old flame while celebrating his engagement to Stacy was even more unbelievable. As they approached the party, she gave her a reassuring squeeze.
Standing in the doorway arm in arm, they searched the crowd for the two she-devils. The guests appeared to be having fun, the dance floor
was crowded, and the other guests were mingling either at the tables or near the bar.
“I don’t see them, do you?”
“Maybe you scared them off, Stace. You and your badass self would have even the nastiest bitches running for the doors.”
“Oh, Jess, what should I do? Should I tell Jared?”
“You don’t think he would have invited her, surely.”
“Not really; maybe I should just let it slide for the evening, unless she pops back up.”
“If she does, you just call out. I’ve got your back and will personally show her to the door with my foot up her narrow ass.”
“She and her friend are a lot bigger than you are, Jess.”
“No problem. I took a self-defense course. I’ve got mad skills.”
While they spoke, Jessie searched the room for Marc, easily spotting the top of his dark head as he stood taller than most of the men in the room. She felt Stacy squeeze her hand as she moved away to speak to one of the guests who was motioning to her. Jess stood watching Marc as the band started to play one of her favorite songs, Bon Jovi’s You Want to Make a Memory. Not a wedding song by a long shot, it was still a romantic song about a troubled couple, where the man wants to make another go of it. Admittedly, she was a Bon Jovi junkie and loved all their songs, but this one in particular was moving and hauntingly beautiful.
Feeling Marc must have requested the song especially for her, she approached the bar where he stood. While she was still a good distance away, the crowd shifted and revealed him in animated conversation with a tall, striking brunette. For some reason a chill went up her spine and goose bumps broke out across her skin. Her mother would say someone was walking across her grave and it was a warning, often a menacing foreboding. It was followed by a burning rush of jealousy, which swept through her swiftly, raging like a wildfire.
What in the world? Where had that come from? Jess knew the physiology behind it, the unexplained shuddering being nothing more than a subconscious release of adrenaline, a stress hormone. It was usually secreted in response to an emotional reaction like a bad memory or in response to extreme cold. Her mother was superstitious and worried about things like this, but Jessie never had. Still…
As she stood and watched Marc with the woman, observing their interaction closely, the rush of jealousy made sense. They made a stunning pair—both tall, dark, fit. The woman was wearing a slinky black dress. With her tall statuesque model’s figure, the gown fit her to perfection. Nothing pulled or bulged, the material hung in smooth lines as it was intended. Self-doubt rose like bitter gorge in the back of her throat. The woman looked like someone who should be with Marc.
Looking down at her own gown, Jessie smoothed down the skirt. The navy blue strapless Oscar De La Renta gown was stunning. Draped with tulle and lace, the bodice was fitted and flared to a flowing A-line skirt that accented her hourglass figure. The thin ivory belt made her waist seem smaller, which she liked, and there was a swath of jeweled ivory petals across the front and minimally over the skirt. It was beautiful and she felt like a princess in it. Marc really had excellent taste. He’d also picked out a pair of Manolo Blahniks. Being a Sex and the City fan for years, she knew they cost a mint and balked at the expense, which was outrageous, but he’d insisted and said they were on clearance, all sales were final—the big liar. When she’d put on the navy blue low-cut open-toed pump with the crystal encrusted 4 ½-inch heels, she’d fallen in love.
Looking back to where Marc stood, still chatting it up with the leggy brunette, Jessie couldn’t fault her own appearance, but she felt like a frump by comparison.
Stacy materialized at her side, taking Jessie’s arm and tucking it under her own. With a sidelong glance, Jess knew she’d noticed Marc and the brunette as well.
“That’s it,” she announced. “We’re making a pact. Neither of us goes to the bathroom alone again, ever, because when we do, bad things happen. Some skank either attacks us or makes a move on our man.”
“Do you know who she is?” Jess shuddered again, unable to shake the eerie feeling that something significant was about to occur.
“No clue.”
“Maybe she came with someone as a guest.”
“We have a mystery here. I’ll ask Jared.”
They both watched in disgust as the tall thin brunette batted her lashes and outrageously flirted with Marc. To his credit, he looked uncomfortable and tried to disengage from the clinging woman, his eyes scanning the room constantly for assistance.
“He looks like he needs help,” Stacy encouraged. “Why don’t you go bail him out? I want to see her face when he sees you and lights up, because he does that, Jess, every time. She’ll become just an annoying memory.”
Whether it was Stacy’s prophetic words or Marc’s gaze meeting hers from across the room, her mood instantly lightened. She smiled in response, pleased that Stacy didn’t have to wait long for her wish to come true, because the woman’s face flushed and became ugly with outrage as Marc turned his back on her. Always gentlemanly and polite, he probably had no clue he’d just snubbed her, but she was glad he did. She returned his wide grin as she watched him wend his way through the crowd, making his way toward her.
“That almost made up for my little drama; almost, but not quite. Have fun.” Then Stacy was gone.
“Bella,” Marc murmured as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. He pressed a kiss to her temple, then held her at arms-length. “Have I mentioned how gorgeous you look in that dress?”
“About ten times, but keep it up. You’re good for my ego.” Snuggling up against him, she returned his compliment. “You’re looking mighty fine in your formal black and white yourself, Dr. Trent.”
Looking over his shoulder, her eyes sought and found the brunette across the room. Her hate-filled expression marred her features, making her ugly. Jessie smirked as she watched the gentleman she was speaking with take a step back and excuse himself. Smart man, run… as fast as you can.
“Who was that woman you were talking to?”
“Hm…” His face was buried in her neck and he was pressing soft teasing kisses along the sensitive bend between her neck and shoulder. She wouldn’t be put off.
“At the bar just now, I didn’t recognize her.”
His head came up and he shrugged dismissively. “She’s an old colleague. I was surprised to see her here. She and Jared didn’t get along that well.”
“She’s pretty.”
“Really? I didn’t notice. Let’s dance, bella mia, we need to find our song and this one sounds perfect.” He pulled her to the dance floor and into his arms where they danced alongside Jared and Stacy. They swayed so close that the girls at one point reached out and clasped each other’s hands in a brief moment of solidarity. Jessie had already pushed the weird foreshadowing moment to the back of her mind. As the beautifully romantic lyrics of Ronan Keating’s This I Promise You washed over Jessie, she melted into the arms of her man, reaffirming her promise to give her love completely—exactly as the song said.
Chapter Thirteen
The following morning, the two couples met for a late brunch at a little out-of-the-way place called the Beverly Hills Grille. They had been there several times for breakfast and the food and service were so good they kept coming back despite the drive. After ordering, they settled in with their coffee, Stacy preferring a tall glass of southern-style sweet tea with lemon.
Jared eyed her with concern; she wasn’t her usually vivacious self. She’d also been unusually quiet all morning. Maybe she was tired. It had been well after midnight when they got home last night. Oddly, she stiffened as Marc began the day-after party post-mortem.
“Last night was a success.”
“Yeah, everything went off without a hitch. Mom was relieved,” Jared said as he squeezed Stacy’s hand.
The girls shared a look that was not lost on the guys. They looked at each other, puzzled.
“
Something you want to share, cara?” Marc asked of Jessie while Jared gave Stacy an inquiring glance.
“I was just wondering if you had any say over the guest list, Jared.” Jessie’s tone was normally sweet, but this morning it carried more than a hint of accusation.
Jared stiffened reflexively. Something was definitely up. “Of course, Jess, it was our party. Why? Was someone left off?”
“On the contrary,” Jessie’s tone became acidic as she hissed at Jared, infuriated by his insensitivity. “Someone was left on. What on earth were you thinking, Jared Baker?”
“Jess, not here, please. I’ll take care of it later,” Stacy warned under her breath.
“Excuse me, but I am obviously missing something here. What is it you think I’ve done?” He took in the blush of anger on her cheeks and the snapping blue eyes.
“How could you have invited that awful woman? It was a slap in the face to Stacy. I didn’t know you were such a callous bastard.”
“Jessica! What’s gotten into you?” Marc seemed stunned.
“I’m mad and can barely stand your company. I’d leave, but I won’t punish Stacy by abandoning her without reinforcements.”
Jared had known Jessie for three years and had never seen her this incensed unless it was in defense of a friend or if she was advocating for one of her patients. She didn’t defend a slight to herself with this much vehemence.
Jared turned to his fiancée, who had stayed unusually quiet throughout the exchange. “Can you tell me what she’s going on about?”
Head down, she murmured, “I’d rather not do this here, Jared.”
Jared could see the white-knuckled death grip she had on the linen napkin in her lap and her hands trembled slightly with the force of her exertion. He slid a hand over them in an act of reassurance and was surprised when she flinched and jerked them away. He was even more shocked when a tear splashed against the back of his hand. “Stacy, what is it?”
When she shook her head, it was too much. He shot a searing glance at Jessie before he warned in a hushed tone, “Someone had better start talking and tell me what the hell is going on.”
Sweet Salvation Page 24