Scott was sure she loved him, too. No one could act the way she had when they were making love and be faking it. Being with her was like having fun when they were doing nothing. Her smile, the way she laughed and talked to him. All these intangible things told him that the two of them were in love. But Diana was putting up barriers. He didn’t know why. At least not totally. Some of it had to do with his friends and the way not only they, but he also had treated her. And continued to treat her.
Had she had enough? Was she no longer up for the fight with him. Even a fight that put the two of them in the same room. And if he could get her in the room, he could explain.
Scott grabbed his suit jacket and left the office. If she wouldn’t answer his call, he’d go to her house. She had to come home sooner or later. And he’d be there waiting for her when that Porsche turned into the driveway.
Five hours later Scott stood up yawning. Raising his arms over his head, he stretched, working the kinks out of muscles that had been stationary too long. Obviously, Diana was better at holding out than he was. It was after one in the morning and there was no sign of her. Giving up, he headed back toward the center of town.
His fingers grasped the steering wheel tight enough to break it. The woman was driving him crazy, the same way she’d done all those years ago when they were in school together. She hadn’t known it then. Now he wasn’t so sure.
Chapter 15
Scott looked up at the black-and-white building on Nassau Street. It looked like something one would find in a Swiss village instead of a college town by the Raritan Canal. It had taken him two days to find where Diana had moved her offices. He wouldn’t have thought anyone could relocate that fast. And indeed she hadn’t. Everything from the walls down was gone from the offices he had asked her to move out of. The desks and credenzas, kitchen equipment, everything that was too heavy for her and her staff to carry remained, but the files, samples, photographs, books and everything that decorated the place and made it a working office was gone.
Scott was unused to Diana giving up. It wasn’t like her, wasn’t in her nature. But he had the contract she’d signed. And like his lawyer had said, there wasn’t a mark on it except for her and Teddy’s signatures. They had vacated the premises without a word. Scott asked James if anyone had helped them move. James’s answer was negative. No one had even seen them move out. In fact, James was unaware they were gone.
But this was their new location. Scott checked the area. It was the busiest part of the township. While that would be good at times and for some types of businesses, it wasn’t for weddings. Diana didn’t work on volume, nor did she rely on walk-ins. So why would she accept space here?
Scott went into the building and checked the directory. Weddings by Diana was on the top floor. Taking the elevator, he rode the slow mechanism to the top and got off. The corridor was well lit, and led to legal offices and dental facilities. The Weddings by Diana logo was on the door at the end of the hall. Scott knocked softly and opened the door. He didn’t know what to expect. She’d commanded a lot of space in his facility. Here the space was cramped with boxes and books stacked in disorder.
He heard Teddy speaking in a back room. The other consultants seemed to be in each other’s way. He didn’t see Diana as he looked around. Finally, Teddy came out of the back room and stopped when she saw him. She no longer sat in the wheelchair, but she was clinging to the wall. She had obviously left her crutches behind when she came to the door.
“Scott,” she said, her voice low with surprise.
“Where’s Diana?” he asked.
“Out of town.”
He wasn’t sure that was true, but he didn’t press the point. “What are you doing here?”
“Unpacking.” Her clipped one-word answer stung him.
“Why did you leave?”
“Wasn’t that what you wanted? To get your space back so you could complete your facility? Well, you have it.”
“Where’s Diana?”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Teddy said.
“So is she really out of town?”
“Yes.” Teddy’s chin rose half an inch, challenging him for questioning her veracity.
Scott looked around. There were a couple of doors in the office. Both were open and he could see inside them. Diana was not there.
“Would you like to leave a message?” The question was delivered as if he was a tradesman who’d come in with a package that needed a signature.
“I’d like to talk to her.”
“Good luck with that,” Teddy said and turned back to the room where she’d entered.
He looked at the other women in the room. Two of them only stared back at him. The third one shook her head as if to say she knew nothing.
Scott turned and left the office. He returned to the elevator, pushed the call button and waited. The door opened. At the same time, Scott stepped toward the small space and Diana stepped out of it. They walked into each other.
“Diana!”
“Scott!”
They both spoke at the same time.
“Why did you leave without a word?” he asked.
Diana stepped back as if she needed space. Behind her was the elevator and Scott followed her inside. The door closed and he hit the stop button. He was going to talk to her and if it had to be here, then so be it.
“Wasn’t that what you wanted from Day One?”
“Of course, but I didn’t expect you to sneak out in the middle of the night and move into space that is obviously too small for your needs.”
“The space is adequate for our needs. Teddy and I will adjust and it won’t be long before we’re either settled in or finding new space.
Diana stared at Scott.
“Why are you looking like you lost your best friend? I thought you’d be happy that we were gone. You have your space and you can build your dental and doctor’s offices. The wall around the parking lot doesn’t need to be there, and there won’t be a blight on the layout you’ve chosen.” She paused a moment.
“Scott, you haven’t kicked us out. What you’re doing, what you’re building for the kids and families is more important than a bridal business’s needs. We feel good about giving up our space for the purposes you have in mind.” She looked at him. “Our brides will understand why we moved, and they’ll be fine with it. Most of our business is done outside the office, anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” she said.
“I don’t understand you at all,” Scott said.
Diana smiled at that.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” he said.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“I say I don’t understand you and you’re smiling. Why would that make you smile?”
“I’ve never been called a mystery woman.” She cast a trusting eye at him. “I like it.”
* * *
Scott looked perplexed and Diana understood his confusion. She had been one way and then the other. He probably wondered who she was today. The consistent Diana 4.0. In her wake was a new Diana.
“I have a secret to tell you.”
He moved closer to her. Diana felt the familiar fear of anticipation. He didn’t know how he would react to her words. She’d reacted badly to the same ones when he’d said them.
“What is it?” Scott asked.
“You told me once that you loved me. I never answered you. I didn’t return the sentiment.”
Diana felt him grow still.
“Well, I am in love with you. I fell in love with you the first day I saw you on campus. From that day to this one, I’ve never changed my feelings. I love you.”
Scott’s arms were around her before she could move. He pulled her close, and she felt as if she could
no longer breathe without his support.
She reached up and pulled his mouth to hers. Diana felt the hard thudding of his heart against her ear.
“I love you, too,” he said. “I don’t think I could go another day with coming back and forcing you to say it.”
“No force necessary,” she told him. “I love you now. I’ll love you forever.”
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
Diana felt he was holding his breath. She nodded.
* * *
At the end of the aisle on her wedding day, Diana paused and looked at the assembled group. Her father held her arm. When she glanced at him, his eyes were glistening. “Don’t you start,” she told him. “If you cry, I will, too.”
He sniffed and they faced the altar. Scott stood smiling at her. A wave of love washed over her. This was her choice. This was the man she wanted to spend her life with. She wanted to have children and watch them playing with their dad on the front lawn. She wanted to make him happy.
Teddy took her place as maid of honor. Her bridesmaids smiled from their positions arrayed across the front, waiting for her to begin her walk down the aisle. Everything was as perfect as Diana could wish it to be. Her ceremony wasn’t the showplace event she and Teddy planned for their clients. This was a small service in the open air, on the campus of Princeton University right at the kissing spot. With a few of their most intimate friends and family. The chairs were all filled. Scott’s friends watched. After today they would no longer be able to call him the last bachelor.
When the “Wedding March” began, everyone stood. Diana took the first step toward a new life.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460325803
HER LOVE MATCH
Copyright © 2014 by Shirley Hailstock
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