location of her wedding nightmare.
Instead of going directly to the meeting room, she made a detour to the restroom for a last-minute check on her makeup. She’d looked fine when she left the apartment, but she couldn’t chance any visible flaw or these women would pounce.
Effectively procrastinating with her side trip, she found her makeup in the same shape as when she’d left her apartment. No more excuses. Bite the bullet and get to the meeting. Glancing at her watch she saw she had about five minutes to spare.
Enough. Just do this.
On her way to the meeting room she passed the main event room where the benefit would be held. The same room as the rehearsal dinner. As if pushed by an invisible force, Lilli found herself entering the dim room. Scattered tables and a few chairs littered the space. The back wall of floor-to-ceiling windows was flanked by thick drapes, showcasing a beautiful view of the golf course.
A chill ran over her as she drifted back to that night....
Lilli had beamed in delight as the dreamy, romantic images of the slideshow flashed on the overhead screen. Images of her with Rob appeared in a collage set to the theme song from the movie Titanic . Overlapping photos featured their childhood then moved into the year they dated. Teary-eyed with happiness, Lilli had taken Rob’s hand in hers, resting her head on his shoulder. The most perfect ending to their rehearsal dinner, to be followed by the most perfect fairy-tale wedding the next day.
“Lilli, we have to talk,” Rob had whispered urgently in her ear.
She’d squeezed his hand with excitement. “Just another minute. Mom went to so much trouble to put this beautiful tribute together. We have a lifetime to talk after all the celebrating.”
“But, Lilli, I’ve been trying to talk to you all night, please—” Rob had begun until Lilli hugged herself closer to him. She’d breathed in the scent of his musky cologne. The fine fabric of his suit brushed against her cheek. The months spent planning this wedding were finally proving worthwhile as the inevitable drama receded into relief, then celebration. After tomorrow, she and Rob would enjoy their new lives together without bickering over every little life decision.
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Celeste had recited Shakespeare’s famous sonnet after the music stopped. The words to the romantic poem appeared on the screen while her mother spoke into the microphone she’d been holding.
Rob had stirred beside her. “Lilli, please.”
She pulled back, frowning. “Can’t it wait?”
Rob had responded with a sigh and sat, rigid. He’d been preoccupied and moody all week, blaming his behavior on wedding stress. What with the year-long planning and his recent job promotion at the law firm, she couldn’t blame him. She’d been caught up in the whirlwind herself. In fact, they hadn’t talked in weeks. Wasn’t that to be expected when emotions ran high as the big day drew closer?
“Okay, Lilli. I’ll let you have your moment,” he’d muttered.
He’d let go of her hand to sip his iced tea just as the opening strains of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons began. Lilli turned her attention back to the screen. Her heart swelled at the picture—the two of them at the beach, arm in arm, silhouetted against a dramatic apricot-hued sunset.
Images of wedding gowns, roses and chocolates had appeared on the screen, leading to the grand finale of the presentation. Lilli turned back to Rob, startled that he’d disappeared. She looked over her shoulder. Scanning the room, she’d finally spied him beside her mother, deep in heated conversation.
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Celeste admonished, not realizing she still held the live microphone close by. “Of course, go right ahead.”
Rob shook his head.
“Everyone,” Celeste said. “The groom-to-be would like to say something to the bride-to-be. Apparently, they haven’t had a moment alone for him to
Instead of going directly to the meeting room, she made a detour to the restroom for a last-minute check on her makeup. She’d looked fine when she left the apartment, but she couldn’t chance any visible flaw or these women would pounce.
Effectively procrastinating with her side trip, she found her makeup in the same shape as when she’d left her apartment. No more excuses. Bite the bullet and get to the meeting. Glancing at her watch she saw she had about five minutes to spare.
Enough. Just do this.
On her way to the meeting room she passed the main event room where the benefit would be held. The same room as the rehearsal dinner. As if pushed by an invisible force, Lilli found herself entering the dim room. Scattered tables and a few chairs littered the space. The back wall of floor-to-ceiling windows was flanked by thick drapes, showcasing a beautiful view of the golf course.
A chill ran over her as she drifted back to that night....
Lilli had beamed in delight as the dreamy, romantic images of the slideshow flashed on the overhead screen. Images of her with Rob appeared in a collage set to the theme song from the movie Titanic . Overlapping photos featured their childhood then moved into the year they dated. Teary-eyed with happiness, Lilli had taken Rob’s hand in hers, resting her head on his shoulder. The most perfect ending to their rehearsal dinner, to be followed by the most perfect fairy-tale wedding the next day.
“Lilli, we have to talk,” Rob had whispered urgently in her ear.
She’d squeezed his hand with excitement. “Just another minute. Mom went to so much trouble to put this beautiful tribute together. We have a lifetime to talk after all the celebrating.”
“But, Lilli, I’ve been trying to talk to you all night, please—” Rob had begun until Lilli hugged herself closer to him. She’d breathed in the scent of his musky cologne. The fine fabric of his suit brushed against her cheek. The months spent planning this wedding were finally proving worthwhile as the inevitable drama receded into relief, then celebration. After tomorrow, she and Rob would enjoy their new lives together without bickering over every little life decision.
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Celeste had recited Shakespeare’s famous sonnet after the music stopped. The words to the romantic poem appeared on the screen while her mother spoke into the microphone she’d been holding.
Rob had stirred beside her. “Lilli, please.”
She pulled back, frowning. “Can’t it wait?”
Rob had responded with a sigh and sat, rigid. He’d been preoccupied and moody all week, blaming his behavior on wedding stress. What with the year-long planning and his recent job promotion at the law firm, she couldn’t blame him. She’d been caught up in the whirlwind herself. In fact, they hadn’t talked in weeks. Wasn’t that to be expected when emotions ran high as the big day drew closer?
“Okay, Lilli. I’ll let you have your moment,” he’d muttered.
He’d let go of her hand to sip his iced tea just as the opening strains of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons began. Lilli turned her attention back to the screen. Her heart swelled at the picture—the two of them at the beach, arm in arm, silhouetted against a dramatic apricot-hued sunset.
Images of wedding gowns, roses and chocolates had appeared on the screen, leading to the grand finale of the presentation. Lilli turned back to Rob, startled that he’d disappeared. She looked over her shoulder. Scanning the room, she’d finally spied him beside her mother, deep in heated conversation.
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Celeste admonished, not realizing she still held the live microphone close by. “Of course, go right ahead.”
Rob shook his head.
“Everyone,” Celeste said. “The groom-to-be would like to say something to the bride-to-be. Apparently, they haven’t had a moment alone for him to
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