Reflections of Yesterday by Debbie Macomber

they were going to announcetheir engagement.
    “This should be the happiest day in your life,” Angie muttered out loud, as she slipped her feet into delicate high-heeled sandals. “At least try to look the part.” She checked her appearance in the mirror and groaned. Clay would take one look at her and demand to know who died.
    She pinched her cheeks, hoping that at least would add color to her ashen features.
    As usual, Glenn was on time. His mouth caressed hers in a slow, undemanding kiss. “Are you feeling okay?”
    Nodding took a monumental effort. “I’m fine.”
    The doorbell chimed in short, impatient bursts, and Angie tossed a stricken glance across the room. Panic filled her, and her gaze flew to Glenn.
    “Do you want me to get it?” he asked, almost tenderly.
    “Please.” Apprehension rooted her to the floor.
    Glenn walked across the room and pulled open the door. “Hello, Simon,” he said firmly. “I’ve been expecting you. I’m Angie’s fiancé.”

Six
    Charleston had often been called the Holy City. Her skyline was punctuated with the graceful spires of churches, the symbols of man’s faith in a merciful God. Angie’s faith was at its lowest ebb as she sat beside Glenn in his Lexus. Silently, he drove to an elegant French restaurant, where her father was meeting them for dinner.
    Angie’s thoughts drifted to the scene that had recently happened. Simon and Glenn had faced each other like warlords defending their titles. At Glenn’s announcement that he and Angie were engaged, Simon had turned his shocked gaze to her, demanding that she tell him it wasn’t true. Instead Angie had inched closer to Glenn’s side. To her surprise, Glenn didn’t place a proprietary arm around her.
    “Does he know about us?” Simon directed his question to Angie, ignoring Glenn.
    “Everything,” Angie told him.
    Simon continued to concentrate his fierce gaze on her. “We need to talk.”
    “As you can see, Angie and I are going out tonight,” Glenn intervened.
    Her thoughts drifted to the present as Glenn pulled to a stop at a red light and turned to her, laying his hand over hers. “Are you angry?” He looked as if he could stand fearless against the strongest enemy but crumble under her distrust.
    “Angry?” she echoed, and scowled. “How can I be? Why, oh, why, do you have to be so noble? I don’t want to see Simon again. I want him out of my life.”
    Glenn’s face tightened as he returned his attention to the road. “As much as I love you, as much as I want you to be my wife, I can’t see us ever truly happy with the shadow of Simon looming between us.”
    “I went back to Groves Point,” she argued. Already she had done everything he’d asked of her. More. The future stretched before her like an eagerly awaited journey, and for the first time this heavy load of guilt and unhappiness had been lifted. She was free. It wasn’t right that Glenn was forcing her to turn around and go back.
    A weary smile relaxed the tight lines about his eyes. “Yes, my love, but you didn’t bury the past, you simply stirred it up.”
    Smoothing an imaginary wrinkle from her favorite blue skirt, Angie said, “But I don’twant to see Simon.” If Glenn harbored small doubts, then hers were giant mountains.
    Glenn’s hand reached for hers and squeezed it lightly, lending her his conviction. “He’s only here for a few days. If you don’t spend time with him, then you’ll always wonder. We both will.”
    Again Angie marveled at this man beside her. He loved her enough to risk losing her. And although he presented a façade of unwavering confidence, Angie realized that he wasn’t entirely convinced things would work out as he desired. “I don’t want anything more than to be your wife,” she said.
    “Good.”
    The restaurant came into view, presenting another complication. “Glenn,” she breathed, “what are we going to tell Clay?”
    “Nothing.”
    “But …”
    “My grandmother’s diamond