Waiting for Morning by Karen Kingsbury

afraid of what’ll happen if you break up.”
    He gazed at Hannah thoughtfully and sighed. “I know. There’s more to it than that.”
    She waited a beat and dropped her hands. “So, you do love her.” It wasn’t a question.
    Tom shrugged. “I have a lot to work out, I guess. Come on, let’s get back in.”
    Tears formed in her eyes. “Don’t do it, Tom. Don’t marry her.”
    “Hannah …”
    She was unashamed of her tears as they spilled onto her cheeks. “Don’t marry her.”
    “Hannah, please.” He pulled her close and cradled her head against his chest. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
    He paused, and she knew he could feel her body jerking quietly as she cried.
    “Come on, Hannah. What happened to my bestest buddy?”
    Hannah pulled away, anger sweeping over her, and met his gaze straight on. “She grew up.” With that she wiped her eyes, sniffed once, and stormed back into the church. She didn’t talk to Tom again. A month later she heard he was going ahead with the wedding.
    Stricken with pain so severe she could hardly breathe when she thought about it, Hannah turned to her best protection—anger. She harbored a grudge against Tom the size of a mountain. How could he make such a horrible decision? Especially after that night at church? She had kissed him, bared her heart to him, and still he had chosen Amy.
    As the day of the wedding drew near, Hannah vowed to stay home and avoid Tom whatever the cost. The event was scheduled to take place the first week in June at Knollwood Country Club in Granada Hills, just five miles from the West Valley neighborhood where Tom and Hannah grew up.
    In the weeks before the wedding, an invitation arrived at Hannah’s house. Her mother responded, stating that all but Hannah would attend. At about the same time, Hannah graduated from Cal State Northridge, and Tom was one of more thana hundred people who attended her graduation party. Hannah felt him watching her from a distance that night, but she ignored him. When he approached to congratulate her, she turned abruptly and began a conversation with someone else.
    She had a right to her anger. He had broken her heart, and she would never forgive him.
    The day before Tom’s wedding, Hannah’s parents were at work and she was staging a cleaning frenzy, doing her best not to think about Tom and Amy, when the doorbell rang. She set down the window cleaner and headed for the door.
    “Coming!” She stretched and ran her fingers absently through her hair. It was unusually hot and sticky for June, and as she made her way through the house, Hannah thought about driving to the beach that evening. Maybe there she could sort out her feelings.
    She opened the door and caught her breath. It was Tom, dressed in worn jeans and a white T-shirt, looking desperately troubled.
    Hannah felt her expression go cold, and before he could speak, she slammed the door shut.
    He stopped the door with his hand and pushed it open again. “Wait!”
    Hannah’s hand flew to her hip and she glared at him. “Go away, Tom. I have nothing to say to you.”
    He sighed. “Hannah, will you stop trying to hate me for one minute. I came here to tell you something.”
    “Say it. I have things to do.”
    Tom drew a deep breath and rubbed his palms on his jeans. “May I come in?”
    She exhaled dramatically. “I guess.” She stepped aside, and he followed her into the foyer.
    They stood face to face, studying each other. Finally Tom broke the silence.
    “It’s off.” His voice was breathless, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
    Hannah frowned. “What?”
    “The wedding … I called it off this morning.”
    Her eyes grew wide. “The day before—?”
    He held up a hand. “I know, it’s crazy. But it would’ve been crazier to marry her.”
    “What did your parents say?” Hannah was so shocked she forgot her anger.
    “They were glad I realized it today and not tomorrow.”
    “What about the …”
    “My