Page 10 of This Woman Forever

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s tradition for us to spend the night apart.”

Say what? “Ava, come on,” I implore. “You’ve been working non-stop, you won’t give me a honeymoon?—”

“I will give you a honeymoon just as soon as I’ve caught up with work.”

I grimace. If she worked for herself, she could be more in control of work commitments.

“Jesse!” My shoulders shoot up when Elizabeth’s shrill shriek of my name hits my back.

I snarl at the beautiful bouquet of flowers at the end of the aisle. “Your mother’s found me again,” I hiss, and Ava chuckles. “Hurry up.” I hang up, slap on a smile, and face Elizabeth. “Hey.”

“You shouldn’t be in here,” she says, taking my elbow and guiding me out.

“Why?” I ask, looking back.

“It’s bad luck.”

“Stop making shit up, Elizabeth,” I say, laughing. “How else do you expect me to get to my office?”

“You go through the spa.”

“How do you know that?”

She shrugs, and I breathe in my patience. “We need your help.”

“With what?”

“The cake.”

“Kate’s taking care of the cake.”

“But where is it going?” she asks, leading me into the bar.

“I really don’t give a shit where the cake goes,” I say, looking at my watch again, jolting when she smacks my arm. I smile through gritted teeth. “In that corner,” I say, pointing, pulling my phone out and texting Ava.

“What?” Her face bunches. “Don’t be silly. No one will see it.” She goes to another corner and assesses. I click send on my message.

It’s a good thing I adore you or your mother would be squashed.

“It should go here,” Elizabeth says. “Agreed?”

“Wherever you want it to go, Elizabeth.” I smile, reading Ava’s reply.

Keep your trampling under control, Ward.

I REALLY love you.

I REALLY know.

I back out of the room, bumping into Kate. “All right?” I ask, noting, not for the first time recently, her lack of sparkle.

“I’m fine,” she says, carrying a bunch of calla lilies to the bar.

“You sure about that?” I ask, but I get no answer. She’s definitely off, and something tells me Ava’s brother is the cause. And, again, not for the first time recently, I ask myself how much Sam knows. Because if he does, he’s not letting on, and I definitely don’t want to be the one to share the news of Kate’s and Dan’s history. Especially since there’s clearly unfinished business. I’m also wondering if it’s why Dan’s stuck around.

I still for a moment. Wait. Was Ava texting and driving? Because that’s not acceptable. I go back to my phone, but just as I’m about to call her—not text—I hear the crunch of wheels on gravel. I back up, looking out of the open door. I see her Mini.

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