Page 3 of Christmas Promises

Or she used to be, anyway. Laney certainly had an excuse now to cut her out of her life.

The door opened, and Laney’s father entered the room, red-faced and out of breath. He rushed over to sit on her other side. “I’m going to kill him.” Tucker Gray was dressed in an impeccable blue suit and red tie. He had thick salt-and-pepper hair, which often stood up in tufts but had been gelled into submission for the occasion.

“You might have to beat me to it,” Mother said. “I’d love to inflict a slow, painful death.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy. All the money.”

“Never mind that,” Dad said. “You’ve done nothing wrong. That little snake, Dahlia. I never liked her. None of us should be surprised. She’s always been painfully envious of you.”

“She was my best friend since we were little,” Laney said. “I didn’t mind that she wanted what I had. Or that she’s kind of mean to me. My circumstances have been so favorable and…well, she’s had a hard time.”

“How exactly has she had a hard time?” Father asked. “Her father’s stinking rich. She’s had everything.”

“Except for love. After her parents’ divorce, her mom’s been with one man after another. She rarely sees her father. It made her insecure, I think.” And super annoying.

“Youshouldhave minded how she treated you,” Mom spit out. “We should never have allowed you to be friends with her. I used to hear what she said to you when no one knew I was listening. She was poison. Always has been.”

“How do we want to do this?” Laney’s father asked, his voice sounding shaky. He was the CEO of a media company. His demeanor typically exuded power and intelligence, but this had clearly flummoxed him. He’d always wanted the best for Laney, encouraging her to be her nerdy self instead of trying to mold herself into what others wanted. However, Laney was good at molding and pleasing everyone. That was her superpower.Go along to get along;her grandmother had said that about her once, in a tone that made it clear it was not a compliment.

“Tucker, you have to go down there and tell the guests that the wedding’s off.” Mom stood, smoothing her gown. “And I’m going to confront that little reptile, Dahlia.” She turned to Laney. “And you’re going to have this out with Josh. He needs to look you in the eye and tell you the truth. Do not let him off the hook. You don’t have to be nice. Do you understand me?”

Laney nodded, twisting her damp tissues into a ball. “I understand.” After this, Laney might never be nice again.

Fifteen minutes later,Josh arrived at the bride’s room. While she’d waited, she’d stood at the window, hiding behind the curtain to watch the guests leave. She’d wanted to rip her wedding gown off, but those buttons were impossible to undo by herself.

“Can I come in?” Josh stuck only his head through the doorway. He’d been crying. His eyes were puffy and red.

“Yes.” She returned to her spot on the couch, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Is it true? Do you love her?”

Josh nodded, looking as miserable as Laney felt. “I’m sorry.”

“When did this happen?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me. When? How long have you been sneaking around with her?” How had he even had time? Josh was an associate at a law firm that kept him working long hours. Or did they? Maybe he’d only used that as an excuse. Maybe he’d really been with her.

“Do you remember that night we were supposed to meet her for dinner, and you were sick?” Josh asked.

“Yeah. You didn’t get my message, so you went anyway.”

“Right. And Dahlia suggested we go ahead and eat since we were there. We talked until the restaurant kicked us out. After that, we just couldn’t seem to stay away from each other.”

“That was six months ago. We’d been engaged for months by then.”

“I know.” Josh’s brown eyes filled. He reached for a tissue, dabbing it at his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t get to cry.” Laney’s fists balled in her lap. “You don’t get forgiveness. Why didn’t you tell me the truth before we got to this day? Save me a little embarrassment? And my poor dad’s bank account. Instead, there’s a roomful of people down there expecting a bride and groom. You’ve humiliated me. And broken my heart.”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen. I didn’t see it coming.”

“But no one likes her,” Laney said.

“I do.” He lifted both shoulders, his pained red face reminding Laney of one of those nasty, deep under the skin, pimples. Or maybe a boil.

“Were you planning on going through with this today?” The pressure in her chest made it hard to breathe or talk, but she had to know answers.

“I don’t know. Yeah, I guess I was.”

---