Page 21 of Love Under Review

Chapter 14

Danielle was exhausted but happy for her best friend. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the scene, and she smiled at the support Becca had after all the tragedies she’d suffered in her life. This town really was better off for knowing Rebecca Taylor, now Maxfield, but she had been shaped by each of them over the past several years as well.

“We need to get you up to the head table so we can have everyone settle in. We’ll have Mayor Watkins say a few words in lieu of Becca’s father, and then the best man and you will give your speeches.” The wedding planner pulled her a little in the direction she wanted Danielle to go and then let go, flitting off to some other part of the reception hall.

As she looked around, Danielle took in the beauty of the room. The woman had done a great job overall, and it worked out better that the ceremony had been by the reservoir instead of in the rec hall so everything could be set up for the reception beforehand.

Danielle took her seat and looked down the small table. The mayor and his wife were sitting next to her on the side of the bride, with Tara and Carissa on Danielle’s right. Colton’s mother sat on the other side of him, beaming. But the spot next to her had been filled by Tanner, who’d made it to the reception. His cheeks looked a little flushed, but he was smiling about something Colton’s mother said. Where was Liam?

After a quick search around the hall and not seeing him anywhere, it made her more curious. She shouldn’t worry about him, shouldn’t give him a second thought more than a writing partner for the newspaper, but she couldn’t help but wonder what would pull him away from the wedding.

Leaning over to Mrs. Watkins, she whispered, “Where is Liam? Isn’t he supposed to give a speech as well?”

Mrs. Watkins turned her head to look around the room and then looked over to Colton’s side. “He’s probably just running late, or had to get Cari.”

Mayor Watkins stood, turning Mrs. Watkins’s attention forward, and Danielle couldn’t ask any more questions. Maybe something happened to Kara that had Liam and Cari heading to Grand Junction now.

Not that she was interested in him, because that wasn’t the case. She’d pledged long ago not to let a relationship derail her life. But she couldn’t help but smile as she remembered their bantering, something most people in Sage Creek didn’t care for.

Sitting back in her seat, Danielle took a deep breath, feeling a hollowness sink into her chest. Maybe she needed to head back to LA, because she didn’t feel the same kind of pressure there. Everyone just did their thing, focusing on work and playing on the weekends.

Soon enough, it was her turn to stand, and she tried to regroup her thoughts as she took the microphone.

“Thank you for your words, Tanner.” She glanced over at him with a smile, not having heard any of his speech. She turned back to the crowd. “I just wanted to say I am so excited for the two of you,” she said, looking at the bride and groom, “for the adventures you’ll have over these next several decades and for your future. I’ve known Becca since the time we were in kindergarten, and we’ve been closer than honeycomb ever since. She’s read some of my worst writing ever, and I’ve gladly accepted the random plants she’s tried to grow in the backyard.”

The crowd chuckled at that, and Danielle paused, her emotions sobering. “I know this means our lives are changing, for the better, and I wish you both many years of love.” She raised her glass and took a sip as everyone else did the same.

Following dinner were the first dances, and she danced with Tanner, which didn’t have the same electricity as when she was near Liam. With the cake cut, the bouquet toss went to Susie Jones, who looked more surprised than anyone since she wasn’t dating anyone.

Once the couple headed out in Colton’s truck, Danielle sighed. This day had been so much better than the one Becca was to share with Peter a few years ago. She’d never seen Becca happier.

Feeling the onset of another headache, Danielle slipped out of the rec hall and walked down the quiet streets. That was one good thing about a small town: when everyone was at an event, the streets were empty enough to enjoy in peace.

She walked aimlessly and found herself in front of the bookstore, peering into the dark rooms. A mental picture of the owner came into her mind, and her attraction to him grew as she thought of how he took care of his niece and that his wit rivaled her own.

Moving away from the glass, she tried to push any thoughts of Liam Pearson out of her brain. She just needed to focus on the article and her next cozy mystery and move on from there.

Escaping back into her mother’s still house, she walked up to her room and pulled out her laptop. Nothing to squash thoughts about love like drafting her next cozy mystery.

Chapter 15

“I’m sorry, Mr. Pearson. It looks like the cancer has spread to her other organs. Our best chance is to surgically remove as many of the tumors as possible.” Dr. Marcy pushed her glasses up higher on her nose, her face a mask trying to hide the sadness in her eyes.

Liam shifted his weight to the other foot, folding his arms against his chest. “And if you can’t get them all?” His mind went immediately to Cari, and he turned, making sure she was okay in the room adjacent. She sat happily tapping away on his phone.

Dr. Marcy nodded as if she’d been waiting for this question. “We have a couple of options. The first is that we can try radiation and chemotherapy, but there isn’t a guarantee those will work. The second is that we let her go home and she has maybe three to six weeks left.”

Liam felt like he’d been hit by a car, the words slamming him in the chest and taking the oxygen with it. He took a step back, sinking into the chair. Turning to look through the window, he glanced in Cari’s direction again, to find her singing and dancing to some song he couldn’t hear.

Looking up at the doctor, he said, “But if we go through all the treatments, what are the outcomes for those?”

“Maybe another year.”

“Maybe?” Liam said. The anger rose. “What about her daughter? Kara’s got to live longer than that.” Would he really lose his sister?

Sympathy spread over the doctor’s features, and her voice came out softer this time. “I’m really sorry, Liam. I know how much she means to you, and I wish we had been able to find this sooner. But this type of cancer is resistant to most forms of treatment. There are some trials we could put her into and see how she does, but that will be something you need to discuss with her.”

“Is she awake?” He’d convince her now to start the trial. Anything to keep her with him and Cari for a while longer.

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