Page 65 of Nashville Cowboy
“That’s what best friends are for. Thank you for supporting me even as I made the biggest mistake of my life.” She tugged on Sadie’s hands, squeezing. “Have I told you how happy I am for you?”
“Yes,” Sadie sniffed, not trusting herself to say more. Emotions clogged her throat.
“Okay, I’ll see you out there!”
No sooner had Eve left than after a quick knock, the door opened. It was her father. “You about ready, sweetie?”
She held up her finger. “Just one sec, Daddy.”
He shut the door. The quiet enveloped her, with thoughts that were too big for this room. Doubt hovered deep inside her.
Lord! Why hadn’t she told Lincoln before today? By now, any disappointment would have settled, and he’d have adjusted to their new reality just as she had. Waiting for the honeymoon was a terrible mistake. He’d hate her for keeping this from him. She couldn’t start their marriage off with a lie. With something this life changing. Sadie’s stomach roiled and pitched and ten minutes before the wedding, she knew that she couldn’t go through with this.
She found her phone under a pile of chiffon and dialed the only woman on earth who would understand.
“Eve, can you please come back?” Sadie could barely hold back the tears. “I need you.”
“What happened? Did a seam rip?”
If only it were that simple. “Just…please come get me.”
“Getyou?”
Less than two minutes later, Eve strolled inside. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t get married.”
Eve laughed. “That’s funny. Tell the runaway bride thatyoucan’t go through with your wedding day?”
“I’m serious. I can’t marry him…not like this.”
“Oh my God, you’re serious! Sadie. You can’tdothis! Jackson is going to kill me. And okay, it’s not all about me. What about Lincoln? He’ll be devastated.” She was quiet for a beat. “Is this because you haven’t told him about the baby?”
Sadie nodded, trying to bite on her quivering lips. “Waiting for the honeymoon was a bad idea. It’s all a big lie.”
“Of course it’s not a lie! You’re going to tell him.”
“I wanted to wait, but now I realize not telling him is like lying to him. It’s too big. Too…too life changing.” Her mother’s words. A wise woman Sadie should have confided in before today.
“What do you want me to do? We can fix this.”
“I’m going to have to talk to him. I need to see him rightnow.” She wrung her hands together. “Can you go get him?”
“Um, sure. We’ll just delay the start. I’ll talk to the pastor, tell your father, and…” Eve held up her fingers, counting off “to do” items. “What should I tell Lincoln?”
“Just tell him I need to talk to him. I don’t know, tell him I’m nervous, and thinking about running!”
“I wouldn’t dare!”
“Do whatever you have to do but get my fiancé here so I can tell him he’s going to be a daddy.”
* * *
Outside,people were still arriving. Mr. Stephens was pacing nearby and stopped to say hello to Beulah and Lloyd Hayes as they arrived. Others were already seated inside, waiting. Jackson was off to the side, seeming to want to blend into the background. Eve took in the sight of him, and her heart nearly stopped. This was exactly what he’d looked like on their wedding day. He’d worn a black tux. He’d been lankier eight years ago. His hair had been longer, down to his neck and parted in the middle. He now walked with a confident swagger he hadn’t possessed at twenty-one. He was a man, whereas she’d almost married a boy.
He stepped right in front of her. “What’s happening?”
“Oh, n-nothing,” she lied. “I just wanted to talk to Lincoln for a sec. Where is he?”
