Page 127 of The Rules We Broke
I couldn’t believe it, she said his name. Brady and I both smiled at each other for a moment, but he immediately turned back to my aunt.
“I hope my trust will not be misplaced in you. You know the kind of money I have, and believe me when I say, I’m not afraid to use it,” she warned.
He kissed her cheek. “I would expect nothing less of you. Thank you, Luanne. Or should I call you Mom now?” He added some levity to the moment.
“Don’t push your luck.”
I threw my arms around her. “I love you, Aunt Lu.”
“I love you more than air, Ella Lu.”
I knew that now more than ever.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ihadtoadmit,after Aunt Lu called Brady by his name, I expected a proper proposal. Nothing elaborate. Just a quietwill you marry meand a ring that said it wasn’t just talk anymore.
But it didn’t come.
Not that Brady had changed his mind—I knew he still wanted to marry me. I guess I just thought we’d be setting a date by now. Booking the church. But maybe he wanted to wait until we survived Christmas Eve dinner.
I still couldn’t believe I’d agreed to go.
The truth was, I needed to talk to Mr. Jackson. And I’d spent the last two days trying to think of a way to ask him why he’d cheated on my aunt. Yeah, that was real polite dinner talk. Nothing said happy holidays like asking your future father-in-law why he broke my aunt’s heart.
That was only half the battle. The harder half would be asking it without Mrs. Jackson within earshot. According to Kendra, she wasn’t exactly thrilled about her husband’sinvitation. The good news for Kendra? She was no longer the least favorite in the Jackson family.
I had no doubt Mrs. Jackson would be watching me like a hawk. People like her didn’t like to lose control—and tonight, she’d be gripping it with all she had.
To keep my mind (and Aunt Lu’s) off my impending doom—aka Christmas Eve dinner—we spent Monday and most of today flipping through bridal magazines and curating Pinterest boards. The only time I’d left the house was to pick up a few last-minute gifts for Brady’s nieces and nephews who had come to town. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try to win them over.
Aunt Lu had spring in mind for the wedding. She even offered her gardens for the reception. I loved the idea—but I didn’t know if Brady would want to wait that long. I doubted most men understood how long planning takes. And Aunt Lu? She imagined the grandest wedding Kaysville had ever seen.
Planning a wedding with the aunt whose heart was shattered by my almost-future father-in-law had its complications. But I was willing to bet that she, like me, craved the distraction.
She refused to talk about my Christmas Eve plans. Normally, we’d be together. But I promised her Christmas Day was hers—and she’d agreed to let Brady spend it with us.
I was looking forward to it more than anything. Brady’s and my first real Christmas together.
Christmas Eve had dawned gray and rainy—like the sky itself felt the tension.
Even as Aunt Lu and I debated wedding gowns—ballgown or sleek and sophisticated—I couldn’t shake the feeling. Something about the day felt . . . off. Maybe because it felt strange to plan a wedding without a ring on my finger.
As evening approached, I headed upstairs to change. I chose something more conservative this time—a plaid pencil skirt, a fitted black sweater, and high-heeled boots that made me feeljust formal enough without surrendering comfort. I let my hair down and curled it loosely, trying to strike that impossible balance between elegant and unintimidating.
But with every brushstroke and button, the doubt crept in.
Maybe I shouldn’t go.
Maybe I wasn’t ready.
Would I even get the chance to talk to Mr. Jackson?
What unsettled me most was the thought of my aunt being alone. It would only be a few hours, I reminded myself. She’d assured me she’d be fine. But fine didn’t sit well with me—especially not on Christmas Eve.
Normally, we’d be somewhere warm on two beach chairs, sipping virgin margaritas. Now, she’d be here. Propped on her couch. Waiting for me to come home from the lion’s den.
As soon as the doorbell rang, I grabbed my coat and bag and headed downstairs, still fighting that unsettled feeling crawling up my spine.
