Page 37 of Undefeated Love
“Is Alex here yet?”
“Yes.” The two women disappeared into Grace’s room but left the door open.
She longed for the friendship of her four teammates. Her life was now so quiet. She missed their long conversations, sometimes about absolutely inane bullshit. She’d gone from living with four other alpha females who worked hard and partied hard, always together, to complete solitude. The only person she spoke with these days was her psychologist.
Katlin quickly typed a text to Grace:
I wouldn’t miss your wedding! I’ll be there to walk down the aisle steps ahead of you. I have to leave immediately after the ceremony. Please tell no one that I’m coming. Not even the Ladies. My life may depend on it. Love always, Katlin
She didn’t know if the last sentence was true or not. Katlin was sure that if any of her enemies discovered that she was basically alone all the time, they might try to find her and kill her. She’d covered her tracks well, though.
She glanced around the beautiful sky blue, high-ceilinged bedroom in the mid-nineteenth-century B&B. Staying in a house similar to her former teammates’ made her feel closer to them, even though they were nearly five miles away. Her gaze stopped on the recently tailored dark blue dress that she’d picked out in Miami. She’d gained a little weight due to her decreased activity level. She’d do something about that next week.
Their shopping trip together seemed as though it were years ago. So much had happened for her in the meantime.
As an afterthought, Katlin texted her brother:
I couldn’t miss this wedding. I’ll be there to walk down the aisle steps ahead of Grace and not a minute before. I have to leave immediately after the ceremony. I don’t want to talk to Alex! Tell no one that I’m coming. Not even your wife. Love always, Katlin
She about jumped out of her skin when her phone beeped with an incoming text. In the past month, she could count on one hand how many times it rang or beeped. Calls and messages were bounced all over before they finally landed on her cell phone.
The text was from Daniel:
You might want to consider giving him a second chance. You can’t believe everything you see and hear. I have something for you. Can’t wait to see you and hug you. Love, Daniel
* * *
Katlin sat in the back of the last limousine parked behind Griffin’s grandparents’ house. Most of the guests were already seated enjoying the music of a small string quartet. The wedding planner seemed to be everywhere.
Checking her watch for the umpteenth time and noting it was seven minutes before four o’clock, Katlin buzzed the driver.
“You’ll be able to get the limo turned around and facing outward, right?”
“Yes, ma’am. And as soon as you’re in the backseat, I’m out of here.”
“Perfect.” Katlin opened the back door and strode straight to the parlor where she found the wedding planner giving her teammates their final instructions. As soon as she stepped in the door, she grabbed her bouquet. The squeals of delight were almost deafening. She was surrounded by love as they all rushed to group hug her.
Ignoring their questions, Katlin stepped out of the group and threw her free hand up, palm out in a stop gesture. “I know you have a hundred questions, but we don’t have time for them now.” She looked at the wedding planner. “I can’t stay beyond the ceremony.” Katlin’s gaze swept the faces of the best friends she’d ever had in the world. “Once I’m better, I hope to come back. Until then, you’re safer without me.”
The music changed and the woman in the dark blue suit became extremely nervous.
Katlin smiled. “That’s our cue.” She nodded to the event planner who completely understood and took charge of the lineup.
Katlin turned to Grace, leaning in and giving her a private hug. “Griffin is so lucky. You two are going to have a wonderful life together.” She kissed her friend on the cheek then stepped back, checking to make sure she didn’t leave a lipstick mark.
“I can’t decide if I’m still mad at you or miss you.” Grace readjusted her bouquet in front of her.
Katlin looked over her shoulder as she was now in line. “Just as long as you still love me.”
All five women followed the wedding planner to the double glass doors that led to the garden. The women were kept several feet back in the shadows until two elementary school-age boys, dressed in tuxedos that matched the groomsmen, opened the doors on cue.
Tori stood framed in the doorway, stunning in her gold off-the-shoulder dress. Pausing as her picture was taken, she then stepped forward and moved like the runway model she used to be.
Lei Lu followed when the planner signaled. Looking like a tiny China doll, her fall of black silky hair reached mid back, a contrast to the burgundy dress with a sweetheart neckline accented by off-the-shoulder straps. Her hair was shorter than the last time Katlin had seen her. She wondered how many other changes had taken place in the weeks she’d been gone.
Nita, in flattering rose gold with a jewel neckline, glanced over her shoulder at Katlin. She recognized the beautiful pink and yellow diamond necklace. It had been her mother’s, a gift from her father after one of his many trips to inner Africa. “Before you disappear again, we need to talk.” That’s all she was able to say before she was signaled to step into the light.
Katlin wasn’t sure she was going be able to make that happen. She felt a hand on her back and looked over her shoulder at Grace.
