Page 8 of The Marriage Pact
His mom nodded. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters. Isn’t it warm? I hope it stays like this for the week. Come and sit down. I’ll get Louise to fix you a drink. I was going to have some lemonade,” she said.
Louise had been hired to help Alex’s mom. The friendly woman worked six days a week, cooking and cleaning. It was a far cry from the days when Alex would return home to find a TV dinner thawing in the sink, and instructions on how to use the microwave. He was glad to think his money had provided for his mom. She deserved it and was obviously happy. She was a picture of health: tanned, her hair dyed blond, her makeup immaculate. She’d developed a love of clothes, and even in a terrycloth robe, she managed to look glamorous. Her nails were painted bright pink, just like the car.
“Lemonade would be nice. I just grabbed something on the way to the airport. It’s strange being back here,” he said.
His mom looked at him curiously.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Alex shrugged.
“I don’t know. It just is. I wasn’t expecting… It’s been so long since I’ve been here. You usually come to Florida,” he said.
Alex owned several hotels on the Florida Keys, and he and his mom would often meet there for a weekend to catch up, though inevitably Alex would find it necessary to work.
“You’ll get used to it,” his mom replied. “Home’s home, after all. And you’ll see all your friends, too. You must be looking forward to that.”
“I am, but it’s been so long since I last saw them. A lot’s changed since then,” Alex said.
His mom nodded.
“I saw Rachel the other day. She told me how pleased they are to have you coming to the wedding. And Kaitlyn’s been in town, too. I’ve seen her a few times. The poor thing lost her mom a few months back.”
Alex was taken by surprise. He’d heard nothing about the death of Kaitlyn’s mom, but there was no reason why he should. He hadn’t kept in contact with her, or with anyone who might think it right to tell him.
“Why didn’t you say something?” he asked.
His mom shrugged.
“I didn’t think you’d be interested. You haven’t seen her for years, have you?”
Alex sighed. It was true. He’d hardly gone out of his way to make an effort, and yet he felt guilty at the thought of Kaitlyn going through something so terrible without support.
I’m sure she had plenty. You weren’t her only friend. It’s not like you tried to be in touch with her before.
Alex felt regret. Being back in Cedarhurst was already giving him too much time for thinking. What would he say when he met Kaitlyn again? Pushing aside such thoughts, he took the glass of lemonade Louise had brought out for him. The garden was idyllic. A peaceful haven, compared to the noise and dust of New York, and yet the stillness — the peace — was making Alex uncomfortable. It was going to be a long week.
CHAPTER 3
KAITLYN
CEDARHURST, ILLINOIS
“Does my hair look all right?” Rachel asked, turning to look at herself in the mirror.
Kaitlyn nodded. “You look beautiful. Just like a prom queen again,” she replied, and Rachel laughed.
“I don’t think Felicity Baxter ever forgave me for that. She works in the shoe store on Benson Street. I don’t dare go in there after the look she gave me the first time I went in after she started working there.”
Kaitlyn smiled. She hadn’t seen Felicity — or any of the Pinkies — since her return to Cedarhurst. Not that it bothered her. She’d be glad never to see any of them ever again.
“We won’t be seeing her at the wedding, then?”
Rachel made a face. “I don’t think so, no.”
Kaitlyn was to be Rachel’s bridesmaid. She was wearing a peach-colored dress, and the two of them had posies of flowers in matching colors. They’d spent the morning getting ready, and a car was due to pick them up to take them to Cedarhurst Parkin just a few minutes’ time. Rachel’s dad, Mark, was to give her away, and her mom, Susan, who’d spent most of the morning weeping tears of happiness, was also going to walk alongside them in the procession.
“I think we should be going now,” Kaitlyn said, glancing at the clock.
