Authors: Kieran Kramer
“Please stop channeling Wendy Williams.”
“—is back in town for the first time since that eventful day.”
“Thanks a lot for bringing it up,” True said.
“You’re welcome.”
“I wasn’t
really
thanking you. It doesn’t matter anymore anyway.”
“Yes, it does. Harrison’s hot and single. And Dubose dumped you in college when Mama and Daddy died.” Weezie was thrilled with the drama of it all.
“Don’t hold that against him. It was a really tough time. I needed to pay attention to what was going on here, and he needed to get through college. We got back together eventually, didn’t we?”
“Only when he moved back here, and you were right under his nose.”
“We got back together when he could make a commitment,” True told her firmly. “Law school’s hard. And he had to pass the bar.” Her whole body hummed with anxiety. “Now please behave yourself.”
“Me?” Weezie pointed a thumb at her chest. “I’m not the fickle one who doesn’t know her own heart.”
“Please, Weezie!” True seldom got into real arguments with her sister. “Don’t you understand how much it hurts me to look back at that time?”
Weezie stared at her. “No.”
That was the problem. Weezie had deep feelings herself, but she didn’t always recognize the depth of other people’s.
“Well, listen closely,” True said more softly. “It does hurt. It hurts me the same way it hurts you to think about stray dogs and cats.”
Weezie winced.
“Or when Will Ferrell’s wife divorced him in
Talladega Nights
and married his best friend.”
“God, that broke my heart.”
“Exactly.” True was glad she was getting through. “So I’d rather forget what happened ten years ago. I want to move
on
.”
Weezie bit her index fingernail. “All right,” she murmured around it.
“Thank you.” True let out a big sigh. “See you in a few. Will you check on the customers, too, please? Give them all some extra tomatoes.”
“Sure.”
Which reminded her, Harrison never got his.
Oh, well. That was probably a good thing. She might have pelted him with a few just because he got under her skin. Around him, she always questioned the status quo. It had reversed itself since they’d last seen each other. He was the one now who was surrounded by shiny stuff while she—former high school homecoming queen and sorority girl—was happy with her dirt-stained shorts and blunt fingernails she could never grow long, not if she was going to continue farming.
And she was. The community relied on her now, and she liked being outdoors and working hard. She especially liked the money. It was just enough that she and Weezie could remain independent.
While her sister headed outside, True took the main stairs two at a time. But she was too late. Her future husband’s familiar, confident tread sounded on the front porch. She paused and straightened her shoulders. It was time to act like a grown-up and remember what she had—an amazing fiancé. In fact, if she were an answer in one of Gage’s crossword puzzles, the clue would be
lucky woman
. And if
Dubose Waring
was an anagram …
Who knew? She’d ask Gage—just for fun—next time she saw him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Hey there, beautiful!” It was Dubose’s usual greeting, but his voice had a wary edge.
True composed herself and turned around with a smile on her face. She felt like an adulteress. And she hadn’t even done anything wrong.
“Hi, sweetheart,” she said.
In the doorway stood the high school and college boyfriend who’d come back into her life at her lowest point—five years after her parents’ death, when her trials kept coming and coming—and told her she’d never be scared and alone again.
For that, she’d always be grateful.
He was nearly as handsome as Harrison, but in a totally different way—a more refined way. He was a gentleman, scholar, and athlete (he’d been second-string quarterback at the University of Virginia), and his hair was parted perfectly, the short sideburns and crew cut neat as a pin. He had the square jaw all the Waring men had and a broad forehead over groomed blond eyebrows, evenly spaced hazel eyes, a handsome nose, and strong cheekbones. In his smartly cut suit from Berlin’s on King Street in Charleston and his Hermès tie, he was a poster boy for eligible southern bachelors.
“So the great Harrison Gamble is back in town.” He gazed up at True with a confident grin that was still a walking advertisement for Biscuit Creek’s only orthodontist, his uncle, Dr. Waring. His own father, who’d died two years earlier, had been a well-established attorney, and his mother, Penn, was a general surgeon. “He told me all about taking you home from Atlanta.”
He would
, thought True. Harrison loved to make trouble.
With her heart in her throat, she came down to the bottom stair and wrapped a hand around the elaborate carved finial. “He took me by such surprise. I’d have felt churlish saying no. It’s been ten years, after all.”
Why did she feel so nervous? She’d done nothing wrong. She had nothing to hide.
They shared a perfunctory kiss. Dubose was obviously as distracted by Harrison’s presence as she was. “I guess he’s come a long way from the Sand Dollar Heaven trailer park.”
“Trash talk’s not really necessary, is it?”
He picked up her free hand and kissed her knuckles. “I love how noble you are. If a bit naive.”
She backed up a step. He climbed one. They were now eye-to-eye.
“Harrison worked hard to get where he is,” she said. “And you work hard, too. There’s no need to drag him down.
Or
make fun of me. I’m not naive in the least.”
Dubose laughed. “You go, honey.”
“
Dubose
—”
He put his hands around her back and pulled her close. “Don’t you see all this is about you? Not Gamble’s money. Not his fame. You’re
my
girl. Not his.”
Normally, True would have felt flattered. Cherished. Right now she felt a bit owned, although that was a strong word. Dubose respected her. She knew he did. He was being something of an ass at the moment about Harrison, but he had strong provocation. What man wanted an old rival for his fiancée to show up right before their wedding?
She pushed a lock of hair off his brow. “You don’t need to worry. He’s leaving tomorrow, okay?”
“Good. I don’t want him around when I’m gone. He’s a troublemaker.”
“Wait.” Her pulse quickened. “What do you mean, when you’re gone?”
He frowned. “I’m going to New York.”
“You are?” she whispered.
“Tomorrow morning.” Dubose never apologized about work requirements. “I have to get a couple of depositions and attend a big trial. It’s going to seriously impact one of our cases.”
“When are you coming back?”
He paused. “Not until two days before the wedding. Just in time for my bachelor party.”
“You’re kidding.” She’d begged him,
begged
him to clear his travel calendar the two weeks before the ceremony. “They can’t get someone else?”
“Ned’s back went out. He’s getting surgery next week. He was the only one who could’ve taken my place.” He caressed his thumbs over her shoulders. “This is the price I have to pay if I want to be partner someday. Remember?”
“I know.” It didn’t make any difference, though. It still felt as if everything were unraveling somehow. She never should have gone to Atlanta. She should have had her dress repaired in Charleston. Maybe the effects of that panic attack were still lingering …
“You can hold down the fort,” Dubose said. “What’s there left to do anyway?”
A lot. Although there was no point in complaining. He was going. “We have a couple more pre-wedding parties,” she said, “one at the Sawyers’ and one at your godmother’s.” Special celebrations in their honor. It was going to be awful going without him.
“Lola will understand, and so will the Sawyers. Ben’s an attorney. Anything else?”
True swallowed. “Your fraternity brothers need a beach house since your mother’s is already being used.”
“Really? She told me she was saving it for them.”
“Well, she forgot.” True couldn’t believe Penn had been so careless. Then again, she had a lot going on. She was a busy surgeon, in and out of Charleston all the time. “She’s already given it to a few girlfriends of hers from college.”
“That sucks. Call Island Realty. They’ll hook us up.”
“Can’t your friends just stay in a hotel or find their own beach house?”
“True, we made them a promise. We have to make it right since it didn’t work out. I know Mom got us into this mess, but she’s got an important job. We can’t ask her to help.” He pulled her close. “Besides, it would mean so much to me if you found a house for them. I can’t just hand them a number to a hotel. These guys are my best friends.”
“I know.”
“Hey.” He spoke softly. “Who’s always there for you?”
“You are.” True tried to smile, but it was hard. “We were going to talk to the band about the songs, too, remember?”
“You can text me when you’re there, and I’ll chime in with a few favorites. At least we both know how to dance.” He’d gone to cotillion in Charleston, too.
“Yes, but—what about finalizing things with the caterer and photographer? And the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner?”
“I thought we’d already worked all that out.”
“We have, basically. But there are a few little details—”
“True.” He cupped her face between his hands. “You’ve got this.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Of course I do. Although”—she opened her eyes and couldn’t help feeling a bit lost—“you were going with me and Weezie to Trident Technical College’s open house.” They’d both agreed that even though it was a week before the wedding, they’d attend. It would be an ideal time for Dubose to bond with Weezie.
His gaze became distant, as if he were Superman looking over his city. He did this in the courtroom, too. Whenever he felt as if he needed to think. To connect the dots. To put something into words. “I know how important that is to you,” he said slowly. It was the closest he’d come to apologizing, she knew. “Of course, you two girls will still go. Weezie won’t mind my being gone.”
No, she wouldn’t. But True was glad he showed some misgivings about missing their special night with her.
“All right.” She gave him a wobbly smile. It really wasn’t his fault he had to go. And as for Weezie, she’d change her mind about him. Just as soon as she realized True wasn’t going to stop loving her just because she was getting married.
“Life’s not fair, sugar.” Dubose chucked her on the chin. “Once you learn that, you’ll do less fretting and more enjoying.”
All her focus on being stoic and gracious dissolved. She turned from him and began walking up the stairs.
Damned man
. Wait.
Damned men
. She’d include Harrison in that observation, too.
“Don’t condescend to me, all right?” she said over her shoulder. “I already know life’s not fair.”
“Duly noted.” Dubose caught up with her, took her by the hand, and pulled her to the top of the stairs. “I’m just trying to get you happy again, is all.” He bestowed a slow kiss on her temple. He always smelled like Polo cologne, starch, and cotton.
His sexy intentions came through loud and clear. But he was kidding, right?
Of course he wasn’t kidding. He was a guy.
“Well, you went about it the wrong way.” She knew she sounded sulky, but it hurt when he didn’t take her seriously.
“Let me make it up to you,” he said immediately, in a serious, mature-man voice.
But then he laid an entirely outrageous kiss on her. Good Lord! Did he really think having sex right now would make her feel better?
She gave him a tight smile. “I’ve got to take that shower. Sorry.”
“I need one, too. I left my bag in the car. I’ll be right back.”
He still didn’t get it. “Weezie’s due inside any minute. We have a few people picking tomatoes.”
“Oh.” The syllable couldn’t have fallen any flatter. “I thought she was out somewhere.”
“Nope.” True sighed, and a beat of awkward silence went by. His irritation was palpable. She decided to try to get cheerful again for both their sakes. “But we’ll have fun tonight in Charleston, won’t we?”
“Yeah. I guess.”
She’d try a little harder. “Come on, Dubose. It’s a party for
us
. And it’s on the Battery in a house overlooking the harbor with a lot of good friends.” Well,
his
good friends. “We’ll have a great time.”
He eyed his watch. “I was really looking forward to some alone time with you.”
“Me, too,” she lied. She actually hadn’t had much time to do anything but think of wedding details.
“Especially now. After the party, I have to go straight home and pack.” He frowned, and she could see it in his eyes—he was trying to calculate if he had time to see her in the morning for a quickie before he left.
She folded her arms over her chest. “What a shame I have to be up and out early tomorrow to get ready for the ladies from St. George’s. They’re coming over at eight to pick enough tomatoes to can a hundred jars of spaghetti sauce for the church bazaar.”
Feeling guilty, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him quickly on the lips—nothing special, as she obviously wasn’t following through. “Maybe this is a good thing. We can wait for our honeymoon.”
“That’s too long—”
She took his hand. “I think we should wait. Why not? We have a whole lifetime after the wedding to enjoy each other.”
He looked none too happy about that. “Is this really necessary?”
“It’s romantic.” She squeezed his hand. “Please?”
“All right,” he muttered.
“Thanks. That means a lot to me.” And it did. There had been only one time in her life when she’d made love because the craving had been as relentless and intense as a swift summer storm—when she’d been with Harrison that night at the Isle of Palms.
She’d put it behind her, but today it had all come roaring back in vivid color.
Snack on this …
Maybe after she married Dubose and all this stress about staying afloat was behind her, they’d have the same sort of relationship.