Annie's Song (14 page)

“You’ve needed to do that for a while now.”

“I guess so.” She wiped her eyes, horrified by her breakdown. Simon handed her a box of tissues. “Thanks.” She mopped at her face, her skin hot from crying, blew her nose. “I can’t shop for my wedding dress looking like this.”

“You can, and you will. Eric has waited long enough.”

That hit the guilt button. Annie had been putting it off, claiming exhaustion, recovery time, lack of a wedding gown. The last excuse prompted their shopping trip. Every time she put him off, the pain in Eric’s eyes twisted through her heart. And she couldn’t understand why she kept pulling back.

“Fine,” she said. Pushing off the bed, she stomped into the bathroom, needing to splash some water on her face, and get out from under Claire’s accusing gaze. The woman could cut metal with that look. The cool water calmed her, and washed away her anger. When she walked back out, all she felt was shame. “You’re right, Claire. And I’m sorry. God.” She pushed hair off her face. “I feel like all I’ve done lately is apologize.”

“You had a rough time. Beating an elemental is no small feat, Annie.” Claire took her hand. “Doing it with no preparation, that is a monumental victory. You should be proud. And I will be eternally grateful that you saved Zach, protected him when I could not.”

“That’s a story I want to hear,” Simon said. He stood, leaned in to kiss Annie’s forehead. “I will leave you to your shopping. If you need anything, I’m staying one floor down.”

“Don’t you have to get back to your congregation?”

Simon shook his head, and Annie almost missed the pain that flared in his green eyes. “I took a leave of absence. To think, and give me the time to do it.”

“Simon—”

“Hush, Claire. The decision was mine.” He kissed her cheek. “Enjoy your shopping.”

He left them, closing the door to the hotel room. Annie stared at Claire, knowing she had the same shocked look on her face, and let out her breath. “That’s not how I planned to spend my morning.”

Laughing, Claire took her hand. “I’m right there with you.” She pulled Annie to the door. “Now, my friend, let’s go find your dress.”

They had zero luck, and after three hours of frustration she could see Claire was dragging. Annie stopped at a small café and with a grateful sigh they both dropped into the chairs of the closest table. On top of not finding a dress, they discovered that the local churches—all of them—were booked with events for the next month. Annie propped her elbows on the table, depressed and hungry.

“You’d think they’d have something here. Don’t the women in this town get married?”

“Why don’t we eat, then we can . . .” Claire covered her eyes, started laughing.

Annie leaned forward. “Are you okay, honey? We can go back to the hotel if you need to rest.”

“I’m fine. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner.” She looked at Annie. “Who do you ask when you are new in town, and need something?”

Annie wanted to slap her forehead. “Someone who lives here.” A new surge of energy had her on her feet. “Ready to get some useful advice?”

*

F
rustrated with his slow progress, Zach followed the two men down the sidewalk. Eric had graduated from crutches, but he still limped, and Zach was grateful for the slower pace. His leg flared hot when he spent too much time on it, so crutches were a necessity. But he refused to be left out.

They turned into the jewelry shop, and Eric headed for the first female sales rep he saw. “I need a wedding ring.”

“Isn’t that lovely?” She led them to a case, pulling out some trays with winking diamonds. “These are our most popular—”

“Sapphire,” Eric said. “I would like a sapphire.” He smiled at the woman, and she blushed. Zach wished he knew how to do that. Most girls just looked at him funny. “My fiancée is a colorful woman, so I want something to reflect that.”

“That is simply beautiful.” She let out a sigh, replacing the trays with one filled with sapphire rings. “If these do not suit, I have more in the back.”

Zach and Marcus crowded around Eric as he studied the tray. If Zach was picking, he already knew the ring he wanted. It screamed Annie. If Eric didn’t notice it, he’d be happy to—

Before he could finish the thought Eric pulled that exact ring out of the tray.

“This one,” he whispered. Light caught the sapphires circling a rich red garnet, blue petals of a small but perfect flower. “This is Annie.” He glanced over at Zach. “What do you think?”

“It’s the one.” He leaned his crutches against the counter, reached over to touch the garnet, startled when the heart of it glowed under his finger. He let his hand drop away, hoping no one else—especially the woman helping them—noticed it. Falling back on his almost freakish knowledge of stones, he let the words flow, let them steady him. “The garnet is for love, and friendship. The sapphires are already her, um, favorite.” He almost tripped up on that one, blurting out that it was her focus. Taking in a breath, he looked at Eric. “It’s perfect for her.”

“Yeah.” Eric couldn’t take his eyes off it, but Marcus glanced over at Zach, one eyebrow raised. And Zach knew he’d seen. It would take some fancy talking for him to convince Marcus not to tell his mom. “What size is this?”

“May I?” She took the ring, used a jeweler’s loupe to study it. “Beautiful clarity, of both the garnet and the sapphires. You have a good eye, lad.” She smiled at Zach, and to his horror he felt his face heat. She moved her gaze to Eric. “Size six and a half. Will it need to be resized? Engraved?”

“No,” Eric said, his fingers reaching for it. “I’ll take it now.”

“Are you certain?” She pulled the ring out of range. “We have a lovely engraving service. You do want to make the ring your own, after all.”

“Thank you, but no.” Eric took out his wallet, signaling the end of the negotiating. “I’ll take it now.”

“As you wish.”

She rang him up, tucking the ring in a white velvet box, then in a matching gift box. Eric thanked her, almost as an afterthought, and clutched the box as he limped out of the shop. He looked shell shocked.

“This makes it real for you, then,” Marcus said.

Eric glanced over at him. “Yeah. I love her, and I want this, more than ever. But, man—I’m terrified.”

Marcus laughed, patted his shoulder. “Welcome to the ranks of the soon to be married.”

“Did you feel like this?” Marcus looked surprised. Zach was stunned by the revelation. “Claire told me you’d been married before—I hope I didn’t betray some deep secret.”

“No secret, my friend.” Marcus stared straight ahead. But Zach knew that look. He was not happy. “Merely a part of my life I wanted to put behind me.”

“Sorry.”

“No apology necessary.” Visibly relaxing, Marcus draped one arm over Eric’s shoulders. “I believe it is time for a celebration. What do you call them here—ah, bachelor party.”

Eric smiled. “Annie would hate the idea. Where’s the pub?”

They both laughed, and Zach lowered his head, feeling like the kid in the corner. Not welcome, never welcome.

“Hey,” Eric said. Zach looked up. “That invitation includes you, punk.” He ruffled Zach’s hair. “I bet we could even sneak you a drink or two.”

“Really?” He was excited, and terrified. Mom would ground him for life. Or kill him.

“You’re part of the wedding, aren’t you? That gives you an instant in.”

“I’m part of the wedding?”

“Did I not speak English?” Eric slid his hand around the back of Zach’s neck. “You’re family, kid. It wouldn’t be complete without you there, standing up for me.” He smiled when Zach just stared at him. “What do you say? Will you be my best man?”

“I—wow.” He shifted on his crutches, studied the ground while he fought the emotions raging through him. Finally, pretty sure he could talk without embarrassing himself, he looked at Eric. “Okay.”

Laughing, Eric led him into the pub. Oh, man. He just hoped no one lost something they desperately wanted found.

*

M
ichelle insisted they have the wedding in the back garden. And sent Penn threatening looks until she agreed.

Claire watched Annie tear up again, then throw her arms around Michelle. “Thank you. Oh, God—I thought we were going to have to get married in the local equivalent of the judge’s chambers.”

“Right—that’s not happening,” Michelle said. She took Annie’s arm, led her through the shop. “I hope it will suit.”

She opened the back door. Annie let out a gasp, stepping outside, and into a fairy garden. Claire didn’t think she’d seen her friend so completely speechless. And with good reason.

A stone path meandered through glorious garden beds. Even this early in the season, the flowers were gorgeous, the surprisingly warm day bringing out their heady scent. She followed Annie down the path, and halted when it opened up into a deep, rich spread of lawn and pavers. Annie practically sprinted to the arbor in the corner, classic white lattice, covered with ivy.

“Oh, my.” She touched the arbor, turned her tear blurred gaze to Claire. “It’s perfect. It’s what I always pictured for my wedding . . .” Tears choked her. She ran to Michelle, hugging her, and moved on to Penn. “Thank you, for offering all this. I just—I don’t know what to say.”

“You can say yes,” Michelle said. She looked as teary as Annie. And Penn stood next to her, just as moved by Annie’s emotional reaction. “There’s room for a small wedding, and we have more tables we can bring out for a reception.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because you’re fellow Yanks. Because I like you.”

“Because she likes happy endings,” Penn added, looking at Michelle. Claire bit her lip on a smile. Annie had been right; they were the England equivalent, right down to the tight friendship, and the acceptance of each other’s needs. “And you’re all welcome. I may not want to ever get married, but that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy myself when two people I’m fond of want to pledge to each other. True facts.” Annie let out a watery laugh, and Penn smiled, obviously satisfied.

Claire cleared her throat. All three women turned, each one at a different stage of emotional meltdown. She wanted to smile, but she forced herself to look serious. “We really came here to ask your advice on a shop where Annie can find her wedding dress. We’ve had no luck on our own.”

Penn and Michelle looked at each other. After a long moment, Michelle nodded, and Penn took off, headed for the shop.

“I might have something that would work,” Michelle said. “It’s not conventional—at all, actually, which is why I still have it. I do a little designing on the side.” She smiled. “I couldn’t get arrested in LA after finishing design school, so when I met Penn here during a ‘get over it and get on with my life’ trip, I decided to stay.”

Penn returned, a garment bag draped over her arm. “I think it will fit. You look about the same size.”

Michelle held the hangar while she unzipped the bag. Instead of the classic, creamy white, it revealed a deep, rich green dress. Where the sun caught the fabric, it glowed a subtle gold.

Annie moved forward, her fingers brushing over the fabric. “An unconventional dress, for an unconventional wedding.” She wiped her eyes, smiled at Michelle. “I’ll take it.”

“Without even trying it on?” Claire touched her arm. “It may not—”

“I can fit it for her,” Michelle said. “I have extra fabric, if it’s needed. No,” she touched Annie’s wrist when she pulled out a wallet. “Consider it my wedding gift.”

“I can’t—that fabric must have cost you a fortune, and you never got paid for it.”

“What about borrowing it?” Penn shrugged when they all looked at her. “Hey, I’m a girl, I know all the wedding stuff. Something borrowed—well, there you go.”

“I don’t, I can’t—”

Claire rubbed her back. “Just say yes, Annie.”

“I—yes.” She looked at them. “Thank you.”

“We should be going,” Claire said. She turned to Michelle. “I want to thank you as well. For everything. Annie will call to set up a time for fitting the dress.”

Still looking shocked, Annie followed her to the back door of the shop. They walked through, and were halfway back to their hotel when Annie finally spoke.

“Claire?”

“Yes, sweetheart?” She stopped, concerned at the tone in her friend’s voice. “Annie, what is it?”

“I’m getting married.”

Claire smiled, and led her dazed friend back to the hotel.

SEVENTEEN

T
he morning of the wedding arrived, clear and cool, despite Annie’s dire predictions it would rain, since she decided on the outdoor wedding of her dreams.

Now she waited in her room, fidgeting, for Claire to come and fetch her. Eric spent the night—somewhere else. He wouldn’t tell her, knowing she’d hunt him down and climb into bed with him, just to keep herself from thinking about today. About this.

All the rash decisions that led here made her want to throw up. The dress, which she had to admit went pretty far outside even her oversized comfort zone. Doing this in a foreign country, which she thought was a good idea at the time. Having Simon marry them. That one had her sitting down.

She started to rub her face, and halted. Her makeup for the wedding was already in place, courtesy of the local hair salon, touchups not an option. Instead, she rested both hands on her stomach. The contact calmed her immediately.

“It’s our big day, sweetheart. Your daddy is going to meet me, in front of our friends, and we’ll be a family.” She took in a shaky breath, missing her parents, wishing they could have been here, met Eric, shared the joy that flooded her. “God, I’m so scared, Mom. I’m going to try to be a good mother. I had the best example in the world. Okay, and now I have to stop this before I start crying.”

“You and me both.” Claire stood in the doorway, and Annie let out a whistle. “You like it?”

“You look gorgeous, honey.” She twirled her finger. “Take a turn.”

Claire obeyed, the skirt of her cobalt blue dress swirling around her. Walking into the room, she cradled Annie’s cheek. “I am not your mother, but I hope I can stand in her place, be here for you today.”