Persuaded (21 page)

“Sydney?” I peeked around the corner and saw her, high heels and all, lugging a monster-sized suitcase on wheels up onto the sidewalk. “You’re back?”

“Of course I’m back—anybody can see that! Now help me, will you?”

I picked up two of the suitcases and carried them into the entranceway before I went back and took the beastly one from her. She carried in the smaller one behind me. “How did you get here?” I asked.

“Stupid cabdriver wouldn’t even help me up the hill—he said he had another call. The Wentworths’ plane, of course. How else do you think I got here?”

Between the two of us, we managed to get her luggage into her room.

“I didn’t know you brought so much stuff.”

“I didn’t. These are new. I left my old luggage behind.”

I stopped and stared at her. “Are you kidding me, Sydney? You spent all that time shopping?” I was horrified. Actually, I felt sick, wondering how much damage she had done to our family’s credit-card bills this time.

“What else was I supposed to do? Kylie looked positively nasty, so I couldn’t stay around her all the time.”

My heart sank. “You didn’t help her?”

“Are you kidding? With Gregory and Collin entertaining her all the time? Not to mention her parents. She had more than enough company. Oh! Which reminds me. It’s why I’m here, actually. You are so going to freak when I tell you! I couldn’t believe it myself. Seriously I’m, like, still in shock.”

“What?” I hadn’t seen my stepsister this excited in forever.

“I so want to make you guess, but I know you’ll never ever guess in a gazillion years, so I’m just going to flat out tell you.” She dramatically paused and waited for me to show interest.

I was interested. “Tell me what?”

“Kylie’s engaged!”

Nineteen: Shattered

“Kylie—Kylie’s engaged?” It was a good thing there was luggage all around, because the extra-large case caught my fall. It was perfectly placed, and I looked as though I had slumped down on it, instead of what had really happened. I wondered if it was normal to feel like someone had just punched you, when no one had.

“Yes, she’s getting married. And she’s asked me to help plan the engagement party.”

“You? She asked you?” Not that I wanted to plan a party for her and Gregory but . . .
Oh my gosh. They’re getting married! She’s only like eighteen. Isn’t she too young? Where were her parents during all of this? Is there no one to knock some sense into foolish boys who think it’s brave to throw their life away on girls they don’t love?

I paused
.
Maybe he does love her. Maybe the past weeks together have really shown him how much he truly loves her. Gregory’s not stupid. He’s not. He wouldn’t propose marriage unless he really, truly loved her. Good Great Wall of China! Gregory is in love.

“Amanda?”

I heard Sean’s voice call tentatively down the hallway.
Dang.
I had forgotten all about him.

“I’m coming,” I called out the door.

“Who’s that?”

“Uh, I have a date.”

“You?” Sydney snorted and looked down at my clothes. She must’ve liked what she saw because she erased the sneer and shrugged. “Fine. I don’t care. Just as long as I don’t have to meet your brainless boyfriend.”

Fine with me.
“Well, have a good night.”

“Whatever.”

I walked quickly out of the room and shut the door. I tried to look less depressed than I felt. I’m not sure it worked.

“Hey, are you okay?” Sean asked when he saw me. The concern in his voice brought tears to my eyes. Thankfully they didn’t spill over.

Wordlessly, I nodded my head.

“Was that Sydney I just heard?”

I glanced back over my shoulder. “Yeah. She’s just come home from Moab.”

“Moab? Oh yeah. Lilly was saying something about one of your friends almost dying. Did Sydney bring bad news?”

“Um, yes—no. Not really. It’s just—”

“Look, we can cancel tonight if you’re not up for it.” He gently picked up both of my hands and held them. “Really. It’s okay.”

I looked at his rueful smile. “I—uh.” I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I definitely didn’t feel like going anywhere right then. My eyes met his.

He squeezed my hands. “I’m going to leave. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

I nodded in relief, fearful that a tear might escape.

Sean leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead. As I closed my eyes and inhaled softly, it was easy to pretend he was Greg. He was much swifter than Gregory had been, but the scent of him lingering was much, much more powerful, because I would never feel Greg’s lips again.

“Bye, Amanda.”

“Bye.” I let Sean go. My eyes were still closed. I know it was silly and selfish, but I really wanted to hold onto the image of Gregory just that bit longer. After the door clicked shut behind Sean, I finally allowed the first tear to fall.

In frustration I ran into my room, collapsed face first on my pillow, and cried like a total baby. I couldn’t help it, and I definitely couldn’t stop the tears from coming. It’d been three years since I’d cried for Gregory—three years. I couldn’t believe it hurt more now than it did then.

I knew I had no right to even contemplate crying over him, but until I’d loved and lost him twice, I never truly understood what it felt like. And just for the record, it hurt.

My brain was flooded with memories of all the things I had seen him do for other people, of his nice smiles and countless thoughtful acts, and I cried harder. I loved him. All I wanted was to be a part of his life again. To know what he was thinking and feeling—to be his friend again—but we couldn’t even be that anymore.

The next morning dawned bright and early—a little too bright and a little too early for my taste. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. I had spent the night in the middle of a reoccurring dream slash nightmare, where Gregory was smiling as he carried a positively glowing Kylie down the aisle. I was the little flower girl who got to hold the flowing train that poured down his arm and the stairs a good twenty feet below them. I didn’t know which was worse—the way he couldn’t keep his eyes off her, or the number of times I had tripped over the excessively long train while Sydney laughed at me from the maid-of-honor spot. Thank goodness I woke up just before Gregory kissed Kylie over the altar or I think it might have scarred me for life.

After a late breakfast and an even later shower, I decided to check my email. There was one from Collin, but right before I opened it, the doorbell chimed. I knew the chances of Sydney getting the door were seriously rare, so with a sigh I pushed the computer chair back and walked to the entranceway. The doorbell had already pealed a second time before I reached for the handle. I could tell someone was excited about something
.

It was the Wentworths.

“Hello.” Surprised I stepped back. “Won’t you come in?”

Suzanne and Charles had wide, friendly smiles on their faces and were carrying a basket full of fresh-picked strawberries.

“Hello, Amanda!” Mrs. Wentworth handed the basket to her husband and then leaned forward and cheerfully kissed my cheek before entering the house.

Charles chuckled. “Well, girl, I hope you don’t mind us intruding today.”

“No, no! You’re more than welcome.” I stepped back farther to allow room for him in the small entranceway.

“We come bearing gifts, anyway.” Gregory’s dad’s baritone echoed off the tiled floor. “It’s always good to come to someone’s house with gifts if you’re not invited, eh? What do you say to these? Strawberries! From your garden. Well, from our garden now, but I’m not fond of the little guys myself and Suzie here is allergic to them. We figured that since you guys planted them, you’d probably want the lot.”

I tried not to chuckle. “Well, thank you. Bring them into the kitchen. I’m sure we could use them. We all love strawberries here.”

“See, dear, what did I tell ya? I knew the little miss would love them, didn’t I?” Mr. Wentworth winked over at me, while Suzanne nodded and smiled a knowing smile.

“Just put them in here,” I said as I pulled out a bowl and set in on the counter. “That’ll be perfect.” Mr. Wentworth quickly dumped the “lot” in the bowl and smiled proudly to himself. I found I wasn’t ready for them to go just yet. “Would you like to follow me through to the family room? You’re more than welcome to stay and chat a while.” I directed the last part to Gregory’s mom.

“We would be happy to.”

She was so cheerful, it was obvious to me she was excited about the wedding.

We all settled down on the plush red sofas. I broke the short silence with “So, this is w–wonderful news about the engagement.” There. I had almost said it without a flaw.

Suzanne spoke first. “It’s all Gregory could talk about yesterday.”

“You spoke to him on the phone?”

“No, he came home last night.”

“Surprised us, didn’t he, dear?” Mr. Wentworth patted his wife’s knee.

“H–he’s here in Farmington?”

“Of course, dear. I thought your sister came back with him.”

Oh. She had said she came back in a cab.
“Maybe. Never mind.” I waved the thought away and tried to act as if my life wasn’t falling apart. “So, do you know when the wedding will be?”

The Wentworths looked at each other and shrugged. Suzanne answered, “I’m sure it’ll be on the invites. But hopefully not too soon. They’re both quite young, aren’t they? Well, he’s twenty-one or twenty-two, I think.”

You think?
“I thought Gregory was nineteen.”

She smiled. “He is. I meant Collin.”

“Collin? Collin Farnsworth?”

“Yes, dear.” Suzanne gave me a worried look. “Collin’s twenty-one, or twenty-two—I can’t remember what Gregory said last night.”

The blood was pounding in my ears, making it extremely difficult to focus. “I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “Who is Kylie marrying?”

The Wentworths looked shocked. “So you didn’t know?” Suzanne gasped. “It was the craziest thing! You would not believe it. Gregory came home last night to say that his girlfriend, Kylie, was engaged to another man.”

“This Collin Farnsworth fellow,” Charles added.

What in the—? Collin and Kylie?
“Are you kidding me? Was Gregory upset by it?”

“No. That’s what was so weird about it,” Charles said. “He seemed happy.”

I beamed. “Really?” I knew my heart had better start slowing down or it would explode.

“We thought he was head over heels for the girl who had broken her neck, but now it seems he couldn’t care less,” Mr. Wentworth said. “Of course, I have to wonder at any girl who would pass up Gregory for someone else. She must’ve hit her head harder than I thought.”

Collin and Kylie? Who would’ve thought Collin and Kylie would get together?
“They are a different couple, that’s for sure,” I said. “But I think they will make each other happy.”

“I hope so. You better make someone really happy if you plan on getting married that young.” Charles shook his head. “Of course, we can’t say anything, can we? We were around their age when we got hitched. And look how far we’ve come!”

“Yes, but it took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get where we are now,” Suzanne reminded him. “We’re very fortunate. Not everyone is so lucky. Even if you start with money, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to keep it.”

I didn’t catch Mrs. Wentworth’s accidental allusion to my family’s situation until Gregory’s dad cleared his throat and looked meaningfully toward me. Poor Suzanne was all flushed apologies. Which, in the end, is what finished our conversation, because after all the apologies were made and my assurances were accepted, the Wentworths hurriedly made their exit with “Well, thank you for letting us intrude. We hope you enjoy the strawberries.” The couple stood up together.

“Yes. Thank you. They look wonderful.” I was on my feet, and this time I remembered to escort my guests to the door. “Enjoy your day.”

“Thanks. You too.” Charles smiled as he squeezed one of my hands and winked. Just before I closed the door behind them, I heard him mutter to his wife, “Now, that’s a good girl. I like her.”