Lucas pulled one from the stack and laid it open to the article. Kate read the headline. “Dr. Kate’s Mr. Wright is Mr. Wrong.” “Clever,” Kate said, sarcasm oozing from a deeply wounded spot. The article read much like the local one; only the journalist had scored an interview with Stephanie. They cited the marriage certificate as well.

“This isn’t good,” Kate said, setting the paper down. “I didn’t realize they’d find proof so quickly. I hope Pam hadn’t planned to deny it, because there’s no way I can do that now.”

Kate glanced at her watch. She had to think. There must be a way to make this better. She shoved the papers to the other side of the table.

“Let’s think this through,” Lucas said. “Maybe we can come up with something if we put our heads together.” He leaned on the tabletop, his bulky forearms planted squarely in front of him.

She hadn’t expected his help, but his willingess warmed her. “We have less than four hours.”

He shrugged and gave that half-smile that charmed her. “We pulled off a wedding in barely under that.”

She smiled wryly. “Seems to me that’s what got us into this mess to begin with.”

“You’re right.” He looked down at his clasped hands, then back to her. “Maybe we should start with prayer this time.”

For all their differences, they were on the same page on this one.

She smiled. “Best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”

By the time the phone rang at noon, Kate had all their notes on the screen.

Lucas set his cup in the sink and nodded his encouragement.

Kate answered the phone.

“Hello, Kate. It’s Chloe. Pam, Paul, and Ronald are already on the line.”

“Hi, everyone,” Kate said.

Their greetings were less than enthusiastic. Hopefully, they’d agree to what Kate had come up with as the best approach.

Lucas leaned against the counter as she opened the conversation.

“Can I just say something first? I want to tell you how sincerely sorry I am for the trouble this is causing. It was never my intention to damage your businesses or careers, and I’m deeply sorry.” Kate hoped her tone expressed the depth of her regret. “I’ll do anything I can to help rectify this.”

“Fair enough,” Paul said. “The damage is done now, and we need to figure out how to proceed. Kate, if we could hear what happened, in your words, that might help.”

Kate took a deep breath and told the story of her wedding morning: Bryan’s phone call, Pam’s news of the Dr. Phil show invitation, Lucas’s offer.

Chloe stopped her there. “You said Lucas was only an acquaintance. Why did he offer to take Bryan’s place?”