Chapters (42)
- Cover Page
- Dedication
- Dear Friend
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Acknowledgments
- Reading Group Guide
- An Excerpt from the Goodbye Bride
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- About the Author
He shrugged, walking toward her. “You don’t wear much jewelry. I just thought . . . Well, it’s been a month today.”
Their anniversary, such as it was. Lucas stopped at the foot of the bed. She watched a blush creep into his cheeks.
“It was very thoughtful. I think I’ll wear it on the Dr. Phil show.” What did the gift mean? Flowers was one thing, jewelry another. Was Lucas trying to make their relationship appear real? Or was there more to the gesture? Her insides fluttered at the thought. She remembered the way he’d laid a kiss on her head. It had been sweet. It made her feel . . . protected.
She glanced at the box in her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
Lucas waved her off. “I didn’t expect you to. I saw it in the window at Pageo’s and thought of you.”
It touched her that the symbol of their faith reminded him of her. Maybe the necklace meant nothing beyond that.
Lucas had some irritating qualities, but he could be awfully sweet when he wanted to be. Carried away by the moment, Kate reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Her lips tingled against the roughness of his jaw.
When she pulled back, she saw something in Lucas’s eyes and wondered if she’d crossed some invisible line. But then he rubbed the back of his neck and turned away. “Heading to bed?”
She closed the lid of the box, watching him go. “Yeah, I’m beat.”
He turned as he pulled the door. “’Night.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you I talked with your mom this morning. The subject of conflict came up, and I asked her about her and your dad.”
Lucas stilled, his hand on the knob. “What did she say?”
Kate sighed and rolled her eyes. “She thought I was asking her because we were having trouble. Like I wanted her advice on how to handle conflict.”
Lucas chuckled. “That’s rich.”
Kate frowned at him. “It’s not funny. She must think I’m a lousy counselor.” She’s wondering what kind of idiot her son married.
“Relax. She’s just doing what moms do.”
Well, then. How would Kate know that? In her experience moms didn’t give advice and nurture. They went out and came back unexpectedly and left you wondering what would happen next.
“Anyway,” she said. “I wanted to tell you I’d gotten the ball rolling, that’s all.” She sat on the bed. “Good night.”
After Lucas pulled the door shut, Kate threw the wrapping paper in the trash and tucked the jewelry box inside the top nightstand drawer. She flipped off the lamp and crawled under the covers, but it was a long time before she drifted to sleep.
Fifteen
Fifteen