“No.” His voice held a finality to it. He was not going to be easily pushed aside. “You talked to Stephen and everything changed. What did he say?”
“Stephen said nothing out of the ordinary. He told me about his job, about researching Weddings by Diana.”
“And that upset you?”
“It’s not about Stephen!” she shouted.
“Then what? His wife was misinformed about the engagement and the comment about a stadium of women…”
“It was none of that.” Teddy looked at Adam. “Good night,” she said.
Adam stared at her as if he could force her to explain. Teddy opened the door and he walked out.
“Goodbye,” she whispered after he’d gone.
* * *
The “Wedding March” began. The doors opened and the bride and her father stood there. The sound of approval flew up from the crowded church as the congregation stood and the bride began her procession down the aisle.
Teddy felt tears mist her eyes. She blinked them away. This was the second wedding this month and it was the second time since she and Diana began their business that Teddy found herself moved by the ceremony.
She was aware of every word spoken, every sound of the organ, every gasp of the audience. And for the first time Adam’s comments came back to her while she watched the bride. Not once have you ever imagined it would one day be your turn?
She imagined it now. She wanted to be the bride, wanted to float down that aisle with her one and only waiting for her.
Adam was her one and only.
But for him, Chloe was The One. She was the reason Adam swore off relationships. He didn’t even realize it, but Chloe had changed him. She’d taken away his ability to trust anyone except himself. And he didn’t realize it. To him, Teddy was only arm candy.
Teddy had felt the same when Chad betrayed her. She hadn’t sworn off relationships, but she was much more particular than she had been before. Then Adam walked into her life. Reluctantly at first, but he’d taken up a large amount of space in her heart and he was unaware of it.
How much easier it would be if Veronica had been her competition. Teddy wished she was. Veronica was alive. Chloe was a ghost. Trying to exorcise a ghost was nearly impossible. Chloe had a hold on Adam’s mind, and she was unchanging. He probably went through scenarios regularly of what he could have done differently. Why did she take a lover? Why wasn’t he enough for her? That was the hardest question. And it had no answer. He couldn’t remove the outcome of their argument. She’d gotten into that car and driven too fast. And she would never be there to explain, to relieve him of the guilt he felt over her death.
It was up to Teddy to fill that role. And she was going to do it.
“Teddy?” Renee’s voice came through her earpiece. “Are you there?”
Teddy didn’t know how many times her consultant had called her name. She was lost in her own thoughts.
“I’m here.”
“Is the photographer in place?”
Teddy looked down the long aisle. “He’s near the front.”
“Good. The bride wanted to make sure there were photos of the actual ceremony.”
Teddy knew the photographer. She’d worked with him many times and recommended him whenever asked. “She has nothing to worry about.”
“Is everything all right with you?”
“I was a little distracted, but everything is in order.”
Teddy had been thinking of Adam. The church wasn’t Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, yet Teddy continually looked around for Adam. He’d surprised her by showing up for one of her weddings. She wondered, hoped, he would do it again. But the ceremony was practically over and he had not shown.
Skipping the reception, Teddy opted to pack up and drive home. She hoped Adam would be waiting for her. But her driveway was empty when she reached it. They no longer had a reason to meet each other. Their parents knew the engagement was a sham. Adam had a business to run. As did she. Their agreement had come to an end. It was time to move on.
Teddy had been at this crossroad many times. Never had it been a problem to throw herself into her designs. Her concentration might be off for a day, but she would forget and go on. She had a sinking feeling this was not the case today.