As Lily learned, canceling a wedding at the last minute was a horrific task. She’d had to break the news to her guests, standing at the front of the church about to fall apart and saying that she was so sorry they’d come for nothing. Lily had to suggest that everyone take their wedding gifts with them when they left. All the while, she was crumbling on the inside because the man she’d thought she would spend her life with had decided that wasn’t going to happen.
Never mind that Lily had never been convinced that Peter loved her. That was a realization that had taken a long time to reach. She was a solid choice, and he was, too. But there was no fire between them. Zero spark. Just safety and security. In many ways, their wedding had been a game of chicken. And Peter had the guts to end it first. Lily could be thankful for that now, since she couldn’t imagine a life with him, but it didn’t mean that it still didn’t hurt. She’d spent a lifetime as the girl who made a habit of seeking unattainable guys and it never working out. Just when she’d resigned herself to something more realistic, a man who wasn’t quite a romance novel hero, she’d managed to fail at keeping him, too.
“Maybe we should postpone the wedding,” Lily blurted. She was ready to try anything at this point. “You said it yourself. We have so little time.”
“Lyle seems awfully set on the publicity we can get out of the event. I’d hate to disappoint him.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” Never mind that Marcy’s reason was no reason at all to have a wedding.
Marcy shook her head and took Lily’s hand. “Do you have cold feet? Are you questioning your love for Noah?”
Lily almost laughed. She didn’t question her attraction to Noah, at all. She didn’t question her affection for him either. But love? She wasn’t there. Her heart and her head kept telling her those were treacherous waters. She would not fall in love with Noah, however much she had zero problem imagining it. Her pride and her future depended on staying wedged in practicality.
“No,” Lily answered. “I just don’t want to make a mistake.” That much was not a ruse.
“Do you mean the wrong man? Was that video about Noah really the truth?” Marcy shook her head. “I had a feeling there was something off about this. I told Lyle I had misgivings, but he didn’t want to hear it.”
Lily had to squash Marcy’s misgivings. “No. No. That video was not the real Noah. That much I can promise you. He’s a very sweet and caring person. He’s taken good care of me.” Financially, that was true, as well. “Maybe I need a night to sleep on it. Think over everything we talked about today.”
Marcy nodded. “Sure, hon. That makes sense. Let me give you this list of the things we need to decide on. The guest list, the cake, the menu, the place settings and tableware, the chairs, the color scheme. Good God, yes. We haven’t even chosen a color scheme.”
Lily felt like Marcy was trying to drown her in details. “I have the list. I promise I will go through it and make some decisions.”
“Don’t take too long. We’ve got to get this show on the road.”
* * *
Noah had left work early. He couldn’t concentrate without Lily in the office, knowing that she was at her meeting with Marcy. Normally, it was Lily’s presence that was distracting. Today, it was her absence.
He tracked down Marcy and Lily just as they were leaving the grand ballroom. “There you are. How’d everything go? Did I get my chocolate cake?” The minute he started asking questions, he could tell from Lily’s face that things had not gone well.
“Chocolate has been decided. Everything else is up in the air, I’m afraid,” Marcy said.
“I wasn’t much help today. Maybe you and I can talk about it upstairs,” Lily said.
Noah took her hand and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. We’ll get it all done.”
The three of them wound their way through the back hall to the elevator. The lobby was straight ahead. “You know where you’re going, right?” Noah asked Marcy.
“I do, thank you. Lily, we’ll talk tomorrow? Maybe a good night’s sleep will help.” Marcy smiled at Noah. “Or no sleep might help, too.”
Noah laughed, wishing that was an option available to him. “Thank you for your help, Marcy. Lily and I both appreciate it.” As Marcy walked away, he punched the button for the elevator, which opened right away. He and Lily stepped on board. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She stared up at the numbers above the door and shook her head. “Not right now. Upstairs.”