“The groomsman,” Jack said. “I saw his domain today. Nice building. Did anyone ever try to find him after he ran off?”
“I don’t think anyone cared enough to search for either of them,” Bella said. “I believe young Diana was planning to marry Nicky. Her leaving must have been a blow to him.”
“And Mrs.
Aiken adored Nicky,” Kate said.
“I believe she did,” Bella said.
“Surely, someone must have seen something between them before that night,” Kate said.
“I have no idea,” Bella said. “I never met any of them.”
“What about the engaged couple?” Sara asked. “A happy woman doesn’t leave without a good reason. When I left Cal, I—”
Both Kate and Jack leaned forward. They very much wanted to know why Sara had so abruptly run away from Jack’s grandfather.
But Sara didn’t complete her sentence. “I wonder if something else happened that night. Maybe Diana saw Nicky with someone. Or they had one of those arguments that puts an end to everything.”
“Like when a man tells a woman that after they get married she has to quit her job and have dinner on the table exactly at six.” They all turned to look at Jack. “I’d never say that.”
He looked at Kate to back him up, but she just smiled, then she turned to the others. “Everyone assumes that the groomsman and Diana ran away together but what if they didn’t? Maybe Diana saw something and said, ‘I’m out of here,’ then...” She looked to Sara to complete the story.
“Then Diana ran to the stables, said she was leaving, and the groomsman said, ‘I’m fed up too. I’ll go with you.’”
“Then they fell in love,” Bella said with a sigh. “Oh, Sara, I do love your books!”
Kate smiled. “It seems that someone would have heard something by now.”
“Maybe they have,” Sara said. “From what I understand, none of the group has seen each other in years. We don’t have any idea what they know.”
“How sad,” Kate said. “They went from being inseparable friends to not speaking to each other.”
“All because of what happened in one night,” Sara said. “Must have been dramatic. I look forward to talking to these people and finding out what really happened.”
“Speaking of friendship,” Jack said, “I’d like to hear more about you two.” He was looking from Sara to Bella.
“It was cosmic,” Sara said. “Meant to be.”
“I’m afraid I intruded.” Bella looked at Sara. “You’re the professional storyteller—you tell it.”
“I only tell a story if I have a contract and a check arriving.”
Bella smiled. “I rudely shoved my way into Sara’s life.”
She shrugged. “The restaurant was so packed she was being turned away.”
“It was in New York, it was late and the rain was pouring.”
“Not a nice, soft, sweet English rain,” Sara said, “but a good ol’ New York blaster. It was turning umbrellas inside out.”
“The maître d’ told me I could wait until someone finished or...”
“Or leave,” Sara said. “Which is what I’m sure he wanted you to do. Couples give bigger tips than single women. But then...” She looked at Bella.
“Then I saw Sara sitting alone at a table. I said, ‘Oh heavens, there’s my friend. I’ll join her.’ So I went to Sara and she played along with it all.”
“It was the accent,” Sara said. “Of course I told the snobby man that she was my dearest friend in the whole world.” She smiled at Bella. “And that was that.”