“It turned out great, didn’t it?” she asked.

“Absolutely!”

Clarice’s sister was there as her maid of honor and we got to know each other while Clarice finished her makeup. The florist came by to give us each a bouquet.

“Have some champagne,” Clarice said, handing me a flute filled with the bubbly golden liquid.

“Where are the kids?” I asked.

“My mom has them corralled downstairs, to keep them from messing up their clothes,” Clarice said, taking a sip from her own flute. “So who’d you bring to the wedding?”

“No one,” I said, draining my glass.

Clarice frowned and started to say something, but I gave her a tiny shake of my head. I really didn’t want to talk about it, especially in front of her sister, who I didn’t know. Clarice seemed to get the message, because she changed the subject.

The three of us laughed and chatted while we waited, finishing the champagne. I tried hard to just be happy for Clarice and not think about how, if Blane and I had not broken up, I’d have been getting married soon, too.

The wedding planner came up to get us when it was time for the processional, and I checked my makeup in the mirror before following Clarice out into the hallway and down the stairs. I was really glad of the champagne. My head was a little fuzzy and I could smile, both of which would make it much easier to walk down that aisle as a bridesmaid instead of a bride.

The sun was setting and the garden where the pristine white chairs were set up was aglow with strings of lamps. The air was thick with the scent of hydrangeas and roses. Music started playing—they’d hired a string quartet—and the soft strains of a violin meant it was time to begin.

The groomsman who was to escort me was a nice guy named Neal who taught with Jack. He said he had a girlfriend, which was a relief because I certainly didn’t want to have to deal with anyone hitting on me tonight. A head taller than me, he was a nice-looking guy who coached the high school baseball team. I took his arm and he grinned at me, oblivious to my jangling nerves.

I pasted a smile on my face and walked down the aisle, trying not to look on the left side. Unfortunately, there were only about a hundred people in all and my eyes were drawn unerringly to Blane and Kade.

Both were dressed immaculately in suits and neither of them gave even a flicker of recognition when they saw me, their expressions blank. My smile turned brittle and I glanced away, but not before I noticed Charlotte sitting between them.

The surge of anger and jealousy I felt didn’t surprise me in the slightest.

My hand resting on Neal’s arm started to tremble. He caught my eye and gently laid his hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He probably thought I was nervous. I clutched his sleeve and concentrated hard on putting one foot in front of the other. When Neal deposited me at the end of the aisle, I breathed a sigh of relief.

The rest of the processional and ceremony was a blur, as I tried not to feel the weight of their stares on me. Maybe they weren’t staring, who knows, but it felt like they were. My entire body was as stiff as a wooden statue and I prayed for it to be over. Someone got up and began to sing a song after Clarice and Jack exchanged vows, and I squeezed my eyes shut in dismay.

My skin was warm, then cold, and I couldn’t seem to feel my feet any longer. I stared at the candles directly in front of me, their flames gently flickering in the warm twilight breeze, and didn’t even notice when everything went dark.

I opened my eyes and immediately realized what had happened. I’d passed out in a wedding, for crying out loud. This was a new low. Thank God that girl was still singing the song. Hopefully, I hadn’t been out long.

“Are you all right?” Blane asked softly, crouching down next to me.

I nodded, mortified. “Help me up, please.”

He helped me to my feet and I saw Clarice watching me with worry in her eyes. I smiled to let her know I was okay.

“Sit down for a moment,” Blane said. He didn’t wait for an answer, but led me to the front row where there were several empty chairs.

I sank into one and was surprised to see Blane take the seat next to me. He had my bouquet in his hand and set it on the chair beside him.

Blane looked at me, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “You’re as white as a sheet, Kat.” He took my hand, squeezing it in his much larger grip. “You haven’t eaten today, have you.”

I avoided answering the non-question, though why he cared, I had no idea. He should hate me now. “Shhh,” I hushed him, keeping my eyes on the bride and groom. They looked so in love, gazing into each other’s eyes. My own eyes stung and I refused to blink as the figures of Jack and Clarice gradually grew more and more blurry. The man holding my hand had almost been the one to stand at my side and pledge his life and love to me.

Finally, I had to blink, two tears spilling from my eyes to trace down my cheeks. I hurriedly brushed them away as Blane handed me a snowy-white handkerchief. I dabbed my wet eyes as he leaned toward me again.

“I know everything you told me and Kade was bullshit.”

I jerked back, my panicked gaze flying to his, but there was no telling what he was thinking.

I looked away, handing his handkerchief back to him as the song ended. “Flowers, please,” I requested, avoiding his eyes.

Blane wordlessly handed me the bouquet and I resumed my place next to Clarice’s sister.

A few minutes later, I was again taking Neal’s arm to walk back down the aisle. I didn’t look at Blane, but Kade caught my eye. His face was empty of all expression as he looked at me, and I didn’t know whether to be glad that he wasn’t still angry or upset that apparently he felt nothing at all.

Everything inside me hurt and I gladly accepted the drink Neal got for me as we sat down at the head table.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Just embarrassed,” I said with a shrug.

“Who was the guy?”

I hesitated. “My ex.”

Neal’s brows lifted. “For an ex, he sure flew up there fast enough,” he said. “You’d barely hit the floor before he was there.”

I finished my drink. “Mind if I have another?” I asked.

Neal grinned. “I’d be drinking if my ex was here, too,” he said conspiratorially.

I didn’t even mention that the man I was in love with was also there, and that he happened to be my ex’s brother. Maybe if I had, Neal would have just brought me back the whole damn bottle. As it was, he kindly kept refilling my glass as we ate dinner, making me laugh with stories about the kids he taught. Afraid that Blane was watching, I managed to get a few bites down.

As the waiters cleared the dessert dishes away, Neal leaned over to me. “So who’s the guy I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley that’s staring at us?” he teased. “He looks ready to kill me.”

I glanced over to see Kade standing by the wall, drink in hand, watching me. The look on his face was one I knew well, and it sent a familiar shiver of foreboding through me. If Neal knew just how capable Kade was of killing him, he wouldn’t joke about it.

“Another ex?” Neal asked.

I grimaced. “Sort of.”

“No worries,” he said. “I kind of like the idea of playing knight in shining armor.” He grinned, a dimple appearing in his cheek.

I smiled my thanks. Neal was a nice guy and I thought his girlfriend was a lucky woman.

Clarice and Jack danced their first wedding song and I sipped champagne as I watched. She looked so happy. Halfway through, Clarice’s youngest child, a five-year-old named Mary, ran out onto the dance floor with them. Jack hoisted her into his arms with a laugh, holding her with one arm while wrapping the other around Clarice. I was so glad for them. Jack was a good man who loved Clarice and her children.