CHAPTER13
Megan knocked on the door to Rose’s room and waited for her cousin to give permission to go in.
She didn’t expect to see Rose on the floor with her wedding dress crumpled around her.
Rose looked up at her, her tear-stained face red. “Megan, I can’t marry him.”
“Oh, Rose.” Megan sat next to her cousin and put a hand on her shoulder. “What happened?”
Rose sniffled and looked away. “Nothing happened. I don’t think I love him enough to marry him.”
That didn’t make sense. Not after spending almost an entire week celebrating Rose and Henry. Still, Megan tried for supportive instead of confused.
“Honey, what does that mean?”
Rose wiped away tears. “Do you remember Jacob Clark?”
The name was familiar, but it took Megan a few moments to place it. “Not really. He was your high school boyfriend, right? What does he have to –” Understanding washed over Megan. “You’re still in love with Jacob.”
Rose only nodded.
“But it’s been years since you’ve seen him. How could you possibly know that you love him?”
“I saw him two weeks ago.” Rose glanced at Megan and then away again. “Nothing happened. We ran into each other at the store and talked for a little. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him, but all the feelings are still there.”
That didn’t seem like enough to call off an entire future with someone else, but Megan wasn’t in a position to argue the point.
“Does he know?
Rose shook her head. “I doubt it.”
“So, the wedding today is…off?” Megan tried to sound non-judgmental, and she really didn’t blame Rose for anything. Her timing could have been better, considering the limo to take the bridal party to the church was already idling outside.
“I don’t know.”
Megan put her hand on Rose’s shoulder and gave a quick squeeze. “Honey, if it’s not a ‘hell yes, I’m going to marry that man,’ there should be no wedding. Even when there aren’t feelings for another man involved.”
Rose turned to face her and took a deep breath. “It’s off.” Rose’s shoulders dropped and she started to cry again. “What do I do now? Everyone is coming today. How am I supposed to tell them there won’t be a wedding?” Rose’s voice started to squeak in panic, and Megan went into mom-friend anxiety override.
“You’re not.Youare going to go home.” She held up a hand as Rose started to protest. “No, not your apartment with Henry. You can crash at my place if you don’t want to go to your parents’ house. Pack a bag and go. You can sleep in my bed if you want. Handle the rest of it later.Iwill go to the church and talk to everyone, except Henry. That is for you to handle. I’m sorry.”
“What about everything else?”
“I’ll handle wedding cleanup. Let’s get you out of the dress and into something comfortable, yeah?” Megan stood and held her hands out. Rose hesitated for a few heartbeats and then let Megan hoist her into a standing position. Megan tried not to topple backwards as Rose threw her arms around Megan’s neck.
“Thank you.”
Megan hugged her cousin back. “Any time, Rose.”
They worked together to get Rose out of the white ball of tulle and lace and into a pair of leggings and a shirt. Most of Rose’s things were already packed in preparation for the honeymoon, so it didn’t take long to get her loaded into a car with the key to Megan’s apartment. Megan stood by the limo and watched as her cousin drove away.
Summoning every ounce of courage, Megan turned to the driver. “It’s just me, I guess.”
The limo pulled up to the red brick church ten minutes later. Caleb stood outside, his suit pressed, and jacket buttoned. The only word that came to Megan’s mind was ‘dashing.’ He looked dashing. He’d turned in her direction as the limo pulled up in front of the steps, confusion tugging his features when she was the only one who got out of the back.
“Megs – Megan. Where’s Rose?”
She took a shaky breath and shook her head, words failing her completely. Caleb’s face paled, but he held out his arm to help her up the steps to the entrance. Megan didn’t want to let go of him yet, so she let him give her support.
