My brow furrows. “Does that mean they’re your client?”
He stares at me, worrying the side of his bottom lip for amoment. “Not in the traditional sense. But I’d feel more comfortable if we stopped talking about it. They’ve placed their trust in me, and confidentiality is something I take very seriously.”
The guarded look in his eyes is gone, replaced by a silent plea for understanding. Finally, I nod. There’s no lie in his voice, and I can’t help admiring his commitment to his client’s privacy.
“Okay,” I finally say. “I’ll stop pressing. I appreciate you telling me what you could.”
His heavy shoulders visibly sag in relief. “Thank you for understanding. I realize it must be frustrating for you.”
“Has Henry given you shit for this, too?” I ask.
Jude takes a sip of his drink with a shrug. “He’s an attorney. He gets it. But yes, as a rule, giving me shit is Henry’s favorite pastime.”
I smile. “I knew I liked him for some reason.”
Jude rolls his eyes, and for the rest of the evening, we listen to the band, who are amazing, as usual. Even better, after their set, they agree to perform at Calvin and Brooke’s wedding, and Jude is forced to meet more of the wonderful people he would be financially hurting if Larkwood closes its doors. From the band’s reaction to the news that the rest of the season’s weddings have been canceled, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s beginning to understand the scope of his actions.
He’s somber when we leave the bar—more somber than I realized was possible after an “Ice Ice Baby” duet—but it’s impossible to tell what he’s thinking. Is he reflecting on the people he’d hurt if he continues with his plans? Our almost kiss? Or the cause that’ssoclose to his heart that he can’t tell anyone about it?
I don’t ask—not as he walks me to my car in silence, and not after I promise him I’ve sobered up enough to drive. There’s no sparkling, tug-of-war conversation between us, just a quiet goodbye before he walks off into the night with his suit jacket slung over one shoulder. And maybe that’s because he’s not the only one lost in thought. For the first time, I consider the possibility that Jude’s reasons for wanting to get rid of Larkwood aren’t as selfish as I believed. That maybe there’s more to this—more tohim—than I ever imagined.
14
Five Weeks Before the Wedding
Henry: Is it or is it not true that you were at a bar last night, participating in Vanilla Ice karaoke with a mysterious woman and NOT with the best friend you promised to play pickleball with?
Jude: How the hell do you know where I was last night?
Henry: This is Rhode Island, Jude. She suffers no secrets. Also, my friend Astrid was the one pouring you and your self-described DATE drinks. Did she enjoy her Corpse Reviver btw?
Jude: You are intolerable.
Henry: And YOU will be coughing up every last detail Astrid couldn’t glean on our Sunday fun run tomorrow.
Jude: Fantastic. Can’t wait.
15JUDE
Five Weeks Before the Wedding
Feet pounding the dirt, I round a corner of the woodland path that cuts through Larkwood’s carefully contained wild acreage and catch a glimpse of the ivy-covered house I’ll be sorting antiques in for the rest of the weekend. Its dark windows glare back, reminding me that what I’mnothere to do is trade my preferred workout of swimming for running, just because Gracie happened to jog on these trails that one time. And yet, here I am, sweating it out in woods I haven’t entered in years.
I take a deep breath as Henry catches up. I’ve been pushing us harder than usual to keep thoughts exactly like this out of my headandto stave off his interrogation.
“Jesus, Judy, there isn’t a bear chasing us.” He slows his pace to a jog.
So much for that plan.
“Those Bagel Bites finally catching up to you?” I ask breathlessly, slowing my pace to match his.
“Fuck”—he pants—“off.” He wipes sweat-dampened curls off his forehead. “I know what you’re doing, and you’re not getting out of this. Tell me about your mystery date.”
“It wasn’t a date,” I say.
“Astrid said you specifically used the worddate.”
“That’s because Astrid was trying to burn my clothes off with her retinas.”
