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25
Caitie had barely seen Breck all evening. She’d spent most of the time after the rehearsal dinner sorting out last minute problems – rearranging the seating plan for the fifth time to accommodate more out-of-town visitors who had changed their minds about coming, calling the hairdresser and make-up artist to make sure they arrived an hour earlier than planned, to fit in Deenie and Ember’s mom who’d decided they wanted to have their hair professionally styled. Then there were the discussions with the chef, the wedding planner, and the officiant, to make sure they were all on the same page. By the time the music stopped playing in the ballroom, all she wanted to do was slink off to bed.
As she made her way to the atrium, where Ember and her friends were celebrating her last night of freedom, Caitie glanced at her phone. Breck had finally replied to her text from earlier.
I’m beat. Might sleep in my own room tonight. I don’t want to disturb you.
Her chest tightened at his words. She frowned, trying to think of a way to reply that didn’t put any pressure on him.
“What are you doing out here?” Brooke asked, as she opened the door to the atrium. “Come on in, we’re ordering another round of cocktails. What would you like?”
She was so happy and friendly, Caitie couldn’t say no. Even though all she wanted to do was find Breck and talk to him.
“I’ll have a Cosmopolitan,” Caitie said. “But only one. I already had a glass of champagne and I don’t want my head to get fuzzy.”
Brooke slid her arm inside Caitie’s and walked with her to the table where they were all sitting down. “You’ve worked extremely hard, you deserve to relax. Ember’s so happy at how well everything’s going.”
Caitie tried to arrange her lips into a smile. “That’s good. I want them to have the perfect day.”
“Oh, they will,” Brooke said, smiling. “I’m sure of it.”
When they reached the table, Brooke gave their orders to the waiter and pulled Caitie out a chair next to her mom. Deenie reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Everything was wonderful tonight, Caitie. I’m so proud of you. And I know for a fact Lucas and Ember are, too.”
Wasn’t that what it was all about? Making the bride and groom happy?
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Are all the guys in the bar now?”
Deenie nodded. “Yes. I told your father to limit his whiskeys. You know what he’s like when he’s had too many.”
“I don’t want him looking green around the gills when he walks Ember down the aisle.” Ember’s own father had died a few years earlier, and she’d asked Wallace to escort her at the wedding.
“Don’t worry,” Deenie said, winking. “I’ll send him a text in half an hour and demand he comes to bed.”
Bed. Ah, what she wouldn’t do to be there right now. Preferably in Breck’s arms.
From the corner of her eye she could see Rachel talking to Ally, the two of them laughing as their heads almost touched. Caitie’s stomach contracted. Why couldn’t she feel that carefree?
She couldn’t quite put her finger on why she felt so on edge. Everything had been organized to the second. Like Santa, she’d checked her list twice and nothing had been missed. Yet her stomach was churning like it wanted to make butter.
“Mom?” she asked, her voice wavering. “Do you think Breck’s okay? He seemed a little out of it earlier.”
Deenie tipped her head to the side. “It would be a big surprise if he wasn’t. It’s almost the anniversary of his mom’s death. Even after all these years those anniversaries can be tough. Especially one on Christmas Eve.”
The blood drained from Caitie’s face. How could she have forgotten that? Her throat tightened as she thought about the way he’d been shifting in his seat all night. Not meeting her gaze. No wonder he’d been looking so sad. All the memories of his mom must have been overwhelming.
And she hadn’t given him the support he needed. Too taken up with organizing the wedding to think about the man she loved. She put her cocktail down on the table and stood, her brows knitting together as she looked at her mom.
“There’s something I need to do,” she said, her voice tight.
“Can I help?” her mom asked. “Is it for the wedding?”
Caitie shook her head. “No, I can do it on my own.” She gave her mom a tight smile. “I’ll be back in a while.”
“Okay, honey. Take it easy.”
Caitie’s mind was a whirl as she rushed out of the atrium and across the lobby. The bar was on the far side, the double doors closed to keep in the noise of the men as they laughed and talked. She hesitated when she reached the room. Whatever she said, it was going to look suspicious when she walked in to speak with Breck. Her brother wasn’t stupid, he’d know something was wrong.
Maybe she could tell him Rachel was looking for him. But the thought of that made her feel even worse. She quickly grabbed her phone and typed out a message. Maybe this way she could avoid walking in the room altogether.
