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“Why would I do that? To get back at him?” She sighed. “Imade the decision to take him back, warts and all. He’s been honest with me, he’s being honest with himself…we’re starting fresh. I’m not going to repeatedly throw his mistakes in his face. He’s doing enough of that on his own.” She paused. “You haven’t proven that you’re capable of being honest and facing up to your mistakes, or that you even want to, and I will not let you close to me, will not ever let younearme, if you threaten my happiness again.”
“I won’t! I swear I won’t.”
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. “You’ll understand if I don't immediately take you at your word, right? This conversation isn't going to change things. You have to show me you've become a different person. Right now, I'm just not feeling it. It's going to take time.”
Lydia nodded. “Okay, I understand. What are you going to say to Jane?”
“Jane?”
“She told me she wasn't sure if I should go to the wedding. I can't–I can’t imagine not being there.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. I–I didn’t know that. But Jane and Charles will make the decision that's right for them.”
“They had a big blowout today.”
“Who did?”
“Jane and Charles and Mom. I was at the condo, but they didn’t know it. I made myself scarce. Mom got on Jane’s case about not having me at the wedding and tried to stick up for me, and then she brought up you and how Jane is always trying to defend you, and Jane laid into Mom, and Mom gave it right back to her… And then Charles got pissed and told off Mom and said she and Dad weren’t invited to the wedding.”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped. “What?”
Lydia chuckled. “It’s not funny, I know, because it sucks that I might not be able to go to the wedding. But Charles really let Mom have it. The last thing he said was that if herhusbandhad anything to say, he was more than welcome to go and see him.” She chuckled again. “I’ve always thought Charles was sort of quiet and meek, but he has some balls.”
“Wow,” Elizabeth said quietly. She needed to talk to Jane.
“Right? It was crazy.”
Elizabeth glanced at her watch. “I need to go. I have an appointment.”
It was a lie, of course—she just didn't want to be here any longer. When she talked to Will this morning, she’d told him she didn't think she would have time to see him tonight; right now, it was all she wanted.
“Okay. I have to get to work, anyway. I'll talk to you soon?”
Elizabeth stared at her little sister for a long moment and then nodded. “We'll talk soon.”
* * *
Will knockedon Elizabeth’s door, and as soon as she opened it, she launched herself into his arms. The force of her body colliding with his pushed him outside to the deck, but he maintained his balance, holding her tightly as her arms and legs wrapped around him.
“I'm so glad you're here,” she said, and smiled brightly before kissing him.
He returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm, his hands cupping her bottom, and he gave her a gentle squeeze before sliding them up her back to hold her closer. She released his mouth and worked her lips along his jaw and then down to his throat, kissing and nipping as she went. He walked them back into the house and closed the door with his foot before moving to the couch, where he lowered her down and hovered over her.
Her sparkling eyes were fastened on his, her smile was enchanting, and he found himself smiling in return. “What wasthatall about?”
“I'm happy to see you.”
“I gathered. That was not the greeting I expected.”
“Oh? What did you expect?”
He sat on the edge of the couch, his hands braced on either side of her as he stared down into her eyes. “I don't know. I thought you'd be a little more somber.”
“Because of Lydia?”
She’d already told him, briefly, about her conversation with Lydia at the Knob, and about what had transpired between her mother and Jane and Charles, though she’d yet to speak to Jane.
“Yes,” he answered. “Do you want to talk about it?”
