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Adler realized she was turning into a bridezilla. “Q!”
She ran after her friend and hugged her. “I’m sorry. I’m just losing it.”
“I know. It’s not personal. I have to have something, and if we use what I’ve filmed so far, you’re not going to like it.”
“Fair enough. Give me a minute to talk to Aunt Jules and Cora,” Adler said.
“Okay. Want me to send Iris over so you’re not alone?” Quinn asked.
“No. I need to do this by myself,” she said.
Nick was standing in a group with the groomsmen, which included her cousin Zac, who had filled in last moment for a no show. Nick’s brothers and father were with them. August Bisset hadn’t come to the rehearsal, which Adler was glad about. Cora was talking to Olivia, and Aunt Jules was over by Mari and Iris.
She took a deep breath. She couldn’t let the actions of these two women more than thirty years ago ruin her wedding. And she knew they didn’t want them to.
“Aunt Jules? Cora? Could I have a word with you both?” Adler asked.
Olivia and Mari both looked at her, their eyes wide. But the older women just nodded, and Adler turned to walk toward the back of the church where they could have some privacy.
“Adler, let me—” Cora started once they were out of earshot of the others.
“Please don’t, Cora. Let me just say this. I’m not happy with either of you right now. A part of me knows that’s unfair, but it’s how I feel,” she said. “You both seem angry with each other as well, and since this wedding is being televised, I think we need to clear the air before we let them film another minute.”
“I agree,” Aunt Jules said.
“Of course, Adler, it’s your special day and Nick’s. I don’t want to ruin it for either of you,” Cora said.
Both of them were so contrite, quiet and almost sad that she felt wrong saying anything, but she knew she had to. “Thank you both for agreeing. The thing is, I am struggling to forgive you both for what you did. I know I’m not the one who needs to forgive you but there it is. I hate that you both kept this a secret until my wedding weekend. Even the fact that you feel bad for what you did isn’t enough.
“Nick isn’t himself. The paparazzi are swarming around him. And my dad, who is finally clean and in an actual healthy relationship, is contemplating doing something outrageous to draw the spotlight off of Nick’s parentage. This isn’t right.”
“I’ll speak to Toby,” Aunt Jules said.
“That’s not the point,” Adler said. “I can’t figure out how to not be angry with you.”
“Don’t,” Cora said. “You’re completely justified in being upset. We both are as well. We aren’t going to magically all form some family. Juliette and I will stay in the background and give you space to be the center of attention.”
“Yes,” Aunt Jules added. “This is your chance to celebrate your love for Nick and the life you two are building. No one wants to intrude on that.”
Adler nodded. She wasn’t getting the closure she needed but Cora had been right when she’d said it was too soon for any of them to really achieve that. They would just all make the best of the situation. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” they both said at the same time.
Aunt Jules reached out to hug her and Cora looked like she wanted to as well. In that moment, Adler realized that as much as this weekend might have been for her, it wasn’t anymore. She was caught in the middle of two warring families and she either had to figure out how to broker peace or decide if she wanted to peace out.
She hugged them both and noticed Nick watching them. He lifted one eyebrow at her, the way he did when they were at a party and he wanted to make sure she was okay. She tried to smile but she realized she wasn’t just angry at these two women. She was also mad at him.
Twelve
Logan was standing by the window in the hallway outside the ballroom when Quinn found him as she left the rehearsal dinner. She had decided to wear a cute sundress with wide shoulder straps and a flared skirt that made her feel very feminine. Like she wanted to twirl. That was precisely the reason why she usually wore jeans.
She’d expected Logan to cave and show up, so had been disappointed when she hadn’t seen him there. She’d gotten dressed up for herself and her friends, not for him, or so she’d told herself when she’d left her bungalow. But a part of her knew she wanted to see him. Wanted to find a bit of the romance that was swirling around the events at the Nantucket Hotel despite the fact that the past was rearing its ugly head.
She’d stepped out of the hotel ballroom as Zac got up on the stage to sing to Iris, probably well on his way to winning her back. The Bisset men knew how to bring out the romance when it suited them. And after today, when she’d talked to Adler and Nick and Logan about all the different emotions that the news of August and Cora’s affair and the results stirred up, she just wanted to be with Logan.
She wanted to be with this man who was dressed in a Tom Ford suit and staring out the window like he’d lost his center and didn’t know how to find it.
The look on his face as he stood there stirred all those feelings she’d been denying he made her feel. All that love and need and the desire to wrap him in her arms and do whatever she could to soothe the savage beast inside him. Except that she knew he didn’t want to be soothed. He wanted to savage something. Someone. She wouldn’t let him ruin Adler’s wedding and she knew Logan well enough to know that he wouldn’t want to do that.
