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Thankfully they didn’t need to wait long before the organ music swelled and the bridesmaids marched ceremonially down the center aisle. Jordan stood with the others when Kati appeared on her father’s arm.
Uncomfortable emotions began to stir memories of his and Molly’s wedding. They’d been so much in love. They were young, younger than they should’ve been, and crazy about each other.
Jordan vividly recalled the moment Ian had escorted Molly down the same church aisle and how he’d stood at the altar waiting for her, thinking he’d never seen a more beautiful woman in his life. He remembered the vows he’d spoken that day and how his voice had shaken with the intensity of what he was feeling. He’d meant every word.
Molly had looked up at him, her eyes filled with devotion as she’d repeated her own vows. Jordan could remember thinking he’d rather die than stop loving her.
The years hadn’t changed that. He did love Molly. Not in the same way he had the day he married her. Over time his love had matured, just as he had. He remembered when Jeffrey was born—
His thoughts came to a grinding halt, and he gave himself a mental shake, refusing to drag his son into this.
Everyone sat back down and Jordan was grateful. Not because standing had become a burden, but the change gave him the opportunity to focus his attentionon the bride and groom and push the memories of his own long-ago wedding out of his mind.
That, however, proved to be impossible. Kati and Matt seemed intent on having everyone join in as they exchanged their vows. Lesley reached for his hand, and for the briefest of moments he was surprised to realize she was with him. It shocked him to look down and find a woman other than Molly standing at his side. To his credit, he recovered quickly.
Jordan tucked Lesley’s hand in his elbow and patted it, hoping to assure her of his devotion. He did care for her, but he didn’t love her, not the way he’d loved Molly.
But that stood to reason, he told himself. Of course he loved Molly. They’d been married—and would be for several more weeks. They had a history together. What Lesley had said earlier about needing to grieve for their marriage made sense. He didn’t have to wear sackcloth and ashes, but he needed to accept that an important part of his life had ended. Adefiningpart of his life.
Before he knew it, Kati and Matt were kissing, to the approval of their guests. Smiling, they hurried down the aisle, arm in arm, their happiness glowing. He and Molly had been that happy once.
The reception was being held at the country club, the same one where he and Molly had held theirs. Jordan hadn’t made the connection until they arrived. He wished now that he’d mailed Kati her gift and left it at that.
The valet parked his car, and Jordan and Lesley walked through the clubhouse and onto the lush green grass where the dinner and dance would take place. Theyard was beautifully decorated with Chinese lanterns and round tables and white wooden chairs. The food was exquisitely displayed on long linen-covered tables beneath the canopies.
It all looked far too familiar.…
By then he was beginning to have second thoughts about the wisdom of following through with this. He decided to drop off his gift, congratulate the newlyweds, make his excuses and leave. He felt sure that Lesley would understand.
“Jordan Larabee, my goodness, is that you?”
He found himself face-to-face with Molly’s aunt Johanna. He loved her dearly, but the woman was a born meddler. “Aunt Johanna,” he said, hugging her. When he finished, he placed his arm around Lesley’s shoulders. “I’d like to introduce you to Lesley Walker, my fiancée.”
Aunt Johanna giggled as if she’d heard a joke. “How can you be engaged when you’re married to Molly? You’d think it was April Fool’s instead of May.”
Jordan wished he’d warned Lesley. “Molly and I are getting divorced,” he explained. “And I’ve asked Lesley to be my wife.”
Aunt Johanna’s face turned a bright shade of pink. “Oh, Jordan, I’m so sorry to hear that. I mean, it’s sad for Molly, but good for… Oh, dear,” she said, pressing her hands to her face. “I’m doing this all wrong.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” Lesley said, her natural graciousness taking over. “It was an honest mistake.”
Jordan was grateful for her handling of the uncomfortable scene.
“It was, uh, good to see you again,” Molly’s aunt said, making a hasty exit.
“I’m sorry,” Jordan whispered. And he was. He should have told her what to expect and wanted to kick himself for being so insensitive to her feelings.
“Jordan, it wasn’t that big a deal.”
“We’ll make our excuses and leave.”
Lesley rested her hand on his arm. “We most certainly will not. Leaving now will embarrass poor Aunt Johanna and leave Molly to make lengthy explanations. The last thing she needs is to explain what you were doing here with another woman.”
Lesley was right. “We’ll stay no more than an hour, though. Agreed?”
“Perfect,” Lesley said, smiling up at him. “It’s going to be all right, darling, I promise.”
Lesley didn’t often use affectionate terms and the fact that she did now came as a surprise. Not until later did he realize she was staking her claim. That pleased him. Lesley wasn’t immune to a few pangs of jealousy.
