The Substitute (37 page)

“We?”

“You don’t think I can do everything by myself, do you?”

“So you’re really going to marry this guy?”

She stopped on the front porch, a step up from him, putting him at eye level. “I know you’re looking out for me, and you have no idea how wonderful that makes me feel, but Josh isn’t the man you think he is. Take everything you knew about Jay Connors from all my insinuations and unsaid truths and toss them out the window. Josh is not that man.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

“I hope to explain it to you later, but for now you’ll have to trust me.” She took a deep breath, then poked her finger into his chest. “I’m marrying Josh this afternoon, so let this evil plot to stop my wedding end now.”

“Damn straight,” Gram said from the sofa through the open front door.

Megan leaned toward him and whispered, “And you’re in charge of making sure Gram wears clothes to the wedding.”

“Eww!”

“And it has to be that pink suit Mom picked out. I need a shower.” She headed for the staircase as he continued his protests and shut herself in her room, feeling better about herself than she had in a long time. While she was in the shower, washing her hair and reliving the shower she’d taken with Josh, a new thought occurred to her. If she was actually going to go through with this wedding, she should wear the dress she wanted…no matter how much of her heard-earned money she had to spend on it. When she finished, she toweled off and pulled up the bridal shop’s number on her cell phone.

“Hi,” she said when the salesperson answered. “This is Megan Vandemeer. I came in a couple of times this week to try on my dress and get alterations.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember you. Your mother is the dragon lady.”

Megan hesitated. She understood why the woman felt that way, but after seeing a more human side to her mother, she felt indignant on her behalf. “Yeah,” she finally said. “That’s her… Anyway, my mother changed my original dress order.”

“Oh, I know.”

“Okaaay…” Megan took a deep breath. “Do you know if it’s still there? I’d like to buy it.”

“But you already have a dress. I was assured you picked it up yesterday.”

“I know, but I want to know if you have the other one. I realize I can’t exchange it. I just want to buy it.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Vandemeer,” the salesperson said, her voice thick with regret. “We sold it.”

Megan let the words sink in. “Are you sure? I just tried it on yesterday.”

“Oh, yes. That dress is pretty famous here. It was sold this morning.”

This morning? Why hadn’t she thought to buy it yesterday? But all the regret in the world wouldn’t change the fact the dress was gone. “Okay. Well…thank you.”

“Have a good day,” the salesperson said before she hung up.

Megan sat down on the edge of her bed.
Sold.
It was such a final word, but she told herself not get upset. She was determined to make this the best fake wedding ever. It sure was expensive enough to qualify.

Blair continued to call her multiple times. She knew avoiding the calls wasn’t the best idea, but she was terrified to hear what her friend had to say and wanted to put off the conversation for as long as possible.

Megan fed them all sandwiches that her mother had prepared and stored in the refrigerator, then she and Kevin loaded his car with her wedding dress, shoes, and a change of clothes for after the reception. She wondered if she’d forgotten anything and suddenly wished her mother were around to oversee it all. The thought shocked her enough that she fumbled with the door handle as she put Gram in the front passenger seat.

Megan was squished into the back seat next to the monstrous dress bag, which inevitably made her think of her mother. Her dad had called not long ago to tell them her mother hadn’t even been seen by a doctor yet, and now Megan was worried her parents wouldn’t make the wedding at all.

They rode in silence all the way to the gardens, even Gram staying remarkably quiet. When they pulled into the back parking lot, Kevin helped Gram out as Megan gathered her things. As soon as she had everything, she started toward the bridal changing room.

“Megs, wait up,” a gruff voice called out from behind her.

Butterflies flapped in her stomach. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore, Kevin.”

He shook his head. “No more fighting.”

“Really?”

“Well,” a teasing grin lit up his face. “Not
all
fighting.”

She grinned back. “Good.”

“I just wanted you to know that I’ve thought about what you said, and I’ve decided to respect your decision. If you want to marry that asshat, I’ll let you.”

“There are so many things wrong with what you just said.” She laughed. “But I’ll take it.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks.”

She took off for the dressing room, one of the rooms in the walk-out basement under the chapel, grateful to discover she was the first to arrive. After her morning, she needed a few moments to herself.

The room was furnished with a sofa and several wingback chairs that faced a wall of windows overlooking the flowering gardens. A full-length mirror stood in one corner, and Megan knew the door across the room led to a bathroom. She sat in one of the wingback chairs and stared out a window, trying to let the peaceful setting settle her unrest.

“Megan?”

She turned around to see Gram standing in the doorway. She looked older than usual in the Pepto-Bismol suit Knickers had chosen.

“Can I come in?”

Megan hopped out of her seat and crossed the room. “Gram. Of course. I’m glad you’re here.” She helped the older woman into the chair next to hers and they sat together, taking in the view.

“It’s a beautiful day for your wedding,” Gram finally said.

“Isn’t it?” Megan sighed. The sun shone bright in the sky, and the temperature was comfortable in the shade, which would be perfect for the outdoor reception later. She almost wished it were for real.

Gram released a sigh. “I’m sorry I ruined everything for you. Your mother…”

Megan hugged her grandmother’s arm and leaned her head on her shoulder. “Good heavens, Gram, you didn’t ruin anything. Think of the stories we’ll tell.”

Gram chuckled. “Your mother will never let me live it down.”

“True,” Megan laughed. “And it will be awesome.”

“I know you two have your differences, but a girl should have her mother with her on her wedding day.”

“She’ll get here in time. I
know
it.”

The older woman fingered her pearls, then smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from her skirt. “There’s a reason your mother acts this way, you know.” Megan sat up and turned to face the older woman, who patted her hand. “I kept hoping she’d tell you herself one day, but she never did. She can hardly admit it to herself.” She swung her gaze to the gardens. “You wonder why you never saw your Aunt Heather again... I know your mother told you some ridiculous story about a fight over toilet paper.” Her mouth lifted into a weak smile.

Megan took her grandmother’s hand in her own, sensing what she had to tell her would be bigger than she ever anticipated.

“It wasn’t true, of course. Heather was always interested in your father, but he only had eyes for your mother. I hoped Heather would get over her infatuation, and I honestly thought it had died down. But one day when you were eleven, your mother came home and found your father and Heather together.”

“Together?” Megan asked in confusion, then horrified understanding set in. “
Oh, no
.”

Gram nodded. “They were in your mother’s bed.” She took a deep breath and released it. “Your mother was devastated. She saw it as the ultimate betrayal. Her sister and her husband in her own bed. You and Kevin came and stayed with your grandpa and me for a week, remember?”

“Yeah…”

“That’s when it happened. Your mother didn’t take it well, as you can imagine. She and your father vowed to stay together, and your father was truly sorry. He did his best to make it up to her, giving her anything and everything she wanted. He still does. But Nicole was certain he’d cheated on her because she wasn’t
enough
. She’d always thought Heather was the prettier of the two of them. Since that day, she’s tried her best to be perfect, and she’s made herself and everyone around her miserable in the process.”

Megan closed her eyes, fighting back tears. “I can’t believe Daddy cheated on her.”

“He’s always sworn it was a one-time thing, and I believe him. Heather was a lot like your Libby.”

Megan started to protest, but Gram squeezed her hand. “No, Libby would never try to steal another woman’s husband, especially from someone she cares about. But Libby catches men’s attention without even trying.” She sighed. “Heather was like that too. Only she had no scruples. Bart wasn’t the first married man she went after and I’m sure he wasn’t the last. As her mother, I tried to ignore it for many years. Until Nicole.” She was silent for a moment. “Heather had tried to snag your father since your mother first brought him home. I’m sure she just happened to catch him at a weak moment.” Her voice turned stern. “I’m in no way condoning what your father did, but I
do
believe he regretted it.”

“Yeah, because he was caught,” Megan said in disgust.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But he truly loves your mother.”

“Poor Mom.” She could sympathize with her mother after Jay’s betrayal. Now she wished she’d come clean weeks ago. Her mother would have probably understood. “And she really hasn’t spoken to Aunt Heather since?”

“No, and Heather died in an accident several years ago, so they never had a chance to reconcile.” She released a heavy sigh. “She loves you, Megan. She just has a hard time letting anyone close now. She’s always waiting for them to betray her.”

Had her mother viewed many of Megan’s decisions as betrayals?

“And please don’t hold this against your father. Even though this is news to you, it happened nearly twenty years ago. Water under the bridge for both of them. Trust me, he’s more than paid for his crime.” Gram climbed to her feet, releasing a groan. “I didn’t get a chance to do my
au naturel
yoga yesterday, and today I’m all stiff.”

Megan’s mouth lifted in a small grin despite her emotional stew.

“Megan,” Gram turned and paused. “The boy you’re marrying today is better than the one you were supposed to marry.”

Megan stood, sure she’d heard her grandmother wrong. “
What?
”

She gave Megan an ornery grin. “I know that man isn’t Jay Connors. I talked to that idiot several months ago on the phone. The man you’re marrying today isn’t him.”

Megan started to protest, but what was the point? “How long have you known?” she asked in shock.

“Since I met him at the airport.”

“And you didn’t say
anything?
”

Gram shrugged, then hobbled to the door. “I wanted to see how it played out.” She paused at the doorway. “I could tell he was a good man, and I figured you’d come clean eventually.”

“We’re not really getting married, Gram. It’s all a misunderstanding. I was afraid to tell Mom I broke up with Jay. She’d spent
so
much money—”

“You don’t have to explain. But I hope you don’t give that boy up after this wedding.” She winked. “He does have a very nice patootie.”

Megan started to assure her that she had no plans to let Josh go, then stopped herself. She needed to save the assurances for after Blair dropped her bombshell.

She only hoped her heart wasn’t blown to pieces when Blair was done.

“Oh, Megan,” Libby gushed. “You’re beautiful.”

Megan stared at her reflection. Libby had helped with her makeup and the hairdresser had just finished her hair. It wasn’t the up-do her mother had wanted. The front was pulled into a loose knot at the base of her neck, and the rest of her hair tumbled in soft curls down her back. “I’m not even wearing my dress yet.”

“What if your mom doesn’t get here in time?”

Megan chuckled, but her stomach twisted with nerves. “She’ll be here. Dad says she’s raising holy hell, insisting it shouldn’t take so long to fix a dislocated shoulder and a scratched cornea.”

It had been hard to talk to her dad on the phone without confronting him, but she’d forced herself to set her anger aside. She knew without a doubt he loved her mother—his voice practically broadcast it as he relayed Nicole’s current status—and was mature enough to realize things weren’t always black and white. She only had to look at her own mess to see that. Still, a new heaviness had settled over her heart. Her father wasn’t the perfect man she’d always believed him to be.

“Do you think she’ll really wear an eyepatch?” Libby asked.

“Maybe she’s wishing she’d picked a pirate wedding theme instead.”

Libby laughed. “If anyone can pull off pirate chic, your mother can.”

“I know.” Megan cast a glance at the door, feeling heavy-hearted. “I don’t think Blair’s coming.”

Libby put her hands on Megan’s upper arms. “Blair
will
show up. We all made a promise to each other.”

“The pact.”

“
Yes
, the wedding pact. We promised we would be married by the time we were thirty. We’d be in each others’ weddings, and we’d be the first ones to see each other in our dresses on our wedding days.”

“We were nine years old, Libby.”

“But it still means something to us all, whether she admits it or not. She’ll be here.”

“It’s almost time to get dressed.” Megan’s nerves were getting the best of her. “She hates me. I haven’t answered any of her calls today and I wouldn’t listen to her last night. She’s not coming.”

Libby gave her a side hug. “She doesn’t hate you. Give her a few minutes. She’ll be here.”

They were silent for a few moments, and Megan started to pace. Finally, she stopped and turned to Libby. “Aren’t you wondering why Josh and I are going through with this wedding?”

“No.”

“
Really?
”

Libby smiled. “No, this feels right. You feel it too, or you wouldn’t be here right now. You and Josh are perfect for each other.”