Brianne smoothed her hands over the dress. “Right.” She reached behind her to drag down the zipper. “Such a shame I didn’t get to wear this all day. After all that weight I lost for your wedding…”
Her sister did look fabulous. At the beginning of the year, she’d started a diet and rigorous workout routine to get in better shape for Shayna’s wedding. She’d lost thirty-five pounds.
Brianne walked toward the closet, shimmying the dress off her shoulders. She found a red sundress with a formfitting halter neck and slipped into that.
Brianne twirled around, facing Shayna again in the casual dress. “Better?”
Shayna nodded. “Yes. Except for the flower.”
Brianne pulled the flower from her hair and tossed it onto her dresser. “Now, back to your trip—”
“Yes, I’m going.”
“But you’re grieving,” Brianne protested. “This isn’t the time to go on a trip alone.”
“Why not?”
“Because you hate even going to a movie alone,” Brianne pointed out. “I can’t see you going on a trip by yourself.”
“Well, I am.”
The look Brianne flashed her sister was full of doubt. She thought Shayna was bluffing.
“I’m a big girl,” Shayna went on. “I’m entitled.”
“I know, but—”
“But what? You think I’m going to do something crazy?”
“Maybe you will,” Brianne said, but her tone quavered, indicating she didn’t believe her sister would do anything out of character. “Maybe you’ll end up marrying the first man who hits on you.”
Shayna laughed out loud at that.
“Don’t laugh. Remember that happened to my friend Gloria’s friend’s sister.”
Shayna scowled at Brianne. “That was in Vegas, and she was drunk and on the rebound.”
“You’re on the rebound.”
“Rebound? Already?” Shayna’s heart spasmed, but somehow, she found the strength to force a laugh. “Right now I should be at the park, taking perfect wedding photos with that expensive photographer Daddy hired. Instead…” Her voice trailed off. She couldn’t go on, or she would cry. “Bree, the way I feel right now, if I never see another man, it’ll be too soon. Trust me.”
Brianne took a seat beside Shayna on the bed. “Shay, I’m so sorry. Part of me wishes I’d never suggested we drive by that hall to see what the groomsmen were up to.”
“And if we hadn’t, I’d be married right now—not knowing that my husband was a dirty cheating jerk.” The anger helped Shayna hold back any tears. “No, I’m glad you suggested it. Everything happens for a reason, and in this case, it was to spare me the pain of marrying the wrong man.” Shayna was amazed at how calmly and rationally she was dealing with the situation, but she truly believed that nothing good came of fretting over something she couldn’t control. “I don’t want to be married for the sake of being married. I need to be with a man who loves and adores me enough not to sleep with some stripper he just met. To know—even if he was drunk—that no other woman could ever tempt him away from the woman who’s in his heart.”
Brianne shook her head, the look on her face suddenly venomous. “I still can’t believe Vince could do that. If we hadn’t witnessed it, I never would have believed him capable of that kind of betrayal.”
“Me neither,” Shayna said softly. “And the night before our wedding? That’s the reason I need to go away. I can’t be around here, see all the places we liked to go to. I can’t deal with the calls from everyone. I’m holding it together now, but I know at some point I’m going to fall apart.”
“Which is why you need to be with your family. People who love you.”
Shayna smiled, loving her sister for caring so much, though if the situation were reversed, Shayna would be saying the same thing to Brianne. They were eighteen months apart, but as close as twins. They’d been there for each other through every triumph and tragedy in each other’s lives.
Like when Brianne had lost her boyfriend, Carter. Three years ago, Carter had vanished while hiking in the Rockies. After weeks of searching for him and finding only his backpack, the authorities came to the conclusion that he’d likely died of exposure, and that coyotes or other wildlife must have eaten his remains. It had been the worst time of Brianne’s life—after which she’d turned to food for comfort. Shayna had been there for her sister through the entire harrowing ordeal.
“I know how much you love me,” Shayna said, smiling softly. “And I appreciate you caring for me. But I need some time for myself. Time to reflect on everything. Time to lie in bed and do nothing if I don’t want to. Time to sit on the beach and read all those books I thought I’d never have time to read. Time to just…get away from it all.”
“You’re sure?” Brianne asked.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Shayna said, feigning a confidence she didn’t feel. “‘Still I rise,’” she went on, quoting Maya Angelou. “I’m a strong black woman. This is a setback in my life, but it won’t keep me down. And hey, the trip is paid for. I’m pretty certain Vince won’t be going. But I’ll gain some small measure of satisfaction knowing that his money will fund my seven days in paradise.”
“Serves the idiot right,” Brianne said.
Shayna hugged her sister, long and hard, then got to her feet. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to go home and pack.”
That wasn’t entirely true. Shayna was mostly packed already, and her flight wasn’t until the next afternoon. But she was ready to be alone.
“Besides,” Shayna continued, “the limo driver’s not going to want to wait all day.” He’d driven her to the church, and he’d driven her back to her parents’ place. It was a painful reminder of the wedding that never was, but the car had been paid for. Might as well utilize it.
“Let me at least walk you to the door.”
Shayna caught her reflection in Brianne’s dresser mirror. Her makeup was exquisite—and totally illogical given the oversize T-shirt she was wearing. She would look even more out of place when she got into the limo like this, but she needed to get home.
She and Brianne headed out of the bedroom and downstairs to the front door of their parents’ home. Shayna had already had time with her parents and Vince’s, time to explain in more detail what had happened last night with Vince and why she wouldn’t be marrying him. Now, all four parents had gone off to speak with Vince, most likely to try and talk some sense into his senseless brain. It didn’t matter what they said—Shayna wouldn’t forgive him, and there would be no rescheduled wedding date.
When Shayna and Brianne got to the front door, Brianne suddenly said, “If you want, I can see if I can call in sick to work and put the trip on my credit card so I can go with you.”
Shayna
