"You might have to buy bigger shirts to accommodate that new backbone of yours."
Dale smiled sheepishly. "She may be my mother, but I'm not blind. I allowed her to lead both of us around by the nose."
She rested her hand on his broad forearm. "Some of the responsibility rests on my shoulders. I should have tossed out the nose ring long ago."
He studied her thoughtfully. "You have changed since the bank robbery. I hope you find happiness, Tessa. You deserve it."
The choking lump in her throat returned with a vengeance. She cleared it away. "Thank you. Well … ready to get this over with?"
He placed his big hand on the small of her back and they walked to the sanctuary. Dale stepped in front of the altar. "I appreciate everyone's patience. We need to speak to you."
Mel, Phillip, and Lucille, who had apparently regained her chilly composure during their absence, gathered around them.
Tessa glanced at Gabe. He returned her look, a question in his eyes. She motioned for him to join the group. Holding her gaze reassuringly, he walked to her side.
Dale glanced at Gabe briefly, then her, before continuing. "Tessa and I have decided to call off the wedding."
Lucille's mouth opened and closed like a beached trout, but only a small squeak emerged.
Dale continued. "I'll refund everyone for expenses incurred, and I apologize. Tessa will explain to Melody and her … cousin." He turned to his best man. "I'll call you."
Two spots of hot color surged into Lucille's cheeks. She clutched her chest. "My heart," she moaned.
Dale flicked a resigned glance at the tiny woman. "Forget it, Mother. You've exploited that ploy for three years, and I'm not buying the act anymore. Go home. I'll join you shortly."
"But, Dale, darling—"
He held up his hand. "Nothing you say or do is going to change my decision. If you can't accept that, you're the one who will lose out, far more than you think. You'll spend the rest of your life alone, with nothing but your arrogance for company. Is that what you want?"
Lucille's shoulders slumped. Without another word, she turned and trudged down the aisle, a defeated dragon with her fire quenched.
With nothing more to be said, the solemn group trailed out behind her.
Dale walked Tessa to the door, together for the last time. Fighting a hard-won battle against tears, she turned to him. "The best of everything, Dale. For you, Maureen and Colin."
He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "You're a real class act. Goodbye, Tessa."
The tears threatened to burst free. "Goodbye," she replied, relieved when her voice quavered only slightly.
A light caress brushed across the small of her back. She turned. Gabe was directly behind her. Brows lowered, his worried gaze searched her face. "Are you okay?" he murmured.
No. Her dreams lay in shattered pieces at her feet. She clung to a thin edge of control, barely holding back the emotional storm. Not trusting her voice, she nodded.
"I'll get the 'Vette. Hang in there." Gabe disappeared around the corner of the church.
Tessa waited on the front steps with Mel. With a last apologetic glance, Dale strode toward his car.
Blinking rapidly, Tessa bit the inside of her lip and tasted blood. She yearned for a real family. But under the circumstances, her marriage would have been as hollow and unsatisfying as her relationship with Vivienne and Jules. She wanted a deep, emotional commitment, a true soul mate.
Even though her aching heart now knew Dale wouldn't have been that soul mate, hurt and loneliness twisted like a knife in her chest as she watched him walk away.
* * *
Chapter 11
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Gabe's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as he followed Melody's dilapidated red Volkswagen. He'd broken the rules big time by directing Melody to the house and letting Tessa ride with her. But a girl needed her best friend at a time like this. He wouldn't be any help. He couldn't be any help. He didn't know how to give Tessa the comfort she needed. And for both their sakes, he had to keep his distance.
When they arrived, he deliberately avoided looking at her. He could still see her standing on the church steps, pale and trembling, her spine straight, her chin high. Another up-close and personal glance at her brave misery and he'd be a goner. "I'll leave you two alone." He fled to his room. Cold wind rattled the windows, but failed to drown out soft sobs from the kitchen. Oh, no, not tears. Gabe rubbed