Can't Let Go - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,57

She could let her guard down. She didn’t have to pretend to be a happy bride-to-be.

“Well, all the more reason he’ll find you radiant the day of your wedding.” Abby forced a smile, stepping down off the pedestal and allowing the seamstress to help her out of the dress.

“I’m going to take off, Abby. Remember, I’m just a phone call away if you need the company.” Abby smiled at her friend, nodding her head. Jenny really was a good friend.

She took care of a few of the last minute details before exiting the building and making her way to the car. As soon as she sat down, she was suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion. She hesitated a moment, resting her head on the steering wheel, breathing deeply. She’d tired so easily for the last couple of months—she wondered if carrying on as she was—putting on such a show—was draining her.

Another reason to be grateful for the break. It was exactly what she needed.

Of course, she still had many things to tend to in his absence. She had last minute details to cover with all of her vendors, arrangements to be made, conversations to be had. Not to mention her own appointments. She had plenty to keep her busy. But she wouldn’t have to lay awake at night, pretending to sleep, as Eric lay next to her.

She knew he was growing frustrated with her sudden chastity. It had been months since they’d been intimate—since even before the accident. But ever since she’d come home…even the idea of kissing Eric was too much. She was sure he’d put it off as part of her grief—and he was a gentleman, so he would never push her for something she wasn’t ready for. But she knew her time was running out.

With a heavy sigh, Abby sat back in her seat and started the engine of the car, easing out into traffic.

Just one more night—that’s all she had to get through. One more night.

~*~

It was hard to believe that already a week had gone by. Abby lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her stomach turning. Of course she would get sick just before the wedding. Why not throw one last task to be endured at her?

She sighed, rising to a sitting position and tossing the blankets aside.

She had too much to do today to let some bug keep her down. She would simply take a package of crackers around with her everywhere she went until the nausea subsided.

It really was a busy day. First, she had her annual check-up with her gynecologist—which was certain to take awhile, as the woman always seemed to be running behind. Then she had appointments with the caterers and another with the church. She was supposed to pick up the tuxes on the way home and then make arrangements for each of the men to pick them up afterward.

The wedding was, at this point, only days away. Tomorrow she was meant to spend a day with her bridesmaids—a luxurious day at the spa, a final dress rehearsal before the wedding. The rehearsal dinner would be the day after that—the day that Eric arrived home. And then…after that, the wedding itself.

She was eager for it all to be over with. All of the uncertainties clouded her mind—all she wanted was for the decision to be made, for everything to be official, so that she could go on with her life. There would be no going back after this. No thoughts of Logan. No hopes for a future with him. It would be done and over with.

The shower relaxed her tensed muscles, working through the knots. She remained as long as she could before finally turning the water off and readying herself for the day ahead of her.

It wasn’t long before she was sitting in the waiting room, flipping through the latest issue of Rumor. She was satisfied to note that Ingrid was no longer the Editor in Chief. It had been quite the scandal, she had discovered upon returning home. The higher-ups were rather displeased with Ingrid’s work—specifically on the issue that had come out just after Hayley and Blake’s death. That was the first issue that Ingrid had been forced to work on herself.

It was a long wait, just as Abby had predicted. But finally her name was called and she followed a woman dressed in scrubs to the back. She stepped on the scale and watched the numbers climb a bit higher than she was used to. “Nothing