A Fool's Gold Wedding - Susan Mallery Page 0,30

going to do everything she could to make it perfect. Even if that meant lying to her entire family.

CHAPTER EIGHT

WHEN JOAQUIN HAD been eight years old, and home for the weekend from his boarding school, he’d overheard his parents talking about him. He remembered his mother speaking through her tears that while she loved her son, she was also afraid of him.

“It’s like he’s a different species,” she’d admitted. “I never feel completely safe around him.”

He hadn’t known what she meant or how to fix the problem but he’d instinctively understood she didn’t want him anywhere near her. In the end, he’d decided to stay away as much as he could so she wouldn’t be afraid. He’d known that being alone was better for everyone.

But knowing and enduring were two different things. Even though he’d believed he’d made the right decision, he’d cried himself to sleep nearly every night for a year. He’d tried to focus on his studies, telling himself he wasn’t hoping that his parents insist he come spend time with them. Not that they ever had. When he’d gone to college at such a young age, he’d seen similar looks of apprehension on some of the other students’ faces. He didn’t know how he could frighten them but he acknowledged that he did.

After he graduated from college, he’d gone home for a long weekend. He’d gathered the courage to ask his mother if she was still afraid of him. Her warm hugs and sobs of regret had been nice, but by then, the wound had run too deep to be healed. Joaquin had known that day nothing would ever hurt more than his parents’ rejection of him.

But he’d been wrong.

Losing Abby was close, but what truly broke him was the realization that he’d hurt her. He’d taken something special and unique and precious and he’d destroyed it with his thoughtless behavior. He had found the very thing he’d been looking for his entire life and he’d destroyed it.

He spent Friday with his brother, helping with the wedding, careful not to let on that anything had changed. Friday night he went to the rehearsal.

He and Abby listened to the instructions and practiced walking out together. He was aware of everything about her—how her eyes were red and how she was so very careful not to ever brush against him.

He tried saying he was sorry, but she curtly told him this wasn’t the time. That they were to get through the wedding without anyone knowing. Then she gave him an artificial smile that had crushed his already shattered heart.

Several of Melissa’s family members had come by to watch the rehearsal. Joaquin saw Simon and wished he could blame the other man for what had happened. Only he knew Simon had simply done the right thing. Joaquin understood all the fault was his own. He’d been the one who had misled Abby from the start. He was the one who had been arrogant, playing with people’s lives for his own end. He might be a gifted surgeon but he was a terrible human being.

As the rehearsal ended, Joaquin moved toward his brother.

“I have an unexpected consult,” he lied. “There’s a complex surgery. I’m going to be on the call for over an hour, so I won’t make it to the dinner. I’m sorry.”

His brother slapped him on the back. “We’ll miss you, but I understand. Of course you have to go save a life. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.” Davis grinned. “You’re going to have to deal with my nerves.”

Joaquin shook his head. “You’ve never been more sure of anything in your life. You won’t be nervous.” He paused. “Melissa’s wonderful. You’re a lucky man.”

Davis looked surprised. “Thanks. I agree with you.” He leaned his head to the right. “What about Abby? You think she’s pretty special, don’t you?”

Joaquin allowed himself to look at her. “She’s the most perfect woman I’ve ever met.” With that, he left.

There was no consult and he sure as hell didn’t want to spend the evening alone, but he knew it would be easier for Abby if he wasn’t around. Twenty-four hours, he told himself. Twenty-four hours and then she wouldn’t have to pretend anymore. She could tell everyone what a jerk he’d been. He would leave town and do his best to avoid seeing her as much as possible.

He walked back to his hotel. He should have been the one to tell her the truth. He should have been brave. No—he