Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy - Diana Palmer Page 0,126
this, I mean you, and us, and staying here, and all that stuff that I can’t talk about until I’ve tied up some loose ends.”
“So you keep saying.” He gently released his hand from hers. “The thing is, Veronica, I can’t help feeling that if you really trusted me you’d tell me everything anyway.”
She bit her lip at the hurt in his voice. Before she could reply, someone called his name. He looked back over his shoulder and grimaced.
“Sorry, I’ve got to be in some pictures. We can talk about this later, okay?”
There was nothing she could do but nod and let him go. She turned back to the view and struggled to compose herself. Was she being stupid not telling him? But what could she say when she wasn’t even sure what had happened since she’d left? She already knew Ted was wary about relationships; would her refusal to give him a direct answer make him back off completely? It sure was looking that way, and she couldn’t quite blame him.
Her cell buzzed, and she took it out of her pocket to see a message from Sharon.
Hey, neighbor! What’s up?
Veronica sank down onto one of the cushioned benches that framed the window and replied to the message.
Any news from next door? Is Perry still around?
She waited impatiently for the small bubbles in the corner of the text to appear, indicating that Sharon was responding to her.
I haven’t seen her or her piglet since you left. I did wonder if you’d taken them both with you J but couldn’t figure out how you’d get them in your car. LOL
Is Jason still there?
Yeah, and whatshername, Marissa, who is kind of sweet tbh, and always says hi, and asks after the kids.
Veronica gripped the phone tighter as she typed.
But Jason’s okay?
Yeah, why wouldn’t he be? Did you hire an assassin or something?
Ha ha. Is there any way you could ask Marissa what happened to Perry, like asap?
There was a longer pause before Sharon replied.
Sure, her car’s on the drive, so I’m fairly sure she’s home and the dickhead is out. I’ll get back to you when I can, okay?
Thanks so much. I owe you one! Veronica typed even faster. Feel free to give her my cell number if she wants to talk to me directly. She did say she wanted us all to get along.
Like Veronica had believed that for a second, but maybe she had misjudged her ex-husband’s new girlfriend. . . .
* * *
Even though his mind was not on the wedding, Ted smiled like a champ in all the pictures. He sighed in relief when they were finally released back into the dining room for the beginning of the reception, only to find that he was at the top table, and Veronica was way over in the opposite corner.
He tried to get her attention as he sat down beside Marley, but Veronica was looking down at her phone as if it held the secrets of the universe, which he supposed it did. But who was she waiting to hear from, and why did she look so worried? Had he spoken out too strongly? But what else was he supposed to do when his tentative dreams of future happiness might blow up in his face?
Marley elbowed him in the side.
“I know you’ve got a girlfriend and that you’re besotted, Ted, but do you think you could give me your attention for two minutes, and tell me whether the Hayes Hotel decorations were better than these?”
Ted turned to face her. “I’m sorry, Marley. From now on, I promise I’ll be the most attentive wedding partner you’ve ever had. Now, what were you asking me?”
It wasn’t hard to lose himself in two of his oldest friends’ happiness. One look at Ry’s face was enough to remind him that love did exist, and that some people, unlike his mom, were capable of staying together through the storms of life. But even as he contemplated their happiness, it only hardened his resolve to have it out with Veronica. If she wasn’t one hundred percent all in, then he wasn’t going to pretend that was okay with him.
The food was amazing, the company perfect, and the speeches almost made him choke up. By the time he was free to circulate, he was optimistic about his chances to clear the air with Veronica and make things right. He was in love with her—there was no point in pretending otherwise—and he needed her to know that.