Learning Curves - By Elyse Mady Page 0,75
you for that.”
Jeremy spoke up then, his eyes flickering between his bride and Leanne and Brandon, hand in hand. “You must be wrong, Leanne. Gillian would never do what you’re suggesting. She’s not that kind of person.” But a small furrow between his brows suggested that the groom had his doubts, as much as he would like to deny it.
The four of them were so engrossed in the cut and thrust of argument, Leanne was startled when her father pushed through the watching throng. “Bullshit.”
Jeremy’s face darkened at the slur. Around them gasps and titters nearly drowned out Gillian’s indignant response.
“Larry,” Barb protested volubly, visibly distressed by the fracas the wedding had descended into. “I appreciate that Leanne is your daughter, but you can’t mean to suggest Gillian would ever…”
“Larry, come back to the table,” her mother begged, tugging on her husband’s tuxedo sleeve and trying to draw him back into the dining room. “You’re creating a scene.”
But her husband wasn’t to be dissuaded. Turning a hard face toward his wife, he shook his head resolutely. “No, Sandy. I’ve been quiet all week and I’ve let you have your say. For years, I’ve watched as you’ve tried to mold our daughter into something she isn’t,” he charged, shooting a scornful look at Gillian. “And why? Leanne’s a brave, accomplished woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to make sacrifices to achieve it. She’s our daughter and I’m proud of her every minute of every day. The question is, why aren’t you?”
Leanne was in shock. She’d never heard her gentle, considerate father speak to her mother with such anger before. From the look on Mom’s face, neither had she.
He turned toward her. “Brandon told me about his job at the rehearsal dinner.”
“You knew?” her mother asked in hurt disbelief. “And you didn’t say anything? You didn’t warn Leanne what the consequences to her career might be? Or think to tell me beforehand?”
Dad ignored the outburst, continuing as if his wife had never spoken. “He told me in confidence.”
“I don’t want you to think badly of him—”
Her father waved away her explanation. “I know that, sweetie. It doesn’t matter to me what he does for a living, as long as he makes you happy.”
Leanne let go of Brandon’s hand and hugged her father, hard. Around them, the murmurs had grown into a loud hubbub, many seemingly unconvinced by the bride’s over-the-top reaction. As though sensing the shift in opinion against her, Gillian tried to recoup the lost ground.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she dabbed at them with a tissue commandeered from one of the hovering bridesmaids. “Jeremy, I just want our day to be perfect! But they’re ruining it with lies,” she wailed.
His jaw tight, Jeremy jerked his head toward his groomsmen in an unmistakable signal. They began to step forward, their intentions of removing the disruptive presence from the celebrations clear.
“We’ll go,” Brandon promised, squeezing Leanne’s hand, “but before we do, Jeremy, you should know Larry is telling the truth. Gillian made the mistake of thinking that just because I dance for a living, she could hire me for sex too.” He stretched out his hand toward Jeremy, a card held between his index and pointer fingers. The groom took it and turned it over to read the words printed on the reverse.
“‘I like what I see,’” Jeremy read slowly, his face growing more indignant with every word, “‘and I’d be happy to make it worth your while if you’re willing to show me more.’”
There was a pause as he digested the suggestive words, and then, in one swift motion, he crumpled Gillian’s business card and tossed it to the floor. “Did you think you could cheat on me again and I wouldn’t find out?”
The collective gasp of amazement at this charge was loud enough to nearly drown out the bride’s response. Barb began to sob; as one, the bridesmaids began to back away.
“No,” Gillian lied, her face distorted with anger and disbelief. “Of course not—”
“Don’t, Gillian,” Jeremy said implacably, brushing aside her hands angrily. “Don’t. I forgave you once. But I’ve been blind, haven’t I?” He shrugged, tugging to loosen his meticulous bowtie. It hung limply round his neck as he wrenched at his shirt collar button. “I loved you. But you don’t love anyone but yourself. We’re through. You’ll be hearing from my lawyers.” He turned to Brandon, but instead of socking him, Jeremy simply shook his hand.
“I’m sorry you were caught up in all