to get control of her spinning emotions. She’d thought she had years before Emma got engaged, but the gleaming two-karat ring on her daughter’s left hand declared that belief null and void. And now her daughter wanted a hurry-up ceremony so she and Andrew could play house during the most difficult and demanding year of her life—year one of medical school. Nothing made sense to Melanie about this plan.
“We’re merely surprised. That’s what your mother means.” Kit gave his daughter a comforting smile.
“Yes, we’re surprised. You said you didn’t want to be in a relationship while you were in medical school because it wouldn’t be fair to the other person, and now you want to get married. That’s, like, a major relationship, honey.” Melanie lowered her voice and spoke with slower modulation. The way her mother had always demanded. “Are you sure you’ve both thought this through?”
Andrew nodded. “We have, and we think this makes more sense than being six hours apart. Larson Hart has a branch in Shreveport, and they granted me a transfer. Besides, I can help pay the bills while she’s in school. Oh, and make sure she gets food, rest, and support during that tough first year. We’re young, but we know we’re meant to be together.”
He made it sound so reasonable.
“But this seems so fast,” Melanie said, trying to sound lighter . . . and likely failing.
“I know it does,” Andrew continued, looking contrite. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to you both first. Emma found the ring in my sock drawer, and, well, it—”
“I screwed it up,” Emma interrupted, her irritation fading when she looked at Andrew. Damned if the child’s eyes didn’t shine with absolute adoration when she looked up at the boy who had obviously stolen her heart.
“But I tried to redeem myself,” Andrew said, and the way he quirked his mouth looked so much like his mother. For a moment, something squeezed in Melanie’s chest.
“Yeah, he said, ‘Put it back, and pretend you didn’t see it.’” Emma smiled, reaching for his hand. The diamond sparkled as if it, too, was in on the whole convincing-the-parents campaign. “So I did. The next day, I awoke to ten dozen roses surrounding me and a latte with the cutest little heart. We went on a picnic, and then that night under the stars at a rooftop restaurant in Bentonville, Andrew took my hand and led me to the dance floor. The band played my favorite Ed Sheeran song, and he got down on one knee and asked me to be his forever and always.”
The two were staring into each other’s eyes, a sheen of tears glistening as Andrew lifted her daughter’s hand to his lips and brushed her knuckles with a kiss.
Melanie felt tears prick at her own eyes. The couple before her looked about as much in love as two people could. It was almost eye-roll worthy, but so sincere she wouldn’t dare. As upset as she was that her baby wanted to get married at twenty-two to the son of the woman who betrayed her, she was also pleased to see the affection between the two. She wanted love for her daughter. The kind she’d found with Kit. The kind she still hoped knit them together.
Emma swallowed back her tears. “And then all of a sudden all our friends were there with champagne. It was just magical. I wish you could have been there.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that,” Andrew said, ripping his gaze from Emma and looking at her and Kit. “I should have asked. I know that. But . . .”
Kit shrugged. “It’s okay. I would have said yes because you two are perfect for one another. We’re happy for you.”
Melanie nodded, though she wasn’t so sure happy was the right word for how she felt. More like resigned because unless she wanted to alienate her daughter forever while at the same time looking like sour grapes, she would have to make the best of the situation.
At that moment, she heard someone shout, “Ma’am, ma’am?”
Kit craned his head. “Well, she’s here.”
Coming toward them in a tight, no doubt designer dress with her boobs spilling out was the person Melanie had vowed to hate until her last breath. Tennyson sashayed when she walked, wearing giant Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses like a celebrity. Her heels were high, her hair coiled perfectly, and her lipstick was piranha red. From a large bag slung over her shoulder, a ridiculous little puppy peeked out, giving a yipping