Page 75 of The House on Blueberry Lane

Velvet smiled as she glanced from one woman to the other. Women, who like Sierra, she had gotten to know, women she trusted. It was time to level with them about a few things.

“There is more going on between me and Jaye than any of you know. We didn’t first meet when he came to town.”

“You didn’t?” Ashley asked in surprise.

“No. Although I am from Seattle, I lived in Phoenix for four years. That’s where I moved from when I came here. While I lived there, Jaye and I were involved in an exclusive relationship for three years.”

“Wow!” Bryce said, totally surprised like the others.

“Yes, however, I broke things off when I saw it was a relationship that was not headed in the direction that I was hoping it would.” There was no reason to come out and say she’d fallen in love with him, but he hadn’t with her. She was sure they got the picture. “And as you can see, there has never been a lack of sexual chemistry between us. There still isn’t.”

“So, the two of you are working things out and getting back together?” Donna asked, and Velvet could hear a hopeful tone in her voice.

“No, that’s not it. I fell in love with Jaye once and don’t plan to do so again. He’s not the marrying kind. A girl learns her lesson after a heartbreak. What we’re sharing now is strictly physical and mutual. When he leaves Catalina Cove in a couple of months, for me, he’ll be out of sight and out of mind.”

The room was quiet and then Donna said softly, “There are times when things don’t work out that way. Isaac and I were divorced for three years but there was never a day that went by that I didn’t think of him, and my body didn’t yearn for him. So, I wish you the best in that endeavor, Velvet.”

Velvet knew exactly what Donna meant. She had gone through the same thing when she’d first arrived in Catalina Cove two years ago. It wouldn’t be easy to erase Jaye from her mind but at least her body would be satisfied for a while. “There’s something else I need to tell you. Something about me that only a few people in town know.”

“What?” Ashley asked.

“My parents founded the Spencer’s Corporation.”

Nobody said anything for a minute as they just stared at her. Then when it clicked with them, Donna exclaimed, “Oh, my God! You’re the Spencer heiress?”

Velvet smiled. “Yes.”

“Wow,” Vashti said in an astonished voice. “I met your parents years ago while working for the Nunes Hotel in New York. That was the first hotel to have a Spencer’s. Your parents were wonderful and a joy to work with. I regretted hearing of their deaths.”

“Thanks.”

“Of all the times we’ve eaten together at Spencer’s, why didn’t you say anything?” Bryce asked.

“Because it’s something I’d rather not share with a lot of people. I’ve discovered people often treat you differently when they know your financial worth. Besides, although I own the corporation, teaching is my first love, and a lot of people don’t understand that. My parents understood and gave me their blessing. I have a capable executive team in Seattle that’s managing things for me, and I’m satisfied with that.”

Ashley grinned. “I just thought of something.”

“What?” Velvet asked.

“I wonder how Webb Crawford is going to handle it when he finds out that you’re not dependent on a teacher’s salary, and that you’re a lot wealthier than he is.”

“BY THE POWERS vested in me in this great state of Louisiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Vaughn, you may kiss your bride.”

Velvet watched the newlyweds seal their marriage vows with a huge kiss and was extremely happy for them. It had been a beautiful wedding. Sierra was a gorgeous bride and Vaughn, a handsome groom. The wedding planner had transformed the grounds of Zara Haven into a majestic wonderland. The wedding was held in late afternoon and numerous hanging lights had been strung all around.

The couple had said their vows beneath the gazebo that overlooked the gulf. The gazebo had been beautifully decorated with Sierra’s favorite flower, white roses, mixed with peach-colored daisies. Her wedding dress of white lace and satin designed by her sister-in-law, Zara, had looked exquisite. The men wore white tuxes with peach-colored ties.

As the wedding party followed the bride and groom to the area on the estate where some photos were to be taken, Velvet forced her eyes not to find Jaye in the audience. She had seen him when she’d marched with the wedding party, and the way he’d been looking at her nearly took her breath away.

An elaborate sit-down dinner was followed by toasts, the cutting of the huge wedding cake, Vaughn and Sierra’s first dance as husband and wife, and the father–daughter dance. Now, the bride and groom were mingling with their numerous guests. It seemed almost everyone in Catalina Cove had been invited and the large grounds of Zara Haven could accommodate all who’d attended.

The couple looked so good together, and at that moment, a part of Velvet couldn’t help but wish such happiness for herself. But then hadn’t she pretty much given up on love and forever after as part of her future? She glanced over at Jaye, knowing wherever he was her gaze would automatically find him. When she spotted him, he was staring at her with a pensive look. She couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking. He’d told her he would be leaving before the tossing of the garter by Vaughn because as a single man he didn’t want to get caught up in that. She understood. It wouldn’t make sense for him when marriage was not in his future.

She didn’t want to participate in the tossing of the bridal bouquet by Sierra, but knew her friend would expect her to. Unlike Jaye, she couldn’t skip out without being noticed. Besides, as a bridesmaid, she would be expected to stay until the end, at least until after the bride and groom left for their honeymoon.

As luck would have it, an hour later she was the one who caught the bridal bouquet. She was glad Jaye had left already and hadn’t been there to see it.

“You look beautiful, Velvet.”

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