Page 14 of Dreaming of You

"You did rub her the wrong way. She's been muttering under her breath all week."

Shari had no idea how much he wanted to rub Kate the right way.He cleared his throat at that errant thought. "I'm happy to offer your friend or you a complimentary consult."

"Why do you think it's me?"

"Something about the way you phrased the question. Am I wrong?"

Guilt flashed through her gaze. "My husband and I are having problems. But please don't share that with Kate. You rattled her the other day about creating too perfect weddings that make the subsequent marriage look boring and result in divorce."

"She planned your wedding?"

"I was her second client. And it was a great wedding. I had a tight budget, and she worked within it and still gave me the day of my dreams. My marital problems have nothing to do with the wedding day. Todd and I are just going in different directions. We went to Lake Tahoe over the weekend to try to work things out, but we didn't get very far. I think there might be another woman, but I don't know." She paused, shaking her head in bemusement. "I can't quite believe I just told you all that. We met thirty seconds ago. I haven't even told my parents or my friends."

"Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone you don't know."

"That's true. I feel like I'll be judged by everyone else. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough, or I should give it more time, or I'm imagining things. That's what Todd says. I don't know. I have a bad feeling."

"One thing I do know is that trusting yourself is the absolute best thing you can do."

"Kate said you're also divorced."

"My marriage lasted fifteen months, and, yes, I also had the feeling that maybe I should have tried harder or for longer, but it wouldn't have made a difference. I'm certain of that now. She's happier without me, and I am happier without her. Some relationships just don't last."

"Thanks for listening." She paused as the outer door opened. "That must be your date."

"Or Kate?" he suggested. He hadn't seen her since Monday, but she'd been on his mind a lot.

"I hope it's not Kate. She'll think I'm consorting with the enemy."

"I don't think our conversation qualifies as consorting. And I really don't want to be the enemy."

"Then stop making Kate take down anything that smacks of romance. If you go after the picture of the two swans by the front door, it will be war."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, seeing not Kate, but one of his clients, Monica Harding, come through the door.

"I'll let you go," Shari said.

"Thanks for stopping in."

"Sure," Shari said, as she moved out of the office.

"I know I don't have an appointment, Barrett, and I'm not supposed to see you until Monday, but I have to talk to you," Monica said, dabbing at her red eyes with a tissue. "Do you have some time?"

"About fifteen minutes," he said, checking his watch. "I'm meeting someone."

"That's why you're wearing a tux. It reminds me of my wedding. John looked so handsome in his tux. I didn't know it was going to end." She burst into sobs.

His heart sank. While drama wasn't an unusual part of his job, he'd never been good with tears, and he was already regretting taking Monica on as a client. Her emotions were almost manic in their extremes. One minute she was sad, the next she was angry, and sometimes she even went on a frantic, happy rant about how her life would be so much better once she got her cheating husband out of her life.

"Let's go into my office," he suggested.

"How can I hate someone I used to love?" she asked, between gulps for breath.

He didn't reply. He'd learned a long time ago that that was not a question that had a good answer.

* * *

"You were right about the man downstairs," Shari said, as she entered Kate's office.

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