Page 42 of Wanting Happily Ever After

“Great. Okay. Here she comes.”

Behind her, Brody noticed the golf cart that Faith usually used to get around the property pull up with Logan behind the wheel, and a bride next to him.

“So maybe stand with your hands clasped and your head bowed. Look up when I tell you to, okay? That way maybe your reaction will be a little more natural.”

“Whatever,” Brody mumbled. He did as he was instructed and tried to channel some positive thoughts.What would it feel like to see Sarah walking down the aisle toward him?

Damn.

No.He couldn’t let his mind go there. There’d be no coming back from it. But still, he couldn’t shake the image from his head. Sarah in a white dress. Sarah with a bouquet of flowers in her hand, clutched tightly to keep her from trembling. Sarah with a smile lighting up her face because she looked down the aisle, at him.

It was a nice thought, but so far from reality that he actually chuckled.

Somewhere, he heard Faith tell him to look up, which he did.

Brody blinked. The smile on his face first grew wider, and then fell away as he realized that the woman walking down the aisle toward himwasthe bride of his dreams.

Only she wasn’t smiling.

“Smile!” Faith yelled out, on cue. “You’re getting married. You’re happy. This is the best day of your lives!”

Sarah did not look happy. Still, she smiled. At least, she tried. But by the time she got down the aisle to where he stood, more than ready for her, her lips were pressed into a hard line.

“You look gorgeous.”

“I didn’t know you were going to be…” She shook her head.

“You look gorgeous,” he said again.

Faith was hollering out directions, and as much as Brody would have liked to pick Sarah up and carry her out into the woods where they could finally talk through everything, he’d promised Faith he’d do the pictures. So, Brody reached for her hand. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She hesitated, and looked at his outstretched hand.

For a moment, Brody was sure she was going to pick up her skirts and run down the aisle away from him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she put her hand in his. He squeezed it a little and smiled at her, but there was nothing but hardness in her eyes.

“I wish I could say the same.”

Sarah willed herself to calm down. Through clenched teeth, she did her best to slow her breathing.

She was going to kill Faith. How could she surprise her like this? WithBrody?

She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t stand next to him, wearing a wedding gown, and pretend that everything was okay when it was so very far from it.

Sarah looked to where her friend stood with Logan and the photographer, smiling blissfully, as if she had no idea the inner turmoil Sarah was in.

Which, to be fair, she probably didn’t. After all, how could she? Sarah hadn’t spoken with anyone about what was going on with her and Brody.

Except maybe Josh. But that didn’t count. And even so, she hadn’t actuallytoldJosh that she was falling in love with another man.

Love.

Dammit.She exhaled hard. She was so screwed.

Despite her conversationwith her deceased husband earlier in the week, and the weight that had been lifted because of it, she still hadn’t been able to bring herself to answer any of Brody’s voicemails or text messages.

What would she say?

That she was sorry?

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