Page 12 of The Baxters
He closed the yearbook and slipped it back on his shelf. Then he walked to the window and focused on the house in the distance. The one he’d been to a thousand times. The Baxter house.
Surely Tim Jacobs wasn’t in the picture back then? That was the only other scenario that made even the slightest sense. Maybe Kari had come to the hospital tomake sure he pulled through… with the intention of telling him she’d fallen for Tim. Only once she got there she couldn’t face him, couldn’t tell him the news, because he was too badly injured, his situation too serious.
So she’d turned around and gone home.
Ryan considered the idea again and felt his frustration rising. That wasn’t possible, either. If—while he and Kari were dating—she had fallen in love with Tim, then she would’ve been apologetic. Embarrassed or ashamed. And honest, that most of all.
Not angry.
And Kari was definitely angry. Hurt and upset and betrayed. That’s how she’d looked each of the few times he had seen her. He stared at Kari’s house. She hadn’t even given him the courtesy of telling him she was getting married.
So why would he consider going to see her now?
“Not this time, Kari.” He uttered the words and turned away. “Not on your wedding day.”
At the sound of his own voice, a competitive spirit rushed through Ryan. Since when had he given up so easily? Wasn’t he the one always ready for a challenge? He gritted his teeth. So what if it was her wedding day. He could go see her, try one more time.
People call off weddings all the time. Even the day of the ceremony.
He tried to picture how that would work, how it would feel to Kari and her family. No, he couldn’t do that to her. Couldn’t try to talk her out of it today. Hewas too late. She’d made up her mind. His chances were gone.
A panicked kind of anger took punches at him as he turned and pressed his hand against the window. As if by seeing her house he could reach out and touch her again. A deep breath and he turned his back to the view.
Maybe he would get in his truck and drive to Lake Monroe. As far away from the Baxter house as he could get. Whatever he did today, time was wasting. Because he had work to do. Sure, Ryan drew a paycheck coaching football in the NFL. But his most important job these days was something altogether different.
Putting Kari Baxter out of his mind for good.
4
The bridal room was set up in the downstairs den, and yesterday Elizabeth had helped John fit the space with two long folding tables, four chairs and four floor-length mirrors. They had talked about using the chapel, but Kari wanted to get ready at home.
In the house she grew up in.
Elizabeth tried to focus on that happy thought and not the feeling of dread still plaguing her. A soft rain fell against the window and a glance outside told her that the worst of the morning storm had passed. But a bigger one was building. Earlier, she had flipped on the radio news station to get an update. Apparently conditions were right for severe thunderstormsanda tornado outbreak.
Like something Indiana had never seen before.
Today. On Kari’s wedding day.
Don’t think about it,Elizabeth told herself. She carried a basket of makeup and hair tools into the den.Stay positive. This is Kari’s happy day. The girls had planned to meet here at nine o’clock, but already Ashley had called to say she’d be late. Her little Cole hadn’t slept much last night. The others would be here soon.
Better to give her attention to the matter at hand.
Elizabeth set her things down on the first long table. The mirrors were positioned horizontally on the tables, so each girl would have a spot. She plugged in the curling iron and blow-dryer.
After a lifetime of doing her girls’ hair, Elizabeth was more than prepared for today. When Brooke and Peter married, they’d hired a few stylists from a downtown salon. Which was fine. But when Kari had asked her to be in charge of hair and makeup for her big day, Elizabeth was thrilled.
Now if she could only find it in herself to be thrilled about Kari’s groom.
Elizabeth moved to the next chair and opened a new pallette of eye shadow along with new blushes and mascara. Kari had asked her sisters and a few close friends to be bridesmaids, but those girls were getting ready in their own homes. Elizabeth was glad. Maybe today would give her daughters a chance to feel close again. The way they used to be.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway outside the den and Brooke stepped in. She stopped and looked around. “Naturally.” She rolled her eyes, set her bag down on the first table and hugged Elizabeth. “My sisters are late.”
Here we go.Elizabeth smiled at her oldest daughter. “They’ll be here soon. I told Kari to come down around nine-thirty.”
“Mmm.” Brooke checked her look in the mirror. “It’sawful outside. Not sure a style will do it.” She grinned. “More of a makeover.”
Elizabeth felt herself relax. At least Brooke was smiling. “You look beautiful, dear.”
