Page 20 of My Always One

“You were just fitted for your dress today. You don’t want to lose too much.”

“After the lunch you just fed me,” I say with a grin, remembering her homemade chicken salad and the flaky croissant, “I don’t think losing too much is possible.” It’s then I remember the dinner with Jackson’s partners. “Shit, Mom. Take me to my car.”

“What is it?”

“I forgot that Jackson and I are having dinner tonight with Fred and Martha Wilson.”

“As inWilson et al?”

Mr. Wilson is the founding partner of the Wilson et al Law Firm.

“Yeah, them.”

“Oh, how fun.”

“It’s a bit stuffy.” I turn to the window and watch as we get back to the city. My SUV is where we left it at the bridal boutique. Between school buses and afternoon traffic, it takes me longer than I expected to get to our condo.

Instead of taking the elevator, I decide to hurry up the ten flights of stairs to the level of our condo. Taking off my coat, I take the stairs two at a time. I guess I figure it’s the workout I haven’t gotten. It isn’t until I open the door and see Jack’s stare as he’s standing in his custom suit that my elation for the day completely evaporates.

It isn’t Jack’s appearance that quells my enthusiasm. He’s a handsome man in a dignified way. Only in his mid-thirties, he has just a few strands of gray hair, the amount that makes a man look distinguished. He works out regularly, and I know that under that fancy suit is a toned and fit body.

“Where have you been?” He looks me up and down. “Wearing that?”

I’m wearing a pair of long workout pants and a shirt with a sports bra. When I’d dressed I’d planned on going from the bridal boutiques to the gym. “With my mom. You knew we were shopping for wedding dresses,” I say as I toss my coat and purse on a chair. I look up at the clock. “It’s only four. Our reservations aren’t until six. I’ll be ready.”

“Did you even look at your phone?”

I hadn’t.

“Why?”

“Fred wants to meet for drinks at five.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, Jack. I was shopping for my wedding dress. Remember, we’re getting married.”

“I’m well aware, Samantha.” He shakes his head. “Do you even care about my position at the firm?”

“You’re a partner. Are they going to take that away?”

He shakes his head, takes a deep breath, and walks toward me. He reaches for my upper arms and pulls me toward him, leaving an attention-getting kiss on my lips. “I know finding the right dress is important,” he says, his tone mellowing as he still holds onto my arms. “Did you find one?”

“I did.”

“I hope you went to a boutique and not one of those stores where you buy one off the rack.”

“We went to a boutique, Jack. You try the dresses on from the rack. I found one that Mom and I both liked. Now they will make one to fit my measurements.”

“You told them that you’ve been working out? I mean, we don’t want it to be too loose.”

For some reason, coming from him it felt different than the way it felt when my mom had said the same thing.

“I told them.”

“How is Jean?”

“She’s good. I saw Dad too.”

“He was there?”

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