Page 40 of Reuniting with Lucy

“How’s mom gonna make the cake for that?” Lizzie said. “She supposed to strap it to her back and hike with it?”

“And promise me it won’t be anything that takes too much physical exertion,” Kate said. Daisy rolled her eyes, and Adam laughed.

“I’ve got plenty of time to iron out the details,” Daisy said.

“What about you, Luce?” Lizzie asked.

“Oh, something simple and traditional. Probably a mix between Kate’s and Emma’s, but with a rustic feel. Maybe in a big barn.”

“How about you, Jack?” Adam said sarcastically, clearly mocking the girls. “What’syourdream wedding like?”

“Oh, I don’t plan on marrying again,” Jack said. “Been there, done that. Not happening.”

Conversation stopped. Along with Lucy’s heart. Her stomach was queasy before, but this made it fully revolt. She took a sip of water to disguise her surprise and hurt. He didn’t plan to marry again? What did that mean for her?

All at once, her sisters fled. Chairs scraped the floor, and after a barrage of “I’d better check on Nana,” “I need a refill on punch,” and “I’ve got to wash my hair,” they were gone.

Jack looked around the table, where only Lucy and Adam remained. “Was it something I said?” he quipped, utterly unaware that he’d just dropped a bomb.

“I think I hear Emma calling me,” Lucy said. Her sisters were right. Time to bail. “I’ll be right back.” And by that, she meant, “I need some time to process the dream-crushing news you’ve nonchalantly lobbed into my lap.”

She found her sisters huddled in the bathroom, waiting for her. When she entered, they turned as one and opened their arms to bring her into a group hug.

“I’m sorry, honey,” Daisy said. “I know you thought maybe he was the one.”

Tears filled Lucy’s eyes and threatened to escape at a high rate. “I don’t want to cry here,” she said. “Or ruin anything for Emma. Let’s just talk about it later, okay?”

They nodded and promised they would stick by her the rest of the night. It went unspoken that she and Jack had some serious issues. Could she stay with him now? Not if he couldn’t give her what she wanted.

She’d planned on marriage and kids ever since she could remember. Since she couldn’t have her own kids naturally, she’d already have to make concessions for children. So substituting a husband wasn’t something she would compromise on. A long-term boyfriend, or life partner, or whatever it was called nowadays, was of no interest to her. If Jack didn’t want to put a ring on it, then she’d wait and find someone who would.

Jack’s curveball threw a damper on the remainder of the evening. Lucy put on a happy face for Emma. She stuck close to her sisters to avoid being alone with Jack. When he finally pulled her aside to address the elephant, she assured him nothing was wrong. A lie he saw through at once.

“I’m sorry if what I said upset you,” he said. “It wasn’t the best way to tell you. I realize that now. But I wanted to be honest.”

“Thank you for letting me know,” she said, not trusting herself to say more. She refused to break down and be “that girl” at the wedding—the one with all the drama that made things about her on someone else’s special day.

Finally, Emma and Dirk were ready to leave for their quicky honeymoon. With Christmas so close, they planned to just spend the weekend at a cabin in the Outer Banks and do something more elaborate next spring.

“You look so happy,” Lucy said to Emma before they left. “I’m so thrilled for you, sweetie.”

“Thanks, Lucy,” Emma said. “Looks like you won’t be far behind, huh? I have to say, Jack is a much better fit for you than Curtis. I’m glad you guys found each other again.”

Lucy smiled through the pain. “Yep. We’ll see. Come on, let’s get you two out of here.”

After the other guests had left, Jack asked if he could drive Lucy home. She told him she’d committed to help with the cleanup, and since it would be late when they finished, was going to spend the night here. The catering company was actually in charge of all that, but the little white lie would buy her some time.

“Lucy, we need to talk,” he said. “You’re obviously upset, and I want to work things out.”

“I’m not sure what there is to say,” she said, leading him to the front door.

“This wasn’t the time or place to bring it up. I’m sorry about that. But I wanted to tell you before things got too far along. I thought you’d appreciate the honesty.”

“Kinda wish you would have led with it, actually. Would have saved me some heartache.”

“Wait, are you breaking up with me?”

“I don’t know,” she said. Was she? Should she? “Idowant to get married, Jack. I want a husband and kids. I want a family, not a live-in lover.”

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