Saturday, 23 May
6:00 p.m.
I’ve never seen Reggie look so handsome, Ally thought.
He stood at the bottom of Pauley Hall’s winding staircase, his best man—Brady—at his side.
So far, she and he had successfully avoided looking at each other.
Had he bothered to glance over, he would have seen the longing in her eyes.
The other groomsmen and bridesmaids fanned out behind them: Matt and Caleb behind Brady, and Lorna and Jillian on the other side.
Jillian also avoided Ally’s covert glances, or any attempt at conversation.
Of course, she’s right, Ally reasoned. This is not the time and place for airing our problems. This night belongs to Jade.
As if she’d manifested her, Jade appeared at the top of the staircase.
The finger waves in her blonde hair were the perfect complement to her form-fitting vintage silk sheath: formal in length, and champagne in hue, its high neck paid off its deep plunging back. The tiny, jeweled pins in her hair seemed to sparkle under light shed by the long chandeliers.
Despite her four-inch heels, Jade seemed to glide down each step.
The crowd—at least two hundred, what with Reggie’s adoring students and their mutual academic colleagues—were entranced by the sight of her.
Samantha officiated the ceremony, intercutting the required vows with funny asides about each of them, followed by tender insights on their shared love: so obvious to anyone who knew them “—except for me,” she told the crowd, who laughed along with her.
By the time they gave their “I do’s,” there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
During the long, loving kiss that celebrated their union, she ventured a glance at Brady.
His eyes seemed to look right through her.
At that moment, she realized:
Garrett won.
The crowd was large enough that she never ran into Bettina. In fact, Ally wondered if she’d shown up at all.
The question was answered when she left a bathroom stall only to find Bettina by the mirror, freshening her lipstick.
Ally nodded but said nothing.
“I guess I should be used to a cold shoulder,” Bettina declared. “But come on, already—give it a break! My God, we’re at a wedding!”
Ignoring her, Ally moved to a sink at the other end of the counter.
Bettina sighed. “Listen…I just want to say we’re in the same boat—so we might as well be civil to each other.”
Ally’s heart skipped a beat. She caught Bettina’s eye in the mirror. “What do you mean?” Did he dump you too?
“You know—about the financing.”
Ally frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Didn’t Brady tell you? We lost the financing for my app the same day your VC fell out of your little pie shop.” Bettina shrugged. “But Brady has great connections. Something else will come through.” She laughed. “Ha! I never thought I’d be praising Brady Pierce!”
Ally shook her head in disbelief. “You mean…you’re not sleeping with him?”
Bettina laughed so hard that she almost choked. Finally, she gasped, “What the hell would ever give you that idea?”
“You did—at that final club meeting!” Ally exclaimed. “You yelled something about the fact he couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and then you threw it in my face how the two of you made a great team!”
“What?” Bettina rolled her eyes. “Oh, that! I’d thought he told you about my financing deal. Of course, I didn’t want anyone in the club to know about it—at least not until the app was a big success and I could throw it in all their faces.” She went back to touching up her makeup. “My God, Ally. Are you blind? Anyone can see that he’s crazy about you!” She held out her hand. “Hey, hand me a Kleenex.”
When she turned, she realized she was alone.
Ally searched everywhere: in the ballroom, where a jazz trio belted out a tune for jubilant dancing couples; and in the reception area, where groups of well-wishers surrounded the newlyweds in order to express their sincere congratulations.
Taking Jade aside, she asked, “Have you seen Brady?”
Jade thought for a moment. “No, frankly, not since he made his toast to us.” She shrugged. “Our babysitter called to let us know that Oliver still has a fever, so maybe he’s calling her.”
After circling the room again, Ally came to the conclusion that he may have gone home to take care of Oliver. Not that she could blame him.
Our children’s love is unconditional, she reasoned.
I have to prove that mine, for him, is also absolute.
To do it, she’d have to rectify the mess she’d made of her friendship with Jillian.
It’s the only way to get Brady to trust me again.
Suddenly, she missed Zoe.
She gave Jade a hug and headed out.
Brady stood on the top of the Berkeley Campanile, looking up at the stars.
He could easily understand Reggie’s draw to the campus. When he was a student here, life seemed so much simpler.
When, finally, he looked down again, he saw her: Ally.
She was getting into her car.
Why would she leave so soon, he wondered.
The party was at its peak. The bride and groom hadn’t even cut the cake yet.
He wanted to shout out to her, but what would he say? That he was angry with her? That he missed her?
That he loved her with all his heart?
Hell, no. It may be the truth, but it was time to get over Ally Thornton. He’d let her break his heart twice.
Garrett Hartley was right: she was a chip off the old block. She’d proven that when she allowed Garrett to cut Jillian out of the company.
I shouldn’t be alone, he reasoned. Otherwise, all I’ll think about is her.
By the time he reached the bottom stair, he had forced a smile on his face again.
Bettina was leaving as well when she saw Brady walking toward her.
“Where are you going?” he teased her. “The night is still young.”
“So is this crowd.” She shuddered. “I forgot what it was like to be around a bunch of uncouth students spouting their pompous liberal rhetoric—in iambic pentameter, no less!”
“Use it to your advantage. Talk up the app.”
“Ha! With degrees in English Lit, they’ll soon be the ones being tracked.” She winked. “Speaking of tracking, have you run into Ally?”
“I told you—we’re not talking. Besides, she just took off.”
“You didn’t even try to stop her?” Bettina rolled her eyes. “And I thought Reggie’s students were fools.”
Brady shook his head. “I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t go to Ally. She has to come to you.”
As she watched him walk off, it occurred to her that the same thing applied to her.
To get Daniel back, she would have to prove to him that she was the woman worth loving for a lifetime.
She knew just how she’d do it.
—To Be Continued—