Sandy and Wyatt exchanged looks and then opened the door to the bridal suite near the chapel. Her heart pounded as they dashed from the elevator. Something was wrong. She took a deep breath, and they walked in together. Sandy pasted a smiled on her face as she stared at the back of her best friend's dress. "Penny, you look amazing."
Then Penny turned around and Sandy saw that her best friend's cheeks were puffy and her eyes were glassy. She collapsed into a nearby seat for the vanity. "Eva…"
Sandy grabbed a box of tissues while Wyatt leaned closer. She handed Penny a tissue as she asked, "What about her?"
"She's…" Penny wiped away her tears and stopped speaking. Sandy reached out for her hand.
Wyatt said, "Sis, tell us so we can help you fix it."
Penny stared at her brother with her chin still trembling, like she needed to let out a cry. "She said she was pregnant with Jay's baby."
"She what?" Sandy shrieked. Eva was their friend. Yes, Eva dated Jay before Penny returned to Miami, but that ended as soon as Jay saw Penny again. Jay hadn't glanced at Eva since Penny arrived. It was impossible.
Then Eva's words in the elevator rang in her head.
Penny reached out and took her brother's hand. "She said they were having an affair, and an accident happened."
Again Sandy glanced at Wyatt, whose other hand curled into a fist. "What did Jay say?"
"I can't find him." Penny sniffled.
Wyatt needed to remember what Eva said in the hallway. His face became flushed as their gazes met for a moment. Sandy turned to Penny. "Eva reminded us in the hall she was a paid actress. I think someone paid her to say that to you."
Penny let out a sigh. She took her hands out of theirs and patted her eyes with the tissue. "I thought she was lying, but why would she do that to me? I know we're not close friends, not like you are with her, but that's just mean."
"She needed the money, and Jay's mother wants you to leave him," Sandy said, as she was the only one in the group who knew Eva's situation. "Her last play wasn't well received and closed early, leaving her without an income for a few months."
"It's true," Wyatt said. He had no way of knowing, but it was good he believed her. "We should still ask Jay, though. I don't want my sister marrying a man who she never even discussed this with."
Penny nodded. "You're right. Go find Jay."
"We can all go. I'll stand behind you," Wyatt said.
Sandy brushed a speck of dust off the wedding gown as Penny stood and said, "I can't."
He blinked. "Why not?"
Penny tugged at her dress a little. "I'm in my wedding dress. Wyatt, I need you to go get him."
Wyatt straightened his shoulders then crossed his arms. "To do what? Bring him to you or throw him overboard?"
"No, don't do that." Penny's hands waved and then settled on her sides. "Sandy's right. This has to be a lie. Ask him about it. If he denies touching Eva, and I think he will, then get him to the chapel. I don't want a second mix-up."
"Wait, Wyatt. Your phone." This was easy to fix, but then Sandy's gut reminded her that they needed to find out about the ship officer that spoke to Kate. It had been their one job. "There might be another problem."
Wyatt nodded at her and then opened the photos on his phone. He showed Penny the picture. "Do you know this guy?"
Penny nodded. "He's the captain. He's to marry us in an hour."
Something struck in Sandy's brain. This wasn't good. Whatever was planned, they had to avert disaster. "Kate was getting him to agree to something."
"Jay and I already agreed to take care of the legal stuff on Monday when we reach port," Penny said. "So technically, all they will do is ruin the ceremony. I want to ask Jay about Eva, though. We should talk."
Well, that was news. Sandy's friends were technically already married. This did explain the lack of nerves. "Okay, but be on guard. Wyatt, get Jay, and when you get him here, I'll go with you to see the captain. I won't let anything happen to the ceremony."
For a moment her gaze met Wyatt's, and nothing else in the world mattered. She understood from one glance that they were on the same page. Once Wyatt left, Penny returned to the vanity. She took a deep breath, smiled, and said, "Sandy, I need you to help me fix my makeup and keep my mother out of here."
Penny handed her the airbrush and pointed to the spots near her eyes as Sandy said, "I haven't seen her since she ate with Kate."
Sandy stared the airbrush machine. Thankfully, her classes in beauty for her wedding shop came back to her. Perhaps she should sell her store to Victoria Morgan and go into wedding planning. This was fun, though she like designing wedding dresses. The offer included the option to design wedding dresses under the Morgan name.
Penny closed her eyes. "I don't even want to know. So, what's going on with you and Wyatt?"
"Nothing." Wyatt and she weren't anything, not yet. They had shared a few kisses on the ship, but nothing was defined.
Penny opened her eyes. "Now that is a lie."
Caught. Her old friends knew her quirks. "We talked about the past."
"All six of us were great friends." Penny gently grabbed her wrist. "So spill."
Sandy held her breath for a second. She swallowed and then let out the air to take a moment for herself. Finally, she was ready. "Wyatt and I were more than friends."
Penny narrowed her eyes. "He was your prom date."
"He was my first love and my boyfriend. We just never told you." Sandy opened her eyes and saw the blank expression on Penny's face.
Penny took her hand. "Why would you have kept that from me?"
"We didn't want to change our group, and we didn't want my father's disapproval. You know how that used to scare me." Sandy picked up the airbrush gun to ensure Penny glowed under the spotlight tonight.
Penny waved the makeup off as she leaned closer. "But Wyatt married Jessica. He had a baby right after college."
Sandy clutched her stomach as she recalled that moment she saw Jessica and her entire universe changed. "I remember. Look, I know we went to different colleges, but I was upset all of freshman year. I lost twenty pounds when everyone else gained."
Penny stood and hugged her. "Sandy, I didn't know. I'm sorry."
This was the past. It was good she had friends again, and reconnecting to the people that mattered gave her something that made her heart soar. It must be hope for the future. She pushed her hair out of her face and shrugged. "So we talked. We're good now."
Penny let go of her hand and crossed her arms. "The way he stared at you when he left was more than just as a friend. Would you want a second chance?"
Sandy nodded. "Yes, but this time it wouldn't be a secret, and no one gets to stand in the way."
The phone rang. Penny stood up as Sandy put the makeup away on the vanity. "Oooh, I bet that's Wyatt now."
Sandy flinched. Then she put the small container of blush down and walked over to Penny. "I'll take it."
"Of course you want to hear his voice," Penny said as she handed her the phone.
"Stop." Sandy's face felt hot as she took the receiver and said, "Hey."
Wyatt said, "I believe him. Jay was shocked."
"Wyatt believed him," Sandy reported to her friend.
"Thank goodness," Penny said.
"They're in the chapel. Jay wants to see you." Sandy glanced at the floor and took a breath. Now she needed to go ensure the ceremony had no interruptions. "Sounds good. We're heading over now. Guard him and tell your parents the wedding will start soon."
Wyatt lowered his voice. "Already done, but tell Penny that Geneva and her new husband are seated."
"Your mother is already there," Sandy told Penny, and waited for her directions.
Penny shrugged. "I'll be with Jay. She'll be on her best behavior."
Sandy wished she'd had her friends when she was miserable. It had been her own fault for keeping a secret and not trusting others could help. Now she knew her friends were more her family than her own father had been. "Well she won't try to stop the wedding. Wait for me, Wyatt." Then she said to Penny, "Jay's in the chapel. Are you ready to get married?"
Penny took her hand and tugged her toward the door. "Yes."
Good. Penny and Jay had a chance to talk about Eva, clear the air, and get ready for the ceremony. Wyatt and Sandy would talk to the captain and ensure a smooth ceremony. Once duties were done, then she could talk to Wyatt again and find out what he wanted for the future. It couldn't all be one-sided.