Nolan’s manner left Tyler puzzled. His brother didn’t seem angry. Susan had kept telling him she didn’t have Nolan’s interest. Tyler hadn’t held the same conviction.
“We’re selling the farm and moving to Auckland,” Josie said. “Tyler and Katey are going with us. Are you interested in buying?”
Nolan shot another glance at Tyler and sat down. “Maybe I have ten minutes before I need to leave for the airport.”
All morning, Susan cleaned the apartment until every surface gleamed. Christina leaned against the kitchen counter, watching in bemusement while she scrubbed the grout with a toothbrush.
Christina straightened abruptly. “Enough already. What time did you say stuff was going to happen?”
“In about an hour, I might hear a knock on my door.”
“Why are you so nervous? You don’t want to marry the guy.”
“No, but I’ve come to like him, even though he’s a jerk at times. He loves the land and small town life, and when he stands up against his mother, he’s decent.”
“His mother sounds awful. She— Never mind. She’s the original dragon. You need to get changed,” Christina said, her bracelets jingling as she gestured at Susan. “Go and have a shower. What are you wearing? Never mind, I’ll put together an outfit for you while you shower.”
Susan jumped in the shower. Her skin crawled with imaginary bugs, and she couldn’t seem to keep still or wash them off.Calm down. Christina was right. It wasn’t as if she wanted to marry Nolan. She bent her head and let the water pour over her, forgetting in her misery that she didn’t have time to deal with wet hair.
She missed Tyler.
Not talking to him, not exchanging emails and texts left a yawning hole in her day. In such a short time he’d become friend, confidant and the man she loved.
She heaved a sigh. She’d made the right decision, but her heart still ached like a sore tooth. Aware of the ticking clock, she turned off the water and toweled dry. Wrapped in a towel, she scurried to her bedroom, pulled on black lingerie and sat down to apply makeup. Something to hide her lack of sleep.
“Christina,” she yelled.
“Here,” her friend said. Maggie and Julia poured through the doorway behind Christina. “We bought you a new dress. I think it should fit.”
“Thank you!” Tears sprang up and she blinked rapidly. “Don’t make me cry. I don’t have time to redo my makeup.”
“No thanks necessary,” Julia said. “The boys donated to the cause.”
“Try it on,” Maggie prompted, her face full of excitement. “We’re going to hide in the other room.”
With her friends’ help, Susan dressed and dealt with her hair in record time.
“Have you seen the paper today?” Maggie asked.
“No.”
“Just as well,” Julia said. “Do a twirl.”
The red dress swirled around her legs while the tight bodice clung to her curves. Julia had braided her hair and pinned it up and now she looked sophisticated and sexy.
“You need a necklace and dangly earrings,” Christina said. “I have just the thing.” She scooted away and returned minutes later with a black and gold necklace in bold circles and matching earrings. “Put them on. Perfect,” she breathed, clasping her hands together.
“Thank you so much,” Susan said. “You’re such great friends.” She glanced at her watch and saw it was after the appointed time. “He must have picked Lucy,” she said. “That’s good. She’s nice, and they suit each other.”
“Ryan and Caleb sent champagne since they couldn’t be here. They had to fly out to the States this morning. Caleb said we could either celebrate or drown our sorrows, whichever suited us best,” Julia said.
Susan smiled her thanks. “I love your hubby and his friend.”
“I do too,” Christina said. “It’s such a pity there’s zilch attraction.”
“No,” Susan agreed. “But he’s pretty to look at and he gives good champagne.”
Another few minutes passed.
