The Jepson’s would not like seeing an extra car parked there in the morning. “As long as you leave by five. I’ll wake you up.”
“Five a.m. on a Saturday?” He got up, his chair scraping loudly on the floor. “Never mind. I should go enjoy my king size bed in my condo before I have to move out next week.”
“Ian, wait.”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. I’ll call you when I get home so you don’t worry, okay?”
“Please do.”
Rebecca locked up after him and then sat on her couch with her head in her hands. She hated that she saw in Ian the person she was ten years ago after Patrick left. He couldn’t comprehend it now, but Ian didn’t really love Winnie either. Not in the way a husband should love his wife. He’d be better for this experience, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t a painful road to travel.
She got out her phone to call Jay, but realized she only wanted to talk about the logistics of canceling the wedding right now. She wouldn’t be able to stop the pounding in her head until she’d transferred the bad news, so she dialed Marlise instead and explained.
Marlise didn’t interrupt, and when Rebecca was done, all she said was, “Yes, I’ve already heard from Mrs. Scott. Why don’t you and Jay come here and meet with me in the morning? There’s nothing we can do right now.”
Rebecca hung up and scrubbed a hand down her face. This was her family, her mess. She should’ve pushed harder for them to never take this on in the first place.
Ian finally called to say he was home, and then Rebecca crawled into bed, taking her phone with her. She called Jay and told him all the things she couldn’t say to Ian or Marlise, knowing Jay wouldn’t judge her for her bad feelings.
And he didn’t. She fell asleep with the phone on her ear.
