1. That's What Friends Are For (9 page)

What he hadn't expected was her calm acceptance. "Why isn't Gregory going to marry me?" she asked casually.

"Why?" he repeated, not knowing what to say.

"Um-hmm."

"Oh. Well. It has something to do with me, I think. I'm not sure."

"Brad, are you still feeling guilty because you intended to break up our engagement?" she asked with sudden inspiration and understanding. She put her arms around his waist and lovingly laid her head on his chest. "Oh, you poor darling. That's what we were discussing just before the accident. It must have been haunting you all week." She glanced up, unable to see the glazed look in his eyes. "Brad, love, I have forgiven you for that. Please try to understand. No one is going to hold your intentions against you. After all, you changed your mind. And you were even concerned enough to tell me, which I appreciated, very much." Placing her head back on his chest she continued, "Now I want you to go home and get some rest, okay? I appreciate your coming over tonight, I really do. But I don't want you worrying about anything, you hear me?"

She could feel his heart pounding in his chest, like a bird beating its wings against a cage. Penny felt like crying. There was no telling what was going through his poor, confused mind at the moment. Whatever it was, he was concerned about her. No matter what he was suffering, he was still thinking of her.

"Penny!" he said in a strangled voice, "You don't understand!"

She raised her head and kissed him lightly on the lips. Surely Gregory would understand why she would be kissing another man the night before her wedding. The kiss was meant only to comfort. She had to do whatever it took to calm Brad down until they could get some help for him.

His arms came around her convulsively and he hung on to her like a drowning man. During all the hours he had agonized over how to tell her, how much to tell her, never had Brad envisioned that she wouldn't believe him.

He couldn't understand why not. Was her faith in Gregory Duncan so strong that the only proof she would accept would be entering the church in the morning and finding no groom waiting?

She felt so small against him, and she was so vulnerable. Penny had no idea what she had to face tomorrow, unless he took Gregory's advice and became the substitute bridegroom.

Is that why Gregory had told him, instead of her? Was he giving Brad the option of marrying her, himself?

How could he explain to her? "Penny?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

She smiled, her head resting on his shoulder. ''I'm so glad."

"No. I really mean it. I want to marry you."

Her head jerked up and she stared at him, truly concerned. "Oh, Brad, please don't talk that way."

"I mean it. Gregory won't marry you, but I will."

"Oh, Brad. Please don't do this to either one of us. Please. It's too late for us. Don't you understand that? Maybe if we'd had this discussion before you left for New York everything would have worked out differently." She pulled back slightly and placed her hands on his neck, cupping his jawline. "You can never go back. Brad, no matter what. Perhaps if I hadn't met Gregory, and I'd known how you feel about me..." She paused, wanting him to understand, not wanting to cause him any more grief. "It's too late for us," she finished softly.

"No, it isn't. Believe me, it isn't."

She just shook her head. "Oh, Brad. If only life weren't so complicated." She slipped off the bed and stood in front of him. "Go home, now, Brad. We'll meet tomorrow and pretend this conversation never took place. It's just between you and me, like so many other things that we've shared together."

Brad sat there staring at her. He'd tried to tell her. In fact, he had told her, but for whatever reason, she hadn't believed him. His options at this point were severely limited.

The question was, what would she do tomorrow when she discovered that Gregory wasn't there? Would she allow him to substitute for the missing groom?

Knowing Penny the way he did, he sincerely doubted it. In the first place, she would assume he was doing it out of pity for her because of the humiliation she would suffer. Pity had nothing to do with the feelings he had for this woman.

But he needed time to explain, time to make her understand. And from the looks of things tonight, she wasn't going to listen to what he had to say. She'd been under considerable strain all week. He knew that. Stress could have a strange effect on people.

Feeling a wealth of love for the woman who stood in front of him, Brad made up his mind. He would do whatever he had to do to protect her from a situation not of her own making.

Brad stood and smiled down at her. "Everything's going to be all right, love. I'll take care of it."

She nodded, glad to see that he appeared to be calming down.

He turned and pulled back the covers, helping her as though she were an invalid. Docilely she went along with him. There was no reason to upset him. He certainly wasn't dangerous to anyone—just a little irrational. Hopefully that would pass in a few hours. Surely it wouldn't take more than a few days to help him recover. Penny prayed his condition wouldn't be permanent.

"I'll get you a glass of water," he announced as though coming up with a brilliant idea. "That should help you sleep." He turned away and disappeared into her bathroom. She heard the water running, and he eventually reappeared.

"It will?" she asked, wondering if he had water confused with warm milk.

He carefully handed her a glass filled with water. Penny smiled and took it, dutifully taking a sip.

"Now don't worry about a thing, do you hear me?" Brad asked in an urgent tone. "Everything's going to work out just fine. You know I'll always take care of you."

"Yes," she agreed, nodding.

Brad leaned over and touched her lips softly with his. "I think I'll let myself out the back door rather than go down the tree, if that's all right," he suggested.

"Oh, yes! I wouldn't want you to slip and fall, for heaven's sake. You've had enough bumps to your head for one week!"

They smiled at each other, pleased that they had reached some sort of harmonious understanding.

Penny listened until she heard the faint sound of the back door closing, then sighed and turned out the light.

Now not only did she have to worry about whether or not the groom would show up for his wedding in the morning, she also had to live with the fear that her best friend might have received some sort of brain damage that had gone undetected until now.

"
G
ood morning, darling." Helen said to her sleeping daughter. "I thought I'd bring you coffee in bed this morning, since it will be the last time you'll be herewith us."

Penny rolled over onto her back and groggily looked up at her mother. She could see that her mother was trying not to cry at the thought that her daughter was leaving home at long last. Too bad she couldn't appreciate that very few women continued to live at home until they were twenty-five, Penny thought with amusement.

She pushed herself up, propping her pillow against the headboard. "Thanks, Mom," she said, sipping the coffee, then holding the cup between her hands.

Her mother sank onto the end of the bed. "I'm being so ridiculous, acting like this, when I've known for months you were leaving."

Penny grinned. "That's true, but I understand. I suppose I feel a little weepy myself."

"However, I'm extremely happy for you, Penny. You know I was always a little concerned before. I'm so glad you decided to go ahead and follow your heart after all, no matter what," Helen said, her face radiant. "I want you to know how proud I am of you."

Penny stared at her mother in confusion. What in the world was she talking about? Follow her heart? She shook her head. It was too early in the morning to try to work out word games.

Helen stood, leaned over and kissed her. ''Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, dear. I know you're excited, but you'll need to eat something before we leave for the church."

"I know, Mom."

Her mother smiled at her from the doorway. "It's hard to believe it. My fondest wish is finally coming true."

Penny stared blankly at the door. Her fondest wish? Had her mother secretly coveted her room for some reason? Why else would she suddenly be so pleased while at the same time lamenting that Penny was leaving home today?

She shrugged. Maybe the excitement of the wedding was getting to her mother. She usually seemed very sane and sensible.

Penny discovered that her father wasn't making much sense, either. He came bounding into the kitchen while she was struggling to eat the breakfast her mother had prepared and gave her a big hug. "My God, Penny! You are simply wonderful. I still can't believe it. I'm so proud of you. I'm not losing a daughter, I'm finally gaining the son I've always wanted."

She watched as he poured himself a cup of coffee and joined her at the table.

"I still find it hard to believe," Ralph said with a wide grin. "The two of you are actually getting married this morning. Unbelievable!"

Perhaps her dad had been in some sort of time warp during the past few months. Otherwise he wouldn't find the idea of her wedding day quite so unbelievable. Although he had always been polite and cordial to Gregory, Penny had never heard her father express such a strong sentiment toward him before. She was pleased to see him warming to the idea.

Penny and her bridesmaids planned to change into their dresses at the church, so all she had to do before leaving home was her makeup and hair. After dutifully eating her breakfast. Penny took her time returning upstairs. She had plenty of time before they had to leave.

After a few moments in the bathroom, she hurried to her bedroom door, trying not to panic. "Mom!"

"Yes, dear," Helen responded from downstairs, a lilt to her voice.

"I hate to bother you, but I can't seem to find my contacts," she said, walking out into the hallway. Her mother came up the stairs and Penny went on, consciously working to stay calm. "I know they were here last night. I soaked them overnight but they aren't where I thought I left them." She turned back into her room.

Her mother followed her and walked over to the bathroom. "I'm not surprised. You were probably so caught up in all the excitement you didn't pay any attention to where you set them down."

"I wish I weren't so blind," Penny muttered. How many times had she said that, or thought it, over the years? She followed her mother into the smaller room, feeling frustrated and helpless. Her mother began to move items around on the countertop, then peeked into the cabinets above the sink.

"Find them?" Penny asked, hopefully.

Helen looked around, puzzled. "Are you sure you took them out? Because I don't see them anywhere."

"Of course I'm sure, Mom. I left them in their soaking solution. Believe me, I know when I've got them in or not."

Helen shook her head. "Well, they aren't here, Penny."

Penny could feel the surge of panic she'd been holding at bay sweep over her. "What do you mean they aren't there?" she cried. "They have to be! Maybe they got knocked off onto the floor." She immediately fell to her knees and began to feel around on the smooth surface. Helen joined her until they had covered every square inch of the bathroom floor.

"They aren't here. Penny," Helen said finally, stating the obvious. She and Penny stared at each other, nose to nose on the bathroom floor. The enormity of the missing contacts settled over them slowly.

"What am I going to do?" Penny asked in a pleading voice, begging for reassurance.

"I don't know." Helen pushed herself up and looked around the room, as if hoping the contacts would suddenly appear before her. " Perhaps you could wear your glasses?"

"Oh, Mother," Penny wailed, almost in tears, "I haven't had the prescription changed in years." She walked into her bedroom and glanced around wildly. "I don't even know where they are!" She sank down on the side of the bed, her face in her hands. "Oh, dear God. What am I going to do?"

Helen sat down beside her daughter. "Well, you're not going to panic, for starters. So what if you can't see very well?" she said briskly, making it sound as though Penny was worrying over a hangnail. ''We'll call for another set to be made up for you and have them mailed to you. You'll probably only have to do without them for a few days."

"But what about today?"

Helen could see that her daughter was about to fall apart. Poor dear. So many things had been happening to her and she'd handled them all so well. Now here she was going to pieces over such a little thing. But not if Helen could help it.

"I'll do your face and hair and help you dress." She laughed and went on, "And your dad is going to walk you down the aisle. After that you can use your brand-new husband as a Seeing Eye dog for a day or two. I have a feeling he won't mind in the least!"

What a way to start a marriage. And why hadn't she ever ordered an extra set of contacts? Of all days to lose hers. And what in the world had she done with them? She couldn't imagine, but then, she'd been so distracted last night. For all she knew she might have put them in her cold cream or skin freshener!

Penny tried not to let the missing contacts cast a pall over her preparations. At least she could see shapes and wouldn't walk into any walls or doors. Her mother and dad seemed to be in high enough spirits to make up for any lack on her part. If she didn't know better, she would think they'd already gotten into the champagne.

Time seemed to speed up once they arrived at the church. There was a great deal of laughing and teasing among all of her friends while they dressed, and later, one or more would dash back in to report the swelling crowd. The church seemed to be filled to capacity.

Before she left home. Penny had slipped away long enough to call Gregory's house. There had been no answer. Of course he might have left early, even gone to the office for a final check. There was even the possibility that he had been held up in St. Louis and was even now driving back to be there on time.

But why hadn't he called her?

Penny knew that she could have her fears allayed by simply asking someone if Gregory had arrived, but after the teasing about the missing groom she'd received the night before, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing that she was worried.

Anyway, she would know soon enough. They certainly wouldn't be able to start without him.

So she waited, trying to be calm. This was her wedding day. The day she had looked forward to for months. The reason that Brad had—

Brad! She had forgotten to tell her parents about his strange behavior the night before! Oh, how could she have forgotten? She'd been so wrapped up in herself that his problems had completely slipped her mind. If his parents hadn't noticed, perhaps she was the only one who could sound a warning...

The door to the room where she waited swung open and Penny could hear the organ music. She heard a voice speaking to the congregation, then a burst of laughter and applause. What in the world?

Her father hurried through the door, a wide grin on his face. "You look beautiful, my darling daughter. Just beautiful. Are you ready to go?"

"Uh, yes. Is everything... I mean, are we all... ?"

"Yes, everything's moving on schedule." He took her arm and gave it a squeeze as he escorted her into the foyer to wait their turn. "You have made me a very happy man, you know that, don't you?"

At least her father was making no effort to hide his elation at finally getting rid of his daughter, she decided with wry amusement. "I'm glad," she said softly.

"I just couldn't see you with— No. This isn't the place. I'm just happy that you made the right choice."

The right choice? More cryptic comments. Had it only now occurred to her father that she could have moved in with Gregory first, before the wedding? He needn't have worried. Her upbringing would have prevented her from even entertaining the idea and

Gregory had seemed content to wait for all the legalities before he claimed her.

She had no more time to think about her father's remark. Suddenly the music stopped and everyone in the church stood. The slow, stately march began, signaling that it was time for her entrance.

For the first time Penny was grateful she couldn't see more clearly. She was having an awful attack of stage fright, which was absolutely ridiculous. Crowds had never bothered her before. She'd found excitement on the stage. However, always before this she was playing someone else. Today she was Penelope Anne Blackwell and she wasn't at all sure she could make it down the aisle without tripping or in some way making a fool of herself.

She forced herself to take a calming breath, then began to take the slow, gliding steps they had rehearsed the night before.

The light from the stained glass window fell on Gregory's blond hair and Penny suddenly let go of the breath she unconsciously had been holding. He had come. He was here.

She began to smile. Everything was all right. All the last minute details had worked out. And the groom had managed to show up when he was needed. Penny began to plan some of the things she was going to say to him once they were alone. What a scare he'd given her!

When she got close enough Penny saw Reverend Wilder standing before her, smiling. At least she assumed it was he. The man appeared to be the right height and size for it. When she and her father paused she noticed that Gregory stepped beside her and faced the altar with her.

Reverend Wilder's melodious voice filled the sanctuary with the age-old ceremonial words of the wedding vows. Tears began to collect in her eyes at the beauty of the vows they were sharing.

Then the dream seemed to dissolve into a nightmare.

She heard Reverend Wilder say, "Do you, Bradley Aaron Crawford, take this woman—"

Bradley Aaron Crawford? Bradley Aaron Crawford? Penny turned her head and stared at the man standing beside her, the man she was in the process of marrying. There was a small white patch gleaming on his left temple.

Brad.

She never clearly remembered anything that happened during the rest of the ceremony. She must have made the right responses since no one seemed to find anything out of the ordinary in the situation. Perhaps it was only her; obviously she was suffering from some sort of delusion, she decided, dazed. Although she'd been convinced she was engaged to Gregory Duncan, she was marrying Brad Crawford.

"I now pronounce you man and wife," Reverend Wilder intoned. "You may kiss the bride."

Slowly Penny turned to the man she had just married. He carefully and tenderly lifted the veil from her face and folded it neatly back, then leaned down to kiss her.

"What are you doing here!" she whispered through barely moving lips.

He smiled and lightly kissed her on the mouth. "Marrying you." he replied as he straightened to his full height.

The triumphant music from the organ filled the large room and the entire audience stood and clapped their welcome to the new couple.

Penny wished she were the fainting type. What a wonderful way that would be to get out of an intolerable situation.

Brad swept her down the aisle, out into the foyer and into a private room. Closing the door, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something. "Here."

She blinked and peered into his hand. "What is it?"

"Your contact lenses."

"My contact lenses?" she repeated stupidly, wondering how he had known she hadn't been able to find them. And then the truth seemed to drop on her like a sudden resounding crash of boulders. "You?" she said, desperately trying to make some sense out of her whirling thoughts and emotions. A rage such as she had not felt in years took control of her. "You— Bradley Aaron Crawford—you took my contacts? You hid them from me, knowing I would be blind without them?"

He nodded. "I needed every advantage I could think of. You made it clear last night that if I gave you any warning, you'd refuse to allow me to help you, to save you from the embarrassment of having to call off the wedding."