Magical Weddings (45 page)

She was glad when he came in carrying two coffee cups. The last thing she wanted was to dwell on the past. “Thanks,” she said as he put them down on the coffee table in front of her.

“Do you take cream or sugar?”

“Black is fine.”

“I take mine that way too. Just another thing we have in common.” He grinned.

“We do like a lot of the same things, don’t we?” She asked it softly, not so much to him but to herself.

His smile disappeared as he studied her closely. “Something’s telling me you didn’t just come over here because you missed me.”

She shifted her gaze off the floor onto his face. “Mark’ll be back tomorrow.”

Devon was silent for a moment, then he got up and walked over to the window. “I had a feeling that might be it,” he said with his back to her.

“I’m sorry. I had no idea he was coming home until last night when he called.”

He turned around suddenly and held her gaze. “I’m used to people coming and going in my life.” Then he looked at the bookshelf where there was a picture of a woman, a dark-haired woman who looked remarkably like Kya. That had to be Devon’s wife, Char.

Her mom’s words echoed through her head.
Is he filling a void in his life?
What if it was worse than that? What if he’d been using her as a substitute for his wife? “Devon, I…”

“You don’t have to say anything more. You’re getting married, and I don’t want to be the one to ruin that.” He came over and stood beside her. “I think it’s time we said good-bye.”

The lump in her throat kept her from speaking. She shook her head, then walked to the front door.

Before she left, Devon said, “Be happy, Kya.”

She raced to her car without looking back. This wasn’t at all how she’d hoped things would go. Despite not knowing what she wanted, she did know that she didn’t want things to end like this, even though it might be for the best. What future would she have with a man still hung up on his wife? At least with Mark, she knew that he loved her and not the ghost of someone else.

****

Devon watched Kya drive away, and he couldn’t believe how much it hurt. Part of him wished he hadn’t said the things he had, but the other part knew there was no other choice. He could see the worry in her eyes and knew she was having a difficult time deciding what to do. It wasn’t fair to leave her so confused. She was engaged to someone else. Someone willing to share his life with her. How could he ask her to walk away from that? He couldn’t, and that was exactly why he made the choice for her and ended things between them.

If they’d had more time, maybe things could have been different. He might have been able to open his heart fully and consider a life with her, but it was way too soon for that. Why, he’d only just started to feel again. He couldn’t possibly think about falling in love…

Daisy danced around his legs, an indication she was ready for the park.

“I’m not up for it tonight, girl. Sorry.” He picked up the pile of school papers and carried them into the kitchen, setting them on the table, then he poured himself a fresh cup of coffee and proceeded to read through the first student’s work. However, as hard as he tried, he couldn’t focus. His mind kept drifting to Kya and the look on her face when he said it was time for them to say good-bye. There was a sour feeling in his stomach that told him he may have made one of the biggest mistakes of his life.

Kya lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, still unable to believe how easily Devon had been able to say good-bye. When she went to see him earlier, she’d had no idea what she was going to do, but ending things completely hadn’t been on her list. In fact, he might have been able to get her to call off her wedding if he’d wanted to. Instead, it became very clear that he was nowhere near ready to move on with his life and had in fact been using her as a substitute for his wife. That had been quite apparent when she spotted Char’s picture in the living room.

She probably should thank him for having made the decision for her, or she might have wound up making a huge mistake. Why, then, did she feel so awful? Probably because she hadn’t seen that coming. She’d feel better tomorrow once Mark was home.

She rolled over and squeezed her eyes shut, hoping sleep would come, but all she could think about was Devon. Oh, how she wished Lucky was beside her, his wet nose pressed up against her arm. But that only made her feel worse since she missed him terribly and hoped he was okay.

After tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, she finally drifted off to sleep, but her dreams were unsettling, and when she woke the next morning and looked in the mirror, she groaned. “You look like you haven’t slept in days. Better pile on the under-eye concealer,” she remarked to her reflection.

However, apparently that wasn’t much help, because later on at the shelter, Lyn commented on her appearance. “Everything all right? You look exhausted.”

Kya shrugged. “I miss Lucky.”

Lyn studied her. “Is that all that’s wrong?”

Kya shrugged again. “I went to see Devon last night to tell him that Mark’s coming home today.”

Lyn gasped. “And?”

“And Devon said we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

“As any decent man would. What else did you expect him to say?”

“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess. I mean I knew nothing serious would ever come out of seeing him. He’s still not over his wife. I don’t think he ever will be. And that was made abundantly clear last night when I saw her picture.”

Lyn frowned. “What do you mean?”

A heaviness centered in her chest. “I look a lot like her. Same long, straight dark hair. We even have similar features. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Devon’s attraction to me was because of that.”

Lyn shook her head. “I don’t believe that. You’re a terrific woman. So what if you two kind of look alike. That doesn’t mean his feelings for you weren’t real.”

“What difference does it make? Whatever there was between us is over now, and I need to put all that behind me and worry about the man I’m going to marry.” Kya glanced at the wall clock and let out a little screech. “And if I don’t get my work done and get out of here soon, I won’t be ready for when Mark comes over.”

Lyn took the supply orders off Kya’s desk. “Don’t worry about those. I can handle them. You go home and do what you have to do.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. Go on. Get out of here.”

“Thanks.” Kya grabbed her purse and headed for the door, then turned back to Lyn. “Don’t forget. I have my final fitting tomorrow morning. Debbie’s all set to open up here.”

“I know. I haven’t forgotten. I’ll see you at the bridal shop at nine a.m. sharp.”

When she arrived home, the first thing she did was straighten up the house, then she went over to her closet to decide what to wear. Mark had texted her as soon as his flight landed. He was taking her out for an early dinner. She wanted to look exceptionally nice, so she decided on the blue silk dress that fit like a glove and accentuated her eyes.

After she finished dressing, she decided to do something different with her hair. She pinned it up in a French twist, leaving a few strands out around her face. As she studied her reflection in the mirror, she wondered if the reason she cared so much how she looked was for Mark or to make herself feel better after last night with Devon. Either way, she was pleased with her appearance, despite the dark shadows revealing themselves a bit through her makeup.

She was ready when her doorbell rang and glad that Mark was on time for once. His response to the way she looked was more than she’d expected. He let out a long whistle, took her hand, and twirled her around.

“You look gorgeous. Maybe I should go away more often,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

“Don’t you dare.” She tilted her chin up to meet his mouth but was disappointed when his kiss didn’t bring the butterflies she’d hoped it would.

When their lips parted, he scanned the room. “Where’s the mutt? Did you take my advice and get rid of him?”

Her back stiffened. “His owner came to get him,” she said dryly.

“Well, that should make you happy. He’s back home.”

“I’d gotten really attached to him.”

Mark smirked. “You get dogs in at the shelter all the time. Another will come along, and you’ll be attached to that one too.”

How could he be so unfeeling? Especially knowing how heartbroken she’d been over Max. She picked up her purse off the chair. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah, I’m starving. I thought we’d go to The Carriage House. I could go for a nice juicy steak.”

Great. Her stomach churned at the thought. If this was any indication of how the evening was going to go, she was in for a very long night.

****

Kya spun around in her wedding gown. One of her worries had been keeping the strapless gown up while dancing, but the seamstress had done a fabulous job. Her dress fit perfectly.

“You look like a princess,” Lyn said from the chair across from her.

“I agree. You’re simply stunning. Quite a far cry from your usual jeans and T-shirt.” Her mother chuckled. “I always told you to make the most out of a formal affair, since they don’t come around that often, and you’ve certainly done that with this gown.”

“Well, I plan on getting married only once.”

“I hope you’re right, darling. Although, one never knows what life has in store.”

Kya rolled her eyes. “Lyn, would you mind undoing me?”

“Of course.”

As Lyn got up and walked over to Kya, Barbara got up too and said, “While you undress, I’m going to go up front and look for a shawl to go with my dress. Just in case it’s a little chilly. Sometimes that breeze off the water can be a little much.”

“Okay.” Kya turned around so that Lyn could start undoing the tiny pearl buttons in the back of the gown.

“How was your dinner with Mark last night?”

“Fine.”

Lyn peered around to look at her face. “That’s a rather abrupt answer.”

“What did you want me to say?”

“How about, it was wonderful. I’m so glad he’s back because I missed him.”

“I am glad he’s back, and I did miss him.”

“Really? Or are you just saying that to shut me up?”

“No, that’s the truth. Geez, Lyn, I’m going to be marrying him in a little over a week. I sure better be happy to be with him.”

“But do you feel that breathless excitement?” Lyn undid the last button.

Kya stepped out of her gown and spun around to face her friend with hands on hips. “Are you asking if there’s passion?”

“Yes, and I don’t think there is. At least not like you had with Devon.”

“Love’s not about crazy mad desire. It’s about building a life together. Mark and I have a history.”

“A history of being apart.”

“It works for us.”

“Does it?”

“What are you trying to say, Lyn, that I shouldn’t marry him?”

“I want you to be happy, and I’m not sure that you are.”

“Happiness is overrated.” Kya marched into the dressing room and slammed the door. As she slipped into her clothes, she knew that Lyn had her best interests at heart, but it irritated her nonetheless. She wanted her matron of honor to be supportive, not questioning whether she should marry Mark. Kya was doing enough of that herself.

****

For the next week, Kya tried to keep busy as much as possible. Days weren’t the problem, though, especially since she’d taken in a number of new animals at Helping Hearts. It was nights that were difficult. She couldn’t remember the last time she slept all the way through without waking, and it was beginning to catch up with her.

Her eyelids felt like they had weights attached to them, and she struggled to keep them open as she waded through the shelter’s monthly bills. A knock on her office door made her jump, and she realized she’d dozed off for a minute. She sat up straight in the chair. “Come in.”

The door flew open, and a dog came barreling in. She blinked quickly to make sure she wasn’t still asleep and just dreaming. The brindle-and-white pit bull dove into her lap, nearly knocking her over backward in the chair. She hugged him around the neck and let him lick her entire face. “Lucky! How in the world did you get here?”

“He must’ve gotten loose again. I found him in the park. Or rather, he found us.” She turned to face Devon, who stood in the doorway, leaning up against it with a huge smile on his face and Daisy sitting beside him. “I don’t know who’s happier, you or the dog.”

“I think it’s probably equal.” She buried her face in Lucky’s fur. “I missed you so much.”

I couldn’t wait to get away. They had me tied out back most of the time using a chain, and it was impossible to get out of it. Today, though, my collar was loose enough that with some doing I was able to slip my head out of it.

Kya ran her hands over his sides. “You’ve lost weight.”

I didn’t have an appetite.

She looked over at Devon. “Lucky’s not going back there.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go talk to that woman.” Kya kissed Lucky’s nose, then eased him off her lap. She opened her desk drawer and took out a release form, then stood and walked out of the room with Devon and the two dogs following her.

Lyn and Debbie were at the front desk. Both women were grinning when she entered. “We’re so happy Lucky’s back.”

Kya smiled back at them. “Well, I’m going to go make sure he stays with us. Lyn, would you please get me that woman’s name and address?”

Lyn went through the file cabinet and a minute later pulled out the paper the woman had filled out the day she’d come to the shelter to get Lucky. “Her name is Maryanne Thomas, and she lives at 126 Pinewood Circle.”

“I know where that is,” Devon said.

Kya put her hand on Devon’s arm. “Are you going to come with?”

“You bet.” He took his keys out of his pocket. “And I’ll drive too.”

“Thanks.” Kya looked back at Lyn and Debbie. “Will you guys watch Lucky and Daisy?”

Lyn grinned. “Of course.”

“Thanks. I doubt it’ll take long, but if we’re not back by closing, you can leave the dogs in here with Pepper.”