My One True Love (4 page)

“Yes,” he said against her lips. "Let's start with a toast. Our hot chocolate is getting cold."

* * * *

"You know that legend about the falling star you told me when you asked me to marry you?" Liz asked Jason as they sipped from their mugs in the dim light.

He remembered the legend he'd heard all of his life.
Make a wish on a falling star on Valentine's Day about your one true love, and it'll come true.

“Yeah.”

“I saw one while I was up on the mountain, before the avalanche. It wasn’t dark yet, but it caught my attention, streaking through the sky. I made a wish and my wish came true.”

Jason’s hand went still mid-air as his gaze locked with hers. Finally, his hand dropped with a loud
thwack
against his thigh.

“Really.
What wish was that?”

He watched Liz’s brows came together in a frown. “To see you again before I got married.”

Jason rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Is that why you were up on the mountain? You always did want to be alone when you needed to think.”

Liz remembered back to the evening of the avalanche. She had gone to the mountain to evaluate her future and put Jason behind her for good. Little did she know fate had something else in
store.

“Yeah.
I thought I could just decide to be over you. I should have known better.”

Jason remained quiet for a long time. Then he asked, “What are you going to do now, Lizzie?”

“I guess I’ll call Patrick and let him know. Knowing this isn’t over between us changes things.”

“So you won’t marry him?”

Liz shrugged. “I can’t.”

Jason let out a breath, and it fanned her hair. “Lizzie, you’ve made me a happy man.”

She smiled. “Glad to be of service.”

With a chuckle, Jason pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly. It was as if time had suddenly vanished, and they were eighteen again. Liz felt lighter than she had in years.

“I love you, Lizzie.”

“I love you, too.”

As he kissed her, he walked her backwards toward the bedroom.

But Liz pulled away and gave him a pleading glance as she placed her hands on his shoulders. “I can’t. Not until I talk with Patrick.”

Clearly, Jason wasn’t pleased as he frowned down at her, but he seemed to understand when he gave her a curt nod. He twirled the diamond on her left finger, lost in thought.

“I’ll never be able to give you a diamond like this,” he mumbled.

“I never needed a diamond to know you loved me.”

“Maybe not, but it suits you. You deserve sparkling diamonds and a big house on a hill. I’ve only got a log cabin on a mountain.”

Liz wondered at his train of thought then came to an abrupt halt when she realized they still hadn’t settled the one thing standing in their way. “I can’t move back here, Jason.”

“What?”

“I thought you would agree to moving.”

“My job is here.”

“You can find a new job. My life is in Baltimore. I can’t risk becoming like my mother,” she argued, her heart breaking. Of all the things she needed him to understand, this was number one.

“Would it really be so bad to be like her? She’s happy, Lizzie. She’s dating, she’s got friends. Just because her life isn’t what you picture for yourself doesn’t mean it’s not right. Besides, I like it here.” Slowly, his arms slipped from around her waist and he moved away, leaving her cold and alone.

“It doesn’t mean
it’s
wrong, either. Is this really going to stand between us again?”

He shrugged. “I want you to see what you’ve been missing here. I think if you gave it chance instead of running away every time things get tough, you might actually like it here.”

“Why can I not be enough for you?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

“Stop trying to be rational.”

“Someone has to,” he shot, his eyes flashing with anger.

“I can’t believe you. Patrick is a good man who doesn’t deserve to be hurt, but I’m willing to stop my wedding to be with you. Yet, you still refuse to give an inch.”

“Something tells me if I give you an inch, you’d take a mile. Isn’t it the way it’s always been?” Anger pulsed in his jaw.

“No!”

“And if I don’t give an inch, you’ll go running away, the same way you did before.
Anything to avoid giving up what you’ve envisioned for your life.
Have you ever thought maybe you’re wrong? Maybe the fancy city life isn’t for you, and you might be happier here living the way your mother lives?”

“I hate this town!”

“Hate it so much you’d get married here?”

“I never said the landscape wasn’t beautiful,” Liz argued, but she knew he made a valid point, and she hated it even more. "My family's here. It was easier this way. You know they can't afford to travel to Baltimore."

“Your family’s here, Lizzie. I’m here. You’ve
gotta
make a choice.”

“I don't know how to choose, Jason. I have a career and friends—a life—in Baltimore. Here, I have…" She trailed off. "How can I just walk away?"

“Everything isn’t always going to go your way. You might end up married to Patrick after all. Have two point five kids in the future with a white picket fence around your mansion on a hilltop. But you won’t have one thing, Lizzie.”

“Oh yeah?
What’s that?”

“Me.”

Chapter Five

The next morning, after a sleepless night full of tears and confusion, Liz walked out of the bedroom and saw Jason sitting on the couch, staring at the frosty window pane. It appeared as though he’d gotten as much sleep as she did. He nursed a cup of coffee and didn’t even acknowledge her presence.

On the table next to him lay a set of keys.

Carefully, he placed the cup of coffee on the end table and turned to face her. “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to choose,” he said softly. “You can’t have us both, and I’ve never been particularly good at sharing.”

“I never said I could have you both.”

“I can do it again, though,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoke, switching his train of thought so fast she couldn’t keep up.

“Do what?”

“Let you go.”

“I can’t do this to Patrick. He loves me, too, Jason, and I don’t want to repeat the same mistake I made with you. As much as it hurts to say this, I have to go.” During the night, her anger at his inability to budge chaffed her. Combined with the lack of sleep, she felt the hysteria rising in her chest.

“Get dressed. I’m taking you back to town,” he ordered.

“What?”

“You heard me,” he shot, obviously annoyed. “Get dressed so I can take you back to town. I might not feel so generous in ten minutes.”

“Why are you doing this?”

His stone cold gaze narrowed on her. “You’ve got a wedding to get to.”

Silently, he scooped up the keys and tossed them toward her.

“Did you get my car?” But those weren’t her keys.

“It’s to the snowmobile parked outside.”

“How did you get one?”

He gave a derisive chuckle, as if he shared a joke with himself. “It’s been here the whole time.”

“I had a way to get back to town, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Nope.”

“How dare you!”

“Forgive me. I was an idiot for believing I might convince you I was the better man.
Male pride and all.”

“We could have avoided all this if you would have told me the truth! I might have chosen to stay.”

Jason smiled distantly. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

“Oh, get off your pity pot. You lied to me.”

“You never asked. And I didn’t volunteer the information.”

“It’s called lying by omission.”

“It’s called doing what I thought was best to get you
back
.”

“How did it work out for you, Jason?” She
propped
her hands on her hips and angled her head.

He smiled and then looked away, back to the window pane. “You’re not married yet.”

Chapter Six

Dressed in white, with a veil tucked neatly in the chignon the local hair dresser had concocted, Liz stared at herself in the mirror. Tilting her head to the side, she eyed the dress more closely. The white satin bodice hugged her curves like a second skin. The capped sleeves cupped her shoulders and extended down her arms with sheer sleeves. A decorative sequined pattern lined the sweetheart neckline. She’d bought it back in Baltimore at a chic bridal boutique. Her friends, Heather and Mary, had come with her to pick it out a few months ago.

Funny how it didn’t even come close to representing who she was anymore.

A few days alone with the man who’d haunted her for so many years transformed her back into a country bumpkin. She’d rather wear Jason’s flannel shirt and long johns than this ridiculous get up. Or maybe…she wanted to be close to Jason, and wearing his clothes was almost as close as she could get.
Almost.
She blinked back tears. Why was this happening?

Heather and Mary stood in the corner, whispering to each other. They sensed the change in her. Their suspicious glances confirmed her inability to hide what had happened between her and Jason.

She turned to them and forced a smile, smoothing the front of her dress. “So what do you think of my hometown, girls?”

They exchanged glances. “Liz, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she insisted with a too-bright smile.

“Have you talked with Patrick? Did he tell you…?”

Mary elbowed Heather.

“What happened in that cabin?” Mary asked, taking a step closer, concern written all over her face. “It’s like you’re going through the motions, but your heart isn’t in it anymore.”

Liz shrugged. “Jason still loves me.” Maybe talking about it with her friends would help her sort out her feelings.

Both of them gave dainty gasps. “Did he say that?” Mary asked.

“Yes.”

“What did you say?” Heather grasped Liz’s hand and tugged.

“The only thing I could say. I still love him, too.”

This time both girls remained silent. Heather recovered first. “Look, Liz, I don’t think a couple of days in a cabin with your ex
constitutes
love. Talk to Patrick."

Liz narrowed her eyes and tried not to get her back up. “Patrick doesn’t need to know anything. I don’t want to hurt him. Jason and I made our choice. There’s nothing left for us anymore. Jason's my past, Patrick’s my future.”

“Why are you going through with the wedding?” Heather asked quietly.

She turned away. It was the very question she’d asked herself all morning. She and Patrick had been dating for over three years. He was perfect spouse material, and she really did love him.

Just not the way she should.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Patrick understands my need to prove myself through my career. I’ve never had to justify myself to him. I can be myself.”

Her friends seemed at a loss for words. She knew the feeling.

“Maybe we should give you some time alone?” Heather ushered Mary to the door. “We’ll be right outside if you need us, but you
really
need to think this through, Liz. What if you find out Patrick isn’t the man you think he is?” The two women hurried through as if running away from her.

Before the words of her bridesmaids registered, the click of the closing door sounded like gunfire, and Liz gave a slight jump. What did
that
mean? Why wouldn't Patrick be anyone but who she'd always known he was? And why was she so conflicted?

A few days ago, things had been easy. If only she hadn’t headed up to the mountain to put Jason behind her, she wouldn’t be in this situation. She’d been after some sort of closure, some sort of finality with the situation with Jason. But it hadn’t happened. Instead, she’d been thrown feet first into an avalanche and head first back into his life.

Her cell phone rang, bringing her out of her reverie. She didn’t recognize the number, but she answered anyway.

“Hello?”

“Still
gettin
’ hitched?” Jason asked on the other end.

“Jason…” She hated the way her heart leaped into her throat at the sound of his voice. She couldn’t remember one time she’d felt more than companionship with Patrick.

“Are you still getting married, Liz? Answer me.”

“Y...yes, Jason. There’s nothing left for us. I don’t want to live here now, any more than I did then.”

“There might be something in your room to change your mind.”

Her phone signaled the end of the call and with a grunt of frustration, she put it back on the table.

Looking around the room, she tried to locate anything out of the ordinary. She’d been crammed in this room all day and hadn’t noticed anything familiar other than the things she’d brought.

A bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath lay on the table next to the door, ready to precede her down the aisle. Her wedding shoes were exactly in front of the fireplace, where she put them earlier. All the figurines on the mantle were unfamiliar.

Moving over to the mantle, she picked up the figurine with wings. It was a typical cupid, holding a bow and arrow. At the end of the arrow was a star instead of a heart. As she turned it over, a frown pulled her lips down. An inscription was handwritten vertically along the angel’s legs.

My wish came true, too.

The gentle eyes on the cupid seemed to stare straight through her. Suddenly, the tale Jason told her of the fallen star came to mind. Trailing a finger over Cupid’s delicate wings, Liz smiled.

Not even a Valentine’s Day wish answered by Cupid himself could keep the doubts away.

Gingerly, she replaced Cupid on the mantle and turned. The table in the corner shone brightly with decorative white lights and tulle. The vision blurred as tears stung her eyelids. A single blink cleared her sight and a tear streaked down her cheek. She swiped at it before it could ruin her makeup.

She studied the table again and saw it.

A faint cry escaped her throat and she ran as quickly as her dress would allow and plucked the miniature off the tabletop.

A tiny, sparkling gazebo decorated in roses had been placed near the back. Her cell phone rang again. She reached over and snatched it up. Before she could say anything, Jason’s voice reverberated in her ear.

“I’m going to haunt you forever if you marry him.”

Despite her inner turmoil, she couldn’t help but grin. “How did you get in here, Jason?”

“I didn’t, Cupid did."

Taking a deep breath, Liz gathered her courage to end the ridiculous façade. “Stop calling me. In about five minutes, I’ll be walking down the aisle.”

“But it’ll be me you want standing at the end. Not Patrick.”

“The cabin was a mistake. I think the concussion was worse than we first believed. It made me act like an idiot.”

“You’re still acting like an idiot, Lizzie. Now what’s your excuse?”

Leave it to Jason to give it to her straight. Had Patrick ever been so honest with her?

“I’m hanging up now,” she warned.

“There’s one more thing for you, but I suspect you won’t find it before you walk down the aisle. Remember one thing for me, okay?” His voice had turned soft, and Liz closed her eyes against the warmth and familiarity of it.

“What’s that?”

“I love you. I always have, and I always will.”

“Don't ask me to choose, Jason. Please. I love you, but I can't come back here." It would kill her. She'd dry up here. She couldn't be like her mother, unfulfilled and careworn. She had her life. She had her job. And…she had Patrick to make it all work, even if she didn't love him the same way she'd always love Jason.

“You'll never love him the same way you love me."

Liz fell silent for a few moments. “You don't know that.”

“No, I don’t. You left me before because you wanted more than I could give you. Now you’re doing it again. All I’ve ever wanted is you, Lizzie. I’ve never cared where or how or even why.”

It wasn’t worth it to start the argument all over again. She hung up the phone without saying goodbye.