“Uh,” I started to say, but no words came out of my mouth. However, I didn’t have to say anything as Matthew pulled out the chair and sat. The guy scowled and left.

“Hello, Becca,” Mathew said. “You’re not working today?”

I took a sip to give myself some time as I tried to decide if I should tell him the truth. “I just got back from a doctor’s appointment and I decided to stop by here.”

“Is everything okay? Are you sick?”

I shook my head and took another sip. “Everything is fine. Just a routine check up,” I lied. Biting my lip, I forced myself not to cry. I wanted to jump in his arms and tell him the truth, but I couldn’t. “Why are you here?” I diverted the subject.

Matthew leaned forward on the table with his arms crossed. “I came by, hoping you would be here. You told me you needed space and I’m trying to give it to you, but I miss you. I miss us.” Matthew paused. “I was going to sit at the opposite corner table and watch you, but then I saw that guy checking you out. I wanted to punch him.”

“Matthew,” I said softly, but my high pitch made some heads turn.

“He was lucky we were in public,” he added. “I came here because I wanted to be where we shared our very first not so friendly connection.” He made me laugh, recalling that day clearly. “It’s the day you stole my heart, and you never gave it back.” He leaned forward, piercing me with his eyes. “It’s still with you.”

When Matthew reached for my hand, I let him take it. “Becca, let me in. Let me help you. Whatever you’re feeling or whatever your worries are, I’ll take it away. I’ll fix it. I promise you. If the roses don’t show you how I feel, at least hear my words. Let me make this right.”

He had no idea how much I wanted to say yes and jump into his arms, but not until I got more results, so I had to think of something fast. “Matthew, let’s talk when you get back from Australia. You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

“Come with me,” he pleaded.

I looked away. “I can’t. I’m going to the London Book Fair. It’s my first time.”

Matthew nodded, but it hurt me to see the sadness in his eyes. And I knew it would hurt even more when I built the courage to tell him unwanted news.

“All right, Becca. I’m still going to text you to make sure you’re okay, and I expect you to text me back to let me know. Otherwise, I will worry and call everyone you know. Hell, I’d call the whole damn world just to know you’re okay.”

“Got it.” I smiled.

“Well, Becca, like before, duty calls. I’ll talk to you soon.” Matthew stood up and planted a long, lingering kiss on my cheek and left.

Without turning to see him walk out the door, I looked down at my drink and let the tears that I’d held in stream down my face.

Chapter 19

Matthew

There was something strange about our conversation. I knew Becca wanted to be with me, so then what was it? Becca didn’t know I was looking through the window when I came out of Starbucks. I could tell she was wiping her tears. Wanting to comfort her, I was about to go back in, but decided not to. Whatever was going on with her, she didn’t want to share with me yet, and knowing Becca, I couldn’t force her to tell me. She’d only close up even more.

Her pain was my pain. It hurt me to leave her, but I had no choice. All I could do was wait and give her space. Needing to get ready for Australia, I headed back to work with a stabbing ache in my heart.

Jenna

“Oh, Jenna, you look…” Ellen’s eyes beamed with happiness, or were they tears? “So beautiful. Wait until Max sees you in your wedding dress.”

Becky had already started tearing up. She turned her back on me to wipe them, then looked up at me again with a smile. “Gorgeous, Jenna.”

“Thanks.” I smiled shyly. “Becky, go try on your dress.”

As Becky headed to the dressing room, I stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe I was wearing an actual wedding dress. It was form fitted on top with spaghetti straps, and flared out from the waist. I felt like a princess.

“Here you go,” Tina, the saleslady, said. She helped me put the tiara on, along with the veil that hung to my waist.

Something was different about the tiara. Although it looked just like the one I’d picked out, it had tiny sparkling crystals from one end to the other. It glistened just the right amount against the light, but not too overbearing. “I really like this, but I don’t think you gave me the right one. This might belong to someone else.” I turned to her just as she was headed to the customer that had walked in. Since she didn’t stop, I assumed she didn’t hear me.

“Jenna,” Ellen interrupted, “I actually brought that tiara from home. I told Tina to give it to you. I was hoping that you might like it enough to wear it. I think you and I have the same taste. We like things simple yet elegant. And this tiara means a lot to me. It was my mother’s. She’s no longer with us.”

Happiness filled my heart. I knew Ellen approved of me, but I never knew to what extent until today. I didn’t mean to, but my eyes became glassy with tears. “Ellen,” I gushed, and wrapped my arms around her, “it’s beautiful. Thank you so much. This means a lot to me.”

“I don’t have a daughter,” she said, as we let go of each other. “I wanted to have more children, but we were so busy. Rob and I hardly had any time for our sons. It wouldn’t have been fair to the third child, the one I would have wished to be a girl. But we were very lucky. Max and Matthew turned out to be fine gentlemen. We are very proud of them both. Just like how your mom is proud of you.”