The Line That Binds Series Box Set (68 page)

Mom’s tired face looked similar last night. At least she showed up sober. If anything, I’d give her that. The rest was crap. She said she hoped no one she loved ended up alone like Aunt Janine. I wondered briefly if she knew about the well, but I didn’t care enough to stick around and ask. No matter what she said, I knew she was only here for herself.

I scrubbed my face with dry hands to get rid of those thoughts.
It’s Saturday.
A wedding was scheduled today, and I had to attend. I shook out my nervous hands. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Simone had said babysitting usually included staying in the office unless we were needed. I could manage that.
Hopefully
.

My clothes selection was still limited, but I did have a decent pair of classic, black pants and a fitted, white button down. It was simple professional.
Good enough
. I finished a fast shower and wrapped my wet hair into a sock bun, neat and easy.

The house was deserted. I had no idea what time Dad and Gavin had returned home last night so I decided not to wake them.
Poor Gavin.
I felt like crap for leaving him behind. It was the only time I ever had.

By the time I arrived at the event house, it was already buzzing. Part-time employees moved up the walkway carrying white orchid place settings from a florist truck parked in the side lot. The caterer’s van was also there. The planner was easy to spot when I stepped inside. Looking leggy in a knee-length suit skirt, she was talking to a temp near the kitchen. She seemed calm, like she’d had dozens of weddings under her skinny belt even though she only looked a few years older than me. As I weaved around several more people carrying pink and white linens and table settings, the caterer appeared beside the planner. He held out a sample tray and the planner scooped up what looked like a shrimp cup for a taste test.

I waited off to the side until the caterer retreated into the kitchen. “Excuse me. Hi,” I said as she turned her tall frame toward me. The sand-colored suit complimented her caramel skin beautifully. Her dark hair was fastened into a business bun similar to mine. “I’m LJ. I just wanted to see if you had any concerns about the property this morning.”

Her dark eyes looked me up and down with a rapid assessment before a bright smile took over her face. “Janine’s great-niece.”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “This is my first time dealing directly with a wedding, but I’ll do my best to help any way I can.”

She nodded and extended her hand. “I’m Keena. Your aunt was a wonderful lady. She gave me a lot of pointers when I was a newbie.” I shook her hand and raised a brow, silently questioning her statement because of how young she looked. “I know,” she answered my look, scrunching her face playfully. “I get that look a lot. It’s a blessing, but sometimes a curse.”

“I bet,” I replied with an internal cringe, thinking of a curse far more painful than a youthful appearance. “I’m sorry that I—”

“Not to worry.” She released my hand and waved off my apology. “It’s nice to meet you, LJ. There shouldn’t be any issues, but I’ll let you know if anything needs your attention. You are dressed like most of the staff, so,” she said, glancing around, “if you want to pop back down to learn some things, feel free. I just ask that you refrain from going outside in the courtyard during the ceremony or entering the ballroom during the reception, unless there’s an emergency. The kitchen and hallways are fair game.” She winked and I nodded.

“Thanks. Nice to meet you too,” I said, with no intention of coming back downstairs until it was all finished.

Upstairs was quiet. I entered Simone’s office and quickly looked over the information that she’d left for me on her desk. Names. Numbers. Emergency contacts.
Just like babysitting.

Not having anything else to do, I peered through the front window for a while. Simone probably spared me any extra work since it was my first time sitting for a party. I didn’t mind, though it might’ve been nice to have a distraction from my own thoughts.

Last night was a mess. I’d actually skipped a
significant
amount of time.
Lately, I’d been forgetting details—homework due dates, people’s names, what time I was supposed to work—but this was much different. It also wasn’t like the blackout cleaning sessions. I remembered everything I’d done with Ben. I was just convinced it was last week for a few minutes.

My plan last night had been to apologize. I loved him, and I needed him, and I didn’t want him to feel guilty for what was happening to me. I knew he’d take me back. Fortunately, the time jump woke me up to the mistakes I was about to make. This curse was hurting him, too, because he cared about me. I couldn’t bear to put him through that. Even if I loved him. Even if I needed him. I didn’t want to see him in pain.

That was why I had to let him go. And it was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. I’d started with the same excuse, telling him that he’d lied to me and that I hated liars, when in fact I was being the biggest hypocrite of all. But I had to be. I needed him to think I was still mad in order to keep that space between us. And when I told him I didn’t blame him for the curse and that he should accept it and move on, the look in his eyes nearly made me change my mind. They had been so resolute, and in an instant they crumbled.

It was better this way.
It has to be better this way
.

Tears leaked from my eyes. I wiped them away while I watched more people arrive for the wedding. Just as I took a few calming breaths, a headache erupted. The high pitches hit hard, forcing me to close my eyes. I pressed my fingers to my temples, cussing myself for not considering how crazy people’s thoughts would be at a wedding. I checked the time. The wedding didn’t start for twenty minutes, and, with one hundred and fifty people scheduled to attend, the rest of the day was going to be torture.

“Are you Simone?” a dainty voice traveled in from the hallway.

I wiped my face once more before turning. “Um, no. I’m LJ, but I do work here. Is there something I can help you with?”

The girl was clearly in the wedding party, sporting a strapless, Pepto pink dress and a twisted updo. “Hi, I’m Lana, the maid of honor. The bride’s dressing room is scorching and the window’s stuck. She’s starting to sweat buckets, so we need to either get it open or switch rooms. There’s no way she can put her dress on like this.”

“I’ll give you a hand.” I really had no idea how I could help, but it was either try or possibly have to call Lloyd or Ben. That wasn’t happening.

I followed her down the hall, barely able to see. My brain throbbed as if it were detaching from my skull. I had to find some Tylenol before I passed out. She led us to the back of the mansion, overlooking the courtyard. Without waiting for an answer to her knock, she moved into the dressing room and ushered me to the back window. I gazed out at the wedding guests mingling around the courtyard’s lily pond.

“What do you think?” she asked, leaning her shoulder against one of the tied-back curtains while I ran a finger over the windowpane.

“Can you open it?” a voice snapped behind us.

“Not sure yet,” Lana replied.

The bride stepped around a wall divide, dressed only in short shorts and a strapless bra. She fanned herself and began to pace. “Where’s Keena?”

Lana hurried over to her. “I think she was dealing with the groomsmen. It’ll be fine, Mel,” she said a little more quietly. “It’s cool outside anyway.”

“Right,” Mel replied halfheartedly. “Why I chose a November wedding. But why does this place have the heat set to level Hell?”

It didn’t feel Hell-worthy to me, but I surely wouldn’t state that. Instead, I turned my attention to the window as they continued to talk, trying to concentrate as my pulse assaulted my ears.

“I wish I had the courage to tell him the truth,”
Mel’s voice said in my mind.

Did she want to tell the groom the truth about something? Maybe that was the real reason she was sweating.

“Can you get Jackie for me?” Mel asked Lana.

“Sure,” Lana said and left the room.

Mel continued to pace behind me. Her bare soles pounded the hardwood with every worried step.

I leaned closer to the pane to examine the window’s latches. One was skewed enough to keep the lock in place even though the latch was retracted. I pried it out and lifted the window.
Thank God.

Mel hurried over to the window, staying out of view of the guests downstairs. “Oh, that feels great. Thank you so much…” She tilted her head and squinted her eyes, silently asking for my name as she extended her hand to me.

I stared at it for a long moment, wrestling with a decision she would never know.
Should I grant her wish?
It was her wedding day. I could give her this gift. But I didn’t know who the “him” was. It could be her groom, which may not be a good thing. Or maybe she was referring to someone else entirely.

“LJ,” I said, taking her hand and welcoming the rush.

She blinked rapidly, almost as if she’d felt something. “LJ. Well, thank you.”

“No problem. Best wishes today,” I said, dropping her hand and turning away. Luckily, there was a tissue box on the thin table beside the door. I snatched a tissue and stepped into the hallway. Peeking out of the hallway window, I watched the people in the courtyard. Most were now seated, waiting for the ceremony to start.

I heard footsteps behind me and glanced back just as a dress in a lighter shade of Pepto disappeared through the door. Pinching my nose tightly, I started to walk back to the office. I had to find some Tylenol. The bride’s door was still cracked, and I instantly froze when my eyes wandered inside.

Mel and who I could only assume was Jackie were in the middle of a kiss. Jackie’s hands roamed all over Mel’s barely dressed body as Mel slid her hands across Jackie’s Pepto-covered butt.

“Oh, Mel, I love you. Please don’t do this to us,” Jackie pleaded.

Oh, no.

“I’m telling him, Jackie,” Mel admitted between kisses.

Oh, no!

After those words, their bodies started to tangle in ways meant for their eyes only so I backed away from the door.
What did I just do?
Sweat lined my palms as I glanced out the hallway window. The groom walked between the chairs toward the courtyard trellis. He leaned over to kiss an older woman on the cheek then plastered a bright smile on his face while they chatted.

Shit!

I retreated to the office and began to pace. Had I just ruined someone’s life? The bride was in love with one of her bridesmaids and now she was going to tell the groom? A minute lat

er, a flash of pink flew past the door. I kept pacing, feeling the dread pooling in my stomach. My head continued to pound, but I didn’t dare leave the office for fear of what was about to happen.

Keena’s sand suit passed by the doorway next, followed quickly by a Pepto dress and a crisp black tux.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

I leaned against the office’s doorjamb, staring out into an empty hallway. There was no sound.
The calm before the storm.

A deep manly yell bellowed down the hall followed by the sound of something crashing. I flinched even though I wasn’t in the same room. My heart hurt for him, and I didn’t even know him.

“Dammit, Melany!” his deep voice boomed, traveling closer. I sank back into the room a few steps so I wouldn’t be seen. “You said that was a one-time thing. You said it didn’t mean anything. Dammit!” His voice was harsh, but pained.

“I thought it would be. I never meant for it to go any further, but it did. And I can’t marry you when I know it isn’t the right thing to do. I wouldn’t be happy. You wouldn’t be happy.”

“Ah!” the groom roared. “Why?” his voice cracked and dropped, fading into a quiet plea.

When she spoke again, I could tell they’d stopped feet from the office door. “I can’t marry you and love her, too. That wouldn’t be fair to either of you.”

“You get to deal with everyone downstairs,” he said, his voice hardening. “I want your shit out of my house tomorrow.”

I couldn’t stop my own tears from spilling. I’d just ruined their wedding. Would their marriage have ended later anyway? Maybe. But now there wasn’t even a chance.

A little while after the groom left, Keena poked her head through the door to give me a brief explanation of the chaos. She was charged to let most of the guests know. I didn’t envy that job. Most guests filtered out of the event house right away, but quite a few moved through the upstairs hallways for the next half hour.

Unable to take the pain any longer, I dug through Simone’s desk for some Tylenol. When I lifted a notepad out of the side drawer, I noticed an envelope with a heart on the front. Curiosity got the better of me. I removed the envelope, noting the sweet love calligraphy on the front, though I didn’t bother reading the words. I wanted to know if the wish I’d granted for Simone had panned out. Had she told her guy how she really felt? I needed some good news to blanket the guilt of destroying someone else’s chance at happiness.

I flipped the card open, looking directly at the signature.

Carson.

Dad?

What the hell? Dad was Simone’s boyfriend and hadn’t said anything? Of course he hadn’t. I grunted and shoved the card back into the drawer.
Screw this place!

Since I technically couldn’t leave until everyone was gone, I made my way downstairs to view the carnage myself. Some stragglers tore into the food while others helped pack up. If I had to guess, I’d say they all had seats on the bride’s side.

“I wish I had the drive to start my own business,”
a girl’s voice said.

Part-timers carried linens and table pieces from the ballroom. They looked happy, knowing they’d get to leave work early. A string quartet hauled their cases and stands, exiting out the front doors. Other guests huddled in small groups to gossip.

“I wish I had the energy to go out later,”
a guy’s voice said.

I pushed my face into my hands, rubbing my fingers into my temples.