Daughters Of The Bride(39)

“Do you have—”

Sienna stopped talking when David stood. The music shifted to Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” an odd choice for an engagement party. What on earth? Was he going to give a toast? Was that appropriate? They’d been dating for nearly six months, but he didn’t know her mother and Neil that well.

David took the microphone from Maggie and then faced Sienna. Overhead lights came on, illuminating both of them. Sienna felt herself get cold as she wondered if escape was possible. Whatever was going to happen, it was going to be bad. She could feel it.

“Sienna, you’re amazing.”

Her heart stopped. She felt it stop right there in her chest. No. No! He couldn’t be going where she thought he was going.

She forced herself to smile. “Thank you. You are, too. I’m so happy you could be here, at my mom’s engagement party.”

A desperate attempt to remind him of where they were and why. It was her mom’s moment. Oh, please, oh, please, let her be wrong. Just this once, wrong would be great. Perfect. Her wildest dream.

“I’ve talked to both your mom and Neil. They’re wonderful people. I wish them every happiness. But I’ll admit to a little envy. Because they know they’re going to be together for the rest of their lives.” He smiled at her. “I want that, too. The promise of forever, with the most amazing woman in the world.”

Her sense of horror grew as he dropped to one knee. All around them, everyone gasped. Someone whispered, “How romantic.” She wanted to find the woman and slap her. This wasn’t romantic. This was a living, breathing nightmare. Why was he doing this? Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God.

David drew a ring out of his jacket pocket and held it out to her. “This belonged to my grandmother. She and my grandfather were together for sixty years. When I called and told her about you, about how I felt, she sent it to me. Sienna, I love you. I want to spend my life with you. Marry me.”

No! No! She couldn’t. She didn’t want to marry David. At least she didn’t think she did. They barely knew each other. It was too soon—too fast.

She was aware of the ticking of the seconds. Of everyone staring. This was the wrong time and wrong place and possibly the wrong man. It was also her mother’s engagement party. How would it be remembered? As a stunningly romantic event, or that time when Maggie’s daughter dumped her boyfriend?

Sienna forced herself to smile and stand. “Oh, David. Of course I’ll marry you.”



“That was lovely,” Maggie said as she poured more champagne.

Rachel held out her glass. Lena and her husband were giving her a ride home, and she was going to get as drunk as she wanted. Right now a little drunk was called for.

“Did you see the terror in her eyes?” Rachel asked. “What was David thinking?”

“He was very sweet when he came to ask me for my permission.” Maggie leaned back in her chair and sighed. “If I was a better mother, I would have told him no. Unless you think Sienna’s really in love with him?”

“Do you?” Rachel asked.

“Not really, but I’ve been wrong before. I always thought she and Jimmy were the perfect couple. Too young at the time, but right for each other.” Maggie looked out on the dance floor, where Neil danced with Sienna. “I’m a lucky woman.”

“You are.”

Maggie turned to her. “Are you sure? You remember your father the most. I don’t want you thinking—”

Rachel cut her off with a shake of her head. “Mom, it’s been twenty-four years. It’s long past time for you to find someone else. Neil adores you and you adore him. That’s what matters.”

“Thank you.” Maggie picked up her glass, then put it down again. “Did you know that David actually mentioned a double wedding? I told him I’d been planning my wedding since I was fourteen years old. My mother wouldn’t let me make any of the decisions when I married your father, so this time I’m doing everything I want.”

A somewhat scary thought. “Mom, you know your tastes have changed since you were fourteen. You might want to rethink the plan.”

“No,” her mother said firmly. “I know my colors are going to be every shade of pink and that there will be swans.”

“Do the swans have to be pink, too?”

Her mother brightened. “Do you think you could dye them to match the decorations?”

“No. I only do human hair. Not feathers. Plus, the other swans would mock them.”

“Or be jealous.” Maggie picked up her champagne. “I know. We’ll have flamingos instead.”