He’d be going back to the only life he knew. Carly’s face flashed in front of his eyes. But in facing his past, he’d be leaving her behind... and exchanging one set of painful memories for another.
FIVE
Five days and no word from Mike. With her wedding a little over a week away, Carly knew she ought to feel relieved. Life went on, and Peter had even managed to get out of work early one night and take her for dinner. A sure sign things were looking up. If one believed in signs. These days Carly took any good omen she could get.
She put the finishing touches on her last column before summer repeats began and hit the print button. She’d drop the printout at Juliette’s later in the week. Glancing at her watch, she realized she couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer and headed uptown for her fitting. Since she hadn’t been in touch with Mike, she hoped she could safely assume she was on her own.
She entered the bridal showroom where she’d purchased her gown, grateful the place wasn’t crowded. With a little luck, this would be over in no time. Minutes later, the salesgirl who had taken her name reappeared with a long garment bag draped over her arm. One glance at the zippered bag and Carly’s stomach did a nervous flip. Before the salesgirl could lead Carly back to the fitting room, she was paged to the front of the store.
She smiled apologetically and hung the gown from a hook on the side wall. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here.” Alone, Carly stared at the white bag, her stomach fluttering nonstop. Inside was the dress she’d wear when she married Peter. When she became Mrs. Peter Novack. When her life changed forever.
She pushed aside the nagging knowledge that something was terribly wrong. Since the fateful day she’d met Mike on the street, a tiny seed of doubt had taken root. She’d denied it, starved it, but it wouldn’t go away. Now wasn’t the time to examine it too closely. Once Mike was gone, life would return to normal. Safe, calm and peaceful.
She fingered the engagement ring, thinking of the wedding bands they’d chosen. Make that the bands Peter had chosen. She’d explained her feelings, but Peter had held firm. Despite her protests and explanations that stopped short of outright pleading, he’d been adamant. Had she broken down and cried, Peter would have succumbed in an instant, but she refused to resort to feminine manipulation to get her way. Obviously Peter’s reasons meant more to him than she’d realized. For the sake of peace and Peter’s happiness, she’d compromised. Again.
The one thing about this wedding that hadn’t been a compromise lay in that bag.
“Go ahead and take a peek.”
Carly whirled around to face Mike. “You startled me.” She placed a hand over her chest in a futile effort to calm her rapidly beating heart. “What are you doing here?”
“We had a date.” Mike lifted one eyebrow, as if daring her to dispute his statement.
“I didn’t think you’d show up.”
“I try to honor my commitments,” he said with complete sincerity.
She chose to ignore that comment. “How’d you find me?”
He leaned against the wall and grinned. His smile had the ability to stop her heart each and every time. She ground her teeth hard. “Well?”
“One phone call and a very efficient secretary. Did you ever think of giving her a raise?”
“Don’t look so smug.”
“And don’t you look so unhappy. You know you’re glad to see me.”
She couldn’t hide her smile. “Your ego astounds me.”
“Can I have a look?” he asked, walking over to the garment bag. He reached for the zipper.
She smacked his hand. “Let me.” With Mike staring from behind, she felt shy about looking at the dress she’d be wearing to wed another man. She bit her lower lip and gingerly unzipped the bag.
Reaching inside, she withdrew the material, gaping at the gown in shock. “It’s pink.”
Mike stepped back to appraise the dress and let out a long, approving whistle. “Nice,” he murmured his gaze taking in the scooped neckline and intricate beading.
“It’s pink.” Her hand gripped his arm and her fingernails dug into his skin.
“I admit it’s a surprise.” And not just for him, Mike thought, judging by the horrified look on Carly’s face. “You ordered white.” Not a difficult guess.
After his brother’s slip a few days before, Mike realized Carly was truly innocent. Not that most brides didn’t wear white regardless, but Carly had maintained the right. Forget what Peter’s reaction would be to his bride walking down the aisle in anything but traditional white, she deserved to have her first choice. After all her compromising, she shouldn’t have to give in on something as important as her wedding gown.