Vision in White (Bride Quartet #1)(95)

"Don't leave me!"

"I won't. I won't." Rocking, she stroked her mother's hair. "It's going to be all right, I promise."

"How can it be? He's gone. He left me here."

"Did you get a good look at him? Was it someone you knew?"

"I thought I knew him. I trusted him with my heart. And now he's gone."

"Who?" Rage boiled inside her burning off the fear. "Who did this to you?"

"Ari. Of course, Ari. I thought I meant something to him. He said I'd brought the light back to his life. He said all these things to me, then he does this. How could he do this to me? How could he be so cruel?"

"It's all right. It's going to be all right. He'll pay for it."

"He said it was an emergency. There wasn't time. It had to be tonight. What difference could a few days make? How could I have known my passport had expired?"

"What?" Mac jerked back. "What are you saying? What exactly did he do?"

"He's gone to Paris. To Paris, Mac. He left without me. He called from his plane. He said he had to go tonight. Some business that couldn't wait the way he'd promised he would so I could get the passport straightened out. Business." Fury burned through the flood of tears. "Lies. It's another woman, I know it. Some French whore. He promised me, and now he's gone!"

Mac got slowly to her feet as Linda wept into her hands. "You called me, this time of night, let me think you were hurt."

"I am hurt! Look at me."

"I am looking at you. I see a spoiled, angry child having a tantrum because she didn't get her way."

"I love him."

"You don't know the meaning. God, I nearly killed myself getting here."

"I needed you. I need someone. You'll never understand what that's like."

"I hope not. There's water and glass all over your floor. You're going to want to clean that up."

"You're not leaving? You're not leaving me alone like this."

"Yes, I am. And next time, I won't come. For God's sake, Linda, grow up."

She kicked broken glass out of her way, and walked out.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN



MAC GATHERED HER EQUIPMENT FOR THE REHEARSAL, CHECKED her notes while Carter sat at the counter grading papers. From upstairs the sound of a nail gun whooshed and boomed. 

"You can't possibly concentrate with all that noise."

"I teach teenagers." Carter red-penciled some comments in the margin. "I can concentrate during thermonuclear war when necessary."

Curious, she peeked over his shoulder as he marked the grade. "Got a B, not bad."

"And real progress for this student. He's opening up. Are you ready to go?"

"I have a little time yet. Sorry I forgot to tell you I had to work tonight."

"You've already said that. It's fine."

"Valentine's Day wedding, always the big of big deals. Parker and I have to be there, every step of tonight's rehearsal. And tomorrow." She leaned in to kiss him. "People in my business tend to work on Valentine's Day."

"Understood."

"I'll send you a schmaltzy, sloppy e-card. And I got you something. Major step for me, as it's my first Valentine's Day gift."

She went to her desk, took a slim package out of the drawer. "I'll give it to you now in case this thing runs longer than we plan, and you decide to go."

"I'll wait. You got me a present." He took off his glasses, set them aside. "That's the second gift you've given me. The cardinal," he reminded her.

"That was more of a token. This is a gift. Open it."

He untied the ribbon, opened the lid. "As You Like It."

"It caught my eye because it's all battered and worn. It looks like it's been read a couple of million times."

"It does, and it's perfect." He cupped her cheek to draw her to him. "Thank you. Would you like yours?"

"Let me answer that with: duh."

He reached into his briefcase and took out a small box wrapped in white paper with a glossy red ribbon. The size and shape of it had Mac's heart dropping to her stomach then bouncing up to her throat.

"Carter."

"You're my valentine. Open it."

That heart thudded like a fist as she unwrapped the box. She held her breath, lifted the lid. And let it out again at the sparkle of earrings.

Two tiny diamond hearts dangled from the stud of a third in a delicate, elegant trio. "My God, Carter, they're gorgeous. They're . . . wow."

"I can't take full credit. Sherry helped me pick them out."

"They're amazing. I love them. I-" The words tangled on her tongue. Unable to say them, she threw her arms around him instead. "Thank you. I am definitely your valentine. Oh, I have to try them on."