From This Moment

“Elise, this is Jake’s friend, Rona. Rona, meet Elise,” Beth introduces us.

As she does, I walk closer to Elise so I can shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I hear you’re getting married soon, congratulations.”

Should I be saying things like this? I want her to like me, not hate me for pretending to be with Jake. I certainly don’t want to cause him even more problems with her.

Still looking at me—or glaring, I’m not sure which—she finally takes my hand. “You’re the girl I heard about whose fiancé left her an hour before the wedding.” Her claws are out; very interesting.

I smile. “Yes, he did. It stung when it first happened but I realized I don’t love him. If we’d gotten married it would have been a big mistake. In the end, he did me a favor. I just hope I don’t see him again.”

She seems at a loss with my reply, I continue, “Meeting the sexy Mr. Matthews sure as hell opened my eyes. He’s yummy, don’t you think?” By saying Mr. Matthews, I’m not actually lying, but I’m wanting them to believe I’m referring to Jake.

Hearing someone choking in the background, I turn, and watch Anna head for the kitchen. I hope she doesn’t realize I’m talking about her father. I don’t want to lie too much.

With a frown, ignoring

my ‘yummy’ comment, Elise asks, “So I hear Jake has been taking you around town.”

I grin. “Yes, we went up on ‘Big Red’ the other day. It was pretty terrifying really, but I stayed burrowed in Jake’s chest the whole time.”

“Will you excuse me?” Elise says abruptly before dashing out of the room. I watch her go, my brow furrowed in confusion.

“Hi, Rona, how are you? Join us in the kitchen.” Beth calls on her way through the living room.

“Hi, Beth.” She’s already gone.

Just then my cell starts to ring. I know it’s Cade, as I’d selected a ring tone for him, different from anyone else in my address book. “Hi, handsome. You still missing me?”

He laughs. “I sure am. What are you up to?”

“I’ve just arrived at Anna’s house—a girls’ get-together. Beth and Elise are here as well.”

“At least you’re not on your own. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow evening, earlier if I can swing it.”

“I’ll be waiting. How’s everything there?” I ask, closing my eyes, listening intently to his voice.

“Everything is going as planned up to now. I have another meeting in about five minutes. What did you do this morning?”

Heck, I certainly won’t tell him while standing in Anna’s living room and he’s outside a meeting room. “I just hung around and made lunch, nothing interesting.”

“I need to go. I’m thinking about you and will call you later tonight.”

“Okay, I love you, Cade,” I whisper.

“I love you too, stay safe.” Then he’s gone.

I hope Cade won’t be too upset later when I tell him about Nick. Bringing my mind back to the present, I head toward the kitchen where I can hear the others chattering away.

“Rona, come join us. The coffee is to your right. I came to get you but you were on the phone, so I thought it best to wait.”

“Thanks, Anna.” Pouring coffee into a cup, I take a seat at the table. “When should I see a fresh snowfall? I love the snow and didn’t get enough while living in Ireland.”

Anna grins. “Snow is actually in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon.”

Oh no, I hope Cade makes it home.

“So realistically, there will be fresh snow for me to make a snowman the day after tomorrow?” I ask with glee, reassuring myself that Cade will be fine.

“That’s a given.” Anna passes me a slice of cake.