Chapter One
Three months before “the big day.”
Isa Lavender
“It’s gorgeous, baby. I love it,” I cooed, staring at the way my three-carat pear-shaped diamond engagement ring with a double row of sparkling diamonds around the 14K white gold band sparkled under the jewelry store lights.
“I’m glad you love it. Now I’m sure you’ll have something to keep a smile on your face whenever I’m away.” Axel worked up a cocky grin before kissing my forehead.
I met my green-eyed lovebird, fell in love harder and faster than I’d ever done before, picked out the engagement ring of my dreams, and was planning the wedding I’d always wanted within a matter of months. It was the stuff of myths and whirlwind fairytales. If it did all turn out to be a dream, it was one I never wanted to wake up from.
“I can’t believe we’re like, really engaged,” I blurted out on the car ride back to my apartment.
“Was it not real to you before?”
“It was but looking down and seeing a ring on my finger makes it all the more real.”
“You still feel okay about it?”
I jerked my chin in agreement. “Of course, I do; why would you ask me that?”
He shrugged his right shoulder. “Just checking.”
“I love you, Axel McAdams, and I’m in this with you.”
“For the long haul?” he asked.
“For the long haul,” I repeated, “but now the hard part begins.”
“And what’s that? Wedding planning.”
“Nope. Figuring out how we’re going to tell our families. Introducing a girlfriend or boyfriend is one thing, but we’re talking about merging lives here.”
“Okay, so let’s merge them. Let’s put all our friends and family in one room and tell them all at once.”
“Like a surprise?”
“Unless you want to go door to door and let everyone know,” he uttered with a soft chuckle.
“No, I like your idea of a surprise engagement party. Something small just for our close friends and family.”
“Sounds good, babe. You can plan it while I’m gone,” he announced.
I frowned. “Hold up. This is the second time within a few minutes that you mentioned leaving. Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked.
He’d gone from doing a few local gigs around the city just to stay in the habit of playing to flying out for a few days every other week or two to do gigs with the band. I’d been helping him sort through his grief one day at a time over the loss of his mother. I knew there was no timeline for grief first-hand, but he was losing himself in the music and disconnecting.
“I’m flying out to Chicago for one of my band member’s birthdays. Andre, the bass player. His wife is throwing a surprise party for his fortieth birthday, so we’re getting together to play,” he declared.
His unexpected news quickly deflated my smile. “How long will you be gone?”
“Just a few days. What do you have planned this weekend? Can you come? Say the word, and I’ll get you a ticket to fly out.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t. I will be confined to the city this week, and hopefully, it doesn’t spill into the next.”
“What are you working on now?”
“Ugh,” I grumbled. “Naomi, the head of the mag’s food and leisure beat, went on maternity leave a week and a half early. So, since you can’t reschedule birthing a life, her full-spread feature article on Chef Elijah Stone got dumped on me. As if I don’t already have enough on my plate,” I griped.