Convenient Marriage, Surprise Twins. Amy Ruttan

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       CHAPTER FOUR

      LANA MANAGED TO avoid Andrew for the rest of the week. Even though the wedding was creeping up fast, she was actively avoiding him. He’d made her feel things at the Kahuna Café that she wasn’t comfortable with. Things that she’d hidden for so long because it was expected of her. Her father had certain expectations, but there was a part of her deep down that was like her mother.

      And it was that side she hid because it was too painful for her father.

      When her mother had left, shortly after Jack was born, she’d assumed the mantle of mother.

      And since she wanted Jack and her father happy, she’d buried the feelings of grief, anger and loss well. Only one other person had got through her icy shell and that had been David.

      David had made her feel things she’d never thought possible and look how well that had turned out.

      Then there was the constant butting of heads between her brother and father. So Lana had learned to adapt to smooth things over between the two of them. She was the mediator and the peacekeeper. So, to make sure everyone was happy she’d do almost anything.

      Even wear a wedding dress that slightly horrified her.

      “It’s so dreamy,” Sophie, her stepmother, gushed, running her manicured hand over the fabric as if it were one of the fluffy poodles she showed. “Isn’t it, Lana?”

      You expect me to wear that?

      Only she didn’t say that.

      Keep the peace. Keep the peace.

      “Sure.”

      There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with the dress. It was just...she wasn’t used to dresses. They weren’t something she was used to wearing. Especially one that was lace-covered, form-fitting, backless, ivory-colored and scattered with pearls.

      That wasn’t her idea of nice clothing.

      She’d missed her prom because her father had been at a medical conference and someone had to watch Jack. Maybe she was the only girl who didn’t dream of being Cinderella.

      Give her scrubs, slacks or a wetsuit any day.

      Oh, come on. You dreamt of wedding dresses when you were with David.

      And she hated herself for letting that thought in.

      Sophie frowned. “You hate it, don’t you?”

      “No, no,” Lana apologized quickly. “It’s just overwhelming. I hadn’t planned on...”

      Getting married after David had crushed her heart. Having a wedding. Getting married to Andrew ever.

      “I hadn’t planned on a wedding.” Which wasn’t a lie. “We just wanted to go down to City Hall. Do it quietly.”

      Sophie smiled. “Which is why I’m planning it. I am the best wedding planner on the island.”

      “I know.” Lana smiled. Sophie wasn’t her mother, but she was the closest she’d had to one for the last fifteen years. Sophie had stepped in when Lana had gone to school in California. And she sometimes couldn’t help but wonder if her father had remarried just so there was someone to take care of Jack when she was away. But then that made her wonder: had he only let her go because she was following in his footsteps?

      Don’t think like that. Dad loves Sophie and so do you. It killed Lana to be lying to her on so many levels. “I do love it. Truly.”

      “I knew it.” Sophie clapped her hands and put the dress back in its garment bag before swinging around with another garment bag. “I have your gala dress ready too.”

      Lana groaned inwardly. Right. The gala fund-raiser was the night before her wedding. Two fancy dresses in the span of twenty-four hours. This would be brutal.

      Lana braced herself, but as Sophie pulled out a royal blue, long ball gown, also backless and covered in lace, she relaxed because it was completely stunning. This dress she really did love. Royal blue was one of her favorite colors.

      “I can see by the way your eyes lit up you like this one more,” Sophie teased.

      “I do.” Lana touched the dress. “Can’t I get married in this?”

      “No, СКАЧАТЬ