Let Them Eat Fruitcake Read online

  “At least I have a good excuse not to dance,” she said to Caroline as they sat in their assigned seats at the “reject table,” as Caroline had dubbed it. Maria and Daniel’s least favorite members of the wedding party sat here. “I have blisters the size of quarters on both heels.”

  “These pumps are the worst,” complained Caroline. “But at least they were fairly cheap.”

  “I wonder where old bridesmaid shoes go to die.”

  “How about old bridesmaids?” said Caroline. “Seriously, if one more well-meaning aunt inquires as to my marital status, I think I’ll scream.”

  “I think I may throw—” Anna saw something—rather, someone—that made her want to duck under the table.

  “What’s wrong?” demanded Caroline. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

  Anna swallowed hard. “I did.”

  “What?”

  “The ghost of boyfriend past.”

  “Jake?”

  “Yes.” Anna glanced over her shoulder, trying to spot the nearest exit. “I’m going to make a fast break, okay?”

  “Sure.” Caroline nodded. “I totally understand.”

  So, with her loathsome hot-pink shoes in hand, Anna stood, and without looking back, headed straight for an exit sign, only to discover that it was an emergency exit. As tempting as it was, she knew an alarm would sound if she pushed it open. And even if Maria wasn’t her favorite cousin, Anna didn’t want to spoil her reception.

  So, staying on the perimeter of the room, she made her way to the front exit. When she got there, Jake seemed to be waiting for her. Short of running straight past him, which would probably appear melodramatic, it seemed her only recourse was to simply force a smile and say, “Hey, Jake.”

  “Anna, I’ve been looking all over for you.” Then he actually reached out and took her hand, the one not holding the shoes. “It’s so great to see you.”

  “Really?” Anna frowned.

  “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about you lately.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. And then I come to Daniel’s wedding and the first girl I see walking down the aisle is you! I couldn’t believe my eyes.” He squeezed her hand.

  “Really?” Anna felt slightly dizzy. She vaguely wondered if she’d actually blasted through that emergency exit, tumbled over the rail of a second-story fire escape, landed smack on her head, and was now semiconscious and delusional. She blinked and stared at her old boyfriend.

  “I know it sounds crazy, Anna. But it seems like fate.”

  “Fate?” She pulled her hand away from his and stepped back.

  “Were you leaving?”

  “Well, I …”

  “Don’t go yet, Anna. We need to talk.”

  She narrowed her eyes. The last time he’d told her they needed to talk, he confessed to falling in love with someone else.

  “Kayla …” Without meaning to, she said the name. But at least it was out there in the open now. “What about Kayla?”

  “We broke up, Anna. She wasn’t really who I thought she was.”

  “Oh.”

  “Are you okay?” He bent down to peer at her face. “Do you need to sit down or anything?”

  She nodded, and he led her through the hotel lobby, past an enormous Christmas tree and over to a quiet couch in a corner. But even after she sat down, it seemed her head was spinning. And she’d had only one glass of champagne. “This is very weird, Jake.”

  “I know. But really, Anna, it seems like fate to me. I mean I was thinking of you and wondering how to get ahold of you, and then you walk down the aisle in that hideous dress.”

  She laughed. “It is hideous, isn’t it?”

  “It’s pretty bad.”

  She held up the shoes. “And these shoes are going straight into the trash when I get home.”

  “Do you still live at home?”

  So she explained her new housing arrangements and, to distract herself from how bizarre this felt, she told him a little about her housemates and their various quirks. “But, all in all, we’re starting to feel more like a family. In fact, we’re even going to have a Christmas party, which should be interesting.”

  “Good for you, Anna. I mean for moving out. I never wanted to say anything, but your parents made it easy for me to break up with you.”

  “Oh, and so Kayla didn’t really have much to do with it, then?”

  “Yeah, yeah. Kayla turned my head. I can admit it now.” He gave her a charming smile, the same one she used to love. “I’m sorry, Anna. I know I was a jerk. Can you forgive me?”

  She frowned. “I don’t know.”

  “Seriously, Anna. I really was just thinking about you. It’s so cool to see you here tonight. Just like old times.”

  “How long ago did you break up with Kayla?”

  He considered this. “I guess a couple weeks, but it seems like longer. It was right after Halloween.”

  “Oh.” She wondered why he thought it seemed like longer. Was it because he was missing Kayla? Or just because he’d moved on? Still, she didn’t want to ask. She didn’t want to appear overly interested.

  “It was a little uncomfortable coming to the wedding without a date,” he said.

  “I don’t see why. A lone guy at a wedding is a hot commodity. I’m surprised the single girls weren’t lined up to dance with you.”

  “How about you, Anna? Do you have a date here?”

  She pressed her lips together, then shook her head. Why was he so darned good-looking anyway? And why was he doing this to her?

  “So, you’re not dating anyone, then?”

  “Well, there’s a guy …”

  He nodded with a slightly grim expression. “A guy … well, of course, why should that surprise me? Is it serious?”

  “Oh, I don’t know …”

  “Meaning it’s not serious?”

  “Meaning I don’t know.”

  “But he’s not here with you.”

  “Yes, well, I didn’t want him to come.”

  Jake’s dark brows arched hopefully. “So, maybe it’s not serious.”

  “I just didn’t want to subject him to everything yet. I mean, other than Gil, he hasn’t even met my family.”

  “Speaking of Gil,” said Jake, “who’s that girl with him?”

  “Lelani. She’s one of my housemates.”

  “Wow, she’s hot.” Jake got a sheepish smile. “Sorry, but I’d have to be blind not to notice.”

  “I know, she’s gorgeous. She’s also really nice.”

  “Well, Gil looks smitten.”

  “Yes, he’s been like that since the first time he met her.”

  “Are they serious?”

  Anna frowned at that word again. “Serious? I’m not even sure how you define serious, Jake. They’re not engaged, if that’s what you mean. They go out sometimes. But Lelani is kind of mysterious. It’s like she has some deep, dark secret. Or maybe she’s just not sure what she wants to do with her life. She quit premed and seems a little confused. Anyway, I think she keeps Gil at arm’s length. Although I know she really likes him too.” It was a relief to talk about someone besides herself. Consequently, she probably told Jake more than he needed to know. But it did seem to move the conversation into a different direction.

  As they continued to talk, Jake filled her in on his current job. He’d just been hired by a new software company and seemed to like it. Then Anna told him about her work at the publishing house and even the Ramsay Rowan project. And to her amazement, she started to relax a little. It almost felt like old times. But it also felt weird. Kind of like an unsettling déjà vu. Like history might repeat itself. And like maybe she should be careful.

  “Want to dance?” he asked finally.

 
; “Sure, why not?”

  So they returned to the wedding reception and joined the others on the dance floor. And after a couple of songs, Anna realized that she was actually having fun.

  “Okay, tell me about this guy,” said Lelani. The two couples were taking a break together. The girls found a table while Gil and Jake went to fetch drinks.

  “Oh …” Anna shrugged. “Jake’s just an old friend.”

  “What about Edmond?” Lelani’s gaze pierced Anna, like she knew what was up.

  “I know this is crazy,” Anna admitted. “I mean, Jake is the same ex-boyfriend who totally broke my heart. That was almost two years ago. And I was so over him.”

  “No way. This is that guy?”

  Anna nodded. “He said he’d been thinking about me lately. Apparently, he broke up with the … the other girl, and he’d been wanting to call me. And then we meet at this wedding totally by accident. I had no idea he was a friend of the groom.”

  “Wow.”

  “Jake keeps saying that it’s fate.”

  “What do you think?” Lelani peered carefully at Anna now.

  “I don’t know.”

  “But you’re still into him?”

  “Sort of.”

  “Poor Edmond.”

  Anna frowned. “What am I going to do?”

  Lelani just shook her head. “I have no idea.”

  “Edmond is so sweet.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But Jake, well, he was my first love, Lelani. Isn’t that supposed to mean something?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “But Edmond has been so good for me.”

  Lelani tipped her head to clue Anna that the guys were returning.

  “Listen to your heart, Anna,” Lelani said quietly.

  That sounded good, but at the moment, Anna’s heart was saying all kinds of unrelated things. On one hand, she was remembering how deeply hurt she’d been when Jake dumped her for someone else. On the other hand, she remembered what it felt like to be in his arms. She hadn’t forgotten his kisses. And she remembered how she had pined for him, how at one point she would’ve done anything to get him back.

  Then she remembered how good it felt to realize she was over him—or so she thought. And how it had been great getting to know Edmond. He made her feel special, and he respected her. Edmond had been so good to her. He knew how to make her laugh, and she felt so comfortable and happy when she was with him.

  With Jake, well, she was on pins and needles. And yet that felt strangely good too. How was she supposed to listen to her heart when her heart felt so fragmented? So confused.

  Instead she decided to listen to the music, to get lost in the dancing, and to be swept away by the moment. She’d figure out her heart later!

  Seven

  Lelani

  “What’s going on with Anna?” asked Gil as he and Lelani danced a slow dance together. Lelani could tell that the wedding was winding down, and yet she didn’t want it to end. Despite all of Anna’s complaints about Latino weddings, Lelani felt slightly enchanted and surprisingly at home. And she felt wonderful being in Gil’s arms.

  “You mean with Jake?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes. What is she doing with him?”

  “Dancing?” She smiled with her eyes.

  Gil chuckled. “Do you know who he is?”

  “You mean her ex?”

  “Her ex who broke her heart.”

  “She told me.”

  “I just hope she knows what she’s doing.”

  “She’s a big girl, Gil.” Lelani chuckled. “Okay, she’s a petite girl, but she has a big spirit, and she’s very smart.”

  “She’s smart on some levels,” said Gil. “But I’m not so sure about matters of the heart.”

  “She’ll figure it out.”

  Gil nodded, then pulled Lelani closer to him. Wanting to cling to this moment, she nestled her head onto his shoulder and sighed. If only life could be this sweet and simple all the time.

  But then the song ended and the lights came on and all too soon it was time for the bride and groom to make their getaway. Maria threw her bouquet and one of the bridesmaids, not Anna, caught it. But when Daniel threw Maria’s garter he wadded it into a ball and pelted it like a football. It sailed beyond the groomsmen and straight at Gil, who caught it before it put his eye out.

  “Uh-oh …” Gil tossed Lelani an uncomfortable smile.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I don’t take these things seriously.”

  Gil pocketed the garter and asked her if she was ready to go. Lelani didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed when she realized the magic of the evening was gone now. But as Gil got her coat, she told herself it was for the best.

  “Oh, there you are,” said Gil’s mother as she hurried to Lelani. “I hoped you were still here.”

  Lelani smiled. “Yes. Gil’s getting our things.” She barely knew Mrs. Mendez and wasn’t quite sure what to make of this woman yet. She was friendly and sweet on the surface, but beneath lay something else. Something fiercely maternal and protective—not only of Anna, but Gil as well. It sort of frightened Lelani.

  “So, what did you think of the wedding?” Gil’s mother’s dark eyes were studying Lelani closely, peering at her as if she expected to spy something sinister.

  “It was lovely.”

  Mrs. Mendez looked surprised but simply nodded. “Oh?”

  “Yes. It was perfectly delightful. I’ve had such fun and met such interesting people.”

  “Here you go,” said Gil as he joined them. He draped Lelani’s coat over her shoulders and smiled at his mother. “We’re heading out now, Mom.”

  “But I was talking with Lelani.”

  “Oh?” Gil nodded. “What are you talking about?”

  “The wedding.” Mrs. Mendez’s brow creased.

  “And?” Gil waited.

  “I was telling your mother that I had a great time,” said Lelani. “I totally enjoyed myself.”

  “And it’s getting late,” said Gil, glancing at his watch.

  “Too late to talk to your mother?” asked Mrs. Mendez.

  Gil chuckled. “No, of course, not. What do you want to talk about, Mom?”

  “Anna,” she hissed, glancing over her shoulder as if worried that someone might be listening. Although that seemed unlikely. Most of the guests, including Anna and Jake, had left by now.

  “What about Anna?” Gil’s voice was getting impatient.

  “What was she doing with that—that man?”

  “Jake?”

  “Yes! What was she doing with him?”

  “Dancing?” Gil’s eyes met Lelani’s, and she was afraid he was going to laugh.

  “Yes, dancing. But why?”

  “If it’s any comfort,” said Lelani, “they didn’t come together. And Anna was pretty shocked to see him.”

  Mrs. Mendez nodded. “Yes, that’s a relief.”

  “But it’s possible they could get back together,” said Gil.

  “No!” Mrs. Mendez firmly shook her head. “That boy—he is not good for our Anna.”

  “Anna is an adult, Mom.”

  “She is still my daughter.”

  Gil laughed now. “Yes, and she will always be your daughter.” Then he hugged his mother. “And I will always be your son. But we will live our own lives, Mom. And now I need to get Lelani home.”

  Fortunately, that seemed to quiet his mother. And she actually smiled. “Drive safely.”

  “Where’s Dad?” asked Gil.

  “Getting the car.”

  “Shouldn’t you go out to meet him?”

  She shrugged. “There’s no hurry.” Then she grabbed G
il’s arm. “Don’t forget what I said about Christmas Eve, Gil.”

  “I won’t.” Gil kissed her on the cheek. “Now, you take care, Mom.”

  Lelani smiled and said her good-bye, then they made a quick getaway.

  “Sorry about my mom,” said Gil they waited for the parking valet to bring his pickup.

  “Why?”

  “Oh, she can be a little pushy.”

  Lelani laughed. “It’s just because she loves you.”

  “I guess.” Gil waved toward a white Cadillac idling across the driveway. “There’s Dad, waiting, as usual, for my mom.”

  “Your dad’s sweet.”

  “He’s a good guy.”

  After they got into the pickup, Lelani asked Gil what his mom meant about not forgetting Christmas Eve.

  “Oh …” He shook his head. “Apparently Anna told Mom that you girls were throwing a Christmas party, and my mom’s nose got out of joint.”

  “But your parents could come,” said Lelani quickly. “And you’re invited too, of course.”

  “That’s not going to happen. I mean with my parents. There’s no way my mom will go to someone else’s party.”

  “Oh.” Lelani frowned. “And it was my idea to have it. Am I ruining your family’s Christmas?”

  Gil laughed. “Not at all. My mother needs to learn that she can’t expect Anna and me to come running every time she calls. Sooner or later, she’s going to need to let us go and lead our own lives.”

  “But it is Christmas, Gil. And families should be together. I hadn’t even considered that when I got the idea for the Christmas party.”

  “It’s okay, Lelani.”

  “But your mother is going to hate me.”

  He chuckled. “My mother always takes a passionate dislike to anyone that Anna or I show interest in. But once she gets to know them, it gets better.”

  Lelani wasn’t so sure. In fact, she felt fairly certain that Mrs. Mendez would like her even less the more she got to know Lelani and her history. “I just don’t want to be the spoiler for your family’s Christmas, Gil. Maybe I should cancel the Christmas party.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Go ahead with it. I know Anna is excited about it. And I’d like to come too.”