Valentine from a Soldier (7 page)

I glanced down at my phone as one
final
message came in.

I’m sorry, Sarah.

***

I met Morgan for drinks
at 6:30 p.m.
, needing to take a breather after my crazy day. 
I’d gotten two new requests for event planning
this afternoon
—a conference that
was scheduled for early
next year and a wedding in the fall.  Apparently one of the vendors I’d been working with for Morgan’s wedding had informed another client that I was a wedding planner. 
Although I might have considered branching out if I wasn’t so busy, there was no way I could take on planning weddings on top of my already
full
schedule.

The waitress set our drinks down, and I
picked up my margarita, taking
a
long
sip.

“Delicious,” Morgan said with a grin, taking a sip of her own
rum and coke
.
  “I needed something to take the edge off.”

“Wedding day jitters?” I teased.

“More like wedding week jitters at this point,” she said with a laugh.  “I’m just waiting for something to go wrong.  Thank God the snowstorm was this past weekend.  Can you imagine if my own relatives hadn’t been able to fly in this week for the wedding?”

“That would have been a nightmare,” I agreed.  “But don’t worry; you don’t need to worry about a thing.  That’s why I’m getting paid the big bucks.”  Morgan laughed, knowing I wasn’t getting paid a thing for my honorary role as wedding planner.  I wouldn’t have had it any other way though.

“So anyway,” I said,
deciding to broach a new subject
.  “
What made you tell Julia about Ryan?
”

“
Oh, i
t just came up,” Morgan said with a shrug.

I gave her a look.  “There
’
s no way it
just came up
.  What, my assistant just happened to ask if I met anyone over the weekend?”

“Okay, okay.  Maybe it didn’t
just
come up.  But I was talking to Julia about the wedding and how you ended up missing the bachelorette party.  She sounded bummed that you couldn’t make it after all the hard work you’d put in planning it, so I just said something about how I didn’t think you were too lonely during your time in San Francisco.  I’m sorry,” she added, once again meeting my gaze.

“It’s fine,” I said with a sigh.  “It’s not like I care that she knows.  I’m just having a tough time today.”

“You really like him, huh?”

“It doesn’t matter
,” I said, shaking my head.
 
“
He was just with me because he can never
have the woman he really wants.”  I’d told Morgan the whole story yesterday about finding Ryan’s letter
and realizing that our night together meant something different to Ryan than to me
.
  Sure I was attracted to him, but I’d thought we had an amazing connection
and something that you didn’t find just anywhere.
  He may have
been
attracted to me, too, but
he
was
also
secretly pining away for
someone
he could never have.
 
“Anyway, enough about me.
 
Are you getting excited
? 
Five more days!”

“I know
;
I can hardly believe it. 
It feels like we’ve been engaged forever, and now all of a sudden the wedding is here. 
By this time next week I’ll be a Mrs.!”

“And in Hawaii,” I added with a grin.  “I could really go for a vacation right about now.”

“I hear California is nice this time of year,” she said casually.  If looks could kill, Morgan would never have stood a chance against my scorching gaze.

“Or not,” she said with a giggle.
  She glanced down at my empty glass.  “Come on; let’s have another drink.  Next round’s on me.”

Morgan’s dad
finished his
toast
at the rehearsal dinner on Friday night,
and I happily raised my wine glass with the others, congratulating the happy couple.  The rehearsal had gone off without a hitch, and the dinner was spectacular, with an amazing spread of appetizers, a main course of lobster and filet mignon, and a delicious assortment of bite-size desserts.  I’d help
ed
Morgan’s parents
select the location
for the dinner and was happy that everything
had worked out as planned
.
 
Morgan’s brother Chris leaned closer to me, giving me a big grin.  “I can’t believe my little sister is really getting married. 
Think that’ll be you and me someday?”

I laughed
as I glanced over at him
. 
“‘You and me’ as in getting married to each other?
  Or just getting married in general?”

Chris laughed, a deep, rich sound, and I wished that I didn’t see him almost as my own big brother.  He was cute, with a
friendly personality and steady job
, but there never had been any sparks between us, much to Morgan
’s
and her parents’ disappointment.  “I meant in general.  But hey, if you’re asking me to marry you, I wouldn’t turn you down.”

I elbowed him playfully, thinking there was no end to his teasing.  “I better go bring in the gifts soon.”

“Gifts?”

“Yeah, Morgan and Josh have presents for all the bridesmaids and groomsmen.”

“Well, this night is getting better and better.  My little sister is plying us with alcohol, lavishing us with presents—
maybe we should get married, so we can have a big party, too
.”

I eyed him curiously, thinking maybe I’d been reading him wrong.  Even if Chris had feelings for me
,
though, I definitely didn’t
return his affection
.  “Right,” I said
uncertainly
, wanting to change the subject.

“Hey
,
I’m just kidding,” Chris said, sensing my discomfort.  “I know you’re pining away for that San Francisco guy anyway.”

“I’m not pining away,” I protested.  “Seriously, is there anyone that Morgan didn’t tell about
Ryan
?  Next time I’m keeping my mouth shut.”

Chris shrugged, giving me a quick grin.  “You never know.  These things have a way of working themselves out.”

An hour later the bridal party had opened our presents
(matching silver necklaces for the bridesmaids and silver-plated cocktail shakers for the groomsmen)
, guests were finishing their
dessert and
after-dinner coffee, and the evening was beginning to wind down. 
“Sarah, this dinner
was
amazing!” Morgan
said, throwing her arms around me in a huge hug.

“Well, it’s no bachelorette party, but I’m glad that I at least got to celebrate with you at the rehearsal dinner.”

“Seriously, you’ve done an awesome job with everything.  Thank you so much!”

She squeezed m
y
arm as she bounced up and down with joy, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d see her so happy.  “And just wait for tomorrow,” I said.  “The best is still yet to come!”

“All right, my bride-to-be,” Josh interrupted
, wrapping his arms around Morgan.
  “Is this the part where I say that I’ll see you at the altar?”

“I’m afraid so. 
I need to get my beauty sleep and then spend
all
morning getting ready!”

“This is one of those times I’m glad it’s easier being a guy.  I plan to shower, shave, and throw on my tux.  Done,” he said with a grin.

“Just remember that the next time you’re complaining about how long it takes me to get ready.  Men have it easier.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” I chimed in.

“Will do,”
Josh
said good-naturedly.

“
I’ll see you tomorrow, honey,” Morgan
said,
twisting around in Josh’s arms to give
him a tender kiss
goodbye
.

“I still don’t understand why you can’t stay at your condo tonight,” Chris
said
, confused.  “You guys live together!”

“It’s tradition,” I said with a shrug.

“It would be bad luck for Josh to see me tomorrow
morning
.  He knows that!”

Josh gave Chris a look that seemed to say,
I know this is crazy, but what can I do?

“So, what, is Sarah staying with you in the bridal suite tonight?” Chris asked.

“No, silly.
  I’m staying in her room. 
T
omorrow all the girls will get ready together in my suite, but only Josh and I will be staying there.”

“I sure hope so,” Josh said, wrapping his arms around Morgan’s waist
again to pull her close
.

“This is why I’m coordinating the wedding and not you,” I teased Chris.
  “You have to understand all the finite details.”

“I’m happy to let you have the job,” he said with a laugh.
  “Marketing is more my thing anyway.”

We said goodnight and grabbed a cab over to our hotel.
  I’d already checked-in earlier, so ou
r
overnight bags, dresses, and everything else needed to get ready in the morning were waiting in
my
room.
  As we walked across the lobby, Morgan suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me in the opposite direction of the elevator bank.  As I glanced over at her in confusion, I thought I caught a glimpse of a tall, dark-haired guy ducking down a side hallway
—a guy
that looked an awful lot
like
Ryan. 
I’d only seen him for a second though and knew logically that he wouldn’t be here in Chicago, at the hotel where Morgan was getting married. 
My heart
was a different matter
though
, and I found myself wishing more than anything that it had really been him.

***

The next morning was spent in a flurry of activity. 
Morgan and I ordered room service,
but
while I enjoyed a quick breakfast, she was too nervous to eat.  Before long, h
airdressers, make-up artists, and even the hotel seamstress descended on Morg
an’s bridal suite, prepping Morgan and all of the bridesmaids
, including myself,
for her
big day.  I’d arranged for a light lunch catered by the hotel and a champagne toast, so
Morgan and I
sat around
with the other bridesmaids wearing
silk bathrobes
,
in full hair and make-up, enjoying one last meal together before the ceremony.  “I wonder what the guys are doing right now,” Morgan said.

“Just waking up?” I joked.

“They better not be!  I told Josh to go straight home last night.”

“I’m just kidding.  I’m sure they’re getting ready—or at least thinking about it.  They don’t have nearly as much to do as us.
”

“I know, I’m dying to get into my dress though,” she said, eyeing the cream lace gown hanging over in the corner of the room.
  “After searching high and low for the perfect
dress
, I’m not going to take it off all night!”

“I wonder how Josh will feel about that,” I teased.

“Very funny.”

I gla
nced down at my phone to check the
time and felt a little sad that I didn’t have any messages from Ryan.  I hadn’t heard from him since Monday, when I’d told him that I needed time to think, but I
’
d secretly hoped that he’d
at least
send me a quick text today.  It’s not like I expected a dozen roses or something—who knew if or when I’d see him again. 
But what girl wouldn’t want to hear from the guy she’d fallen for on Valentine’s Day? 
I felt a little sad that my best friend was getting married
to the love of her life
, and
the guy I wanted hadn’t even given me a call.  He was probably just respecting my wishes; after all, Ryan had apologized, and I was the one who was upset
and told him that I needed some time
.

“Should we get you into your gown?” I asked
Morgan,
trying to get my mind back on the task at hand.

One of the other bridesmaids and I helped her slip it on, and the hairdresser that had remained hovering around provid
ed
a few final touches.  I stepped into my red satin gown
,
which
hung to
the floor and
clung to
my curves in just the right places.
  As we got ready to head downstairs to the banquet hall where the wedding
ceremony
and reception
would be
held, Morgan leaned over and whispered in my ear.  “He doesn’t know what he’s missing.”
 
I knew she could tell I wasn’t my usual cheerful self, and I was grateful that she’d said anything at all since this was her big day.  Plastering a smile on
my
face, I walked with her and the other girls to the elevator bank, and we crowded into
one elevator
for the ride down to the lobby.
  Chris was there to escort me down the aisle as
the ceremony began and
we made our way through the
opening
procession.  Moments later Morgan herself was being escorted down the aisle by her father, and my smile was genuine this time as I saw how happy my best friend was.