Page 11 of Love, Second Chances and Other Nonsense
“That’s…” Lauren pauses, choosing her words carefully. “That’s nice of him, I guess. But you’d think my mother or some of their other relatives could help with things too.”
“You would think,” I agree, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to spend our lunch complaining about your brother.”
“Hey,” Lauren reaches across the table to touch my hand. “If anyone gets to complain about my brother, it’s his fiancée. And me, of course.” She smiles, and I feel a rush of gratitude for her company. Lauren has been one of the few bright spots in Mount Pella, one of the few people who’s attempted to befriend me since Adam and I moved here.
“I just…” I struggle to put my feelings into words that don’t make me sound like a jealous, paranoid harpy. “I feel so isolated here. Adam’s gone all the time, and everyone in this town looks at me like I’m some kind of interloper.”
“You’re not an interloper,” Lauren says firmly. “You’re Adam’s fiancée. You’re going to be his wife.”
“Try telling that to the ladies at the funeral who kept telling me all about how Adam and Millie were high school sweethearts,” I mutter.
Lauren rolls her eyes. “Those old biddies need to get a life. High school was over a decade ago.”
“So you don’t think—” I hesitate, almost afraid to voice the question that’s been haunting me. “You don’t think he still has feelings for her?”
Lauren shakes her head without hesitation. “No way. Look, if Adam wanted to be with Millie, he’s had ample opportunity over the years. He broke up with her after high school, not the other way around. She was hoping for a proposal. And she’s made it painfully obvious she was waiting for him every time he came home to visit. He never took the bait.”
I feel the small knot of tension in my chest loosen slightly. “Really?”
“Really,” Lauren confirms, taking a sip of her iced tea. “My mom and Rhonda have been pushing those two togethersince they were in diapers. They had this whole fantasy about their kids growing up and falling in love, joining the families officially.” She makes a face. “When Adam and Millie actually dated in high school, Mom and Rhonda were practically picking out china patterns.”
“And then he broke up with her,” I say, remembering what Lauren just said.
“Mom never quite got over it,” Lauren nods. “She thought they were perfect together. Or rather, she thought the idea of them was perfect. I’m not sure she ever paid much attention to whether Adam was actually happy with her.”
“I don’t think your mom likes me very much.” I tell her, voicing another fear I’ve had.
Lauren winces slightly, and I know I’ve hit on something true. “It’s not that she doesn’t like you,” she says carefully. “It’s just that Paula Kelley has a very specific vision of how things should be, and she doesn’t adjust easily when reality doesn’t match up. She had this picture in her head of Adam marrying Millie, the daughter of her closest friend, someone she’s known forever, someone who fits into her idea of what our family should look like.”
“And I’m not that,” I say flatly.
“No, you’re not,” Lauren agrees. “But you make my brother happier than I’ve ever seen him, and that’s the important thing. Mom will come around. She’s stubborn, but she wants us kids to be happy when it comes down to it.”
“Even if that happiness doesn’t match her vision?”
Lauren laughs. “Eventually. She might kick and scream the whole way, but she’ll get there.”
I’m about to respond when I feel a prickle on the back of my neck. I glance toward the restaurant entrance just as Adam walks in, holding the door open for Millie. My heart gives a painful lurch.
“Speak of the devil,” Lauren mutters, following my gaze.
Adam scans the restaurant and does a visible double-take when he spots us. His expression shifts from surprise to something that looks uncomfortably like guilt. Millie, on the other hand, looks almost smug as she touches Adam’s arm, leaning in to say something to him.
Lauren raises her hand in a wave, and they make their way over to our table. I suddenly wish I were anywhere else.
“Hey,” Adam says, sounding uncertain. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Clearly,” I reply, trying to keep my voice neutral.
Millie hovers at his side, her hand still resting possessively on his forearm. “Adam was helping sort through some of Daddy’s things, and I got hungry,” she explains, her voice carrying that fragile quality it’s had since the funeral. “So we decided to get lunch.”
“What a coincidence,” Lauren says dryly. “Why don’t you join us?”
Adam’s gaze flicks between me and his sister, obviously sensing the tension. “We’d love to. As long as we aren’t intruding on your lunch—”
“Nonsense,” Lauren cuts him off. “There’s plenty of room. Right, Caitlin?”
I force a smile. “Sure.”
