The Valentine Wedding Dress Read Free

you understand and maybe, after all this time, have even forgiven me. If only things could have been different. With all my love, Peter.”
    Peter? Lara stared again at the signature to make sure she’d gotten it right. Who was Peter? Her father’s name was Mitch. Mitch Calhoun. Lara had never heard of anyone named Peter. Certainly her mother had never mentioned the name. Why would a card with such an obviously intimate message be tucked away with her mother’s wedding dress?
    Suddenly Lara thought she knew. Dropping the card on top of the folds of satin, she ran downstairs, relieved that she had the house to herself, that her father wouldn’t be home for hours, not until long after she’d left for her date.
    She paused at the door to her parents’ bedroom, took a deep breath, then stepped inside and walked over to the dresser. Swallowing hard, heart thundering in her chest, she reached for the informal wedding picture that had sat in the same spot as far back as she could remember. In it, her mother was smiling brilliantly, but it was a spring day, not winter, not February 14. There were buds on the trees and daffodils blooming beside the church steps.
    And the dress? Lara’s gaze swept over it in a single glance. Soft and feminine, it was trimmed in lace, not pearls. It was made of organza, not satin. Which meant that the dress in the attic was from another wedding.
    She thought of the valentine. Or, she concluded, from a wedding that had never taken place at all.
    * * *
    â€œGoing out with Chelsea tonight?” Peter Lafferty asked as Dave stood in front of the hall mirror and straightened his tie.
    â€œNo, as a matter of fact, I’m not.”
    â€œReally? I thought that was getting serious.”
    Dave sighed. “She thought so, too. I told her a little while ago that I couldn’t be with her anymore, that we didn’t have a future.” It had been the most difficult conversation he’d ever had, but he knew in his heart it had been the only fair thing to do.
    â€œCan’t say I’m sorry,” his father said. “I never did think she was right for you.”
    Dave stared at him in surprise. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
    â€œBecause nobody knows better than I do that you can’t let other people pick the person you’re going to love.”
    Dave was startled by the admission. He walked into the living room and sat opposite his father. “Dad, were you and Mom happy?”

CHAPTER FOUR
    From the moment Lara answered the door, Dave knew that something had happened since he’d left that afternoon. It wasn’t that she didn’t look fabulous. She did. Her hair had been brushed until it gleamed. Her makeup was perfect. She was wearing a red wool dress that skimmed over her curves in the most enticing way. She’d chosen sleek red heels that added two inches to her height, yet brought her only to his chin.
    â€œYou look beautiful,” he said with total sincerity. He touched a finger to her cheek. “Or you would if it weren’t for the sorrow in your eyes. What’s wrong? Would you rather not do this?”
    â€œNo, I’m looking forward to it,” she said.
    â€œAbout as much as you would to having your tooth pulled,” he said. “Come on, Lara, what is it?”
    She hesitated, then drew him inside. The living room was smaller than his own, but cozy. He could tell at once that this was a real home, furnished with love. Photos lined the mantel of the fireplace. A gleaming piano stood against one wall with sheet music piled atop it.
    â€œSomething did happen,” she confessed, looking shaken. “I don’t know what to make of it.”
    â€œTell me.”
    â€œYou know that dress I was wearing?”
    He grinned at that. “How could I forget?”
    â€œIt was my mother’s. It’s been in the attic for years, in this trunk.”
    So far, he didn’t see the