White Lace and Promises Read Free Page A

of donating her money to charity. If possible, she would gladly return to the years when she had sat blissfully at her bedroom window, her chin resting on her crossed arms as she gazed at the stars and dreamed of the future. Childhood dreams that were never meant to come true.
    Shaking herself from her reverie, Maggie parked the fancy sports car in front of the house. For this night she would put on her brightest smile. No one would ever know what she was feeling on the inside.

    Janelle’s mother looked as if she were preparing more for a funeral than a wedding. Flustered and worried, she waved her hands in five different directions, orchestrating the entourage gathered in the church vestibule.
    “Girls, please, please pay attention. Darcy, go right, June left, and so on. Understand?”
    The last time anyone had called Maggie a girl was in high school. Janelle, Maggie, the bridesmaids, the flower girl, and the ring bearer were all positioned, awaiting instructions. Maggie glanced enviously to the front of the church, where Steve and Glenn were standing. It didn’t seem fair that they should get off so lightly.
    “Remember to count to five slowly before following the person in front of you,” Janelle’s mother continued.
    The strains of organ music burst through the church and the first attendant, shoulders squared, stepped onto the white runner that flowed down the center aisle.
    “I can’t believe this is really happening,” Janelle whispered. “Tomorrow Steve and I will be married. After all the years of loving him, it’s like a dream.”
    “I know,” Maggie whispered, and squeezed her friend’s forearm.
    “Go left, go left.” Mrs. Longmier’s voice drifted to them, and Maggie dissolved into giggles.
    “I can’t believe your mother.”
    “The pastor assured her he’d handle everything, but she insisted on doing it herself. That’s what I get for being the only girl in a family of four boys.”
    “In another twenty years or so you may well be doing it yourself,” Maggie reminded her.
    “Oops.” Janelle nudged her. “Your turn. And for heaven’s sake, don’t goof up. I’m starved and want to get out of here.”
    Holding a paper plate decorated with bows and ribbons from one of Janelle’s five wedding showers, Maggie carefully placed one foot in front of the other in a deliberate, step-by-stepmarch that seemed to take an eternity. The smile on her face was as brittle as old parchment.
    Standing in her place at the altar, Maggie kept her head turned so she could see Janelle’s approach. The happiness radiating from her friend’s face produced a curious ache in Maggie’s heart. If these feelings were so strong at the rehearsal, she couldn’t help wondering how she’d react during the actual wedding. Maggie felt someone’s eyes on her and glanced up to see Glenn’s steady gaze. He smiled briefly and looked away.
    The pastor moved in front of the young couple and cracked a few old jokes. Everyone laughed politely. As the organ music filled the church, the bride and groom, hands linked, began their exit.
    When it came time for Maggie to meet Glenn at the head of the aisle, he stiffly tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow.
    “I never thought I’d be marching down the aisle with you,” she whispered under her breath.
    “It has all the makings of a nightmare,” Glenn countered. “However, I’ll admit you’re kinda cute.”
    “Thanks.”
    “But so are lion cubs.”
    Maggie’s fingers playfully bit into the muscles of his upper arm as she struggled not to laugh.
    His hand patted hers as he whispered, “You’re lovely.”
    “Is that so?” Maggie batted her eyes at him, blatantly flirting. “And available. I have a king-size bed too.”
    They were nearing the back of the church. Glenn’s dark eyes bored holes into her. “Are you looking for a lover?”
    The question caught Maggie by surprise. The old Glenn would have swatted her across the rump and told her to behave. The new