“You can’t ask questions during the wedding,” Ellen told her friend.
“Okay. Sorry.” But April didn’t sound contrite.
Anne Marie quickly whispered the definition as Ellen frowned.
The ceremony took only a few minutes and by the time they’d finished Anne Marie and Tim both found themselves grinning. Ellen’s performance—complete with sweeping gestures—was worthy of an acting award. Anne Marie had gradually relaxed enough to enjoy the charade.
The only person who didn’t appear the least bit entertained was Mel. He stood out in the hallway, wearing a frown.
Shortly after the “vows” were exchanged, Tim kissed Anne Marie on the cheek, then pulled out his wallet.
“What’s the money for?” Ellen asked when he removed a dollar bill.
“The groom always pays the preacher.”
Ellen raised her hand to stop him. “Give the money to the poor.”
“I’m poor,” April said, and held out her palm.
“No, you aren’t,” Ellen retorted. “Wedding planners make lots of money.”
“I guess you should put your money away,” Anne Marie said with a shrug.
Grinning, Tim did as she suggested. When he glanced up he apparently caught sight of Mel. “I’d better go.” He bent down to hug Ellen farewell.
“You need to thank your father,” Anne Marie said.
Ellen wrapped her arms around Tim’s neck. “Thank you again for fixing my bike and for being the groom and for everything,” she said in a breathless voice.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“Can we go bike riding again soon?”
“Sure. I’ll set a time with your mother.”
When Anne Marie escorted him to the front door, Tim held her look for a moment, then raised his eyes to meet Mel’s, who stood directly behind her. “Does next Saturday work for you? I can pick Ellen up around ten.”
“We have plans for Saturday,” Mel inserted without allowing Anne Marie the opportunity to respond.
She ignored him. “Saturday morning will be fine, Tim. I’ll have Ellen ready by ten.”
His expression uncertain, Tim nodded. “Okay. See you then.”
“Bye,” she said, closing the door. Neither man had addressed the other again. She took a deep breath to compose herself, then turned deliberately to Mel. “What was that about?” she snapped.
Mel didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. “I’ve told you. I don’t like the idea of Tim spending so much time with you and Ellen. Besides, we did discuss going for brunch.”
She was in no state to deal with his insecurities and frankly she was a little unsettled by the make-believe wedding. “I think you might be making an assumption regarding our relationship, Mel. We’re good friends—”
“Friends?” he repeated, breaking in. “We’ve been dating exclusively for the past six months. Correction, I’ve been dating you exclusively. And yet Tim is still in your life.”
“Ellen’s his daughter!”
“That doesn’t mean you have to be involved with him.”
Anne Marie expelled her breath and walked into the kitchen. They had to lower their voices, otherwise the girls might hear. “I don’t want to argue about Tim.”
“I don’t either, but I need to find out where I stand with you. Just tell me flat-out—am I wasting my time here? I know you cared about Tim at one point.”
“That’s over,” she said immediately. “I told you before.”
“Is it, Anne Marie?”
“Yes …” But she didn’t sound nearly as emphatic as she wanted to.
“I think that tells me everything I need to know.”
Anne Marie felt terrible.
Calling goodbye to the girls, Mel started toward the front door. She stopped him. “Don’t go,” she whispered, her hand on his forearm.
He hesitated.
“Please.”
Mel exhaled slowly as though undecided.
Anne Marie slid her arms around his middle and hugged him close. Mel was solid and warm, and she knew exactly where she stood with him. Tim was like shifting sand, not to be trusted. Eventually her heart would align itself with Mel’s.
Seven
April 27
I’ve made a decision. I’m going to ignore my feelings for Tim and concentrate on Mel. Once I do that, my heart will follow. Ever since last Saturday I’ve been miserable. Well, no more. I refuse to get emotionally involved with Tim again. He’s good for Ellen and she loves him. I can’t and won’t keep him away from his daughter. However, I think Mel might be right. We need to establish a parenting plan. We need an agreement between us. Now that I’ve settled that in my own mind, I want to start a new knitting project. I’d like to make something for Courtney’s wedding. I’m sure Lydia will have a few ideas.
Wednesday afternoon Tim phoned Anne Marie at the bookstore. “I hope I didn’t cause a problem between you and Mel when I came by the other night,” he said.
“Why would that be a problem?” she asked, unwilling to mention her argument with Mel. “It wasn’t a big deal, and Ellen loved the fact that you went along with her wedding-planner fantasy.”
“I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be married. I just never expected to have a dog as my best man.”
Despite herself Anne Marie laughed. “As I recall, he fell asleep during the ceremony. Some best man he turned out to be.”
“You don’t have any room to talk. Your maid of honor wouldn’t come out from under the bed.”
“True.”
After a brief silence, Tim said, “Is Ellen there?”
“She met up with Casey Goetz after school, but she’s due at the bookstore soon. Any particular reason you’re asking?”
“Would you mind if I took her to Lake Wisdom? My parents recently bought a cabin there, and since it’s such a sunny afternoon, I thought she might enjoy a boat ride.”
The weather was unseasonably warm for April, and Anne Marie knew Ellen would love an outing like that. “I’m sure she’d be thrilled.” They discussed the fact that Ellen would need a life vest if she went out on the water, then chatted amicably for a few more minutes.
“I’ll pick her up at the store in half an hour.”
“Okay.”
Anne Marie glanced at her watch; it was now three-thirty.
As usual, Tim arrived precisely when he’d said he would. He had on jeans and a light jacket and wore a Mariners baseball cap. It was hard not to stare, to appreciate how handsome he was, but Anne Marie resisted.
“You ready, Ellen?” he asked.
She bounced off her chair, slammed her book shut and nodded. “Can Mom come, too?”
“I wish she would,” Tim said.
Anne Marie automatically shook her head. “I’d like to, but I need to be here.”
Teresa, who worked with her, was quick