A familiar voice called out from behind her, “I hope that isn’t the only lesson I’ve taught you.”
Blair spun around and gasped. An attractive blonde woman stood in the doorway, worry filling her eyes. She looked like an older version of Blair. “Mom.”
Marla Hansen took several steps into the room. “Girls, I think I need a moment with my daughter.”
Megan and Libby shot each other a look and hurried out the door as Blair’s mother moved toward her.
“Oh, Blair. You’re as beautiful as a bride could be, but you look absolutely miserable.”
To Blair’s horror, she started to cry.
“You’re a difficult woman to find,” her mother teased. “No one knew where you were all afternoon.”
“I lost him, Mom.”
“Who?”
“Garrett Lowry. I found him again, and then I lost him.”
“Megan told me.” Her mother pulled her over to a sofa, then wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Do you love Garrett?”
She let out a sob. “Yes.”
“Then why are you marrying Neil?”
She sucked in a breath, trying to get control. “Because Garrett . . . There was a woman in his room this morning. Wearing only her bra and panties. Just like before. But Garrett was fully clothed, and he knew I was coming back to the room, so there was no way he was part of it. It didn’t matter. I wasted no time ripping him apart and blaming him.”
“Blair, that’s the reaction any woman would have had.”
She shook her head, crying harder. “You didn’t see the look in his eyes. I was beyond awful. I ripped his heart out. He begged me to believe him, and I didn’t.”
“So all you need to do is apologize and give him time. You don’t run into the arms of a man you don’t love.”
She shook her head.
“I did the same thing with your father, Blair, and all three of us were miserable. Don’t make the same mistake.”
Blair took a deep breath. “Neil is not a good person. I know that now. Maybe marrying him is what I deserve.”
“No. Blair.”
She stood and moved to the mirror, trying to reach around her back to zip up her dress. Her mother brushed her hand away and finished the job. She rested her chin on Blair’s shoulder, staring at their reflections in the mirror.
“You deserve love, Blair. I know you have a hard time believing it. You think your father’s rejection means you’re unlovable, but it’s not true. Libby and Megan love you unconditionally. Even Garrett Lowry is proof of that.”
Tears filled her eyes again. “I hurt him. I drove him away five years ago, and I just did it again. Maybe I’m not meant to be loved.”
“That’s bullshit if I ever heard it. Everyone deserves to be loved, Blair. Don’t give up on yourself. Not now. Not ever.”
Blair stared at her reflection. She might be wearing a wedding dress, but her red eyes and nose looked better suited to a commercial for seasonal allergy medication. She grabbed her veil and jammed the comb into her head. “I’m going to set things right.”
“By marrying Neil? I already told you—”
Blair stomped over to a table stacked with flowers and grabbed her bouquet. “You better take your seat. I’m ready to do this.”
“What?”
Blair looked into her mother’s eyes. “Trust me, Mom. I know what I’m doing.”
“I want you to be happy, Blair.”
To her irritation, she started to tear up yet again. “This is part of that plan, Mom. You know me—I always have a plan.”
Her mother cupped her cheek and searched her eyes for a long moment. Then she pulled back and said, “When you were a little girl, I always knew when you were up to something from the look in your eyes.” She kissed her cheek. “I trust you.”
Blair nodded, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”
She walked to the door and flung it open, not surprised to see her two friends huddled outside. “The wedding’s still on. Get your bouquets.”
“But—!” Megan exclaimed.
“Let’s go.” She swept down the hall, her small train flowing behind her, until she reached the lobby of the church.
Melissa stood by the closed doors to the sanctuary. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Blair. “You aren’t supposed to be out here yet. People will see you. I’m supposed to call you, remember?”
“I didn’t want to wait.”
Melissa looked her up and down, worry in her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be better once this is over.”
“Blair, don’t—”
Blair put her hand on Melissa’s mouth. “Don’t you start.”
Melissa nodded, and Blair removed her hand. “Okay.”
“Let’s get this going immediately.”
“But we have four more minutes.”
Blair stomped her feet anxiously. “If I don’t do it now, I might lose my nerve.”
“Maybe you should listen to that inner voice, Blair,” Libby said from beside her.
“Good to see you two are joining me,” she snipped back.
Melissa looked flustered. “But people are still being seated.”
“Okay, two minutes. Then we go.”
Blair’s mother, who’d trailed her out of the lobby, kissed her cheek. “Be kind to yourself, Blair. Then you’re more likely to be kind to others. And stop lashing out at your friends. They only want to help you.”