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“You know,” her father began, “there’s no reason that you have to leave so soon. Your house hasn’t even sold yet.”
“Callie’s sister is getting married on Saturday,” Tamara said, something she had already explained.
“I understand that,” her father said. “But you can fly out there for a few days, enjoy the wedding and then come back. I don’t understand why you’re selling your house if it’s a temporary move.”
“Because she doesn’t want to live in the house she shared with Patrick,” her mother pointed out, sounding a little exasperated. “Surely you can understand that, Howard.”
“Yes, that makes sense,” he said. “But shouldn’t she be here to see about securing another property, at—”
“I want to go to Cleveland,” Michael suddenly interjected.
Surprised, Tamara and her parents all looked down at him.
“Tomorrow,” Michael went on, looking at Tamara, his eyes pleading. “I don’t want to wait.”
“I know, baby.” Tamara stroked his face, feeling his pain. She knew it hadn’t been easy for her son in the months after his father’s arrest. The kids at school hadn’t been kind. They’d had to stay in Florida to deal with the charges and the trial, but it was clear now that Michael was ready for a fresh start as much as she was.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Don’t you worry, son. We’re going to Cleveland tomorrow, just as planned.”
Cleveland represented a new beginning.
A new life.
Chapter 2
A trial, a divorce and a wedding.
Tamara played the words over in her mind as she drove into Cleveland, thinking that she might just have come up with the next winning title for a British comedy. Starring Idris Elba, of course—one seriously fine British brother.
Only Idris wouldn’t play her crazed ex-husband. No, he would have to be a new, sexy stranger who would come into her life.
Tamara rolled her eyes and chuckled mirthlessly, then concentrated on the task at hand—looking for the exit that would lead her to St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church. Why were her thoughts even heading in the direction of any type of sexy stranger? Now that her divorce was final, she was literally and figuratively free of anyone holding her back, and the last thing she was interested in was dating. Her only focus was herself and her son completely.
A short while later, Tamara exited Interstate 490 and headed onto East Fifty-Fifth Street. She maneuvered her way to Cedar Avenue, where the historic church was located. As she reached the church, she saw a white Bentley parked outside the front. A bow adorned the car’s front emblem, with two lengths of white ribbon extending to the side mirrors. White ribbon was also looped through the wrought-iron railings lining the steps, and capped off with bows at the top and bottom. A red carpet extended from the church doors down the steps to the road where the car was parked.
It was elegant and beautiful. And reminded Tamara of her own wedding day. She inhaled sharply with the memory. She didn’t want to think about that day, not with the reality of how horribly her marriage had turned out.
Tamara turned into the parking lot and found an available space without too much trouble. She spent a few minutes touching up her makeup, which was all the time she could afford. She was running a little later than she had hoped, getting to the church with about twelve minutes to spare before the ceremony was to begin. She’d taken an extra day during her drive from Florida, which meant she had to travel on the day of Deanna’s wedding, and that had put her a bit behind schedule.
“You ready, Michael?” Tamara said as she opened the back door for her son.
He nodded, but his eyes were still glued to his Nintendo DS gaming system.
“Okay. Time to put away your DS. We have to go inside and get a seat.”
Tamara wished she had gotten to Cleveland earlier so that she could have changed into her dress at Callie’s house. But traveling with Michael, she hadn’t wanted to spend two excessively long days on the road. So driving this morning had been a must. As Michael got out of the car, she smoothed the back of her dress, hoping that the three-hour car ride hadn’t made it too wrinkled. Then she grabbed the blazer for Michael’s suit from the backseat and helped him into it.
Tamara hurried into the church with Michael. An usher handed her a glossy wedding program, with a lovely photo of Deanna and Eric posing on either side of a tree. Then Tamara and Michael headed into the sanctuary and settled in seats halfway up on the bride’s side.
“Where’s Kwame?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know, son, but he might be in the wedding. You’ll see him later.”
Michael nodded but didn’t look up. His gaze was on his hands. Tamara put her arm around him and squeezed. A year had passed since Michael had seen Kwame, and Tamara had no doubt that the boys would pick up where they’d left off. There was a two-year age difference between them, and Kwame had always been like a big brother to Michael.
Kwame’s relationship with Michael was one of the reasons that Tamara made the decision to head back to Cleveland. She’d grown up here, but left for Florida when her parents moved there. Later, she’d started college there, and Callie had come down to join her in the “sunshine state” after she got pregnant.
Tamara looked around, taking in the various guests at the church. Through the windows in the doors at the back of the church, she caught a glimpse of Callie moving around. She smiled, as she always did when she saw her friend. Then she glanced at the clock hanging above the doors. Two minutes until noon. Looked as though this wedding was going to start on time.
Tamara looked over her shoulder again and saw a man and woman briskly entering the church just as a man was propping the back doors open. The woman was striking, wearing a red dress that was cut too low for the occasion and looked as if it could have been painted on. The man had his hand on the small of the woman’s back as they walked forward and quickly slipped into a pew closer to the front.
As the smiling man glanced backward, Tamara drew in a sharp breath. She recognized the handsome face.
Oh, my goodness, it was Marshall Jennings. She hadn’t seen him in thirteen years, but certainly could never forget him. Tall, fit and seriously fine, he’d been known as a playboy. A rich playboy who’d had his share of the women in Cleveland. Tamara’s cousin, Gloria, had been one of those women. At first, Gloria had been thrilled with the attention Marshall had doled on her. But in the end, she had been devastated when he had quickly moved on to a new woman after getting her into his bed.
Tamara remembered that Marshall had been a friend of Nigel’s, and perhaps she would have seen him at Callie and Nigel’s wedding months ago—if she had been able to attend. But a winter storm had ravaged the eastern seaboard, canceling flights all over the country. Hers had been one of them, and she’d been crushed that she hadn’t been able to make it to Cleveland for her best friend’s winter wedding. That was why—even if she had to drive forty-eight hours straight—she would not have missed Deanna’s special day.
Tamara noticed the woman in red lean close and whisper into Marshall’s ear. Could she be his wife?
The classical music that had been playing in the church stopped, and the opening score of an instrumental love ballad began. The groom and his groomsmen entered from a door near the rostrum and took their place on the right side. It would have been easy to spot Eric even if Tamara hadn’t seen his picture on the program. He was the one beaming from ear to ear.
Once the men were in place, two flower girls started down the aisle. The crowd oohed and aahed at the darling little girls. Tamara realized that she was right—Kwame was in the wedding—when she saw him carrying the rings down the aisle on a pillow made of white satin. Then came the bridesmaids, followed by Callie, the matron of honor. Tamara looked at her friend and grinned. Callie spotted her and her eyes brightened as she smiled back at her.
A woman walked onto the rostrum, and a few moments later, the music changed again. A man at a piano at the front of the church began to play something soft and romantic. Then the woman began to sing. Everyone stood and looked toward the back of the church, where the bride now stood with her arm looped through her uncle’s.
And then the bridal march began. Deanna looked beautiful in an off-the-shoulder dress made of satin. It was a closely fitted gown that flared at the bottom. As Deanna passed her, Tamara could see that her eyes were filled with happy tears.
Once Deanna was at the front of the church, Tamara’s eyes went back to Marshall. With his hand on his guest’s back, she could see now that he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
So the woman wasn’t his wife. If Tamara had to bet, she would guess that the woman was just a plaything he had picked up so he could have her on his arm for this occasion. The Marshall she had known had liked flashy cars and flashy women. And this woman certainly fit that bill.
Eric took his bride by the hands. The minister stood before them with a large smile, and then the ceremony began.
And despite the fact that Tamara was freshly divorced, she got caught up in the magic of the day.
* * *
Tamara didn’t have the chance to say more than a few words to Deanna until the reception, once the meals were consumed and the dancing began. She was sitting at a table with Deanna’s mother and uncle and some of the extended family members. Michael had gone home with Kwame, where a babysitter was watching them now. At least at the table with family, Tamara didn’t feel awkward for not having a date.
Spotting Deanna speaking with a couple of young females at the edge of the dance floor, Tamara rose from the table and started toward her. Seeing her approach, Deanna’s eyes lit up, and she stretched open her arms in the offer of a hug.
“Tamara,” Deanna said in a singsong voice as Tamara walked into her embrace. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Of course,” Tamara told her. As she pulled back, she took Deanna’s hands in hers and squeezed. “Congratulations, Dee. I’m so happy for you and Eric. He seems like a great guy.”
“Thank you.” Deanna’s smile was as bright as the sun. “He is a great guy. An old friend I never saw as anything more than a friend until I came back to Cleveland and we got to know each other.”
“You both look very happy.”
“We are. And I can hardly believe it. When I came back to Cleveland, I never thought that I would find love. In fact, that was the last thing on my mind. Yet, here I am. Married.”
“Let me see the ring.” Deanna extended her left hand, and Tamara eyed the stunning engagement ring and wedding band encrusted with diamonds around the entire band. “Gorgeous.”
“Thank you. Of course, it’s not about the ring. It’s about the man.” Her eyes lit up as she glanced beyond Tamara’s shoulder. “And there’s my baby now.”
Deanna looked up at her new husband with a loving smile, and he grinned down at her as he came beside her and slipped an arm around her waist. It was a beautiful moment between two people who loved each other, and reminded Tamara that relationships were fundamentally good. She had just been with the wrong man.
Tamara extended her hand to Eric. “Eric, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Tamara, Callie’s best friend.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you, and thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for having me. Your ceremony was beautiful, and the reception has been exceptional.”
“Thank you,” Eric said.
“Where are you two heading for your honeymoon?” Tamara asked.
They both looked at each other, as if determining who would answer. A moment later, Deanna spoke. “Well, we wanted to do something different than the typical Caribbean honeymoon. Eric has always wanted to go to Scotland, so that’s where we’re headed. We’re going for two weeks to tour the country. We’ll even be staying in an old castle and everything.”
Eric pulled Deanna close. “I’m not the type of guy who likes to just sit on the beach for seven days. When I want rest and relaxation, I go to my parents’ cottage on the lake. I wanted our honeymoon to be an adventure.”
“It will be. As long as we’re together.” Deanna looked like the happiest woman alive. “As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we go.”
“Well, congratulations again. You both look very happy, and that’s what matters.”
Tamara was walking away when suddenly she felt a hand on her arm. She turned to see that it was Deanna who had touched her. Deanna walked a few more steps with her, out of earshot of Eric, and asked, “How did everything go in Florida?”
Tamara made a face as she shrugged. “As well as can be expected. Patrick got what he deserved—a forty-two-year prison sentence. And I got my closure. But it was emotionally draining for me and for Michael. Of course, Patrick was livid. He uttered more threats as he was dragged out of the courtroom, saying that he’ll get out on appeal and then I’ll be sorry.” Tamara waved a dismissive hand. “But I’m not afraid of him.”
“Good,” Deanna told her. “With what he did, there’s no way he’s going to get out of prison. He can’t hurt you any more. And if he ever does live to see freedom, he’ll be old and certainly won’t be dumb enough to try to come after you.”
“I know. I’m not worried about him.”
“That’s good,” Deanna told her. “I just wanted to add that I know you might be feeling out of sorts and uneasy, but we’re all here for you. I went through my own scare with a crazy ex—nothing as serious as your situation, of course—but still, there’s life after an abusive relationship.” Now Deanna smiled. “For me, coming back to Cleveland was what led to my ultimate happiness.”
“Are you trying to forecast that I’m going to find love here, too?” Tamara asked, flashing Deanna a look of mock skepticism.
“It’s my wedding day. I guess it’s fair to say I’m full of hopeful optimism.”
Behind Deanna, Tamara noticed Marshall enter the banquet hall. He’d eaten dinner, then left, and Tamara had thought he wasn’t coming back.
Not that she was keeping tabs on him.
“Basically, I just wanted to make sure that you were okay,” Deanna continued.
“I’m good. Actually, I’m happy to be back here. Over the last year, I’ve gone through a lot of counseling. Both me and Michael. I feel strong. And I’m ready to make changes in my life for the better.”
“Good.”
The song changed from an upbeat tune to a slow ballad, and Deanna instantly turned. “I should get back to my groom.”
“Of course.”
Tamara watched Deanna hurry back to Eric, remembering how happy she had been on her own wedding day. How in love. How she had wholeheartedly believed her marriage to Patrick would last forever.
Stop thinking about Patrick, she told herself. This is Deanna and Eric’s day, and they’re going to have a wonderful life together. Tamara was certain of that. Just looking at them, she knew they had that inexplicable X factor she and Patrick hadn’t. The ease of communication, the obvious respect. A gentle kind of love that would carry them through the hard times.
“Can I have this dance?”
Tamara turned. And her heart slammed against her rib cage when she saw Marshall standing there.
“Excuse me?” she said.
“May I have this dance?” Marshall repeated and extended a hand to her.
Well, this was a surprise. He hadn’t given her more than a fleeting glance after the ceremony, and he had passed her by when everyone had been mingling at the reception hall. She had, however, caught his eye more than once, but the fact that he hadn’t made a point of saying hello had led her to believe that he wasn’t interested in talking to her.
And now here he was, asking for a dance.
“You want to dance with me?” Tamara asked.
“Why do you seem so surprised? A beautiful woman like you? What man in his right mind wouldn’t?”
Tamara narrowed her eyes. Didn’t he remember her? All this time, she had expected him to approach her to say hello. When he hadn’t, she’d assumed it was because of his date. Some women got irrationally jealous if their man talked to another female. But now, as he looked down at her, Tamara figured that he must not remember her. Surely if he knew who she was, he would address her with a sense of familiarity.
“Don’t make me beg,” Marshall continued, the corners of his lips lifting in a charming smile. “This is a wedding. I assure you, I’m not some creep from off the street.”
That confirmed it. He had no idea who she was. It was a little bit humorous, in fact. He had gone after her cousin with such steadfast determination that he had obviously taken no note of her.
“All right.” Tamara took his proffered hand, smirking with the secret knowledge that he was clueless.
Marshall led her the short distance to the dance floor and then took her in his arms and pulled her close. Her breasts flattened against the hard wall of his chest, and the unexpected sensation of his body against hers caused her breathing to halt for a few seconds.
What a physique he had. His chest was muscular and strong, and so were his shoulders where she’d brought her hands to rest. She hadn’t been able to see his sculpted figure beneath his suit, but she could certainly feel how fit he was now that they were dancing.
Of course he had a magnificent body. A man like Marshall would make sure to stay in tip-top shape for the ladies.
He pulled her a little closer and lowered his hand down her back, causing a shiver to dance down her spine. His hand stayed a respectable distance above her behind, but the warmth of it emanated through her dress and across her skin. And when his fingertips urged her even closer, she felt a startling flush.
It had to be the wine, she told herself. She’d had a couple of glasses with dinner. Clearly, the alcohol was getting to her head.
“See? No reason to fear me,” he said into her ear, his voice low and deep.
And as if he had whispered sweet nothings in her ear, she felt another flush.
Okay, so maybe it wasn’t the wine. Maybe it was the fact that Marshall was a manly man, one who knew how to touch a woman, how to look at her and make her feel incredibly beautiful. That was all a part of his charm, and clearly Tamara wasn’t immune to it. And that surprised her.
Though maybe she shouldn’t be surprised. Obviously, she wasn’t dead. A woman would have to be blind and without any senses at all to not know that Marshall was an attractive man. More than attractive. He was fine.
