"Mary Taffs - Martha's Madness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taffs Mary)

"I'm supposed to meet some friends. Do you happen to know if Brittany and Michael Stone are here
yet?"

Seth frowned slightly. "I haven't seen them. It's still early, though."

He nodded. "They'll probably be along any minute. I guess I'll go watch for them." He moved toward a
small window that looked out on the street, although now he remembered that Brittany was rarely early
for anything. She and Michael would likely arrive just before the ceremony.

He waited until nearly everyone else had gone outside, but still no Brittany and Michael. He took a seat
near the back of the tent and marveled at the size of the crowd. Carolyn had said it would be a "small"
wedding - well, maybe it was in comparison to theirs all those years ago in the Catholic Church in
Newport, but there must be seventy-five or a hundred people here.

Brittany slid into the seat next to him and flashed him a smile in the moment of silence before the wedding
march started. He returned it half-heartedly, shocked at her tense expression and the worry lines it made
so noticeable. To cover his concern, he peered over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the bride.

Carolyn was beautiful; there was no other word for it. Normally, attractive was a more accurate
description of her, but today her happiness spilled out in such radiance that he found himself smiling. For
her, certainly, because she deserved it. But for himself, too. Maybe he would someday find a love to
transform his life, a love like she'd found. A love that would fill the emptiness she'd left behind, but one
that would do more than that. A love the two of them had never felt for each other.

The ceremony passed quickly. He'd wondered for days how he'd feel. Would it be like losing her all over
again to see her make her vows with Scott? Surprisingly, it didn't hurt. She was his best friend and he
was thrilled for her happiness. But still, he felt numb - and more than a little jealous. He wanted to feel the
way he imagined she felt today, like his life was only beginning and full of infinite possibilities.

The new couple was introduced to the assembled well wishers and he joined wholeheartedly in the burst
of applause that greeted them. Brittany looked over, wearing a troubled frown. He didn't need to wonder
if she'd changed her mind. She was still angry with Carolyn for leaving him, and she still thought he was
denying his true feelings about their divorce.

When they returned to the house for the reception, Tony looked around. "Where's Michael? I figured
maybe he'd gone to park the car and was stuck in the back during the ceremony."

"Oh, no. It turns out he couldn't make it today." She quickly changed the subject. "I'm so glad to see you,
Tony! It must have been . . ." She frowned in concentration.

He supplied the answer, "More than four years. I haven't seen either of you since you moved to San
Francisco."

She nodded, still looking more serious than he'd ever seen her. "That's right. I really wish you didn't live
so far away." She looked at all the people surrounding them and asked, "Do you know anyone here
other than Carolyn?"

Perversely, he said, "Well, I've met Scott a couple of times, but I can't say I know him."

She looked shocked, as he'd known she would. "Where did you meet him?"