Chapter 28

twenty-eight

ALEX

I dialed the next number on the guest list. I didn’t know if I was making much difference, but calling the people who’d arrived for the wedding was better than doing nothing.

“I made you a cup of hot chocolate,” Elena said, handing me a steaming mug. “Thank you for helping us.”

Ted put down his cell phone and sighed. “My brother’s calling my nephews and nieces. How are you doing, Alex?”

The person I was trying to reach didn’t answer, so I left a message. “I still have two people to contact.”

Elena sighed. “I’ll do those. Francesca and Thomas will be upset. They’ve come all the way from Italy. I can’t understand why Luke didn’t tell us sooner.”

Luke and Steve walked into the living room, followed by Dylan.

“I’m sorry, Mom and Dad,” Luke said, looking miserable. “I should have said something. I’ll apologize to everyone when I see them tomorrow.”

Elena wrapped her arm around Luke. “At least our family and friends were here for a happy occasion. It’s better than traveling hundreds of miles for a funeral.”

“That’s one way of looking at it,” Dylan said with a smile. “Besides, we’re still meeting for lunch. After everyone’s enjoyed the great food, they’ll forget there wasn’t a wedding.”

I glanced at Dylan, appreciating his attempt to make his family feel better. But I wasn’t sure anyone would forget the non-existent wedding.

“Can I help with anything?” Luke asked.

Ted shook his head. “Apart from two phone calls, there isn’t much else we can do. Jarrod has contacted his family.”

“How many people will be at lunch?” Dylan asked.

I looked at my list. “Nearly everyone I’ve called will be there.” I looked at Dylan’s dad.

“I’ll need to check with Uncle Gary, but most of the people I’ve spoken to will be there,” Ted added.

Luke sat on the edge of the sofa. “At least the food won’t go to waste.”

Dylan sat beside his brother. “And your cake and flowers will be appreciated.”

Luke had asked Pastor Adam if he knew anyone who needed a wedding cake and some flowers. It turned out the bride and groom of the wedding after his hadn’t been able to afford either. Without hesitating, Luke had given them his, making at least two people happy.

Ted squeezed Luke’s shoulder. “We’re meeting everyone at the community center at eleven o’clock tomorrow. Your mom was thinking of taking a Christmas tree to the venue and calling it an early Christmas lunch.”

Dylan cleared his throat. “That’s a good idea.”

“It’ll be fun,” Steve said a little too brightly. “We could have Christmas music playing in the background. ”

Luke’s skin turned a delicate shade of white.

“Or maybe not,” Steve said quickly.

“It’s a good idea,” Luke said. “It’s just…” He burst into tears.

Steve grabbed a box of tissues off the table. “It’ll be okay.”

“No, it won’t,” Luke said between sobs. “Everyone will think I’m an idiot.”

My stomach twisted in knots. Seeing Luke cry reminded me of the years of bullying I’d lived through. Taking a deep breath, I focused on Dylan. He’d wrapped his arm around his brother, trying to console him.

“No one will think you’re an idiot,” Dylan said. “They might be a little annoyed?—”

Steve poked Dylan’s shoulder.

“It’s okay,” Luke said. “It’s true.”

Dylan looked at his family and sighed. “Alex and I should get going. We still have a couple of hours of work ahead of us.”

I was so grateful, I almost hugged him. But that would only have made Dylan’s mom even more determined to play matchmaker. So instead of reaching out to him, I focused on Dylan’s parents. “It was nice meeting you. Thanks for the hot chocolate, Elena.”

Dylan’s mom gave me a hug. “You are a good boy. Don’t be put off by what’s happened. We’re usually quite a normal family.”

That produced another round of tears from Luke.

“On that happy note, it’s time we left.” Dylan gave me a nudge toward the door.

I waved to Dylan’s brothers and walked into the hallway. At least Luke had called off his wedding tonight. If he’d left it until tomorrow, it would have been a whole lot worse.