“The rehearsal went well.” His father handed over his jacket to be hung. “Let’s hope the wedding goes as smoothly.”
“It should.” Ash headed to the closet. “The wedding coordinator and DJ are top-notch. They’ll keep things on schedule.”
“That photographer has nerve showing up tonight,” his dad said.
“You mean Jenna.”
“One step above trailer trash. Like your mother.”
“What are you talking about? Mom wasn’t like that.” Ash had never heard his father badmouth his mother. She had been pretty and kind and made the best cookies in the world. But she’d cried a lot and hadn’t left the house much. His mom never would have tackled a ropes course or half the things Jenna did. “And Mom and Jenna are nothing alike.”
“Maybe not now, but Jenna will turn into a woman just like your mother in a few short years. I know you’re upset over what happened, but this might turn out for the best.”
“I miss Jenna.”
“I’m sorry you’re hurting. But you’ll feel better eventually.”
Ash wasn’t so sure. Nothing provided relief. If he’d felt dissatisfied before Jenna reentered his life, he was completely on edge and unhappy now.
He opened the closet door and hung up his dad’s jacket. Something crinkled. He checked the inside pocket. A white envelope.
He had a white envelope. Inside was a check made out to me for ten thousand dollars.
Warning bells sounded. Ash removed the envelope. The flap was unsealed. He felt as if he was trespassing, but he looked inside and saw a check for ten thousand dollars made out to Jenna.
No. No. No.
Emotion clogged Ash’s throat. His vision blurred. He almost lost his balance.
Jenna had been telling the truth. But he hadn’t believed her. He’d made excuses for his father. Trusted his dad. But now that Ash had proof . . .
He shouldn’t have needed proof.
His lack of faith in her had ruined everything again. But he wouldn’t wait two years to right the wrong. Ash carried the envelope to his father. “Dad, we need to talk.”
Jenna took pictures of Amber and her bridesmaids preparing for the wedding ceremony. The smells of hair spray and perfume filled the dressing room. Music played from an iPod docking station. The strawberry-blonde flower girl danced barefoot.
The wedding coordinator, a twentysomething woman named Ruby, flitted in and out of the room on her three-inch heels. She clapped. “Only an hour to go.”
Jenna glanced out a window. The sunny blue sky matched the festive atmosphere inside. Rain and gray clouds would fit her mood better. But this wasn’t the time to throw herself a pity party. Jenna knew He would see her through. Time to be the photographer that the bride and groom expected her to be.
Picture Perfect Photography.
She would give Amber and Toby perfect images of their love on this special day and creative, fun ones too. If a flying shark happened to be eating the brother of the bride . . .
Jenna fiddled with the camera settings, pasted on a smile, and faced the women preening in mirrors. She used the reflections to show off their dress backs and faces at the same time. See . . . she had this.
Amber wore her flowing white fairy-tale princess dress. The bridesmaids dressed in lavender cocktail dresses.
Two women took pictures of each other. That gave Jenna an idea. “I want everyone to take a selfie, then give me your phones with the picture on them.”
The women did.
Using Amber’s wedding dress train as a backdrop, Jenna arranged the phones, then took photos of the selfies. Satisfied with the results, she handed back the phones. “Thanks.”
A knock sounded.
Amber hurried toward the bathroom in a swish of white, luxurious fabric. “That better not be Toby.”
The maid of honor, a pretty blonde named Elizabeth, answered the door. “Ash. Mr. Vance. What are you doing here? Your knock sent Amber into hiding.”
“Can we speak with Jenna out in the hallway?” Ash asked.
Jenna wanted to ignore the request, but Ash was paying her. No sense causing a scene. She made her way out. “Be right back, ladies.”
In the hallway, Ash stood next to his father. Their black tuxedos highlighted their similar heights and different accessory colors. His father wore black. Ash had on the same lavender vest and tie as the other groomsmen.
Handsome, yes, but looks would never make up for Ash’s lack of trust and faith in her. Nothing could.
“What’s up?” She tried sounding nonchalant when all she wanted to do was bolt. A runaway bride was one thing. She’d never heard of a vanishing wedding photographer. Jilting a couple at the altar would not be good for business.
Ash looked at his father.
“I owe you an apology.” Judge Vance’s tone was contrite. “I should have let my son decide what he wants, not try to make those decisions for him. I’ve treated you unfairly twice. First when I told Amber I’d buy her a new car if she stopped your wedding.”