LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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