Chapter 16

At the wedding rehearsal on Thursday, the Bay View House staff outnumbered the guests. Only Brody’s family, his agent, Matthias, and his personal assistant, Ainsley, were in attendance. Tomorrow—their supposed wedding day—more of his friends were expected. Cara was happy they had stuck by Brody despite the bad press. She wished she could say the same of her friends.

On her side of the aisle, there would only be a handful of people—Geoff and her coworkers from Cassandra’s Attic. They were the only people left in Cara’s circle of acquaintances, her only remaining friends. Her parents hadn’t bothered with an RSVP. And Caitlin…

A For Sale sign hung in the window of the condo Cara had called home these past three years. At what point would Caitlin allow things to go back to normal?

Cara guessed never.

Which was why last night and earlier today, Cara had put off talking to Brody. Instead, she’d submitted more resumes to libraries, some with openings and others without, across the state and country. Until she knew what would happen with Brody after they “broke up,” she had to keep searching for a job. That was the responsible thing to do.

Safer than telling him how she felt, too. Tomorrow…

The charade would end.

They had debated who should be the one left at the altar. Cara had wanted to be the no show so people wouldn’t think she was trapping Brody. He was fine with being jilted, but he worried her dumping him could vilify Cara with his fans. She would be better off in the long run being the victim. That would allow her to gain sympathy so she could rebuild her reputation. They’d decided to do that.

After brunch, she would arrive at The Bay View House to have her hair and makeup done. She would put on her magical dress and then wait for her groom to arrive. Except Brody wouldn’t show up.

Cold feet.

Regrets.

A change of heart.

So many reasons existed, but the statement released to the media by his spokesperson would be vaguely worded. The public and media would be asked to respect their privacy at this difficult time. An announcement about her “miscarriage” would occur later.

The plan seemed doable, and she had no doubt she could play the role of the jilted bride.

Tears came easily these days, so she wouldn’t have to pretend to be upset about being left at the altar. She was sure there would be ugly crying, none of it faked, but as a pregnant bride with no groom to marry, she would eventually be forgiven for her role in the scandal, according to Brody’s publicist.

“Since everyone is here, let’s run through how this will work tomorrow.” Sariah wore a slim skirt and button-down blouse. “It won’t take long.”

Cara stared at the last row of white chairs. She would walk down the aisle alone.

No biggie. She was twenty-eight and not a real bride. This was only a rehearsal. Tomorrow, the pretending would stop. This would all be over.

Over.

Her heart splintered.

Brody had said nothing about staying in San Francisco or asking where she would go. Did that mean he would leave? Return to L.A.? Forget about her?

Emotions swirled.

She hoped not because…

Love.

Oh, no. She didn’t just like him. She loved him. L-O-V-E.

That was why Cara had been so mixed up. Afraid. She wanted this rehearsal to be real and the wedding…

Brody ran a finger along her cheek. “Why the long face?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Then smile. This is our wedding rehearsal.”

If only… But she wanted him to be happy, so she pasted on what she hoped was a glowing, bride-worthy smile.

“Better?” she asked.

“Much.” His forehead pressed against hers. “I’m almost sorry this will be over soon.”

Marry me. For real.

The thought sounded so loudly in her head that Cara wondered if she’d spoken aloud. Her heart thundered like a stampede of wild mustangs, but Brody’s expression hadn’t changed. He didn’t know how she felt.

The words longed to burst from her lips, but she couldn’t say them here. This wasn’t the right time to tell Brody. Okay, there had never been a right time with him. Not when they were in high school, when she was in college, or when she lived in Los Angeles. But she couldn’t wait much longer if she wanted a chance for this to work.

And she wanted that.

More than anything.

“Let’s start back here.” Sariah motioned to Cara.

Gnawing on her lower lip, Cara shuffled to the start of the aisle. “The setting is just like I imagined. Intimate. I love the flowers.”

Sariah beamed. “So happy to hear that, but we’re not finished decorating yet.”

The colorful blossoms in the garden, around the gazebo, and the seating area amazed Cara. A sweet floral scent floated in the air. The yearning for this to be real grew with each breath. “Everything looks perfect now.”

Sariah’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’ll see.”

But Cara wouldn’t. Tomorrow, her dream of marrying Brody would end.

A string quartet sitting off to the right of the altar played the song she and Brody had chosen together.

The minister, a lovely, smiling woman named Shelley, stood at the altar with Brody on her left.

Everyone seemed so happy. Cara wanted to be happy, too. Yet, as she headed down the aisle to strains of Bach, her feet kept sticking to the pathway. She slowed her steps, wanting this moment to last.

As she reached Brody, his smile didn’t quiet her nerves. The rehearsal would be brief, like the simple ceremony they’d planned, and then she would have one more day to be his fiancée.

Less than twenty-four hours.

To make the most of their time together and pour out her heart.

Her love for him.

Ainsley, who bounced on her tiptoes, was the maid of honor. Matthias, who glanced at his cell phone, was the best man. Not the wedding party Cara imagined growing up, but she didn’t have much choice with her friends deserting her like she had the plague. She and Brody were lucky to have these two people standing beside them as witnesses, even if both worked for him.

“We’ll go through what you need to say during the ceremony,” Shelley said. “You may feel nervous, and that’s perfectly normal, but all you have to do is repeat after me.”

“That’s easier than memorizing lines,” Brody joked.

Shelley nodded. “Much.”

“I can’t allow this to happen!” Caitlin burst into the garden. She wore her hair in an updo, and her dress seemed more appropriate for Grace Kelly in her heyday.

Cara’s stomach roiled. Her sister showing up didn’t just mean trouble—it also meant chaos. This would not be good.

Caitlin was followed by her entourage—stylist, hairdresser, makeup artist, and personal assistant. Two men came next—one filming with a video camera, the other taking pictures using a fancy camera with a big lens.

Jackson struggled to grab their cameras, and Kai blocked the way.

Caitlin held up her arms. Wrist-length white gloves covered her hands. She was dressed as if she’d come straight from the movie set of a 1950s period piece. “Stop the wedding.”

Cara stared in disbelief. There wasn’t going to be a wedding. This was all a lie, which would be over tomorrow. Her sister knew that because it had been the plan all along. Only the timing had changed.

So, what was Caitlin doing here?

Jackson spoke into his headpiece, trying to corral the wedding crashers.

“This is a private wedding rehearsal,” Sariah announced with a don’t-mess-with-me tone. “You need to leave. Now.”

Caitlin walked on heels as if she were wearing sneakers. “I will not allow my conniving sister to steal the love of my life away. Everyone knows you’re lying about being pregnant.”

Cara’s cheeks burned. The same heat ignited her anger. She balled her hands. The tips of her French-manicured fingernails, courtesy of the Bay View House, dug into her palms.

Enough.

No one, including her twin sister, had the right to treat her this way. She’d agreed to help, not to be Caitlin’s personal punching bag and scapegoat. “This stops now. I’m not letting you use me anymore. I’ve always loved you and supported you, but your life is not more important than mine. Either you treat me as an equal, as your twin sister, or stay out of my life.”

“Such a diva reaction.” Caitlin rolled her eyes. “I’ll happily stay out of your life because you’re finished here. Brody’s mine, not yours.”

A vein pulsed in Brody’s jaw. “Caitlin—”

“Look at her and then look at me. Body, face, hair. There’s no comparison. It’s me you want.” Leaning forward, she lowered her voice. “Alek went back to his wife so he wouldn’t lose his kids. I realized he wasn’t the love of my life. You are. I want us to be together for real. A couple. Hollywood’s golden couple. Together forever.”

Cara listened in disbelief. She waited for Brody to say no, to shut her sister down immediately. She wouldn’t even be upset if he added a swear word or two, except…

Silence.

He wasn’t saying anything.

Why not?

A million thoughts raced through her mind, none of them good.

Go.

She looked around to see who had spoken.

Her gaze rested upon Brody. He hadn’t said a word.

He opened his mouth to speak before he pressed his lips together. His gaze darted between them as if comparing the two twins, trying to decide which sister he wanted.

Reality hit Cara like a Muni bus. Disappointment flooded her. She forced herself not to collapse to the ground.

Everything she’d wanted with him—love, a future, a family—was nothing more than a dumb fantasy. The way it had always been. Oh, logically a part of her had known her dreams wouldn’t come true, but the rest of her had been holding out hope.

So much hope.

No longer.

It was over.

The pretending.

Everything.

She was on her own.

No place to live. No family. No Brody.

Her heart shattered, but it somehow kept beating while air flowed into her lungs.

Caitlin was back and single. Her career had been salvaged and her reputation still sparkled clean as could be. Brody no longer needed to play the part of Cara’s fiancé. He no longer needed her.

Her insides twisted, but she couldn’t deny the truth. A sexy, famous starlet was better than an unemployed, homeless librarian turned bookseller with a spoiled cat.

Time to go.

She stepped back from the altar.

“Where are you going?” Brody asked.

“It’s over.” Their time of being together—laughing and kissing—hadn’t changed anything. Nothing would ever change between them. He didn’t want her. Would never love her.

Cara saw that now.

She was finished.

With him. With her sister.

Caitlin’s lies and selfishness might have ruined Cara’s life, but she had been the one to allow it to happen by not standing up for herself or going after what she wanted. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Fighting the urge to scream, she stared into her sister’s eyes. “You need to tell Mom and Dad the truth. Today.”

Cara wanted to ruin her sister’s life the way Caitlin had ruined hers, but if Cara did that, she’d be no better than her twin. And she wanted to be better. Desperately. She wanted to do what was right.

Not for Caitlin or Brody, but for herself.

Cara needed to put herself, her needs, first.

It wasn’t logic telling her that but her heart.

And she would.