sent her a questioning look. “You were married?”
Alison nodded. “Brady and I dated his last year in high school, then he went to college and we kept in touch.” She hesitated, not wanting to share too many details. “After his father died, we grew closer, then Brady joined the Air Force. The night before he was supposed to leave, we got married.”
“Young and impulsive, huh?”
Alison smiled. “Exactly. But Dad found out the next morning and insisted we have the marriage annulled.”
Janelle nodded, crinkling her eyes in confusion. “But he never filed the papers?”
“He asked Grammy to file them, but she forgot.” Alison twisted the napkin in her lap. “She sent them to me a couple of days ago.”
“I see.”
The waiter delivered their breakfast, an omelette for Alison, wheat toast and fresh fruit for her mother. Janelle took a bite of her sliced peaches before continuing. “So you want me to file them?”
“Yes. As soon as possible.” Alison leaned closer. “And I’d like to keep this between us. I don’t want the town to know. I never even told Hannah or Mimi about the marriage.”
Janelle arched a brow. “All right, but why the hurry?”
Alison shrugged and pushed the omelette around on her plate, wishing she’d stuck with dry cereal. “It’s been almost four years. I’d hardly call that a hurry.”
Her mother smiled, smearing butter on her toast. “I guess you have a point. But there may be a problem.”
Alison’s stomach protested the eggs, so she sipped her orange juice instead. “What kind of problem?”
“There are certain restrictions on the parameters for annulment. You were both legally of age. You aren’t cousins or related in any way.”
Alison nodded.
“There was no coercion involved—I’m assuming he didn’t force you into marriage?”
“No, of course not.”
“Neither one of you were already married at the time?”
She shook her head.
“One last thing—did you consummate the marriage?”
Alison’s breath caught. Even as a grown woman, she found it way too weird having this conversation with her mother.
Janelle waited, studying her with a knowing look.
“Yes, we consummated the marriage.”
Janelle nodded. “Well, then unless one of you can claim mental impairment, you don’t fit the parameters for an annulment.”
“What?”
“That’s the law, honey.”
“Then…then what do we do?”
“You’ll have to file for a divorce.”
Divorce. That seemed like such an ugly word, so much more hurtful than annulment.
“And how long will a divorce take?”
“About thirty days.” Janelle poured more coffee, her voice low. “That is, if neither of you contests it.”
BRADY HAD PROMISED his mom he’d stop by the print shop and help out for a while, but he’d also promised Vivica he’d meet her at Alison’s to discuss wedding plans.
And of course, he needed to find out about the ending of his own marriage.
Dreading the thought of seeing Alison almost as much as the thought of not seeing her, he strolled down Main Street, noting changes in the town he hadn’t noticed the day before. In the aftermath of the big celebration, the small community seemed unusually quiet, a peaceful blend of nostalgic antique shops and more contemporary businesses popping up. A recreation center had opened on the corner, he wondered if Alison swam there daily. He passed a new law office with the name Janelle Hartwell on the door—could that be Alison’s mother, or had Wiley remarried? Moving along, he noticed a sign for Wacky Wiley’s Used-Car Fourth of July Sale, then the Hotspot, which Vivi said Mimi had opened next to Alison’s bridal shop. Everywhere he looked there seemed to be Hartwells.
His parents’ print shop was situated a few doors down from Alison’s store, with a photography shop and a dress boutique in between. Brady entered the Weddings to Remember shop, bracing himself to see Alison.
She stood behind a long counter filled with a selection of bridal books, crystal champagne flutes and bridesmaid gifts. A long, white, lacy wedding dress covered in pearl beads hung behind her on a padded hanger. As he drank in the sight of her, his vision blurred and he imagined Alison wearing the dress—to their wedding.
The bell tinkled, announcing his arrival and shaking him back to reality. “Alison.”
She looked up. “Brady.”
At one time, she would have launched herself into his arms. Now she seemed wary, distant. What had he expected? “I’m supposed to meet Vivi here.”
She nodded, adjusted a stack of brochures and walked around the counter. “Can I get you some coffee?” She gestured toward a corner table draped in a rose tablecloth, complete with coffee, condiments and sweet rolls.
He pressed his hand to his stomach. “No, thanks. Mom stuffed me this morning.”
Alison’s mouth curved into a smile and his gut clenched. He’d forgotten how her eyes sparkled with flecks of gold when she smiled. “I bet she loves having you home.”
“I’ll probably gain twenty pounds in a week.”
A small laugh escaped her and he couldn’t help but smile. God, he missed the sound of her voice and laughter.
“So, you want to sit down? Vivi should be here soon, then we can discuss the plans. I’ve worked out a tentative schedule to make sure all the details fall into place.”
The shop seemed amazingly intimate as he limped to the sitting area and situated himself in the green chair again.
As if she read his mind, Alison said, “The shop shouldn’t be very busy today. Everyone’s probably gone into Atlanta to the big malls for the holiday sales.” She rattled on for several minutes, filling him in on her sisters’ jobs and how Mimi had come to own the coffee dessert shop. “So Mimi and Seth ended up together. They were married in the gazebo on Pine Mountain at Grammy Rose’s, just like Hannah.”
He nodded and was just about to open his mouth to ask how he could help with his sister’s wedding plans when she continued. “I had breakfast with my mother this morning.”
That surprised him. “I didn’t know she was back in town.”
“She came back a couple of months ago. We were all surprised.”
He remembered Alison mentioning her mother once, not in a good way, either. “So, how is it?”
“Awkward as all get out.”
Honest, forthright Alison.
“But we’re managing. She set up a law office downtown.”
“Oh, yeah, I saw it on my way over.”
Alison nodded, gathered some paperwork he assumed had to do with his sister’s wedding, and sat down on the love seat. Today she was wearing a peach-colored shell and a floral skirt that hit her midknee, showcasing those dynamite long legs. He tried not to think about how they’d felt wrapped around him, or how they would feel again.
“Anyway, I asked my mother to handle the annulment.”
Oh, right, so Alison could marry someone else. “I see. And she agreed?”
“Yes, but there’s a problem.”
She