In a perfect world, she’d have everything lined up by the end of the day. She lived in the real world though, where the outcome you wanted and the one you got frequently didn’t coincide.
“Don’t suppose you know any photographers.”
“Sorry, no.” Addie uncovered her drink, stirred it with a spoon, and took a sip before saying anything else. “My cousin dabbles in photography. It’s a hobby for him. He’s got a ton of equipment, but he only takes pictures of landscapes. You wouldn’t want him taking your wedding photos.”
Oh, well, it never hurt to ask.
“Maybe you and Josh should push the wedding back further. It might make things easier for you.”
You’re telling me. She trusted Addie and considered her a close friend, but sharing the real reason wasn’t an option. “We’d rather not.”
Addie narrowed her eyes a smidge, and Courtney prepared herself for the question clearly on her friend’s mind.
It never came. Instead, she shrugged and removed one of the spinach pies from the box. “Maybe you should skip a traditional ceremony and reception. You and Josh could fly to Vegas next weekend and get married. Or ask Mark to marry you in his office sometime this week. There’s no rule saying you must have the whole family there.”
“Believe me, I’m starting to think you’re right.”
Maybe they should book a flight and get married in Vegas. She’d want to be surrounded by her family if this was to be her one and only wedding, but it wasn’t. Well, it might not be. It was possible once she and Josh divorced she wouldn’t fall in love again—a fact she kept safely locked away.
Addie’s cell phone on the table dinged, and Courtney crossed her fingers the text
was from Addie’s DJ friend. Setting aside her drink, Addie reached for her phone. The expression on her friend’s face suggested the text wasn’t from Dominic.
“Something wrong?”
“I’m not sure.” Addie bit down on her lip before continuing. “What’s Josh up to today?”
Her question fell in the odd category. “He went into Boston for a meeting.” One she hoped was going well. “Why?”
If possible, Addie’s pained expression intensified. “Tracey sent me a link to something she saw on Twitter a few minutes ago.”
Shouldn’t the nanny have more important things to do than check her social media apps?
“Someone took a picture of Josh and a woman together and posted it.” Addie handed over her cell phone. “She thought you should know.”
Courtney knew who she’d see even before she accepted the device. The knowledge didn’t stop the burning ball of fire from taking shape in her chest as she looked at the picture of Josh and Naomi seated across from each other, his hand on her arm.
“Don’t people have better things to do than take pictures and post them on social media?” she asked, giving the device back. “That’s Josh’s ex-girlfriend, Naomi. They have a daughter together. I knew he was meeting her today.”
A picture merely showed a single moment, so she couldn’t assume too much from it. But at least it appeared Josh’s meeting was a civil one. The memory of Josh’s hand on Naomi’s arm popped up, and the fireball in her chest expanded.
No, the pictured didn’t depict a civil conversation. It showed a compassionate one. She’s engaged to another man. She’d met Naomi’s fiancé the afternoon they picked up Adalynn.
And my relationship with Josh is temporary. She’d reminded herself of that so many times now, she’d lost count.
Sixteen
As soon as Josh got home on Sunday, he’d reserved the wine cellar at Emilia, his favorite Italian restaurant in Boston, for his meeting with Naomi. Designed to accommodate up to fifty people, the room was located on the ground floor away from the main dining area and bar upstairs. Non-employees only visited this level if they had an appointment with the restaurant’s general manager, whose office was down the hall. Tucked away in here, only the four thousand bottles of wine and Tuscan limestone lining the walls would overhear their conversation this afternoon.
“I’ll show your guest down as soon as she arrives,” the hostess explained, setting two menus on the table.
Food remained the last thing on his mind.
“Would you like to order a drink while you wait?” she asked.
“Not at the moment.”
With a slight nod, the hostess walked away, leaving Josh alone with nothing to do but think and wait—two things he’d done more than enough of since Naomi reached out on Saturday afternoon.