One More Dance by Roxanne Rustand

Author:Roxanne Rustand [Rustand, Roxanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance novel older couple, veterinarian romance, Saving broken marriage romance novel, romance animals ebook, romance novel lawyer
Publisher: Roxanne Rustand
Published: 2021-03-18T22:00:00+00:00

THE PAST

Sylvia adjusted her smart little hat and took another close look at her lipstick in the entryway mirror of her home. There would be many old friends at the country club this afternoon, all there in celebration of Jared’s engagement to the youngest Hastings girl.

Sheila was a prime catch, with her boarding school education and her recent graduation from Northwestern. Her new position as assistant buyer for her father’s chain of upscale department stores was icing on the proverbial cake.

What could be better than an alliance such as this?

Smiling at herself in the mirror, Sylvia straightened her pearls, then glanced back into the cavernous front hall and breathed a sigh of pure relief.

The past few years had been a desperate struggle to keep the place going. Taxes and repairs and the abominable groundskeeper who charged far too much had drained her investments, but keeping up the show had been worth every penny.

The Hastings girl hardly would’ve been impressed by a young man living in a little rambler in the suburbs. And now, with her future guaranteed in her father’s company and her substantial trust funds, Jared would be stepping into the world for which he’d been destined, and his ten-year-old sister, Julia, would still have her chance to shine someday.

And Sylvia would no longer need to fear financial ruin. Ellsworth had managed his money poorly, leaving her with far too little, but the children would soon be able to provide for her. She had no doubt about that.

Jared’s footsteps sounded on the staircase and she smiled in his direction as he approached.

“Well, dear...are you ready for your big day? This will be—” Her voice failed when she took in his haggard expression, his sweatshirt and faded jeans. “Good heavens. It’s time to go. Why aren’t you dressed?”

“I can’t go through with this, Mother. I tried, but I can’t.” He dropped into a chair and rested his forearms on his thighs, his head bowed.

Panic rushed through Sylvia with lightning speed. “Don’t be silly. You’ve asked this girl and she accepted. Everyone gets cold feet—it happens all the time. But it’s nothing.”

He lifted his weary eyes to meet hers. “But that’s exactly what I feel. Nothing.”

“But she’s a sweet, smart girl. Educated. Lovely to talk to. Don’t get so wrapped up in yourself that you forget just how special she really is.” Hearing her own voice rising, Sylvia took a steadying breath. “This is just a silly bout of nerves, darling. Go get dressed, and we can be off.”

“No, we can’t. This was just a bad case of rebound on both sides. Sheila’s longtime boyfriend dumped her. We both just needed a friend.”

Sylvia curbed her rising anger. “Rebound from Kate? You didn’t lose that little tramp. Nothing so sad and heart-wrenching as that, so don’t let her destroy something as special as your chance with Sheila. Kate walked out on you, plain and simple, and it was for the best. You know it was."

Jared’s eyes widened and she could see the realization dawning in his expression.

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