The Runaway Groom - Chapter 3

He watched from the window as Allie and her father posed for the pre-wedding photographs. The smile on her face showed him how happy she was. He knew that Allie had always harboured hopes that they would get back together. He had it on good authority that the day he proposed was the happiest of her life.

The proposal hadn’t been under the best circumstances. It hadn’t really been a proposal. He’d taken a few days off work after a difficult case and had returned home. Allie had just happened to be on vacation from her advertising job in New York and they’d met up a few times.

His mother had been badgering him about his age catching up with him and he wouldn’t have his looks all his life. He needed to find himself a nice woman to settle down with. She’d always seemed the mention it when Allie was in the room. He knew that his mother was doing. She’d always had a soft spot for Allie, no matter how many other women he dated.

They gone out for dinner one evening and Jack had just asked Allie what she thought about getting married. She’d jumped to the wrong conclusion and assumed he was proposing. He’d seen how happy she was and just couldn’t tell her the truth.

The weeks that followed had been strange to say the least. He’d told the team on his return to DC and had received a mixed reception, mostly from the girls. He’d partly expected it from Lucy, seeing as she’d spent the best part of four years trying to get him together with Sue, but it was Sue who’d surprised him.

He hadn’t been sure exactly what he’d been expecting her to say, but every since he’d told her, she’d maintained her distance from him. Gone were their shared lunches and occasional dinners. He only saw her inside of work but that hadn’t changed how he felt about her deep down, if anything, not seeing her had made him realise just how much she meant to him.

He saw the photographer move away and Allie turned to her father as he adjusted her veil. He couldn’t let her enter the church. He hated himself for what he was about to do, but he had to do it before he made the biggest mistake of his life. Knowing that the vestry had a back exit, he opened the door and stepped outside. Making his way around to the front of the church, he saw Allie look at him and smile.

The guilt was eating away at him, and he knew that what he was about to do would ruin a lifelong friendship. She would probably never forgive him, and he couldn’t blame her. Taking a deep breath, he spoke.

“Mr Stevens, can I have a few moments with Allie before we go in please?”

Jack kept his distance from the two as Allie continued smiling at him.

“Jack, son, how many times? You’re marrying my daughter. It’s either dad or Paul.”

Jack forced a smile. He was sure the older man wouldn’t be this nice to him once he heard what he was about to do. Instead of answering, he just nodded and looked at Allie.

“Can I talk to you? Please?”

He hoped that his voice didn’t give away his feelings. He could feel his pulse quickening and his breathing was getting deeper as Allie approached him. For a moment, he thought that being married to her wouldn’t be that bad. She did look beautiful in her gown, her dark hair accentuated by the light material. It was only when his eyes locked with someone and he saw a blond head disappear around the church doors that he came back to reality.

Looking up, Allie was standing right in front of him, concern clearly written across her face.

“Is everything okay Jack?”

Wanting to tell her, Jack found himself speechless, instead, he took her hand and led her towards the vestry. No place would be a good place to tell her what he had to, but he knew the vestry would be private and away from prying eyes and ears.

When they were both inside, Jack paced the floor, unsure about how we was going to break the news to her. He didn’t want to hurt her but knew that it was inevitable. He did love Allie, and if any other guy did to her what he was about to, he would be the first person banging the door down to teach him a lesson.

No matter how much he wanted to be in love with her, he wasn’t. He’d tried to force his heart so many times, but nothing had worked. His heart belonged to one woman.

“Jack, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”

He could hear the nervousness in her voice and began to wonder how he’d gotten himself into this position. That’s right, I was too chicken to tell the woman I really love how I feel. Turning to Allie, he forced himself to look her in the eyes and he began to speak.