Fox stuck his head around the corner. He knew he shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but after hearing what the Russells said, he was glad he didn’t leave. Whitney looked like the wind had been knocked out of her, but it wasn’t surprising, her parents were her world, and her world was crumbling.
She laughed nervously and fanned her hand before her face. “I think I’ve had too much California sunshine, because I could swear you just said you were getting a divorce.”

Eve pressed her hand to Whitney cheek, catching the teardrops trailing down her lovely face. “She didn’t misunderstand, sweetheart, your father and I are getting a divorce.”

“This is my fault, isn’t it? Daddy didn’t want me to leave Harmony, but you gave me your permission and that did it. He’s divorcing you because you took my side.” Whitney took her mother’s hands and pressed them to her chest. “I’ll come back to Harmony. L.A. isn’t what I thought it would be. I never see Chad, anyway; he’s always working. I’ll come home and you guys can work this out. Everything is going to be the way it should be.”

“Whitney, whether or not you come back to Harmony won’t change this. My divorcing your mother is not about you. We are getting a divorce because…” TC looked at his wife. “We’re getting a divorce because the marriage is over. There’s no foundation left. Eve and I have had problems for a long time, and they’ve only gotten worse. We’re only burying what’s dead.” TC checked his wristwatch. “We need to get to the airport. I’m sorry you’re hurt, Whitney, and if you want to come home you’re welcome, but it won’t change anything. If you do come back, I want you to be ready to put your mind back on tennis where it should have been all along. That shouldn’t be too hard now that you’ve seen singing and life in this godforsaken town with a street punk isn’t what you thought it would be. I’ll be waiting for you in the taxi,” he said in Eve’s direction as he left the patio.

Fox wanted to run to Whitney and offer her comfort, but waited, her mother was still there, and he could tell they needed a moment.

“Daddy is still angry with me.”

“TC is the way he is, but he does love you. Whitney, I know this is difficult for you, but the divorce is for the best. TC and I haven’t been happy together for a long time. I think we both deserve some happiness. I hope you want that for us, too.”

“I do want you both happy, I just thought you’d be happy together. I believed you and Daddy were forever. You were the perfect couple.”

“Nothing is ever perfect, Whitney. Your father and I had a good relationship, but it was far from perfect, and now it’s over. We’ll always be your parents, and we’ll always be here for you, nothing can change that.”

“So, you want this divorce, too?”

Eve nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“Don’t you still love Daddy?”

“Yes, I do, and I’ll always love him. We share two beautiful girls, so we’ll always be connected, but….”

“But?” Whitney sighed. “You’re not in love with him, are you?”

Of course she isn’t, Fox thought, she’s in love with his father. But he was marrying Rebecca.

“No, I’m not,” Eve answered.

A horn blew.

“I have to go, sweetheart.” She kissed Whitney’s cheeks after brushing the remnants of tears away. “I’m sorry things aren’t going well for you and Chad, maybe things will work out with time.”

“Not if I can help it,” Fox whispered to himself.

She gathered Whitney in her arms. “Call me if you need me for anything, okay? I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

Eve grabbed her pursed and dashed off to the cab.

Fox waited a couple of moments then approached Whitney. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned with a start. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I just…I sorta heard what--”

Tears filled her eyes.

His heart broke for her. He joined her on the chaise. “Don’t cry, Whitney. It’s going to be okay.”

“It’s never going to be okay, Fox.” She wrapped her arms around him. An endless stream of tears dampened the front of his shirt where she laid her head. “My parents are getting a divorce. They’re getting a divorce.”

Fox tightened the embrace. “I know, but you’re going to be okay. You’re not alone, Whitney. I’m here for you. I’ll always be here for you.” He closed his eyes, and rocked her in his arms. Her parents were divorcing and his father was marrying Rebecca. Two very unlikely events happening at the same time. This didn’t feel right. Something was up, and he wasn’t going to rest until he found out what.
 

~*~
Julian walked into the Book Café after spotting the party he was looking for. He approached the table. “May I join you?”

Simone looked up from open textbook. “Why?” she asked.

“I just thought we could have a little talk,” Julian said, taking the seat across from her. He jutted at the book. “Calculus? Are you taking a lot of math so you can be a brilliant doctor like your mother?”

She closed the book. “What can I do for you, Mr. Crane? You must want something otherwise you wouldn’t be sitting in a coffeehouse talking to me.”

He chuckled. “You’re a direct young woman, it’s an admirable quality. Yes, Simone, I do want something from you.”

“What? If this is about your car, I thought that was settled. You said I didn’t have to--”

“And you don’t, I’m not here about the car. What I want is for you to attend my wedding. It’s important you be there.”

She eyed him with suspicion. “Why? What importance could my presence have at your wedding? We’re not friends, Ms. Hotchkiss and I don’t do tea. Why should I come to your wedding?”

“Because I asked, and after I let the accident with the car and my garage go, I think attending is the least you can do.”

Her eyes narrowed. Flickers of anger danced in her dark brown orbs. She was beautiful like her mother, but she was every bit her father’s child. “Are you trying to muscle me, Mr. Crane?”

“No, I would just very much like you there. Honestly, it would mean a lot to me. So, can I count on your presence, Simone?”

She took a sip of her drink, eyeing him the entire time. He didn’t want to make her more wary by pleading his case, but she had to come. She just had to. Simone lowered her cup. “I guess after wrecking your car and getting off scot-free it’s the least I can do. Sure, I’ll come to your wedding.”

Julian smiled. “Great! It starts at….”

“Five-thirty,” she finished. “I read about it in the paper.”

“Okay, very well.” He pointed at her cup. “Let me pay for that,” he offered.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.” He reached into his wallet and dropped a hundred-dollar bill on the table.

She handed the money back. “Mr. Crane, the coffee is only two dollars.”

“You might get hungry while you’re studying.” He stood. “I’ll see you on Saturday, Simone. Thank you, again.”

“No problem.”

Julian exited the café and took a deep breath. Eve’s daughters would be in attendance at the wedding, and after eating two slices of that horrid tomato soup cake; he got Grace Bennett to agree to come, too. Everything was coming together. In a matter of days he would say I do to Eve, that is, if the shock of this surprise wedding didn’t give her a heart attack first.