Loving Lana, Chapter 13
"Come this way, dear." As soon as Lana stepped through the door, Susan motioned her to the side. "Brad filled me in. If you'll take your hat off - it is darling, but you don't want anyone to recognize you..."
Lana reached up and pulled the long evil pins out of her hair, handing them along with the hat to Susan. "Honestly, it's driving me crazy," she said, shaking out her hair from it's updo. One of those pins poked me in the car, and I'd be happy never to see it again.
Susan grinned, tossing the offending items onto a nearby bench. "Consider it done," she said, holding Brad's trenchcoat open for Lana to put on. "I've arranged for the judge to meet you at the cabin tomorrow - Brad will take you there now. Is there anything I can bring out for you?"
"No, I think I'll be fine. I have a few things in my bag that should suffice." Lana nodded towards a small duffle at her feet. She turned to Brad, who was standing behind her. "Are we leaving then?"
He glanced out the doors, then nodded. "I think we should get going. Susan, would you--"
"Of course," she said. "What would you like me to tell them?"
"Tell them..." Brad paused.
"Tell them that the wedding is delayed indefinately at the bride's request," Lana said, winking at Brad. "Sara deserves to squirm a little for this stunt."
Brad laughed, and Susan nodded, clearly amused. "I'll give you two ten minutes to disappear," Susan said, and walked down the hallway towards the back of the courthouse. Lana followed Brad out to his car, relieved when no one appeared to notice them.
***
Just past the exit out of the city, Lana's cell rang.
"Don't answer it," Brad suggested.
"She'll call back."
"Turn it off then."
The phone stopped ringing, then started again almost immediately. Lana took a breath, then flipped it open.
"Hello, Sara," she said calmly, ignoring Brad's disapproving look.
"Where are you?" Sara was frantic, and Lana felt just a little guilty for running away as the tirade continued. "Do you have any idea what this is going to do to our company? Are you still getting married? What about the contract? Brad Wesley is going to sue us out of everything--"
"Brad's right here, Sara. Calm down. He's not going to sue anyone." Lana held a finger to her lips at Brad's loud chuckle. "We just decided to take a little road trip, that's all."
"That's all?" Sara practically wailed in Lana's ear, and she held the phone away briefly, flinching. "A road trip? Lana, I've got a PR nightmare to deal with here, and--"
"One that you created," Lana commented wryly.
"But our company," Sara said, snuffling. "You know how much we need this contract, especially since Sandra is having trouble getting Darrin Anderson on board. It's not just my money on the line here Lana - I hope you remember that."
"It's not going to be a problem, Sara. Just trust me, okay? I'll call you in a few days."
"I guess I don't have a choice, do I? I'll be waiting for your call." Sara disconnected, and Lana flipped her phone shut. Brad eyed her, a wary expression on his face.
"What did she mean about it not just being her money?" he asked, keeping an eye on the dirt road they had turned onto. "How many stockholders are we talking about? Who are they?"
"That's not really important..."
"I disagree." Brad pulled up in front of the cozy log cabin Lana remembered so well, and shut off the engine. He turned, watching her through suspicious eyes. "Spill it, Lana. What are you hiding from me?"
"After the wedding," she said firmly, opening the door, and stepping out. "I'll tell you everything tomorrow, after we're married."
This is the first draft of a novel I'm working on. Comments always welcome.
2 comments:
If this was a book in my hands I would so skip ahead. I can't wait for the next installment!
Oh good - I was hoping it wasn't getting too slow or (heaven forbid) boring. I always think that when I know what's going to happen, and have to write the "in between" parts, so I'm glad you're still being pulled along... :-)
Thanks for reading!
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