Outside The Lines (Love Beyond Reason Book 2) by Beth Rhodes Page A

started for the door.
    She cleared her throat, and David turned. He was so handsome in his dark brown, pinstriped suit—trendy and hip, the ivory shirt he’d picked out that morning when he discovered her dress was the same, and the light blue tie—to match the skies, he’d said.
    He’d wanted the day to be special for her.
    “Son?” Mr. March stood in the doorway and tapped his watch. “Don’t forget our meeting at three.”
    Maria’s heart pounded. “You have a meeting?”
    His face flushed a little. “It came up suddenly. It’ll be quick. I promise. And I really need to get some stuff done if we are going to head to California this weekend.”
    “We’re heading west this weekend?” The question rose at the end as shock filled her. She thought she’d have more time. Yes, she intended to go back, but…but, she planned to let her cowardice rule for a week or so, at least!
    David looked around uncertainly. “Maybe we should talk about this later. After the meeting? I swear it won’t be long.”
    “You’re not coming home, either?” Panic circled as his words washed over her and she might as well not have heard his promise to communicate later at all. He was leaving her at the courthouse not ten minutes after they married. “Should I take a taxi home?”
    David eyed Mrs. Kraus with what could only be a look of desperation then he put an arm around her shoulders and guided her down the hall to the front door. “God, no. Hey, hey. Mrs. Kraus is going to give you a ride home after lunch. I know the meeting is unexpected, and I’m sorry.” The glare he sent his dad’s way helped assuage some of the anger, but tears were welling up anyway.
    Damn hormones.
    “But we’re going to lunch at Carty’s, right? We chose the place together, and you’re going to love it. Mrs. Kraus will join us. Dad, are you coming?”
    The man pursed his lips, slightly rolled his eyes, but nodded in agreement. “Yes.”
    Sheesh. Okay. She wasn’t going to panic.
    She’d never felt more alone, though. On her wedding day.
    And emotions warred inside her. Fear versus elation versus sadness. It was all in there, roiling through her poor stomach.
    The restaurant was on the south side of Main Street, set off the road by a small gravel drive. The blacktop parking area had been cleared by a plow and the banks of snow along the edges were at least four feet tall.
    David parked and placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her.
    “It’s not that bad, is it?”
    The tears welled up. “No. It’s not.” She fiddled with the ring on her finger. “It’s not exactly the traditional wedding I imagined I’d have. But I don’t mind it being small, or even untraditional. I just—” she cut herself. What did she just? “I guess I’m a little nervous. Maybe lunch wasn’t a good idea. This is supposed to be a celebration, but what are celebrating, really?”
    “The baby,” he answered with exasperation in his voice. “Our marriage.”
    “Right.” She shook off the melancholy. It would take a while not to assimilate marriage and wedding with love. But as long as she could get that ingrained in her head, maybe this feeling of uncertainty would go away. “Celebrating a new start.”
    “Exactly,” he said with a smile and taking her hand. “Come on. Carty has amazing food. And if you’re really uncomfortable, we’ll keep it short. You have to eat, right?”
    She nodded and opened the door. He was right. She needed to focus on the purpose and the good things. Even if the wedding wasn’t what she always imagined, she could make the marriage better. A marriage was long term, and they had a chance, even if the start was slightly skewed.
    She followed David to the front, double glass doors. The beveled edge of the glass lent the entryway a mystical feel. The cedar shake siding along with the cozy evergreens that wrapped the porch reminded her of Snow White.
    Behind her, Mrs. Kraus and Mr. March were chatting about an upcoming event