When All Seems Lost
Chapter 2 - Tangled Mess
"We talk. Now."
Lux half dragged her father out of the pew and across the aisle into the room where she had sat with her mother scarcely an hour before.
"Sit."
"What are you doing Lux? They are married!"
Lux paced back and forth in front of Baze, nervously running her hands through her hair. She gulped and sat down beside him, hugging him tightly before she spoke.
"We messed this up and we have to fix it!"
Baze pushed Lux back and looked into her eyes; his own full of remorse. As he rose from the couch he shook his head vigorously. He stood with his back to her, his shoulders hunched and his hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean "We???" And it's too late, anyway!"
"No! It isn't! This marriage hasn't gotten off the ground yet! There is such a thing as an annulment! And as far as "we" is concerned, you and I are responsible for Cate marrying Ryan!
"Why on earth did you tell Cate last night that you didn't love her when we both know you do? What happened to honesty?"
Baze turned around and looked at Lux sheepishly. "I was going to tell Cate last night, but Math convinced me that letting her go was the best thing I could do for her if I really loved her. I knew I could never give her what Ryan could."
"Remind me to give Math a swift kick in the a- I mean backside," Lux fumed. "What sparked the turn around today?"
"My dad came to the bar. He told me he loved me and that if I wanted Cate I should go for it. Leave it to me to get stuck in traffic, and wind up seconds too late. Hey, what part did you have in this mess?
Lux sat back down, patting the space next to her. This was going to hurt them both. She sighed.
"Cate had locked herself in here before the wedding and wouldn't talk to anyone. Finally, she let me in. Even with you telling her you didn't love her, she was still very torn. I convinced her that if you didn't have the courage to tell her the truth, that you would never be the man she wanted you to be. Don't you see? She still cares, even if she married Ryan. You know how she responds to rejection. She runs in the opposite direction, in this case into Ryan's arms. I-I'm so very sorry, Baze. I tried to play armchair psychiatrist, and now Cate is living a lie."
"I forgive you, kiddo," Baze answered, pushing Lux's hair away from her face.
"Are you willing to live the rest of your life without telling Cate the truth?"
"I've messed up her life enough."
"She deserves to know the truth, Baze. Then it will be her decision whether she buries the feelings she has for you, and stays with Ryan, or if she is honest with herself and him."
"You really think so?"
Baze's eyes held just a smidgen of hope. He cocked his head to one side.
"Yes, I do. Now go home, shower, put on a suit, and come to the reception. Let your heart lead you. I've got to go. Cate and Ryan are waiting for me, and I've got to come up with some excuse for why you were here and why I had to talk with you."
"Go," Baze ordered, kissing Lux on the forehead. "I'll try to be there in forty-five minutes, tops."
"Okay."
Baze waited until he was sure the limo had left the church. He practically sprinted down the steps, and ran to where he had parked the Jeep.
"Here goes nothing, Bazile," he muttered to himself.