A/N: This story is my attempt to remedy everything that I thought fell short in the final novel, while still honoring the book by including as many details as I can. I am so, so proud of it and so, so excited to finally share it!

Jeffrey had said he was happy for Skye. In fact, he believed he'd used the word "delighted". Bullshit to the highest degree, that's what that was.

Skye was getting married. Skye, an outspoken critic of the institution of marriage, was getting married. As was Rosalind, but Jeffrey didn't mind that bit. He had looked forward to Rosalind's wedding. Now, not so much. Not with Skye walking down the aisle with her. He just wanted it done with, and he wanted to go home. This trip to Arundel wasn't fun anymore. The sooner it was over, the better he would be.

Jeffrey guarded his secret well. He prided himself on that achievement, though truth be told, he hadn't set the goalpost very far. What good was a well told lie when he knew the truth of how he spent his nights? Of how often he dreamed about, longed for, and yes – lusted after another man's fiancée? Such was a despicable practice. Particularly when said fiancée is one's personal close friend who would be horrified if she ever found out about one's feelings.

Despite all that, Jeffrey was completely fine. Or he would be, eventually. Probably. He just had to accept that, after years of waiting for her to decide she had room in her life for romance, ultimately, she'd found it somewhere else.

Whatever. Not a problem. Why be insulted? Skye could love whomever she wanted. He wouldn't stand in her way, though he would suffer for it, in silence, as he had for quite a long time.

He tried telling himself that Skye's marriage wasn't changing anything. She'd chosen Dušek years ago, and she already lived with the guy. So what was marriage? A piece of paper.

The thought put a bitter smile on Jeffrey's face. He was kidding himself. Marriage might not mean much to some people (namely, his six-time divorced, now single mother), but it meant something to him. It did to Skye. Marriage was a contract, and Skye's word was her bond – it always had been. The next evening, she would commit herself to Dušek, and with her "I do" would vanish the last of Jeffrey's hope that she would ever look at him and see someone worth falling for.

He'd learn to be okay with it, but that wouldn't be until the wedding was over and done. He wouldn't begin to be okay with it until at the very least, Skye and Dušek were off his property. He'd had to offer up Arundel as Rosalind's wedding venue. Why? When he watched Skye become someone else's wife on the grounds of his house, there would be no one to blame but himself. He simply hadn't considered that Rosalind might offer to share her big day with her sister – and he certainly never would have considered Skye might agree. Foolish. Foolish and stupid and ignorantly optimistic.

Foolish and stupid were the same thing – dammit. Even his vocabulary suffered at the hands of his heartache. He wanted to kick something, but he was standing on his front porch. Skye and Jane were waiting at the end of the driveway, and Dušek was climbing out of his rental car. Jeffrey couldn't let any of them catch sight of him throwing a fit. He didn't want to throw one anyway. Even in private, it would be low. He didn't feel like sinking all the way to rock bottom.

He had intended to head back inside the house before he was inevitably sucked into introducing himself to Dušek (who he'd strategically avoided meeting until this point), but he forgot. Instead, he stared at the three of them like they were a car crash on the side of the road, his heart thumping heavily in his chest.

Jeffrey was a little irked. Dušek didn't even have the decency not to be good-looking. Of course, Jeffrey had seen plenty of pictures of him over the years, but it was now clear that Dušek just wasn't photogenic. He had that sort of "handsome intellectual" look, with wide half-rimmed glasses, a mess of dark blond hair, and an energy like he survived on caffeine and not much else. Naturally that would be Skye's type. Jeffrey resented how confidently he could have picked Dušek out of a line of potential guys and named him as Skye's boyfriend. Fiancé. The word made him feel sick.

Dušek hugged Jane first, because she charged at him and almost knocked him over in an embrace. Jeffrey suppressed a frown. He shouldn't have hated how much the Penderwicks seemed to like Dušek, but he did. It would have helped him just a little if they weren't all so convinced that Skye had found her perfect man.

"Hi there, future Penderwick!" said Jane, letting go of Dušek and practically dancing with glee.

Dušek readjusted his glasses, since Jane's enthusiastic hug had shaken them askew. He laughed, "I don't think that's how it works."

"Yes it is," said Skye.

"After tomorrow, you belong to all of us," said Jane. "Dušek Penderwick. You don't have a choice."

If possible, Jeffrey thought that "Dušek Penderwick" sounded worse than "Skye Veselý". He hoped to never hear either again.

"You know, I'm not mad about it," said Dušek. He wasn't looking at Jane anymore, his eyes were on Skye, and he was glowing. The slightest of smiles lit his features. "Hey Mrs."

She looked at him with eyes that stared past him and into their future. Jealousy lodged in Jeffrey's throat.

"Hey," Skye said back.

"You said yes," Dušek noted.

"So I did."

Dušek swept her into a hug, lifting her completely off her feet as he spun her in circles.

Ah yes – the dramatic reunion. Nauseating.

"Put me down, you idiot," Skye laughed.

"Nope."

Skye groaned, but rather than insisting, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulled his face up to hers, and kissed him.

That was enough to effectively ruin Jeffrey's day.

"You guys!" said a very pleased Jane. "You look like you're on The Bachelor." She clasped her hands in front of her face, positively overcome by how cute they were together.

And they were cute. Jeffrey could admit that. He really didn't want to – it made him feel worse – but he could.

Jane's assessment made Skye abruptly stop kissing Dušek. "Okay, now you definitely have to put me down."

"Immediately." Dušek settled Skye back on her feet. Neither of them would tolerate a comparison to such ridiculous reality television.

That was the moment Jane spotted him. Fuck.

"Jeffrey!" she called.

She waved him over. Double fuck. If he hadn't gotten distracted spying, he'd be hiding in his bedroom right now, playing depressing music that matched his foul mood. He could have put off meeting Dušek until Batty or Tommy or even Lydia could serve as backup. Anyone but Jane – Skye and Dušek's biggest cheerleader.

He trudged down the driveway, praying he could wipe dread from his face before anyone noticed it. This would only be awkward if he let it be. He was a personable guy. A little small talk wasn't the end of the world.

"You didn't see all that, did you?" Skye asked as he walked up. "The spinning and the kissing and whatnot?"

"In fact, I did." His smile was awkward. It was lucky that kissing was often uncomfortable for onlookers.

Skye winced and turned pink. "Sorry, sorry! Rest assured, I am thoroughly embarrassed. Nobody else saw, right?"

"I did!" Jane said cheerfully.

"I know you did," Skye said, punching her arm. "You don't matter."

Dušek laughed and pressed a kiss to Skye's cheek. Jeffrey shifted his weight. He decided to take the initiative and introduce himself to Dušek all on his own. Better to appear interested, yes? Yes.

"Well, hi. It's about time I finally met you." He hoped he sounded happy about it. He reminded himself to smile as he held out his hand. "I'm—"

"I heard. The famous Jeffrey," Dušek interrupted.

"I…uh, yeah. I guess." Jeffrey stumbled through his response, surprised he'd been cut off. He must have imagined it, but he thought there had been a slight shift in Dušek's tone.

Dušek's arm was around Skye, and he didn't move it to shake Jeffrey's hand. It left him standing there with it outstretched, looking like an idiot.

Jane, fortunately, came to his rescue. She smacked down his hand. "Oh don't get all formal."

Jeffrey made himself laugh. "What? I thought I was being polite." He hadn't meant for that to be a jab at Dušek, but if it was taken as one, Jeffrey decided he was fine with that.

Where it hung over her shoulder, Skye held Dušek's hand like she hadn't wanted to let go long enough for Jeffrey to shake it in the first place.

"You're not that famous," she teased him. "Don't let it go to your head."

Jeffrey grinned, despite the wound to his ego, and despite Skye's close proximity to the guy he'd had the distinct pleasure of watching her swap spit with. "Couldn't possibly. I know you don't have many nice things to say about me," he teased back.

"At least one or two," she said. "Three, if you're lucky."

Dušek spoke up before Jeffrey could. "It's the rest of her family – they won't stop singing your praises."

That tone Jeffrey had not imagined. He was at a loss. Never, in all the times he'd imagined speaking with Dušek, had he expected an attitude. What could he say? He wouldn't give Dušek the satisfaction of offending him. He would just have be the bigger person. He had a lot of practice taking the high road. Skye's fiancé wasn't any different.

"Sorry," Jeffrey said, giving Jane a playful shove. "I'm sort of a family favorite."

"The family favorite," said Jane. "You know I'm the president of your fan club, Jeffrey."

Dušek nodded toward Arundel, which stood behind Jeffrey. "You've got one hell of a house."

"Thanks."

"Must be nice, getting handed a multi-million dollar mansion before you're even thirty," said Dušek. "What's the upkeep on a place like this, do you know? It's got to be expensive."

It was a challenge. Jeffrey stretched his hand so he wouldn't clench it. Arundel was in his name. He paid the damn bills himself. The tiniest bit of sarcasm slipped into his answer. "I'm sure you're right, but you'd have to ask my mom. She still buys my groceries and everything."

"I wouldn't be surprised if that's true."

Skye finally picked up on the charge between Dušek and Jeffrey. She nudged her fiancé with her elbow. "Don't be rude."

"I'm not," said Dušek, giving her a squeeze.

"Mm hmm." Skye eyed him with suspicion.

Jeffrey was in the middle of searching for something placating to say when his mother called for him, saving him from that task entirely. Days earlier, Mrs. Tifton had arrived at Arundel unexpectedly, and though Jeffrey didn't know what she was still hanging around for (he was certain he'd politely asked her to keep her distance), he'd never been so happy to hear her voice.

When she shouted for him again, Dušek said, "It sounds like you're wanted more over there, Jeff." He flicked his finger in the general direction of Mrs. Tifton.

Jeffrey was fairly certain he'd just been told to get lost in his own front yard – and the shortened variation of his name grated on him. As if he didn't have enough grievances.

He didn't piss off fast enough, apparently, because Dušek clarified, "You should go."

"What's your deal?" said Skye, her face a hard mix of surprise and defensiveness. Not as much as Jeffrey would have liked, but at least it was there.

"I just think he should see what his mother wants."

"Of course," said Jeffrey, not wanting to argue.

"Wouldn't want you to choke," said Dušek, wintry eyes on Jeffrey like a dare. "You know— while she's yanking your leash so hard."

Jeffrey's jaw stiffened. Dušek wanted him to fight. Why, though, he couldn't figure out. He'd known him two minutes. He hadn't done anything. Nothing that Dušek was aware of, anyway – the dream he'd had just the night before would have warranted a punch in the mouth, but that dream was a secret.

He pushed out a laugh that sounded as disingenuous as it felt. "I'm fine."

If his mother's ears were burning, she decided to be unhelpful. She shouted for him again.

Dušek raised his eyebrows. "Sure, but you must get tired of it – being called for like a dog."

Jeffrey glanced at Skye, hoping she might say something.

She didn't. It made Jeffrey sour. If it was a fight Dušek wanted— no. He wouldn't get it. Jeffrey was tempted, but he had the suspicion that was more because of envy than anything else. He would not hit rock bottom today.

Jeffrey put a smile on his face. "Like I said, I'm fine."

"Jeffrey!" Mrs. Tifton was closer. Jeffrey looked over his shoulder. She was now in view, and she stopped aways up the road. Jeffrey lifted his hand in a wave, then flashed her one finger. She folded her arms, unhappy to stand by.

"Don't keep her waiting," said Dušek.

Skye frowned at him. Jane watched in perplexed silence, her gaze bouncing between all three of them.

"Yeah, alright," said Jeffrey. It would be best to see what his mother wanted anyway. Determined to be polite until the very end, he added, "Good to meet you, Dušek."

Dušek gave him a strained and, Jeffrey thought, false smile. He didn't say it back.

Awesome. That was awesome. He started to walk off.

"Jeffrey, hold on a second." Skye took Dušek's arm off her shoulder.

He held on, in case she wanted to say something – anything – in his defense.

She said, "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"Actually, I think I do." Jeffrey flicked his gaze at Dušek. It was a little more attitude than he'd wanted to throw around, but Skye was getting on his nerves. Dušek too, of course, but it was Skye who had really needled him. She used to be his biggest champion; no one could have scorned him without answering to her. Today, she was just a bystander.

"He didn't mean anything," said Skye.

"Actually," said Jeffrey, pettiness overpowering his interest in an unruffled front. "I think he did."

Dušek, for his part, didn't disagree.

"It doesn't matter," said Skye.

Jeffrey smiled. It should have mattered. It would have, when they were younger, but now? No. No, because fifteen years of friendship was nothing next to her engagement of about three seconds.

It would have to roll right off his back. He'd get hurt enough by Skye Penderwick when he sat through her wedding. He didn't have it in him to stay sore about anything else.

"I'll probably see you later," he said, quite ready to get away from this mess.

"You will," said Skye.

"If I'm around." He hoped not to be. He started off, but paused. He looked back, past Skye, at Dušek. "By the way, don't call me Jeff."

It made him feel a little better. He left to go to his mother, who at the very least, appreciated his company.

He thought he heard Skye tell Dušek "that was not okay". It was too little too late for him to care.

Mrs. Tifton started speaking before Jeffrey quite reached her. "I'd like to know when my ex-husband will be arriving at my home."

He made it to her and stopped. "You mean my dad?"

"Unless you've invited a different one to this wedding, then yes. Obviously that is who I am referring to."

He didn't even have a say in the guest list. Alec had been invited by Rosalind. Jeffrey detested how his mother spoke about his father. They hardly ever discussed him, but on the rare occasion they did, she only ever called him her ex-husband, as if he was the same as all the rest.

"You didn't hear? I ran into Richard at the airport and thought he might like to come."

Richard Hoffman was the third of Jeffrey's former stepfathers – among the better ones, though the standard was quite low.

Mrs. Tifton frowned. "Don't get smart with me."

Jeffrey nearly snapped something else at her, but he caught himself. She wasn't the problem of the day. He could stand to be a little more patient with her.

"Sorry," he apologized truthfully. "I'm sort of in a mood."

"That's obvious," she said, unimpressed. "I still expect you to answer me. When is your father getting here?"

He should have been more pleased that she had rephrased the question for him, but the miniscule gesture slipped past his notice. He was too busy thinking that he didn't have the energy to deal with his parents' decades old issues. Not today. Not this weekend at all.

"Why, miss him?" He winced almost before he finished saying it. "Again, sorry. Around 3:00, I think."

Not yet over the fact that he would arrive at all, Mrs. Tifton frowned deeper. "Well, since I will be making myself very scarce then, I'd like to spend some time with you today. I decided to come and insist, since you have rejected so many of my invitations thus far."

"Because they included the Robinettes," Jeffrey reminded her. It wasn't his mother he was avoiding. It was discussions of his apparent, though invalid, betrothal to Mrs. Robinette's daughter Marlene.

"You're not busy, are you?"

Technically, he had plans, but plans he would be happy to put off. He was supposed to practice the wedding music with Batty. Usually, he loved music with her. That kind, however, did not interest him.

He looked back toward Skye, who had obviously forgotten any minor vexation she'd had with Dušek. That was quick. She stood against him; he had both of his arms wrapped around her waist. He whispered something in her ear and kissed her hair. Skye rolled her eyes, but whatever he'd said still made her laugh. Jeffrey didn't want to be around to see any of it.

Batty had joined them at some point after Jeffrey's exit, so he took that as a sign that maybe he could push back their plans. She was right there for him to ask.

"I probably don't have to be," he said, and a considerable weight lifted off his shoulders. Time away from Arundel would be good for him, and he kind of liked the idea of being in the company of the only person who was as unhappy about the upcoming wedding as he was. It would be a refreshing change.

He caught Batty's eye. She smiled at him and wiggled her fingers in a friendly greeting. He beckoned her over. She walked a couple feet, but her eyes landed on Mrs. Tifton, and she hesitated. Jeffrey laughed and waved his hand some more.

"Batty, come here," he called to her.

She cast one more glance at Mrs. Tifton, then reluctantly continued to advance.

"Tacky little name for a teenager, don't you think? 'Batty'," Mrs. Tifton sniffed.

Jeffrey was about to say that in fact, he liked it, but Batty had been close enough to hear Mrs. Tifton's criticism. She answered before he did.

"My name is really Elizabeth." Batty was surprised at her own courage. She threw in a frightful, "Ma'am."

Jeffrey had never heard her speak up before. Later, he would have to tell her he was proud.

"Hm," was all Mrs. Tifton said, not at all concerned with Batty's legal name. She scrutinized her where she stood and made no further comment.

Jeffrey changed the subject. "If it's alright with you, I'm going to go out with my mom for a bit. Until my dad's here, maybe a little after. But I know we haven't finished all the music stuff yet, so I can make it quick if I have to."

Did Batty shoot a glance at Skye? Heavens, Jeffrey hoped not. If anyone would ever identify the unfortunate truth of his feelings, it could only be her. He'd have to be careful around Batty. All the more reason to accept his mother's invitation. He should probably spend as little time with Batty as he could without making it obvious.

Batty's eyes lingered on him for a beat too long before she casually replied, "Yeah, go. Take a break from all the chaos. I wish I could."

"I'll be back before the rehearsal," Jeffrey promised, which he thought was quite a bummer, but short of landing himself in the hospital, there was nothing he could do to get himself out of it. He was almost tempted. The emergency room could be a more enjoyable place to spend his evening.

"Sure. Have fun?" Batty questioned the possibility.

"Will do," Jeffrey laughed.

Batty's eyes slid back toward the group of people now gathered on the front porch. Rosalind and Tommy were the latest arrivals, greeting Dušek with the same level of enthusiasm that everyone else had. Apparently, Jeffrey was the only one he wasn't keen on conversing with. That really was the cherry on top of his already miserable morning.

"Just come find me later, okay?" said Batty.

He agreed he would. Batty was making him nervous. He did not need her and her power of inductive reasoning catching onto him now. Not after he'd hidden it so well for so many years. That just might push him to the breaking point.

"See you tonight then," said Batty, and to be respectful, added, "Goodbye, Mrs. Tifton."

"Goodbye." Mrs. Tifton said, her tone begging the question 'why are you still here?' She flicked her hand to shoo Batty off.

Jeffrey chose not to comment on that. Instead, he asked his mother if she wanted to get lunch, realizing he hadn't eaten since the previous night. She offered to drive, so Jeffrey climbed into the passenger seat of her car. He watched Skye and Dušek out of the side mirror until they were out of sight.

Jeffrey wasn't often inclined to think of his mother as his saving grace, but in this moment, that was exactly what she was. He badly needed the break she was providing for him.