The Bride's Best Man. Judy Christenberry

Kay leaned back and closed her eyes, hoping to stop any further questions from her niece and soon-to-be traveling companion.

      Though she was an honest person by nature, Kay Cook was participating in a deceit that she hoped would not ruin everything. She’d had this plan for some time now, and she simply had to follow her heart and head, in synch on this issue.

      Shelby wasn’t deterred. “I’m glad you helped me to keep a relationship with Mom. I realized she was a sad person, especially after her second marriage failed.”

      “You were the one bright spot in her life. That’s why I encouraged her to come see you. As long as there was no man involved, she was fine.”

      “Is that why my father left?”

      Shelby’s question took her by surprise. Kay turned to face her and tried not to let the emotion show on her face. “Y-your father? You haven’t ever mentioned him.”

      “I know. Mom always got hysterical if I asked about him when I was little.” She looked down and shrugged. “It was only as I got older and saw her with a man in her life that I thought the problem might not have only been my father’s, as she’d told me.”

      “So you wanted to meet him?”

      “No, not really. After all, I’ve managed for most of my life without him. And, obviously, he hasn’t suffered any pangs of regret or he would’ve contacted me.”

      “I see.” Kay reached across her and clicked on a beachfront hotel. “Who knows? Maybe that’ll change.”

      Chapter One

      Sunshine greeted the two women as they got off the plane in Honolulu. Shelby drew a deep breath and sighed in delight as she released her pent-up breath. “Oh, this is heavenly.”

      Aunt Kay raised her face to the tropical sun and smiled. “See, I was right. You needed to get away from all that…that mess. Now you’ll be able to relax and, if you insist, you can even study on the beach.”

      “Yes, you’re right. After three years of law school, I needed a break.” But that wasn’t the only reason they’d settled on Hawaii. Her aunt Kay was there to meet the man she’d been corresponding with for fifteen years. “I bet you’re excited to see your man.”

      “He’s not mine, Shelby,” she demurred. “But he is wonderful. I haven’t seen him since I was a teenager, but when I told him I was coming, he offered to show us Hawaii.”

      “I’m sure that’ll be nice,” Shelby said, silently promising herself that if the man disappointed Kay, she’d make sure they only saw him once. She owed Kay that much at least.

      After they reached their hotel room, Shelby suggested, “Let’s get unpacked and then we can look around. And tonight we can open the lanai door and have a cool breeze sing us to sleep.”

      “Yes, it is so lovely here.”

      Not much unpacking got done before the phone rang. Her aunt snatched it up at once.

      “Oh, hi, Dan. We’re here.”

      Shelby recognized the name. Dan Jackson. Kay had told her he’d lived in her neighborhood back in Cleveland, before he’d relocated to Oahu, but the two had maintained a sweet, old-fashioned correspondence ever since. Dan’s letters were the closest Kay had come to male companionship. She had seldom dated in the ten years Shelby had lived with her. Sometimes Shelby feared she was the reason. After all, she’d been only fourteen when she’d moved in with Kay, still in need of supervision.

      Her mother, Cordelia, had been more interested in her own happiness than Shelby’s. Even when her second husband had tried to rape Shelby, her mother had blamed Shelby for flirting with him.

      Shelby had been shocked by her mother’s words. She hated the man. Luckily for Shelby, her aunt had been with her mother when they discovered her fighting her stepfather. He had torn Shelby’s blouse and was trying to rid her of her bra. She fought him as hard as she could, biting his hand, which earned her a slap in the face, and she screamed loudly.

      Kay heard her screams and hit her brother-in-law on the head with a lamp. When Cordelia slapped Shelby, Kay insisted Cordelia leave Shelby alone. Then she told Shelby to pack her belongings. She was going home with Kay.

      Shelby didn’t protest. She was pleased to move to Kay’s home. There she thrived, seeing a psychologist for a couple of years to be sure she recovered from the attack and her mother’s rejection. Thanks to the doctor and Kay, she even learned to accept her mother as she was, as long as their visits occurred at Kay’s.

      After all she’d done, when Kay wanted to go to Hawaii, Shelby couldn’t say no. Still, she worried about her aunt’s attraction to a man she hadn’t seen in a long time. Shelby was determined to protect Kay the way her aunt had once protected her.

      She had always been told she was a good judge of character. She would utilize that judgment to do her best to gauge Dan Jackson’s intentions toward her aunt.

      From her aunt’s response, she figured she’d be getting her chance tonight.

      When Kay hung up the phone, Shelby asked, “So what did he say?”

      “He and a friend are coming to take us out to dinner.” She unpacked a couple more dresses before she looked at Shelby. “You don’t mind, do you?”

      Shelby was sure she’d feel like the proverbial fifth wheel, but she eagerly anticipated meeting Kay’s mystery man. “No, I guess not, but I thought he’d want to have you to himself.”

      Kay blushed. “I told you we’re just friends.”

      But Shelby noted her red cheeks and the way she avoided looking at Shelby. With her aunt, they were sure signs she wasn’t being honest. Aunt Kay was easy to read. Shelby hoped Dan was just as obvious.

      “What are you going to wear?”

      Shelby’s head snapped up. “Me? I would think what you’re wearing is more important.”

      “I want you to look nice. Wear your new sundress, okay?”

      Shelby had resisted the urge to buy a new wardrobe, as Kay had suggested. But she’d acquiesced on one new sundress. In fact, they’d each bought a dress that showed up their particular charms. Shelby, with her auburn hair, had a green print, and Kay, her beautiful face framed by soft blond hair, had a blue print.

      “I’ll wear mine if you’ll wear yours,” she suggested.

      “It’s a deal!” Kay agreed with enthusiasm. “We’ll knock them dead!”

      Such effusiveness from her normally calm and quiet aunt surprised Shelby. Concerned her, too.

      Was Kay in love with this man? And why was Shelby so afraid of that? She wanted her aunt to have some happiness. She was only thirty-four, ten years older than Shelby. Certainly young enough to find love, have a family.

      But with a man who’d written her for fifteen years without making an effort to see her?

      Shelby’s inner sensors went on alert. Something was screwy.

      When they were both dressed in their new sundresses, makeup on and hair fixed, they descended to the lobby. Shelby had braided her long hair, even though Kay wanted her to leave it loose, on her shoulders.

      “We’re early. Want to go look in that shop? They have some pretty dresses,” Kay said. She loved shopping.

      “No, I don’t think so. You go ahead, though.”

      “Dan is tall with dark hair. Call me if you think you see him.”

      “You don’t have a picture of him?”

      “No, I don’t.”

      “Then maybe I can pick up more than one tall, dark-haired man, so you’ll have a choice,”