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years.
                “And I’m gonna
stop you right there and move onto another topic.  So, when is your last gown
fitting?  I don’t know about you, but I might have a hard time fitting into my
bridesmaid dress after this dinner tonight,” Daisy said, effectively
distracting Violet.  Thank God for her.  It’s hard enough being here with Luke,
but it was even harder to not think about him when it seemed I was constantly
being reminded of him.  The last time I saw him, he was asleep. I was sneaking
out of the lake house before he woke up.  I wanted to avoid an awkward
goodbye.  And now, eleven years later, I was home again, in the same house with
him, and I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling of guilt.  At the time, I
didn’t let myself think about it.  I wanted to stay focused and start my life
away from Glenbrook.  I never even told him goodbye, and I robbed him of his
chance to say it.  For the sake of my sanity, I knew I had to apologize to him
before he left tonight.  I wouldn’t be able to take three weeks of
uncomfortable conversations if I didn’t.  We were both in Violet and Evan’s wedding,
and this was about them.  I walked over to the kitchen sink and began washing a
plate, listening to Violet and Daisy discuss the wedding plans.

Chapter 4
 
Truth
     
     
                After the food
had all been put away and the last dish had been washed, I walked into the
living room.  Mama had finished before I did and was getting ready to read a
book, Violet was showing Daisy pictures out of a bridal magazine, and Daddy was
playfully arguing with Jack, Evan and Luke about the score of a football game. 
I thought, this was it.  If I was going to do this, it was now or never.  With
a burst of courage (and before I could talk myself out of it), I walked across
the living room.  I timidly walked up beside Daddy and said, “Hey boys, do you
mind if I borrow Luke for a minute?”
                Daddy smiled
warmly, and said, “Not at all.”  He gave me a tight squeeze around my
shoulders.
                Looking
confused, Luke extended his arm and said, “After you.”  I walked past him,
grabbed a shawl, and walked out the front door, feeling him behind me.  I heard
him shut the door, and I walked over to the porch swing.
                “Would you
like to sit?” I asked.
                He smiled at
me and said, “Sure.” We both sat next to each other.
    After
a moment of uncomfortable silence, I decided to lighten the mood. “Well, this
isn’t awkward at all ,” I said, and we both laughed.
    “Of
course it’s not,” he laughed, more at ease.  “Look, I know that there is
obviously a reason you brought me out here, but before you say what you wanted
to say, I have to get this out…you really do look beautiful.”
    I
had been hearing my family say this to me all afternoon, but hearing Luke say
it made me blush.  Thank God it was dark outside. “Thanks, Luke.  I should say
the same thing.  You look great too.  So…I don’t know, grown up and smart.” 
The minute I said that, I regretted it.  I did not know how to give this man a
compliment that didn’t make me sound stupid.
     “Uh,
yeah, I guess I am, thank you” he said, laughing.  Then, his tone turned
slightly serious.  “Lilly, I’m actually glad you wanted to talk to me.”
                “You are?”
                “Yes.  I know
it’s been a long time, but I feel like there are some things we should settle
between us and get out of the way now so we can both enjoy this wedding,” he
said, with a hint of and edge to his voice.  Suddenly, I felt overwhelmingly
nervous. 
                I cleared my
throat.  “Okay, but can I go first?”
                He half-smiled. 
“Sure.”
                I took a deep
breath, and looking down at my hands, I quietly said, “Luke, I’m so