From Here to There Read Online Free Page B

as Chelle and I were."
     Phillip looked down at Amos, then his gaze flicked to Helene. "I see you have my lady."
     "That I do. You're just lucky you're in Massachusetts, not Montana. Back there if you leave a pretty lady like this one alone, some other cowpoke would be grabbing her, making away with her."
     Phillip's gaze went blank. "Possibly," he said and walked past them back into the reception hall.
     "There is something wrong, honey. What is it?" Amos asked again as he caught Helene's stricken expression.
     "No, I... I'll try to explain later," Helene said, following after Phillip. The set of Phillip's broad shoulders and pain in his eyes filled her heart with an ache she couldn't explain away, even to herself.
     When she reached him, she was almost prepared for the bleakness she saw on his face. "We have to get out of here," he said tonelessly, not looking at her but beyond to the groups of people, half of whom were looking toward them. "I've had all I can take."
     "I... I have to change."
     "All right, but do it fast." He stalked off to find his own change of clothing.
     Helene located her mother who was instructing one of the servers that the drinks on the patio needed refreshing.
     "I need to change out of my wedding gown," Helene said, not waiting for her mother's response.
     "The reception's barely begun," her mother complained, catching up with her at the steps. "You shouldn't leave yet. It's unseemly. I can't imagine what people will think."
     Helene gritted her teeth and continued to walk. "Phillip and I both want to leave."
     Her mother stopped, then quickened her pace to slide into the room the club had set aside for changing before Helene closed the door. Wordlessly, she helped Helene out of the wedding gown and put it onto a hanger as Helene took the plastic sleeve off her suit. She'd chosen the off-white, linen suit because she'd felt she could use it for future occasions. She wondered as she slid the skirt down over her hips if she would ever be able to stand seeing it again.
     Dressed in the suit with a bright designer print silk blouse, Helene studied her reflection in the mirror. "I'm going to take down my hair," she said finally, reaching up to remove pins.
     "But it looks so beautiful up," her mother protested as the elaborate concoction began to fall onto Helene's shoulders. "How will Francois feel when he sees you've destroyed his creation."
     "This hair isn't me," Helene said simply as the last pin was removed. She found her purse and brushed out the long auburn hair, allowing it to wave around her shoulders.
     Her mother studied her for a moment and then said, "Actually, perhaps you were right. Your hair looks very nice like that, very virginal." She grimaced a little. "You will enjoy your honeymoon. I wouldn't think it necessary to tell you anything at this late date about sex or what to expect in bed with Phillip. Probably you know more than I do." She pinched her lips together and reached out to smooth Helene's hair.
     "I'm sure everything will be fine," Helene said, ignoring her mother's innuendo or perhaps probe for information.
     "I love you, my dear," her mother said, patting Helene's shoulder.
     Tears again, Helene thought with frustration, wondering if she'd make it through this day without breaking down completely. She reached out and hugged her mother, something she'd done only rarely. For a moment her mother stiffened, then threw her arms around her.
     "My baby," her mother murmured, tears running down her cheeks when they broke apart. "Only you aren't my baby anymore. You're all grown up, aren't you?"
     "I don't know," Helene admitted honestly, "but if I'm not, I'm going to be."
     "That was a strange thing to say." Her mother glanced into the mirror at her own reflection. She dabbed at her eyes, then picked up a small purse from the dresser to refresh her coral lipstick, patting her bleached blond hair with a nervous hand.
     "Everything has been strange today,"