The Reluctant Bride by Anne Marie Duquette

did I.”
    â€œThat’s what the Phoenix police told me . But obviously this goes beyond that. You should’ve said something,” she insisted.
    â€œAnd you, too.”
    She bowed her head in acknowledgment. “You don’t think…my mother could be alive, do you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI wish the woman had called me instead of you,” Karinne said. “I would’ve recognized the voice if it really was Mom.”
    â€œI’m glad she didn’t. I’d hate to think she had your phone number. Or worse, your address,” Max said. “This person does have my address,” Karinne admitted miserably. “She sent me a Grand Canyon sweatshirt—and a note.”
    â€œSomeone actually sent you a package? When?”
    â€œLast week. This woman wants to see me.”
    Max’s eyes darkened with concern. “Go on.”
    â€œI threw the whole package out. But then I fished it out of the trash and brought the top with me. I thought maybe…I should wear it.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œAs…a signal, in case Mom is alive. To let her know I’m approachable.”
    â€œDon’t encourage this craziness! That’s the last thing you want!”
    â€œThat’s what Cory said.”
    â€œYou’ve talked to Cory about this, and not me?” he asked angrily.
    Karinne flushed. “Just a few minutes ago. And don’tlecture me, Max. You told Cory about your incident with this strange woman. Cory, not me.”
    â€œPoint taken.” He sighed. “In future, we have to be more forthright with each other.”
    â€œThen I’ll say it right out. I want to follow this and see where it leads.”
    â€œWhat’s next? A stalker crashing the wedding?”
    Karinne shook her head. “I don’t think this woman wants to hurt me. She’s respected my privacy so far.”
    â€œThat’s not how I see it.”
    â€œAnd pink used to be my favorite color….”
    â€œYours and a million other little girls’.”
    â€œStill, if there’s a chance—any chance—my mother’s alive, I want to know.”
    â€œLet me play devil’s advocate. Say Margot is alive. You’d want a sick person like that in your life? Someone who faked her own suicide and put you and your father through hell? If she’s alive, which I doubt.”
    â€œMax, we can’t be sure.”
    â€œExactly. Something to think about before welcoming a Trojan horse.” He reached across the table for her hand. “Come on, there are others waiting for this table. Let’s go.”
    Outside, the long shadows from the walls and spires of the canyon crisscrossed Phantom Ranch. Most of the park visitors were eating or in the dorms using the communal showers. Max and Karinne found a bench where they could have some privacy. They sat side by side, Max’s arm around her shoulders.
    â€œI was hoping to have a nice, quiet vacation where I could concentrate just on us,” Karinne told him.
    â€œI’ll settle for a nice, quiet wedding,” Max said. “How’s your father taking all this?”
    Karinne sat up and pushed the hair back from her face.“Better than I am. He seemed to shrug it off, but he didn’t totally convince me. We never had proof Mom was actually dead. Deep down, I suspect he keeps hoping Mom will come home. That’s why he’s never sold the house and moved into a retirement community. I guess I felt that way, too. That’s why I didn’t leave Phoenix after college.”
    The cold steel in Max’s eyes disturbed her. “Even though we were seriously involved by then?”
    â€œI wanted to stay near our home base.”
    â€œAnd all this time, I thought you stayed in Phoenix for your career.”
    â€œI— It—it was both…” Karinne stammered.
    â€œSo you’re telling me that you’re pinning the future of our