Ryan

Ryan looked out the round window at the dark sky and wondered what he did wrong. Christina's phone call surprised him and somehow upset Lana. She told him she was glad they had met, and he agreed he was glad too. She had continued. "Ryan, I've been thinking about some things you said. I don't think it is fair to let events when you were twenty define your life. Call it guilt on my part, but I feel horribly responsible for your decision to be alone. You need to fall in love and build a life and a family. I know Aidan changed your life. He changed mine too." Ryan said, "That's why no one knows me like you do." Then she said, "I just want you to be happy." Instead of arguing with her he already was, he said, "Me too." Then she quickly said goodbye as if she was no longer alone.

Hearing from her was strange, but it was as if she knew what was weighing on his mind. He felt better after he told his mother about her call. He didn't tell her everything. He just whispered she had called and their visit helped them both to heal.

Why was it just as he was moving on, Lana started acting weird? She thought he was talking to Isobel which was ludicrous, but she didn't like his explanation. Even if she heard some of his conversation, he barely said anything at all, except the bit about Christina knowing him. The only thing that made him feel better was he suspected Lana might have been jealous and there was only one reason for her to be jealous. Just the idea made him feel a seed of excitement in his gut.

Whatever was bothering Lana blew over. Things were normal all week. The only thing Ryan worried about was Lana and Allie were becoming friends. Allie confirmed his suspicions when she walked into his office and closed his door. It was almost two weeks since he had been to Maine and the same until the benefit.

"Allie is this important because I don't want to be late for my meeting. I don't need to give Isobel any ammunition."

"I need to talk to you before you see her again."

"Why?" He felt dread over whatever she had to say.

"I don't want her to catch off guard when she mentions you submitted two acts."

"But I didn't." He felt impatient.

"No, you submitted two. Your second act can beat the Broadway tenor, not my words."

Ryan knew only one person who sang well enough to compete. His eyes narrowed. "Did she call you and volunteer?" Allie nodded. "Why is it a secret? Did she think I wouldn't find out?"

"I think she wanted it to be final before you found out. I really thought she would back out. Is she really good?"

Ryan smiled. "Yeah, she really is, but she told me she would never perform again."

"I think she is doing it to show up Isobel. She hates her for what she did to you, which indicates how she feels about you. I for one can't wait to finally meet her."

Ryan was so mixed up and confused. He couldn't believe Lana agreed to sing. He tried calling her, but she didn't answer. She was in her class and she had to work afterward.

Sure enough, Isobel approached him right away. "Ryan who is this second act?"

"My date, she is very talented." He suspected it was his smile more than his words who caused her to walk away in a huff.

Ryan finally reached Lana on Saturday morning. "Are you sure? I didn't pressure you did I?"

"Ryan, you never even asked me. I decided I needed to do this for a lot of reasons and showing up that witch is only one of them. I needed to do it for myself so I can move on. I was hurt, but it happens. You were right he would have done what he did even if I was home sick with laryngitis."

"Did I say that?"

"No, you said something about doing the dishes. My story sounds better."

"Are you trying to get me to argue with you? Because I refuse."

"Where is the fun in that?"

"You are incorrigible."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Ha! I got you to argue with me. Isn't it fun?"

"Bye Lan."

He was smiling as he hung up on her. Two weeks and he would be with her for the big event.

Lana

Lana accepted she and Ryan would never be more than friends. Her desire to show up Isobel was only getting stronger, which was why she finally decided to sing. She hoped she was good enough to win. She chose a song about friendship and although it was meant to be sang as a duet, she could sing it solo.

The next piece in her plan was the perfect dress. When she told Jen what she needed. Jen smile. "Let's go to the mall."

"The mall! Isn't there any specialty shops?"

Jen laughed. "Do you want to go to New York for the day and spend a fortune on a dress? I didn't save any of my dresses. I sold them to purge my old life. You know we aren't all that different... both cheated on, both divorced."

"Yeah, but you have Alex and Eliza."

"True, but I have a feeling you'll have yours."

"Not you too. We are just friends."

Jen laughed. "I remember when I used to say that about Alex."

Lana sighed. She was done arguing with everyone.

"Where at the mall?"

"Macy's. You'd be surprised what we'll find and if anyone looks down at you for buying off the rack, you can think two things. One, they must have shopped Macy's, too, and two, you will have more money to pay your bills next month. Remember, you are going to Virginia, not Manhattan."

Jen put her in a dressing room and brought her dress after dress. If she tried to argue, Jen would say just try it. After about twenty dresses she had put five aside. Jen suggested she try the five on again and after eliminating the black ones. Lana really didn't want to wear black. Jen concurred.

"So you won't blend in with everyone else."

She had narrowed it down to a taupe gown with beaded sequined flowers and a beaded light blue gown. Both were more expensive than any single item of clothing she had ever owned, except for her wedding dress. She had the taupe one on. "I don't think I could wear underwear."

Jen laughed. "That's half the fun. Knowing that you have a secret underneath. Then later it becomes a surprise for... Oh right, you're just friends. Ryan's loss."

Lana felt her belly clench at the dream of Ryan peeling her dress off her. He looked amazing in a suit. She couldn't even imagine how he would look in a tuxedo. She felt risque. "I think the taupe one."

"Good choice. It's my favorite. You know you may not fit in with the crowd, but remember you have Ryan Harris as your date. No one else in the room can say that. I know, I know, you're just friends."

By the time she boarded the plane for Virginia the day of the benefit, she was regretting every decision she made. Could she really sing in front of people? Would she let Ryan down? Was her dress right? She wasn't even sure if she would see Ryan before the benefit. Cam was picking her up at the airport and Heidi had scheduled manicures and pedicures for them before they were to dress.

Ryan had called her right before she boarded to tell her that Isobel was making him help set up and if he could sneak away before it was time to dress, he'd stop by to see her. She was a bundle of nerves and wasn't sure why. Was it the singing or was it being Ryan's date? Their fake date, she needed to remind herself. Her purpose was to make Isobel jealous, and she planned to do her best.

Ryan texted her to let her know he couldn't see her before the benefit. If she saw him, he would somehow calm her nerves. Heidi was doing her best, but mostly she was making her feel more nervous. Thankfully, Heidi was on the same page as Lana that Ryan was just her friend.

When Lana stepped out of Heidi's spare bedroom dressed for the evening, Heidi stared at her. "Lan, you look unbelievable. I'm so jealous. I never looked like that and now I have a baby body."

"Heidi, you look amazing. Right, Cam?"

"You look sexy." Cam had a grin.

"You look pretty good yourself, mister. Let me just check my mother is all set with Grace."

Lana knew that Heidi and Cam would not stay long. She had never left the baby before even with Melissa.

Heidi smiled. "Ryan can bring you back or you can stay with him. Just let me know when you know."

"I can't stay without my clothes." Heidi just laughed and out of fear Lana shoved a pair of panties into her small handbag. She could borrow a t-shirt, but she needed underwear to crash at Ryan's place.

On the drive, Heidi talked excitedly. Lana half listened and heard the bit about Allie looking forward to meeting her. Lana was looking forward to meeting Allie too, as they had become fast friends.

When she walked into the hotel ballroom, Lana scanned the crowd. When she saw Ryan, she heard her breath hitch.

Heidi must have heard her. "He's hot, isn't he?"

Lana couldn't answer, but in her head, she was screaming, yes!

Lana's dress: