“She did,” Monique whispered back. “She stayed in the limo with her brother when we got out. I sent the driver back to get them right before I came through the doors.”
“Then where is she?”
I glanced over at my mother and then at the crowd. People were starting to get restless, some sitting back down and others mumbling their confusion to each other, looking around as if they’d find the bride somewhere other than coming down the main aisle. I’m sure everyone was wondering the same thing I was: Where was my bride?
God, this can’t be happening. Tia wouldn’t leave me at the altar, would she?
“Everybody just relax,” Ross said to the group assembled in front. “You know how women are. She’ll make her grand entrance and get the reaction she’s hoping for. Just chill.”
I tried to buy into his confidence. “Yeah, man. Yeah, you’re right,” I said, loosening up my shoulders and then cracking my neck.
Once again, I turned my attention to the closed sanctuary doors. By now the organist was on her fourth or fifth repetition of the “Wedding March.”
Finally, the sanctuary doors opened. I felt a momentary rush of relief when I spotted Tia’s brother Kareem. He was the one escorting Tia down the aisle to give her away.
There was a collective sigh of relief from the crowd, and my heartbeat slowed down a little, until I saw Kareem striding toward the front—alone. The noise from the guests in attendance was no longer a whisper, but more like a frenzied buzzing. I didn’t pay attention to them, though. I was focused on Kareem. As he got closer, I could see the expression on his face, and I knew it meant nothing good.
He came up the steps and stood in front of me. “Look, Aaron, man, I’m sorry.” Dude could barely look me in the eyes.
“Sorry about what?” I gave a nervous laugh.
“She’s gone,” Kareem said.
“What do you mean, she’s gone?” Bishop’s voice was barely above a whisper, but he was still clearly taking charge of the situation. I was glad for that because I sure couldn’t. As weak as my knees felt, I was lucky I was still standing.
“She’s gone as in she’s not here. She’s not at the church,” Kareem answered.
I looked to Monique. “You said she rode in the limo.”
“She did,” Monique said, looking confused.
“Then what—where…?” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. I grabbed my forehead as I felt a splitting headache coming on.
“I’m sorry, man. She left.” Kareem apologized again. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
I stared off at nothing in particular. “Tell me she’s coming back. That’s what you can tell me. I thought she loved me. I thought she wanted to marry me.”
What was I supposed to do now?
OTHER NOVELS BY CARL WEBER
Lookin’ for Luv
Married Men
Baby Mama Drama
Player Haters
The Preacher’s Son
So You Call Yourself a Man
The First Lady
Something on the Side
Up to No Good
Torn Between Two Lovers
The Choir Director
She Ain’t the One with Mary B. Morrison
The Family Business with Eric Pete
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Contents
Welcome
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
1: Connie
2: Benny
3: Avery
4: Krystal
5: Connie
6: Krystal
7: Avery
8: Benny
9: Krystal
10: Benny
11: Avery
12: Nancy
13: Connie
14: Krystal
15: Avery
16: Benny
18: Benny
19: Connie
20: Avery
21: Connie
22: Krystal
23: Benny
24: Avery
25: Krystal
26: Avery
27: Benny
28: Connie
29: Nancy
30: Krystal
31: Avery
32: Connie
33: Nancy
34: Connie
35: Benny
36: Krystal
37: Nancy
38: Krystal
39: Connie
40: Krystal
41: Benny
42: Connie
43: Krystal
44: Nancy
45: Krystal
46: Benny
48: Connie
Epilogue
Reading Group Guide
About the Author
A Preview of The Choir Director 2: Runaway Bride
Other Novels by Carl Weber
Newsletters
Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Carl Weber
Reading Group Guide Copyright © 2013 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.
An excerpt from The Choir Director 2: Runaway Bride Copyright © 2013 by Carl Weber
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First e-book edition: January 2013
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ISBN 978-1-4555-0523-4