A Family Reunited (12 page)
Chapter 20
J
ack took another swig of coffee as Emma and Emmy opened the last of their presents. Pamela had called him at five o’clock to tell him the girls had awakened and were ready for presents. He hadn’t hesitated to jump in the car and drive to the cabin, but he couldn’t wait until he and Pamela and the girls lived under one roof.
He tapped the front pocket of his flannel shirt to check once again that he hadn’t forgotten Pamela’s gift. He’d noticed last night that she wore her engagement and wedding rings again. The one in his pocket would match the set nicely.
He rubbed his thumb against his band. He’d hocked it for alcohol several years ago, but soon after accepting Christ and sobering up, he’d gone back to the pawn shop, and, to his surprise, the ring had still been there.
“Mom, can we ride our bikes out by the orchard?” asked Emmy.
Emma nodded. “Yeah. We’ll stay on the dirt path close to the house.”
“I don’t know, girls.” She looked at Jack. “What time do we need to leave for the shelter?”
He looked at his phone and winked at the girls. “We have a few hours. I think they have time.”
“Okay, but it’s cold outside.” Pamela stood up and grabbed their coats out of the closet. Jack grinned as she fussed over the girls; zipping them up all the way and making sure they had gloves. It felt good to be with his family on Christmas, to watch the joy in his girls’ eyes as they opened presents, to receive kisses as thanks.
The girls walked their bikes outside, and Pamela opened the curtains. They could see the girls riding on the path. Pamela sat beside him on the couch. “I have a present for you.”
He sniffed. “Apple crisps?”
She swatted his arm. “Well, those were supposed to be a surprise.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “You don’t think I can smell your apple crisps the moment I walk through the door?”
She pushed him away, then leaned over the arm of the couch and lifted up a present. “It isn’t much, but the girls and I thought you might like it.”
Jack tore off the paper and opened the box. He pulled out a framed portrait of all three of them.
She shrugged. “We figured you might want to put it on your desk at work.”
Jack held it to his chest. “I’ve wanted a picture of the three of you for a long time.” He swallowed the knot in his throat. “I have something for you, too.”
“Jack,” she sighed. “You already bought me too much. Shoes. A sweater. A gift card to get my hair cut. A...”
Jack knelt down on one knee.
She giggled, and her cheeks flushed. “Jack, we’re already married.”
He pulled the ring out of his front shirt pocket. “We haven’t been really married in over eight years. We will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary this summer, but I didn’t honor those vows the way a husband should.”
She frowned. “But you said—”
“I loved you, and I was faithful to you, but I wasn’t here when you needed me. Pammer, I want to renew those vows before God and our families. This ring was the first purchase I made after accepting Christ and sobering up.”
Pamela gasped. “You’ve had this for three years?”
Jack nodded, thinking of the many times he’d looked at the ring and reminded himself that he would one day be able to put it on her finger. “I’ve asked your dad—”
Pamela placed her hand on her chest. “You asked my dad?”
Jack chuckled at all her questions. “Yes, I asked your dad.” He moved closer to her and cupped his hand against her cheek. “I don’t want to live apart from you anymore. I love you, and I want you to be my wife in every way.”
Pamela twisted her mouth. “I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with all your clothes lying next to the hamper.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I’ll pick them up. If I remember right, someone liked to shave her armpits and legs with my razor.”
Pamela cocked her head and wrinkled her nose. “Well, you know if someone leaves them all crowded up in the shower, then someone else might not have a choice.”
Jack dipped his chin and glared at her. “Pammer.”
She scooted forward on the couch and wrapped both hands around his neck. She kissed his lips in one swift motion. “I’d love to renew our vows.”
He grabbed her waist and pulled her into his lap. Tracing his fingers through her hair, he pressed his lips against hers. Her fingernails scratched his neck, and shivers raced down his spine. He growled. “I’m thinking we’re going to have to renew those vows soon. Valentine’s Day?”
She shook her head. “No.”
His chest caved. “Then when?”
“New Year’s.”
He pulled back. “Seven days?”
“Too soon?”
He kissed her again. “Not at all. New Year’s, it is.”
* * *
Pamela chuckled when she saw her parents’ living room. The Christmas tree still stood in the corner, but all the furnishings were gone. Only ten folding chairs decorated with white tulle bows and red ribbon sat in front of the fireplace.
The ceremony would be anything but traditional, since she and her groom were already married, and yet butterflies still fluttered in her belly, and, once again, she looked forward to her wedding night. Eight years was a long time.
Emmy ran into the room. She looked lovely in the short-sleeved red velvet dress with the floral soutache design beneath the waist. A thin sequined ribbon wrapped around her tiny stomach, adding a bit of bling that Emmy loved, but not so much that Emma would hate it. “My hair messed up.”
Pamela pulled a bobby pin out of Emmy’s hair and then pushed it in again. The partial updo was too old a style for her eight-and nine-year-old girls, but Kari had done such a good job, and the girls adored the attention from their teenage aunt.
“Go get your sister. Let me see how pretty she looks, as well.” She swatted Emmy’s behind, and Emmy raced into the other room.
Emma walked into the living room, tugging Jack’s dad by the hand. He clasped his hands and rubbed them together. “You look beautiful, Pamela.”
Pamela’s cheeks warmed. She felt beautiful. More so than she had in years. She’d spent over an hour curling her hair; then she’d clipped a rhinestone barrette in the back, allowing the curls to spill down her left shoulder.
She hadn’t wanted to wear white. Felt it would be silly, but Jack had talked her into it. He’d said it was a clean start for them. Pure. When she’d tried on the floor-length white satin gown, she’d known he was right. Aside from the short rhinestone sleeves that attached to a sweetheart neckline, the dress was simple and elegant and gorgeous.
“Thank you, Henry.”
She’d worried her first meeting with Jack’s dad would be awkward, but Henry had been very kind and apologetic that they hadn’t kept in touch. He’d played every game the girls owned multiple times in the past few days, and she knew she would be seeing a lot of Jack’s family from now on.
Kari hustled into the room, and Pamela marveled again at how much she’d grown and how lovely she looked. There was no mistaking that she, Todd and Jack were siblings. Kari grabbed Pamela’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen. “Get in here with me. You should be the last one everybody sees.”
Pamela laughed. “This isn’t a traditional wedding, you know.”
“But still.”
A whistle sounded from behind her. Pamela turned and saw Kirk and Callie standing in the back door. Kirk grabbed her in a hug. “Who knew my sister was such a looker?”
Pamela swatted his shoulder and took in his khakis and red button-down shirt. “Who knew my brother could clean up?”
Callie blew out a breath and shook her head. “It took a lot of work.”
Kirk grabbed her and nuzzled his nose into her neck. Callie squealed and punched his arm. “Kirk, you’ll make me wet myself.”
Pamela burst out laughing, and Kari’s jaw dropped. Callie tapped Kari’s arm, then pointed at her belly. “I’m carrying twins.”
Pamela pointed to the living area. “You two better have a seat before Mom catches you acting so silly.”
Todd walked into the kitchen, pulling at his dark blue necktie. “Kari, I can’t figure this thing out.”
His sister retied the knot and straightened his collar. “You look handsome, little brother.”
Pamela nodded her agreement.
“What about this little brother?”
Pamela turned and saw Ben towering in the back door. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kari’s cheeks darken, and Pamela bit back a chuckle. She couldn’t deny he was a good-looking guy. She adjusted Ben’s tie. “You look mighty handsome, as well.”
“And you look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Ben.”
He nodded to Kari and walked past her. Pamela knew he didn’t agree with the reconciliation, but he was here, and that was all that mattered.
Her mom and dad walked into the kitchen. Her dad kissed the side of her head. “Now don’t you look lovely?”
Mom pursed her lips. “Pamela, what are you doing down here? Has Jack seen you?”
“Thanks, Dad.” She grinned at her mother. “Mom, you know Jack and I are already technically married.”
“I know, but you haven’t technically lived together in eight years. This is special. I know Jack wants—”
She took her mom’s hand. “It is special. Very special. And the living room is amazing.”
Her mom let out a long breath and smiled. She touched Pamela’s cheek, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me, too.”
Tammie grabbed a paper towel off the counter and dabbed her eyes. She took Kari’s hand. “Why don’t you and I find ourselves a seat?” She turned to Pamela’s dad. “You are walking her in, right?”
“Of course.”
Pamela huffed. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Her dad shrugged. “Jack asked.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay.” She wrapped her arm around her dad’s and started toward the door.
“We have to wait for the music.”
“There’s music?”
He nodded. Within moments a country song spieled through the room, proclaiming love that hadn’t ended. The woman sang that her man was still the one she loved. The words fit their relationship perfectly. Despite all that had happened, she loved Jack with every ounce of her being, and, by God’s grace, he would be the one for the rest of her life.
She walked through the door and spied Jack beside Pastor Mark in front of the fireplace. Jack’s eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face. The walk took only a moment, but she believed she would never make it to his arms. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as they vowed their love once again, a promise before God and their families.
When Pastor Mark announced them as renewed husband and wife, Pamela took her husband’s cheeks in her hands and kissed his lips.
Emmy squealed. “Daddy’s gonna live with us.”
Emma added, “Yep. We’re a family.”
Pamela offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God. They were a family. A family reunited.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460320617
A FAMILY REUNITED
Copyright © 2013 by Jennifer Johnson
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical,
now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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