Unpredictable Love (21 page)

“
I guess.” She glanced at her
hands.

“
You know I’m right.” He leaned over
to kiss her.

“
Yeah. You are. You always
are.”

“
That’s why you married me,” Troy
said, turning on the ignition.

“
That and you’re sexy as hell,” she
added.

He laughed as he pulled the car back onto
Route 55, heading toward Pine Grove.

****

September
15
^th
—The wedding day

Nan Edwards called to Dan MacMurray, her
boyfriend. “I need a vodka and tonic, fast!”

“
Why?”

She glared at him with hostile eyes. “No
questions. Just get it and join me in the attic.”

She climbed the stairs and opened one of the
tiny windows to get some fresh air. Pulling up the sheet protecting
against dust, she sat on the old sofa that had belonged to the
Walker family. After plopping down on an uncomfortable cushion, she
wondered why she had been saving it. Neither girl needed it. “Memo
to self. Call Salvation Army tomorrow and get this hauled out of
here.”

The sound of footsteps announced Dan’s
arrival. He held a drink in each hand.

“
One for me, and one for
you?”

“
I was thinking you might need more
than one,” Dan replied.

“
Good Lord, why?” She took a beverage
from him.

“
Well,” he began.

Nan held up her palm. “Wait.” She took a
gulp. “Okay, go ahead.”

“
The flower guy is here. I told him
you ordered pink, but he swears you ordered white. I showed him the
receipt you gave me.”

“
Shit! What an idiot! Doesn’t even
read his own orders. Nothing we can do now.”

“
Right. Want me to handle
it?”

“
That would be great. You know where
they’re supposed to go? Jory’s around. She can help you.” She took
his face in her hands and kissed him. “What would I do without
you?”

He grinned. “I have no idea.”

“
Oh, by the way, would you please send
Amber up?”

“
Do you want this drink too, or should
I take it back?”

“
No, leave it here. I think Amber
might want it. Thank you, Dan, dear. You’ve been a
lifesaver.”

Nan pushed to her feet and removed the rest
of the sheet. She put it on the floor and out of the way then she
went to the window and took a deep breath. A lighter step on the
wood stairs indicated a woman approached. Amber entered. She was
pale, and her eyes darted around.

“
Sit down, Amber, dear. I think we
have something to discuss.”

The usually loquacious young woman quickly
took a seat on the sofa without uttering a word.

“
You can have that drink if you want,”
Nan said, before raising her glass to her lips.

The young woman picked up the vodka and took
one swig, then another.

“
Nervous?”

She shook her head, stopped, then nodded.
“Sure. My big sister is getting married.”

“
That all?” Nan cocked an eyebrow at
the trembling beauty then eased down on the couch.

“
Of course.”

Even a cat stops playing with its prey at
some point and goes in for the kill. “I know what you did.”

Amber turned frightened eyes to her aunt.
“You’re not going to tell Jory, are you?”

Nan shook her head once, slowly. “Of course
not.”

“
Thank you. Thank you so much, Nan.
Thank you.” Amber took the older woman’s hand in both of hers.
“We’ll make something up.”

“
We don’t have to lie. I have the ring
right here.” Nan fished the small, gold band out of a tiny pocket
in her pink, silk jacket. She held it in her palm.

Amber’s eyes got wide, and her mouth fell
open. “Where’d you get that?”

“
A little pawnshop in Oak
Bend.”

“
You’re the one who bought
it?”

“
I bought it the day after you pawned
it.”

“
How’d you know?”

“
Where else would you get the money
for that trip?”

“
Huh.” Amber nodded. “But it was in
the store. For years.”

“
That’s right. I bought it and asked
the man to keep it in the case but not sell it to
anyone.”

“
Why’d you do that?”

“
So, if you checked on it, you’d see
it was there.”

“
Why?”

“
Keep you calm.”

“
I’m so sorry, Nan. I was selfish and
stupid.”

The older woman patted her arm. “No worries.
We’ve got it back. I wanted you to know that I knew.”

“
You scared me to death. Troy and I
went over there to buy it back. I’d saved up five hundred bucks,
and the ring was gone. I almost had a heart attack.”

“
Hmm, unpredictable love for your
sister. Five hundred? Impressive. You’ve made amends. Let’s forget
it.”

“
Here,” Amber said, offering the wad
of bills to her aunt.

Nan patted the money. “You keep it, Cookie.
Put it in the bank. Save it for a rainy day.”

“
Thank you. Still, I think I should
tell Jory.”

“
That’s up to you.” Nan raised her
glass to finish the drink.

More footsteps alerted the women. Jory
joined them. “Dan told me you were up here.”

Amber gulped down the rest of her beverage.
“Jory, I have something to tell you. You’d better sit down.”

Nan squeezed the younger woman’s hand.

“
Wait a sec. Nan, do you have the
ring?” Jory asked.

“
Right here,” the aunt said, patting
her pocket.

“
It’s about the ring, Jory,” Amber
began.

Her sister gave her a quizzical look.

“
When I was seventeen, I pawned it to
get money to go on a stupid trip. I’m sorry. I never should have
taken it,” Amber blurted out in one breath.

“
But Nan says she’s got
it.”

“
She bought it back before I could.
I’m sorry, so very sorry. I never should have done it. We could
have lost it, and it would have been my fault.” Amber twisted a
tissue in her hands.

“
Since we have it, no harm, no foul,”
Jory replied, stepping close to her sister.

“
I’m such a selfish brat sometimes,”
Amber said, as tears spilled onto her cheeks. “You deserve a better
sister than me.”

Jory hugged her. “It’s okay, Cookie. I know
you. I love you, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything or
anyone.”

Amber rested her head on her sister’s
shoulder.

“
Is this what’s been bugging you?”
Jory asked.

Amber nodded. “Troy said you wouldn’t be mad
for long.”

“
He’s a gem. I like him. And he’s
right.”

“
But it was mama’s, and it was meant
for you. And you deserve it.”

“
I know. But if it was gone, Trent and
I would still get married.”

“
But Mama…”

“
Mama loved us both. She’s here with
me. I can feel her. No ring, no object, can take her from my heart.
So yeah, you shouldn’t have done it, but it’s okay. And if Nan
hadn’t bought it back, we’d have the ceremony without
it.”

“
I saved five hundred bucks to get the
ring back. But it was already gone.”

“
Gave her quite a fright too.” Nan
chuckled.

“
Damn right. I almost had a heart
attack.” Amber rested a hand on her hip.

Jory smiled. “Then, I guess you paid for
your mistake, didn’t you?”

“
Guess so.”

There were hugs all around and smiles
too.

“
I promise never to do something like
that again.” Amber blinked at her sister.

“
I know you won’t. You’re forgiven,
Cookie. By the way, Troy is a keeper.”

“
Isn’t he great?” Amber smiled. “I
have the best sister, the best husband, and the best aunt in the
world.”

“
I think there’s a wedding happening
soon. And this young lady needs to get dressed,” Nan said, heading
for the stairs.

The women traipsed down the steps to Jory’s
old room to prepare the bride for her big day.

****

Nerves made Jory pace in the pastor’s
study in the Pine Grove Community church. Pastor Carlson had
visited, and now, the bride waited for the guests to be
seated.
I’m doing the right thing, then
why am I so nervous?

Her aunt entered the room carrying an open
split of champagne and one glass. “I bet you could use some of
this,” she said, pouring some into the flute.

“
You’re a lifesaver. How did you
know?” Jory took a healthy sip.

“
I was a wreck when I married your
uncle.”

“
Ben? But you two were a match made in
heaven.”

“
Marriage is a big step. It makes
people nervous. It’s supposed to.” Nan smiled.

The bride took a long slug of the bubbly.
“I’m a wreck.”

“
You don’t have any real doubts about
Trent, do you?”

Jory stood still, cocked her head slightly,
and paused. “No, I don’t. He’s the right guy.”

Nan blew out a breath. “Good. He’s a great
guy. I think you’ve made a good choice.”

“
Sure was weird how we started out.
Can you imagine if someone asks how we met?”

They looked at each other and burst out
laughing.

Amber slipped in and shut the door behind
her. She was dressed in a dark rose colored, long dress. Nan wore a
lighter color pink suit.

“
You look beautiful, Jory,” her sister
said.

Jory turned in front of the long mirror.
“Not bad.”

The full-length gown was white brocade. It
hugged her torso with a sweetheart, scalloped neckline and short
sleeves. At the hip, the dress fell loose, allowing plenty of room
to move. A white, taffeta slip swished as she walked.

Her chestnut locks were done in an elaborate
do, pinned up, showing off her long neck. She wore white pearls
borrowed from Nan and a blue garter supplied by Amber.

Three knocks on the door meant the guests
were seated, and they were ready to begin. Amber picked up her
white bouquet. A large bouquet of pink flowers on the Pastor’s desk
awaited the bride. Nan was going to give Jory away.

Amber hugged her sister. “Break a
leg,” she said, and then went out. Strains of Vivaldi’s
Four Seasons
drifted into the room.
Jory took several deep breaths. The music stopped, and the two
women headed for the door.

“
Ready, sweetheart?” Nan cocked an
eyebrow at her niece.

“
Ready.”

The mellifluous notes of
Mendelssohn’s
Wedding March
met Jory’s ears. She swallowed, linked her arm with Nan’s,
and walked toward the aisle.

“
Remember, don’t run,” Nan whispered.
“Give everyone a chance to see how beautiful you are.”

Jory shot her aunt a grin before her gaze
went to the altar. Her nerves were on high alert until she spied
Trent. There he stood, shifting his weight, looking outrageously
handsome in a black tuxedo. Relief flooded through her.

Their gazes met, and he smiled warmly,
stepping a little closer. She looked briefly at the people in the
packed church. The many familiar, grinning faces gave her courage.
As she neared the front, Trent stepped forward and held out his
hand.

“
Who gives this woman in matrimony?”
the pastor asked.

“
Her mother, her father, and I do,”
Nan said, her eyes full.

A sharp pain shot through Jory at the
mention of her parents. Her eyes watered, but she blinked the tears
back. Trent took her hand and supported her elbow too.

“
Are you all right?” He moved closer,
slipping an arm around her waist.

She leaned against him for a moment then
took a deep breath. When she righted herself, she gripped his
forearm. His brows knitted.

“
It’s okay. I’m fine now,” she
whispered. She hoped he would always be there to support her when
she faltered.

They squared up in front of the clergyman.
Amber moved closer and took Jory’s bouquet. The bride laced her
fingers with Trent’s as the ceremony began. The touch of his
fingers on hers soothed her. He looked down at her, his brow
knitted. She smiled, and he returned it. Although she could have
used a hug.

Jory held up her palm. “Pastor Carlson,
could you stop for a moment?”

There was a buzz from the crowd as the
reverend halted and looked up. “Of course, Jory.” He closed his
book, using his finger to keep his place.

Trent turned worried eyes to his bride.
“What’s up? You okay?”

“
I just need a hug. A big one,” Jory
said, her voice quivering.

Trent took her in his arms and held her
tight. “Just tell me when you’re ready,” he whispered.

Jory’s eyes drifted shut as she rested her
cheek against his chest. He smelled of fresh soap, aftershave, and
man. The protection of his embrace calmed her. Her strength
returned. She leaned back to gaze up at the retired Marine about to
become her life partner.