Sinners at the Altar

by Olivia Cunning

  “Is it normal to lay plywood?”

  Mom shook her head. “We were worried Dave’s chair would get stuck in the sand.”

  He smiled. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

  She released a weary sigh and touched her fingertips to her lower lip. “I hope so. I want today to be perfect for you and Jess. If I hadn’t, I would have murdered her mother with a candelabrum and tossed her to the sharks hours ago.”

  “You have more restraint than I do. And isn’t she supposed to be dealing with the reception setup? Why was bugging you?”

  “Beats the hell out of me. She’s been here driving me nuts for the past two hours. Making changes when I’m not looking. Reserving seats for A-list actors you don’t even know. She had your grandmother sitting in the third row; she wouldn’t have been able to see a thing back there.”

  “Memaw?” Sed craned his neck over the crowd and located his grandma’s distinctive blue-haired coif in the front row.

  “I won that particular battle,” his mom said.

  “I think I’m going to have to have it out with that woman today. Both Jessica and I have been beyond patient with her, but she’s overstepped her bounds one too many times.”

  “Don’t start your marriage in a war, Sed. It will all be over soon, and she’ll go back to ignoring your existence.”

  “We can only hope.”

  His mother led him around the outer edge of the seated guests and toward the ocean. The waves were really churning and crashing loudly against the beach; apparently there was a heavy storm at sea. A strong frontal boundary held the blackest clouds just offshore—he could actually see the demarcation in the sky. Sed decided his dad wasn’t in the clouds, he was in that boundary, holding them back. “Thanks, Dad,” he whispered under his breath.

  Sed greeted his guests—mostly family, road crew, and musicians who’d toured with him. It was a little off-putting to see rock stars in formal wear—suits and piercings, ties and tattoos. Sed didn’t have much time to spend saying hello to Jessica’s side of the makeshift chapel, though he greeted a few he knew by name. Her family and friends seemed a bit intimidated by the mix of hoodlums and everyday Joes on his side, though a few of the lawyers in her crowd greeted the less law-abiding musicians with familiarity. He thanked a couple of people that he recognized from television for attending the wedding, but he couldn’t put names to any of their faces. He wondered if Jessica knew them. She’d never mentioned knowing any television stars, but it wasn’t uncommon in Los Angeles to be friends with famous people.

  He took his position next to the chaplain. He shook hands with the bored-looking Jesus look-a-like and then turned to face the tent at the end of the aisle where his bride would soon appear.

  A hush fell over the crowd as the quartet of harp, flute, cello, and violin paused and then began to play the song Jessica and he had chosen for the processional. She hadn’t taken to his idea of using “Bark at the Moon”, but at least she’d asked for his opinion before shooting it down. Sed wiped his hands on his pant legs, wondering why his palms were uncommonly moist. He wasn’t the type of guy who got stage fright, but his stomach was suddenly churning.

  Sed’s heart leapt into his throat as the gauzy white curtains were drawn back. But it wasn’t Jess at the front of the procession, it was Jessica’s friend Beth and Dave in his wheelchair decorated with flowers and with red and white ribbons trailing behind. Sed smiled when Dave showed off some of his impressive upper body strength by doing a wheelie halfway down the aisle. This made Beth grin and blush. In fact, Dave seemed to be showing off for the cute brunette, which wasn’t like Dave. Sed wondered if there was any attraction between them. When they reached him, Beth and Dave separated, with Dave going to the far end on Sed’s side and Beth staying next to where Jessica would eventually stand. She smiled at Sed and he realized she’d seen Jess today even if he hadn’t. God, he couldn’t wait to see his bride. He was about to jump out of his skin with anticipation.

  They’d taken a few liberties with the traditional order of the processional to make maneuvering easier for Dave, so next down the aisle was his best man, Brian, and his wife, Myrna. Between them they held a baby carrier decorated with red roses and sprays of little white flowers. Baby’s breath, Sed believed it was called. Fitting, since nestled in the carrier with a pillow on his lap—two gold rings tied to it with ribbons—was the cutest ring bearer to ever sleep through his duty. Myrna and Brian started toward Sed, carrying their son between them. He smiled at them both, knowing his dimples were showing, but for once he was glad for the added emphasis of his joy.

  The wind whipped Myrna’s stunning red gown about her legs as she walked. Sed peeked at the dark sky and prayed for it to hold back the rain until Jessica was his wife. He wanted the moment to be perfect for her, and a downpour was no one’s idea of perfection. Unfortunately, the frontal boundary had moved ashore. Shit. If it would just wait another ten minutes, he could say I do and it could rain all it wanted. He knew how upset Jessica would be if her dream beach wedding was ruined. She’d worked so hard at planning the occasion and so hard to include him in all the arrangements. He would do anything to make the day what she wanted. But how did one stop the rain?

  When Brian and Myrna reached the end of the aisle, they separated. Brian took the carrier with him and set it on the sturdy table to Sed’s left so the crowd could see the ring bearer and ohh and ahh over his adorableness. As usual, Malcolm’s coal black hair was standing on end. Sed couldn’t stop himself from reaching over and touching the baby’s tiny hand. God, he couldn’t wait to see his own firstborn in seven months. The baby growing in Jessica’s womb already owned him heart and soul. But until he got to hold his own child, he was content fawning over Brian’s young son.

  Malcolm’s hand gripped Sed’s finger tightly. His other little fist went directly into his mouth and though still asleep, he sucked it in earnest.

  “He inherited the grip from me,” Brian whispered, “but that strong suction is all on his mother.”

  Sed laughed and glanced at Myrna, who was oblivious to her husband’s claims.

  Movement at the head of the aisle caught his attention and his head snapped up. Jess?

  No.

  Not yet.

  Eric and Rebekah were now making their way down the aisle. Where Myrna’s gown was long and elegant, Rebekah’s was short and sassy—like her. It was the exact same shade of red as Myrna’s and also matched the crimson splotches in Rebekah’s hair. Eric’s trademark lock of colored hair was also dyed red to honor the occasion. The pair of newlyweds had the audacity to share a lingering kiss at the head of the aisle before they separated to opposite sides. Eric shifted to the spot behind Brian and Rebekah took her place behind Myrna.

  Aggie and Jace were next down the aisle. Her dress had a plunging neckline, with a short strap between her large breasts to keep them in place and draw appreciative attention to her substantial cleavage. Her long black hair did a better job concealing her porcelain skin than the red silk fabric hugging her curves managed. Aggie’s lipstick and red-tipped fingernails matched her dress, stilettos, and bouquet of red roses, as well as the blush currently staining Jace’s cheeks. Sed had no idea what the guy was embarrassed about at that particular moment. His woman was something to be proud of. Or maybe he was just hot and bothered by his fiancée. Couldn’t blame the guy. Aggie was sex on heels.

  When the pair paused before Sed, Aggie pinched Jace’s ass and then patted it, her grin a bit devilish. She winked one bright blue eye at Sed before moving to stand behind Rebekah. Walking a bit stiffly, Jace moved to his spot behind Eric. Sed was pretty sure Jace’s stance wasn’t the only thing stiff about him.

  He caught a flash of white out of the corner of his eye and his head swiveled toward the head of the aisle. Jess?

  No, damn it. Just the breeze blowing the gauzy fabric around the tent at the head of the aisle.

  Sed clenched his hands into fists and blew out a steadying breath. Thi
s had to be the longest five minutes of his life.

  Trey and Reagan walked the aisle next. Jessica’s female friends from college immediately started twittering among themselves as Trey charmed them with his on-your-knees smile. Reagan was wearing her trademark combat boots with her formal. She kept nervously sliding her hand over her retro fifties dress and glancing at the front pew, where Ethan, her other boyfriend, sat. Ethan had assured her time and again that he was fine not standing up for Sed since Sed and Ethan hardly knew each other. Trey was the one he and Jessica had asked to be in the wedding party, and Sed had made him pick which of his lovers he wanted on his arm. Trey had seemed to think that ex-cop, bodyguard Ethan wouldn’t appreciate having to wear a dress and standing on Jessica’s side as a bridesmaid. Though Ethan had readily agreed, Reagan hadn’t thought Trey’s joke was funny at all. Sed wondered how in the hell they made their relationship work. Awkward situations had to come up on a regular basis.

  Ethan blessed Reagan with a wide smile, and she relaxed at Trey’s side. Maybe she just thought Ethan would have hurt feelings for being left out. Trey was oblivious to the dynamic. He just accepted the little hiccups as part of the relationship that made him happy. Sed wondered if the man was capable of not going with the flow.

  As Trey passed him, Sed twisted to look at the four men standing behind him. He’d never doubted his band of brothers would be here for him. They were always there—come Hell or high water or crazy mother-in-laws. But to see them lined up that way—fidgeting in those stupid ties and fancy tuxes on his behalf—made him smile. There was no one he’d rather have at his back than these guys and no one he’d rather have at his side than his Jess.

  Surely it was time for her to take her rightful place.

  He sucked in a steadying breath and turned back to the aisle to wait for her approach. The anticipation was killing him. This was far more extreme than waiting in the wings to take the stage.

  Elise came down the aisle next, on the arm of their cousin Wayne.

  Oh for fuck’s sake. How many people were in this wedding party? A thousand?

  Elise was smiling so brightly at Sed, she could have lit the heavens. And even though it meant he had to wait a while longer to see the star of his show, he was overwhelmed by the pride he felt at seeing her. He wasn’t sure when his baby sister had become a woman, but that red dress was showing entirely too much skin. He would have words with Jessica later about why Elise wasn’t wearing the dress he’d liked. The one with the high neckline and matching jacket. Elise winked at him before taking her spot. Sed actually groaned aloud when his other—usually more sensible—sister came into view. Kylie’s dress was even less nun-like than Elise’s. If any of those guys from Jessica’s law practice so much as looked at his sisters, he’d be having lawyer gonads for his wedding feast. The guys in his band knew better than to make a move on his sweet sisters, though he was glad they were all hooked up with women of their own so he could let his guard down a little. But just a little. There were other rock stars in the crowd that could stand a close eye. Especially that Dare Mills character. Sed knew firsthand what Dare’s little brother was like and he didn’t want his sisters having any part of that.

  The first notes of the wedding march sounded, and Sed straightened, his head whipping around to catch sight of the only person he needed to see today. His heart. His Jessica.

  Two ushers swept the gauzy white curtains aside to reveal the bride to the standing crowd.

  As he stared, Sed’s breath escaped him in a rush.

  His heart shattered into a million pieces and all the light went out of his life.

  Jessica wasn’t there.

  Chapter Four

  Jessica yanked her bouquet out of her mother’s hand. “I’ve had enough,” she said. “You have been making me crazy for months. If you want to watch the ceremony, fine, but this is my day, not yours. I don’t even want to look at you right now! I don’t give a flying fuck that Johnny Depp didn’t come, and no, we are not going to wait a few more minutes to see if he arrives late.”

  In the brief pause of her tirade, Jessica heard the unmistakable sound of the wedding march scrambled by the blowing wind. Eyes popping wide with panic, she gathered her skirt in both hands and dashed into the tent where she was supposed to be standing before the march began. The curtains had already been drawn back, so her entrance had been completely ruined.

  None of that mattered when her gaze landed on her groom.

  Sed’s jaw was set in a harsh line, his stare fixed on the ground before him. She could tell by the look of devastation on his face that he thought she’d stood him up.

  No. No, no, no. This was not how this was supposed to go.

  The ushers were supposed to sweep the curtains aside and her eyes would meet Sed’s from a distance and she’d slowly take her practiced steps in his direction, her gaze never leaving his. The love would flow between them as they anticipated touching, anticipated becoming physically connected, just as they were psychically connected.

  But he wasn’t even looking at her.

  “Sed!” she called.

  Jessica was running down the aisle toward him even before he moved. His head popped up and when his gaze landed on her, he staggered against Brian as if his knees had given out. She wanted to apologize for making him worry. She wanted to yell at him for thinking she’d leave him at the altar. But mostly she just wanted to stare at him in adoring awe. He’d never looked more handsome. More loving. More hers.

  She stopped dead as she reached the front row of the carefully decorated chairs with their bows all blowing flat and the flowers crumpled, the ribbons flying in every direction in the punishing breeze. But that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the man. The man was perfect.

  The wedding march faded to silence, allowing her to hear the whispers discussing the scene she’d just made. But these people knew her. They should be used to her causing scenes.

  “Who gives this woman to this man in wedlock?” the chaplain said, as if he were going through the motions and not really part of what was going on.

  The murmured conversations quieted as everyone stared at the empty spot beside Jessica where her mother was supposed to be standing and giving her away. At least that’s how they’d rehearsed.

  “I give myself to him,” Jessica blurted. “My mother doesn’t own me anyway.”

  Sed chuckled, his dimples flashing in his cheeks. He held out a strong, masculine hand in her direction. Her heart thudded, as it always did when she was near him, and she took his hand, stepping to his side. She didn’t know which of them was trembling more, but neither of them was at all steady as they waited for Myrna to arrange Jessica’s train as best she could in the wind so they could have their picture-perfect exchange of vows. The backdrop was far from the perfection she’d imagined: the sky was near black with clouds, the ocean churned with angry waves, the wind caught her carefully chosen veil and whipped it about her in chaotic plumes, and her poor bouquet would never look the way it should. But the man....

  The man was gorgeous in his tailored black tux with his smile unending and his eyes full of love and a bit of humor.

  If he laughed at her for this, she would, she would… laugh right back. Actually, she was moments from breaking into hysterics and she couldn’t figure out why. Her perfect day was far from perfect and for some unknowable reason, she didn’t care. Not as long as Sed recited his vows and meant them as much as she meant hers.

  She could scarcely hear the chaplain over the howling wind, but since she and Sed had written their vows, she didn’t need the cues. She knew them by heart.

  “You are the reason I breathe,” Jessica said, lost in Sed’s striking blue gaze until a piece of sand found its way into her eye and she had to rub at it, undoubtedly smudging her make-up into a one-eyed-raccoon look.

  “What?” Sed yelled. “I didn’t hear you.”

  “You are the reason I breathe!” she yelled.

  “Yeah, I feel the
same way!”

  Had he forgotten the words? Understandable. He was probably nervous, and it wasn’t as if either of them could hear the drone of the chaplain. She blinked the sand out of her eye and then squinted up at him. He had his lips pressed together as if he was barely able to hold it together. She continued. It was important that they recite their vows to each other even if they were the only ones who could hear them.

  “I love you more with each passing moment!” she yelled.

  “Me too!” he returned.

  “I promise to stand beside you always, weather any storm—”

  “Any storm?” he yelled.

  “Yes, any storm. Even this one.”

  “I love you!” he yelled. “You matter to me more than anything. I don’t want to live a single moment without you in my life.”

  “I love you too!” Those weren’t the words they planned, but considering that she was getting hoarse from yelling, they would have to do.

  “Do you want to be my wife?”

  “Yes! For always. Do you want to be my husband?”

  “Of course I do, or I wouldn’t be here.”

  Sed flung out a hand toward Brian, who started.

  “Rings!”

  Brian hurriedly unlaced the rings from the pillow on Malcolm’s lap and handed them to Sed.

  “This ring tells the world you’re mine and no one else’s,” Sed said, then he slipped the ring onto Jessica’s finger.

  “This ring tells horny bitches that you’re off-limits,” she countered and slid his ring over the knuckle of his left ring finger.

  She couldn’t even remember what they’d planned to say. These words were organic. Real. They were both jealous and possessive of each other, so why not just get that all out in the open and into the ceremony?

  They both looked at the chaplain, who stared at them as if they were raving lunatics. Jessica was pretty sure they were at that moment.

  “Uh, is that it?” the man said.

  Jessica and Sed nodded in unison.

  “Then I pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your bride.”