Renewed (The Fractured Series Book 3)

by James, Holleigh

  My heart sunk to my toes. Oh my God! I bet they’re here. I couldn’t let on that I knew. “What, Jennifer?”

  She grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a booth where the two of them sat. They were snuggled up on one side, my father’s arm around Mrs. Sutton’s shoulder. A vanilla shake with two straws sat in front of them. Their lips were joined in a very passionate kiss. Jennifer and I stared at them; neither one of us had words. It took a few minutes before they looked up and saw us. They didn’t say anything either.

  Dad removed his arm as soon as he realized Jennifer and I were standing in front of them. Mrs. Sutton scooted to the far end of the booth. But it was too late. They were caught.

  Jennifer sobbed so hard I thought she’d go into labor, and she was only five months pregnant. I grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the table.

  “We’re going.” I threw a handful of money on the table and we went out to the car. The other girls followed with twisted looks of curiosity on their faces. “Give me your keys,” I commanded. Jennifer held out her hand and I took the keys. We all got into the car. I made sure Jennifer’s seatbelt was fastened before I secured my own. I dropped the other girls off where we picked them up and then drove to my house.

  “Oh my. What happened?” Mom asked putting her arm around Jennifer, who stared out into space, sort of like Dillon does. She was in shock. Mom led her to the kitchen table and helped her sit down. Then she filled the teapot with water and put it over a flame on the stove. It was then I had to tell my mother about my father’s secret.

  Chapter Eighteen

  As Mom and Jennifer cried at the kitchen table, I ran around the house, checking all of the usual and unusual places Mom used to hide alcohol – just in case.

  When Bryan walked in the door, he didn’t know what had happened.

  “Hey, Mand, I got your message. Sorry I couldn’t hear the cellphone. It was noisy in the club. I dropped your groom off at home. He didn’t do anything he wasn’t supposed—” He realized something serious had happened. “What happened?” He looked at Jennifer sitting at the table, fidgeting with a tissue.

  I had to relay the whole story again. This time it was easier than when I told Mom. Bryan looked at me with disbelief.

  “Why would he…” Bryan scratched his head.

  “I don’t know, Bryan. Take your wife home. Make sure she eats and gets some sleep.”

  He nodded.

  When they left, I took Mom up to her room. She lay down on the bed, with her back toward the door.

  “Mom?” She didn’t answer. Panic filled me as I thought of her falling off the wagon. I walked around the bed and sat on the floor in front of her. “Mom?”

  Her pillow was drenched with tears. I stroked her hair.

  “I had a feeling,” she said. “When I wouldn’t… I figured he’d find someone else. I knew it wasn’t my perfume he smelled of when he came home late. And he had always been meticulous about the books from the garage, so his excuses to stay late held a different meaning for me. I thought it was just to be out of the house. I told myself if I pretended he was faithful, he would be.” She wiped her cheeks with her hand.

  “What are you going to do?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, Mandy.”

  “I’m here for you, Mom.”

  “I know. You’ve always been there for me.” She smiled. I kissed the top of her head.

  I left a pillow and blanket on the couch. I heard him walk in, but he must have understood where he’d be sleeping. He didn’t dare come up the stairs.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The following morning was interesting. The pillow rested on top of the folded blanket on the couch. Dad was smart and left for work early. I made Dillon breakfast and bit my nails waiting for Mom to wake up. Bryan and I phoned each other for the better half of the morning, inquiring back-and-forth about Mom and Jennifer.

  “She just keeps crying,” he said. “I took the day off from work. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Just be there for her, Bryan.”

  “I feel awful, Mandy. I want to do something to take away the pain.”

  “I know, Bryan. You’re doing a good job.”

  Mom walked into the kitchen. She looked worse than she would have if she were drinking. “Mom’s up. I’ve got to go, Bryan. I’ll call you later. Send my love to Jennifer.” I hung up. “Mom, would you like breakfast?”

  “Just coffee, Mandy.”

  Okay, she was still sober. That was good. I poured coffee into the largest mug we had and popped two slices of bread into the toaster, just in case. She sat down at the table and stared out into the air. I took the seat next to her.

  “I only have myself to blame.”

  “Don’t say that, Mom. He’s the one who messed up.”

  “Oh, Mandy. I can’t fault him. I’ve been out of it for so many years now. All I did was drink and sleep when I wasn’t yelling and being nasty to everyone. I pushed him away. He tried to be affectionate in the beginning, but I’d always ignored him. Your father was never one to deal with rejection well. Think of your brother and the way he is. Where do you think he got it from?”

  “Mom…”

  “Mandy, I have to forgive him. If he wants to work it out with me, then I’ll be happy, but if he doesn’t, then I have to let him go.”

  I didn’t know what to say, so I just hugged her. “Okay, go get dressed, we’re going to get our nails done. Ann said she’d watch Dillon.” I had to get her away from the house where all the memories would continue to tempt her. I didn’t want her to look for Jack Daniels for comfort.

  Other than one lady waiting for her nails to dry, the nail salon was empty. I thought it was odd for a Saturday, but it was only nine o’clock in the morning. Mom and I were each pampered, and got French manicures and pedicures. While we waited for our fingers and toes to dry, we sat and flipped through magazines, careful not to ruin the new polish. The owner even gave us each a cup of coffee. I was glad Mom had pushed the shock about my father to the back of her head, even if it was just for a little while.

  “This is nice. Thanks, Mandy.”

  “Don’t thank me, Mom. We should do this more often.”

  “I’ve really let myself go.”

  I looked at her. I imagined if she fixed her hair and wore nicer clothing, she’d be the bomb. I’d have to get Jennifer to do one of her makeovers on her. Just as I finished that thought, trouble entered the nail salon. Her blonde, bouncy curls, and designer snobbery waltzed in as if she owned the place.

  “Lin, I need to have my nails done. I have a wedding in two days.” Mrs. Sutton didn’t see us sitting to the side. Mom’s eyes welled up. I grabbed her hand.

  Mrs. Sutton turned and was surprised to see us. Her shoulders dropped and her face froze. “Dina… I’m… I’m sorry.”

  Mom stood up, pushed her feet into her flip-flops and looked at me. “Ready, Mandy?”

  I imitated her action and we left the store.

  Once outside, I said, “You handled that so well, Mom.”

  “Great. Now let’s go home so I can cry the rest of the day.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The twenty-four hours before the wedding, I wasn’t allowed to see Rob, although we spoke on the phone every hour. The minute we’d hang up, I missed him and counted the seconds until it wouldn’t seem crazy to make the next call. If I had to leave the house, I took my mother and Dillon with me. I didn’t want there to be any temptation for my mother to take up her previous addiction. I made up excuses to keep her out and busy for as long as possible. I was exhausted at the end of the day.

  The morning of my wedding, Dillon woke me. “Manny, bekfast,” he said pounding his fist on my door. I rolled over and looked at the clock. Seven A.M. The sun was shining through the lacy curtains. I looked around at my bare room. I sat up in bed and thought of my mother. Why was Dillon asking me to make breakfast?

  Panic exploded inside me. I threw the covers back and rushed to the door. I flung it o
pen to find Dillon standing with a tray of breakfast for me. My shoulders relaxed and a smile replaced the terror that must have been on my face.

  “Oh, Dillon. Is this for me?”

  “Manny, bekfast.”

  “Thank you, Dill.” Once I took the tray, he disappeared. I heard his heavy footsteps on the stairs.

  I went to the bathroom and organized my thoughts. Don’t forget to breathe, Mandy. I didn’t need much convincing; it was the happiest day of my life. Not bothering to fight with my hair, I walked back to my room. I picked up a slice of burnt toast and took a bite. Another knock on my door had my mother with a wad of tissues in her hand. I wasn’t sure if she was crying because of my father, or because I was getting married. “You need to put on some clothes. The hair stylist and make-up artist will be here in fifteen minutes.”

  I looked for my bathrobe and my latest purchase from the store with the pink-striped bags I was going to wear under my wedding gown.

  Mom sat on my bed and put her hands around mine. “Your father and I talked last night.”

  I held my breath.

  “He’s going to come to counseling with me, and he’s going to stop seeing Arlene.”

  I didn’t believe that. He told me he was going to stop seeing her a few months ago. “How’s Jennifer?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Bryan said she hasn’t stopped crying.” Her eyes looked glassy. She took a deep breath and put on a smile. “But today is about you. So let’s get started.” I didn’t want to harp on the negative, so I gave her a smile. She stood up, took the tray with the breakfast, and started to walk through the door.

  “Mom?” She stopped and turned around. “Just in case I don’t have time to say it later, I love you.”

  She tilted her head and smiled. That seemed to help her. “I love you, too.”

  Tortured by the cosmetologist for a second time in less than six months, she was finished with me just as Jennifer arrived.

  “Are you okay?” I asked giving her a huge hug.

  “I will be. I told my dad. I don’t know what he’s going to do.”

  “I’m here for you, Jen.”

  “Thanks. I’m here for you too, Mandy.”

  We hugged again, this time like best friends. Baby Stewart nudged at me.

  “Was that the baby?”

  Jennifer smiled. “Yes. I don’t think he or she is too happy I’m upset. There’s been a lot of activity since the night we went out.”

  I smiled. Then it was Jennifer’s turn to be tortured by the cosmetologist. After her, my cousins took turns under the hairspray and blush.

  The girls helped me get into my wedding gown. It felt magical to be in it. Mom helped put the veil on my head as the photographer documented every movement. Each girl was given a bouquet of assorted Gerbera daisies. The florist held my bouquet of pink roses out to me. They were so beautiful. I chose them because of the beautiful pink rose bushes that grew on the side of Rob’s house. They had been his mother’s pride and joy. I had hoped this was a fitting representation of her.

  An hour before the wedding, my bridesmaids escorted me down the street to Mr. and Mrs. Handly’s house. People who lived in the houses between ours peeked out their windows, or walked out of their homes to watch me walk with my dress bunched up in my arms so it wouldn’t drag on the ground.

  Mrs. Putnam, the lady with the hundred cats, stopped to kiss me on the cheek. “Mandy, you’re beautiful.” Her old, grey eyes sparkled as her wrinkled face smiled. It added to my special day.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Putnam.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Handly let me stay in their house until the ceremony. Mr. Handly was adorable standing guard so Rob couldn’t sneak even the littlest peek before he was supposed to.

  Bryan walked in and his mouth dropped when he saw me in my wedding dress.

  “Wow! You look great!”

  “Thanks, Bry. You say that as if I look bad all the other times you see me.”

  “Well, what I mean is you look like a princess.”

  I smiled at him. I knew this was the best he could do. “Thanks. I feel like a princess. How’s Rob?”

  “He’s excited. He won’t shut up about how he can’t wait for you to be his wife. He sounds like a broken record.” Bryan gave me an eye roll to express his exasperation.

  Both the information and his reaction made me smile. Soon, I’d be Mrs. Robert Cooper. Amanda Cooper. Mandy Cooper. I said it over and over in my head as many ways as I could think. It sounded nice. I got excited, too.

  The wedding planner came in and reviewed our roles. I still couldn’t understand his thick German accent. Then the music started.

  As if plugged into an outlet, energy surged through me. A violin and flute played a lovely classical piece as my bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the white runner that was placed over the dirt leading to the creek. Even the grass and wildflowers dressed for the occasion in their bright green leaves and assorted pastel colored petals.

  Bryan and Dillon came back to escort my mother down the aisle. Dad looped his arm and held it up for me to hold. I gave him a look of disappointment.

  “We’ll talk after the wedding. Mom’s forgiven me, Mandy. We’re going to work it out. This is your day. Don’t spoil it by thinking about the wrong choices I’ve made.”

  With hesitation, I linked my arm in his. I didn’t want to touch him, but I knew he finally gave up Mrs. Sutton, mostly because he had to now, and Mom was willing to try to make it work with him.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “I can’t wait,” I said. Excitement took over how I walked and talked. My heart picked up its pace and thumped hard enough against my chest to move me forward. Memories filled my head with each step I took: the first day I saw him at the deli counter; his touch when he handed me a hot dog in the park and the seashell he gave me at the beach. Also the stars lighting our first kiss; the first time we made love by the fire in his house and the passionate kiss in the rain. Then the way he looked at me with his deep blue eyes; his warm, muscular arms wrapped around me, and the way my body tingled when he said he loved me.

  I couldn’t feel my feet as I floated down the aisle. Our friends and family surrounded us, but I only saw him. He looked incredible standing at the rock where he proposed – dark wavy hair and deep blue eyes beamed when he saw me approach. He was going to be mine forever. The birds sang their approval as the sun flickered like diamonds through the canopy of leaves above us. The creek played its harmony as the Justice of the Peace began the service.

  It happened so fast. It was as if it were a dream. Rob took my face in his hands and pulled me closer. I quivered as his perfect lips found mine. They were warm and inviting. The world around me dissolved as I melted into my first kiss as his wife. Everyone clapped and Bryan cheered when the Justice of the Peace presented us as husband and wife.

  We walked back to the Handly’s house, where a horse-drawn carriage waited out front to take us back to our reception. The wedding planner yelled at his staff to collect the chairs placed near the creek as the carriage pulled away.

  The coachman began our slow trip around our town. Rob poured champagne into two fluted glasses.

  “We’re underage,” I said.

  “I won’t tell anyone,” he laughed. It sounded like bells. “I need to toast my new wife.”

  Just hearing him say it sent a tingle down my spine. I knew I’d never tire of it.

  The horse pulled us through the main part of our town, taking every side street, so anyone who wasn’t invited to the wedding would see us. Small girls waved and sighed at the fairytale princess with her Prince Charming in the horse-drawn carriage. It felt like a dream, and I was happy – very, very happy.

  As we got closer to the house, Rob leaned over to me.

  “May I kiss you again, Mrs. Cooper?”

  My smile grew wider. “You never need permission, Mr. Cooper.”

  “That’s good.” He leaned in and gave me another warm, wonderful kiss.

&nb
sp; By the time we arrived at Rob’s house, our invited guests had been there for twenty minutes. Waiters walked around with trays of hors d’oeuvres and champagne. Family and friends in formal dress gathered in small clusters.

  My new husband helped me out of the carriage and kissed me again, before leading me into a huge tent where the reception was being held. More cheers and applause greeted us.

  “May I have this dance, Mrs. Cooper?” He held his hand out for me to take. All eyes were on us as he led me to the dance floor. The band played our song as he wrapped one arm around my waist and held my hand in the other. He pulled me close and a gush of excitement filled me. His cheek brushed mine as he whispered, “I love you,” into my ear, before he kissed me for everyone to see. Our first dance as husband and wife seemed to end too quickly. Rob didn’t let go when the next song played.

  My father tapped him on the shoulder and asked to cut in. Rob’s Uncle John was next, and Bryan after that. Even Dillon cut in, but he just stood there holding my hand.

  One by one, the guests took turns dancing with the bride, as Rob danced with his Aunt Rachel, my mother, and even Jennifer. Finally, the music stopped, and we were allowed to sit while our meals were being served.

  Rob and I sat in large, oversized, white wicker chairs at a table of our own. He turned toward me, and I couldn’t help but stare at him. He was so handsome.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “For what?”

  “For making me the happiest man in the universe by agreeing to be my wife.”

  “Rob, you always know the right thing to say.” I leaned over and gave him a kiss. Our guests tapped their glasses with silverware as I held the kiss until they stopped. Rob’s lips chased me for more. How could I say no?

  For the next four hours, we danced, ate, and had a wonderful time, surrounded by the people who loved us.

  As the first guests were leaving, I saw my mother sitting on a chair. My father, Jennifer and Bryan, and some of my other relatives surrounded her. Her head was in her hands.