Bear Faced Liar

by Alice Coldbreath

  Theirs had not been the only wedding in recent months. Aunt Petunia and Amos Fletcher had a Fall wedding at the Court House, with just Jared, Pris, Luke, Debs, Daisy and Lloyd in attendance and Amos’s sons from his first and second marriage. The wedded couple had gone on an extended honeymoon around New England in Amos’s Winnebago and were both extremely happy. Aunt Petunia had moved into Amos’s apartment above the store and had very quickly made vast improvements in the selection of women’s magazines they stocked.

  Pris and Bettina had gone into official partnership and were scouring nearby towns for likely premises for their second store, Pristine Christine’s. They had agreed to wait until after Pris’ wedding to Jared in August, before they started hunting in earnest. It had been the busiest twelve months of Pris’ life, but also the happiest and most rewarding.

  She and Jared were to be married in the meadow next to their orchard in three weeks time, with a rustic style ceremony and reception. Pris couldn’t wait, though she was the one who’d put her foot down for a dream wedding rather than a quickie ceremony. Vanya, Rosemary and her husband had all confirmed they would be attending, and she and Jared were in a mad race to finish decorating the guest bedrooms to accommodate them. The new kitchen and bathrooms were fitted and gleaming, and Pris adored their new home. She and Daisy had made up with Aunt ‘Tunia’s mediation, and though Pris couldn’t imagine she would ever be close to her snarky future sister-in-law, they seemed to go along as amicably as Daisy did with anyone. Billie was to be her bridesmaid, along with Carole-Ann and they would be wearing dusky rose cocktail style dresses with flouncy skirts and heels. Pris’ dress was a dreamy confection of chiffon and lace which she would be teaming with a bouquet of wild flowers. Luke was standing up as Jared’s best man and his and Deb’s two little boys, Dylan and Justin were page-boys, although technically Justin was still a baby-in-arms.

  A car horn outside, alerted her to the fact Jared was outside. “That’s my ride,” she said in surprise.

  “You go,” said Bettina indulgently. “I’ll lock up.”

  “Thanks Bettina,” she said slipping off her black apron. She hurried over to kiss her on the cheek. “See you on Sunday.” Then likewise with Lois, who squeezed her arm. “Don’t forget to tell Billie about the corsets when you see her tonight.”

  “I won’t,” said Lois. “See you on Sunday, hon.”

  Pris grabbed her handbag and skipped out into the sunshine.

  Jared had pulled over to the curb. She climbed into the truck and scooted across to kiss his cheek before fastening herself in.

  “Hey babe,” he greeted her with a smile.

  “You’re early,” said Pris. “Did you manage to get the stag night details out of Luke yet?”

  “No,” grimaced Jared. “I told Amos I’m counting on him to keep things in line.”

  “At least you know he won’t be getting you a stripper,” said Pris. “Debs said he agreed it would be pointless considering my background.”

  Jared shook his head. “Sometimes I think Luke’s got amnesia. He seems to have conveniently forgotten your true origins.”

  Pris laughed. “You could always get that tattoo we discussed, Property of Pristine’,” she joked. “I bet Grady would hold your hand.” Most people, except her stepmothers called her Pris these days. Occasionally Jared would call her Christine, but only ever in private, as a sly reminder to their shared past.

  “If I were you, I’d be more concerned about your bachelorette,” Jared said wryly. “Anything Carole-Ann had a hand in planning is bound to be wild.”

  “I’m not remotely concerned,” said Pris. “Carole-Ann knows my specifications exactly.” She held up her hand and counted off on her fingers. “Bellinis, sequins, cupcakes, candy pick and mix, personalized sashes and heels.”

  “Yeah? What if I told you she’d booked you all into a pole-dancing class?” asked Jared. “And was expecting you to school the tutor with your expert moves?”

  “What?” asked Pris, turning a horrified glance his way. “You’re kidding?”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  Pris gulped. “Guess I’ll be looking on YouTube this weekend,” she muttered.

  Jared laughed incredulously. “For an online crash course? Are there no lengths you won’t go to?”

  “Could you fix a practice pole up for me in the den?” Pris asked with sudden inspiration.

  “Seriously?

  She nodded. “It’s actually meant to be really good exercise, you know.”

  “Depends,” said Jared giving her a sidelong look.

  “On what?”

  He lowered his voice. “Whether or not I can watch.”

  “I’ll be wearing sweats,” she told him dryly.

  “You could be wearing a sack, you’d still be hot.”

  “How do you know I’ll be any good? I’ll probably fall flat on my face!”

  He shrugged. “I just do. You’re sexy even doing the laundry.”

  Pris smiled. “Okay.”

  “Okay, I can watch?” asked Jared quirking an eyebrow at her.

  “Okay, you can watch,” she affirmed.

  “I’ll set up a pole,” he conceded graciously.

  “Thank you.”

  “But it’ll be in our bedroom.”

  Pris tutted, but at least it wouldn’t cause any awkward questions in there. She didn’t want to shock Aunt ‘Tunia, after all. “Deal.”

  He smirked, they were pulling into their driveway. “What time are Carole-Ann and Grady coming over?”

  “Not ‘til eight.”

  “Good,” he said, unfastening his seat-belt and giving her a lascivious look. “I’ve got plans for you.”

  “I’ve got plans too,” she yelped, grabbing the door handle. “They involve prepping a lasagna!” Too late, she realized she hadn’t unfastened her belt. By the time she’d freed herself, Jared was already round the truck and hauling her over his shoulder, in a well-practiced maneuver.

  “Jared,” she squealed, then burst into laughter as he headed up the steps to their white-painted porch.

  “Careful,” he cautioned her. “The paint’s not quite dry.”

  Pris abruptly stopped wriggling. “The house is looking so great,” she sighed.

  “Life is good,” he agreed, fumbling for his keys.

  “It is, isn’t it?”

  “Even if we were still in the trailer,” he said. “I’d still be having the time of my life. With you Christine.”

  “I did have the time of my life in that trailer,” Pris said as he opened the door and walked them inside. “That’s why we’ll never, ever sell it.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed huskily, sliding her down his front. The trailer was currently sat in their lower meadow.

  “In fact,” said Pris as she landed on her feet. “I think we should spend all our anniversaries in the trailer. For old time’s sake.”

  “What about when the kids come?” he asked practically. “There’s only one bedroom in that trailer.” They’d agreed they’d start their family in the next twelve months or so.

  “We’ve got plenty of prospective babysitters,” Pris said slipping her hands into his jean back pockets. “Grandma ‘Tunia and Grandpa Amos, Aunt Debs and Uncle Luke…In fact,” she said, tipping her head to one side. “Now I come to think about it, what are we waiting for?”

  “The wedding,” Jared reminded her with a frown.

  Pris tipped her head to one side. “But even if we were to get pregnant now, I wouldn’t be showing in three weeks so…”

  Jared growled, his eyes glowing green in that oh-so-familiar way. These days, he didn’t have to burn off that energy running round the woods, thank goodness. “You want to get started now, Pris?” he asked in a low rumble.

  Pris backed toward their newly restored sweeping neo-classical staircase. “Yes,” she said, turned and looked back at him over her shoulder, then started bounding up the stairs. She’d have to be fast if she wanted their f
irst child to be conceived in their new bed. She rounded the bend and felt his arms close around her. Ah well. On the stairs would work too.

  THE END