“I thought we were getting married in the parlor.” Lorelei’s gently teasing voice drifted from right behind him. He froze. Delusions? Doc never mentioned delusions.
There was a whisper of movement, then a light touch on his back. “Doc said I might want to check on you. Ellie told me why.”
The tension eased from his shoulders even as he growled. “Ellie.”
She laughed. “Don’t blame her entirely. I could tell she knew, so I begged it out of her. I’m pretty sure I know why you haven’t told me.”
“Why is that?” He managed to ask as he let his hands fall from his face so he could stare at the ground.
“You don’t like showing weakness. You want me to see you as strong, dependable and controlled. Well, I’ve always known you were strong and dependable. Sometimes I think you’re a bit too controlled. For instance, you have to be dying to see what I look like today but you’re staring at that leaf so hard you’re going to tear it in two.”
A smile pulled at his lips, but he didn’t move.
“You’re building up all of that tension inside of you when turning around and sharing that moment with me would get rid of a lot of that stress. We’re getting married, Sean. I need you to share your load with me and allow me to control my share of the reins. I need to know that you aren’t always strong so that I have permission to be weak once in a while, too. That’s the only way this is going to work.”
He pulled in a deep breath. He slowly stood and turned toward her, then couldn’t help staring. Her hands rested delicately on her hips, accentuating her curves, which were already embellished by the cut of the brilliant white dress. Her hair was partially pulled back from her face and gathered beneath the wreath of delicate blue flowers that crowned her head. The rest of her dark hair spilled down her back in rich curls that begged to be touched. She took his breath away, which, combined with what had just happened, left his voice sounding nothing like it usually did. “Lorelei.”
Her lips curved into a tempting smile. “Better, right?”
“Much better.”
“Remember that.” She lifted her skirts carefully as she stepped through the grass to meet him.
“I will.” She hadn’t run the other way in the face of his weakness, but could he dare to upset the delicate balance of their relationship any further? He swallowed. How could he not? “Lorelei, before we do this, there is something I need to say—”
“Stop everything!’ They both jumped at the sound of Mrs. Greene’s voice. She burst out of the house with Richard and Caroline right behind her. “I can’t make you do it.”
“What?” Lorelei asked in an echo of his own confusion.
The woman fanned her brightening cheeks as she came to a stop in front of them. “Pastor Brightly called on me yesterday. We talked and he pointed a few scriptures out to me about meddling and gossip. Oh, he was gentle about it, but I got the message. I tried to ignore it, telling myself over and over again that I was in the right but seeing everyone all dressed up and ready to go…”
“You’re releasing them from their promise, aren’t you, Amelia?” Caroline asked as she stepped forward to place a gentle hand on her friend’s arm.
“Yes. Yes, I am.”
Sean’s gaze shot to Lorelei. Her mouth dropped open as she looked to her father for guidance. Richard shook his head thoughtfully. “There is still the chance that all of this could be discovered. However, since there isn’t an imminent danger, I think it’s time we let you two decide your own fate. I believe you’re fully aware of the consequences of either choice. We’ll leave you to make your decision.”
The relief that lowered Lorelei’s shoulders told him more than he wanted to know. He turned away to gather his emotions as he heard the door close softly behind Mrs. Greene and Lorelei’s parents. He shook the tension from his hands to keep them from clenching into fists. He was supposed to have surrendered his plans to God. Maybe he’d better act like it for once.
He turned to face Lorelei, then leaned back against the ashy trunk of the crape myrtle to offer a smile he didn’t feel. “I guess it really is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Lorelei wasn’t sure how she’d expected Sean to react to this news, but a careless smile wasn’t it. She searched his gaze for the tension she’d seen earlier but lost sight of it in the swirl of unfathomable emotions in his green eyes. Silence hovered between them. She sat down on the bench as she tried to grasp the implications of what just happened. She shook her head. What were they going to do? They had a house full of guests waiting for a wedding. She did not want to be the one to walk away from another wedding. Who was she fooling? She didn’t want to be the one to walk away from this wedding. She met Sean’s gaze, and one thought echoed in her mind.
Love rejoices in the truth.
The truth. Her breath stilled in her throat. The truth is I love him.
Her heart began to thunder in her chest. With each beat came the knowledge that if she was ever going to overcome this, it would have to be now. She suddenly realized her choice would determine much more than if she said those three little words. It would determine how she would spend the rest of her life. Either she would trust God to protect her heart as she gave of it freely in obedience to His will, or she would continue on a path that would bring momentary security and lasting unhappiness. There was only one real choice.
Her heart begged to speak the truth that she’d refused to allow cross her lips. Rather than deny its request, she finally allowed the words to roll off her tongue and rest softly between them. “Sean, I love you.”
That got his attention. He straightened his shoulders and stared down at her with his penetrating eyes. Some of her courage fled. She swallowed. She dropped her gaze to the tips of her white bridal boots, then forced herself to continue. “I don’t think I ever really stopped. I know you probably don’t return my feelings. I just thought you should know in case you are ever able—”
Lorelei was barely even aware that Sean had erased the distance between them until he guided her face upward and kissed her with a gentle reverence. Her lashes flew open to meet his gaze. He knelt in the grass in front of her with a relieved smile. “I love you, too. Now let’s get married.”
He began to stand, but she reached forward and grabbed his hand before he could get away. “Wait!”
“What?”
She stared at him in wide-eyed disbelief. “This is not going to be the story we tell our children, Sean O’Brien.”
A confused smile tilted his lip. “What are you talking about?”
“I just said I love you—present tense, mind you.” She tugged his hand until he knelt before her again, then looked at him hopefully. “Don’t you have anything else to say besides ‘I love you, too? Now let’s get married’?”
“Should I?” At her emphatic nod, his doubtful look turned into one of understanding. “Well, I told you everything I felt when I proposed. I meant what I said.”
“You did?” She dared to ask, “What did you say?”
His shoulders slumped as though severely disappointed. “You don’t remember my proposal.”
She bit her lip and shrugged innocently. “I remember you proposed. Everything else is kind of blurry. There were a lot of people around and I didn’t know you meant it. You acted like it was all a joke.”
“I knew if I did otherwise you might not be able to say yes.” He squeezed her hand. “That’s all right. I remember it. It went something like this.”
He cleared his throat and became all seriousness and sincerity as he captured her gaze. “Lorelei Wilkins, you are the most wonderful, beautiful and captivating woman I have ever met. I didn’t fall in love with you to fulfill my plans. I fell in love with you because, as you informed me nearly ten years ago, ‘We belong together. We’ll always belong together. I don’t know how I know it, but one day you’re going to marry me and we’re going to be happier than anyone who’s ever lived.’”
>
Lorelei laughed as tears filled her eyes, and she shook her head in slow disbelief. “You remember that?”
He smiled slowly. “I never forgot it…or you. Now—” he stood and pulled her to her feet along with him
“—will you please prove yourself right and marry me already?”
“Absolutely. I think we’ve left everyone waiting long enough—including each other.”
They stepped inside the house a moment later to find both of their families standing in the hallway outside the parlor. Everyone waited with bated breath. Lorelei glanced at Sean. He drew out the moment by surveying each family member carefully. Finally, he spoke. “Well, what’s everybody standing around here for? Someone tell them to start the music.”
The hallway echoed with celebration, causing a few of the guests to peer around the corner to see what all the commotion was about. Lorelei hardly noticed. She leaned into Sean as he slipped his arm around her waist, then grinned at their families’ enthusiasm. Ellie presented Lorelei with her wedding bouquet. “Hallelujah! There’s going to be a wedding. Everyone get to your places and I’ll tell them we’re ready.”
* * *
Sean was amazed at how quickly everyone was ready to go. He pulled at his choking collar and let out a relieved breath when the music began. A moment later, Lorelei started down the aisle on her father’s arm. The peaceful smile on her face lasted until she was halfway down the aisle. She bit her lip. He could literally hear their family and friends sit forward in their chairs. Her steps became more halting. Her gaze met his in desperation.
Sean held out a hand to Lorelei, willing her to take it. She quickly kissed her father on the cheek, then slid her hand into his. They turned to face the judge. He could almost hear the guests let out a breath of relief behind them. Lorelei tugged at his hand as if she wanted to say something. He leaned down to incline his ear toward her. As the judge welcomed the guests to the wedding, her whisper filled his ear. “I have ants in my shoe.”
He glanced at the pained expression on her face. “Which one?”
She tapped the shoe nearest him against his boot. He threw a cursory glance over his shoulder, then quickly knelt on the floor and slipped his hand under the hem of her dress. The judge abruptly stopped speaking. A gasp rent through the air.
Bracing herself with a hand on his shoulder, Lorelei used her other hand to lift her skirt. He finally found her boot and ripped it off. He brushed a few ants off of her foot, then turned the shoe over to bang it on the floor. He met her gaze thoughtfully. “You’d better take off the other one.”
Her foot disappeared back under her skirt. A second later, the last shoe slid from under the white satin. He gathered the boots in his hand, then gave them to Caroline who stepped forward to collect them. Sean stood. Lorelei slipped her hand back into his. He nodded at the judge to continue.
The judge cleared his throat. “As I was saying, if anyone has just cause why these two should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their piece.”
He couldn’t help it. He glanced back at Mrs. Greene. The woman caught his gaze and smiled her approval. A weight lifted from his shoulders. Once blessed silence reigned through the parlor, the judge instructed them to face each other. “Sean, will you take this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health: forsaking all others, keeping only unto her so long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
“Lorelei, will you take this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health: forsaking all others, keeping only unto him so long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” she said with calm assurance.
Judge Hendricks beckoned for the rings to be presented. “Sean, repeat after me as you place this ring on Lorelei’s finger.”
He took the ring, then met Lorelei’s gaze sincerely as he repeated his vows. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love.” He waited for the judge to continue, then spoke. “With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you…” He slid the ring onto her finger. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
“Lorelei, repeat after me as you place this ring onto Sean’s finger.”
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love,” she said confidently as she slid the ring onto his finger. Then as she glanced up to meet his gaze, she smiled. “With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you…in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
“Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. By the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your union with a kiss.”
Sean wasted no time in doing exactly that.
Epilogue
“Paging Mr. and Mrs. Sean O’Brien. Paging Mr. and Mrs. Sean O’Brien.”
Lorelei raised her hand to attract the porter’s attention before Sean even had a chance. She sent him a meaningful look as she answered the porter’s call. “We’re Mr. and Mrs. Sean O’Brien.”
Sean grinned at her. “Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she agreed with an answering grin.
The porter arrived at their seats, clutching a basket of fruit. “Please accept this gift as a token of our deepest apologies.”
“Well, thanks,” Sean said as he took the basket. “But why are you apologizing?”
“There was a mix-up, sir. You two should have been shown to a private car in first-class when you boarded. If you’ll follow me, please, your luggage has already been transferred.”
Lorelei shook her head. “We didn’t pay for a private car in first-class. I think we’d better stay here.”
“The car has been paid for, ma’am, by a Mr. Richard Wilkins and a Mr. Nathan Rutledge.”
Sean’s gaze met Lorelei. “How do you like that? Our families treated us.”
“I like it. Let’s go.”
It only took a few moments to gather their things and follow the porter up the aisle toward first-class. As they walked, a familiar flash of color caught Lorelei’s eyes. She stopped abruptly. Sean ran directly into her.
“Hey,” he protested, but she hardly noticed.
She narrowed her eyes, then slowly turned around. “Back up.”
He watched her in confusion but walked backward as she commanded—not that he had much choice with her hand on his chest. She stopped again to stare at the traveling bag sitting abandoned on an empty seat. “That’s my bag.”
“What?”
She lifted the bag to look for her initials on the right handle. She found it. She turned to Sean. “This is my traveling bag. The one Elmira stole. Look, my initials are still here—L.W.”
He surveyed it closely. His eyes widened in recognition, but he shook his head. “Your initials are L.O.”
She sent him an exasperated look. “L.W.O. Thank you very much.”
“Excuse me, ma’am,” a deep voice said. Lorelei turned to find the young couple seated across the aisle was watching them closely. The man frowned. “You must be mistaken. That bag belongs to our chaperone.”
She exchanged a look with Sean, who stepped toward the man. “I’m sorry, did you say your chaperone?”
“Yes,” the young woman answered. “She just stepped out for a minute, but she’ll be back and I’m sure she’ll want her bag.”
“My bag. I’m sure she’ll want my bag. She probably stepped out as soon as she heard the porter calling us. Well, we’ll wait right here until Miss Elmira comes back.”
The dark-haired young man shook his head. “See? You’re mistaken. Our chaperone’s name is Lorrie Wilson.”
“Lorrie Wilson…Lorelei Wilkins,” Lorelei repeated, then looked at Sean. “She stole my name! Don’t laugh at me. Do something.”
Sean leaned his a
rm on the back of the empty seat to survey the couple. “You two seem like nice people. I guess you deserve a fair warning. Miss Lorrie Wilson was our chaperone, only back then she went by the name of Elmira Shrute. That is my wife’s bag. Miss Elmira stole it along with my wallet. Notice I said ‘my wife.’” He lifted Lorelei’s left hand and displayed it as proof. “That’s just the kind of chaperone Miss Elmira is.”
“Oh, heavens,” the young woman breathed.
Sean grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Hiring her was the best mistake I ever made.”
Their eyes met, and Lorelei smiled until he put her bag back on the seat and ushered her down the aisle. “Aren’t we going to wait for Miss Elmira?”
“Nope.” He took the key from the porter, who was waiting by their open door. “We certainly aren’t.”
“You can’t be serious.” She let him guide her into their room as she protested. “What about my bag?”
He closed the door and leaned against it. “You have a new one.”
She tilted her head entreatingly. “My honor?”
He held up his left hand to show his wedding ring. “Protected.”
She caught his hand in both of hers. “My pride?”
“Well, now.” He lifted her hand to his cheek, then pressed a kiss into her palm. “That’s something you’ll have to take care of yourself.”
She frowned. “I will. If you would be so kind as to move out of the way?”
He crossed his arms. “That isn’t going to happen.”
“Really? We’ll see about that.” She tried to reach behind him in a valiant effort to open the door. He stopped her every attempt. “Let me give her a piece of my mind!”
“No. You’re not going out there. You have to let this go.” He held her off with one hand and locked the door with the other, then slipped the key under the door into the hallway.
She gasped. Her eyes flew back and forth between floor and him until she met his gaze. “Do you think that’s perfectly necessary?”
“Perfectly.” He leaned forward to peck her on the lips.
The Runaway Bride Page 23
