Southern Comfort: Chandler's Story (The Southern Series Book 1)

by Shelley Stringer

  “I’ll get the check, you just get her to the limo,” John called after us.

  Banton helped me out to the curb, and opened the door and helped me in. Settling onto the seat, I took in a couple more deep breaths to calm my stomach. Banton reached back and unzipped my dress, releasing some of the pressure on my abdomen. He then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and took a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and wet it, placing it on my neck. Laying my head back, I groaned as the interior of the car swirled around me.

  “I’m so sorry I’ve made you cut our night short,” I apologized to John and Brie as they climbed in after us.

  “Don’t be silly. I can’t wait to get Brie home and alone, anyway.”

  I’d never heard John more serious than that moment.

  Banton chuckled. “Brother, you’ve got it bad. Now you know how I feel.” He ran the cold hankie across my chest, and up my neck, whispering “Is this any better? Can I have the driver stop and get you something?”

  “No, I’ll be all right. I’m already feeling better.”

  After a few moments, the nausea had passed, and I felt less dizzy. I leaned over to Banton, and he pulled me down into his lap, cradling me in his arms. The music wafted from the speakers, muffling our voices so it was almost like we were alone in the dark. I gazed at his strong profile, wondering when I would finally find a flaw. He slipped his hand slowly inside the open zipper in the back of my dress, and around to the front under my arm, caressing the side of my breast. I turned my head, embarrassed we might be watched, but all I could see in the darkness of the car were the outline of two bodies intertwined, totally oblivious to us. I turned back to Banton, as he began exploring further inside my dress, and dropped his head to brush my lips softly with his. I totally lost myself in our own private cocoon, and before I was ready for it to end we pulled up in our driveway.

  John bounded from the car, and pulled Brie with him quickly across the lawn and up the stairs to the house. Banton chuckled, helped me to straighten my dress, and pulled me from the car. I was still a little dizzy, unsure whether it was from being ill earlier or from the kissing.

  I leaned against the limo while Banton paid the driver and thanked him, and then he swept me up into his arms, and carried me across the porch. He kicked the door shut with his foot, and then took the stairs, two at a time.

  “What’s the hurry, Rhett?” I laughed as he deposited me on the bed.

  “You have to ask? I’m dying to know what is under that dress, remember?” He tried to leer at me, but it just didn’t work with the dimple. I giggled as he closed the door, and then returned to the bed, and began to flip the layers of satin and tulle up, one at a time, over my head.

  Hours later, we lay in the dark, our limbs intertwined, whispering between kisses. The beautiful red dress lay in a pile with his dress whites on the floor.

  “I forgot to tell you earlier, Claudia called and she, Julia and Mother will be here in the morning with Ava. They want to meet your Aunt Sue and Constance, and then take you all to lunch.”

  “Sounds like what Maw Maw Irene used to call a hen party. We’ve got our appointment with Mr. Philippe and Everett and the dress fitting, too. What will you do with yourself?” I was having a hard time concentrating; his lips ran soft and warm down my neck and across my chest.

  He raised his head to look into my eyes. “I need to work out with John tomorrow, and we’ve got some things to do with the guys. I’m feeling better about my nerves, and I want to try to get back into the swing of things.”

  I raised my eyebrows at him, and he spoke before I could. “I’ll take it slow, I promise. We’ve got some loose ends to tie up, and I need to get some things settled before I take this extended leave after the wedding. And about that, where would you like to go on our honeymoon, Mrs. Gastaneau?”

  “I don’t care, anywhere as long as it’s with you, alone.” I grabbed his neck and pulled him back down to me, and kissed him passionately.

  “I would really like to get you in a tiny bikini on a deserted beach somewhere, drink margaritas and make love to you in a secluded beach house. How does that sound?”

  “Like heaven.” I kissed him again, and rolled over on top of him, chasing his tongue with mine. He slid his leg up and separated mine, and explored with his hands down my back, and down around my hips…

  * * * * *

  It was after three in the morning before we finally tired enough of each other to drift off to sleep in each other’s arms. I woke slowly, and Banton’s arm seemed really heavy around my waist. I felt feverishly hot, the sunlight streaming across the bed. As my stomach heaved suddenly, I slipped from under Banton’s grasp and lunged across the room to my trash can. I knew I’d never make it downstairs to the bathroom.

  “Chandler, what is it?” Banton sat up and stretched, and then focused on me curled up in a ball in the corner of the room, with the trashcan tucked under my chin.

  “Chandler!” He jumped out of the bed, and came to kneel beside me in the floor. “Are you still sick?” He pulled my hair back behind my shoulders and held it there, keeping it out of harm’s way while I threw up again into the small trash can. When my stomach stopped contracting, I sat back and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, totally embarrassed. Banton took the can from me, set it up on top of the dresser, and pulled me up into his arms.

  “Let’s get you into the bath downstairs, and I’ll clean this up. Do you need to go to the doctor, Chandler? I think you might have a virus or food poisoning.”

  “We’ll see. I think I’m all right, now.”

  He handed me my robe, and then went back to retrieve a pair of jeans off the back of the chair beside the bed. I walked slowly down the stairs, and he hurried to catch up to me, placing his arm around my waist.

  “I’m worried about you. I thought this had passed when we got home last night, or I would have never…” he didn’t finish his sentence.

  “I was fine, I promise. I don’t know what is wrong with me.” I entered the bathroom, and started the bath water as Banton took my trash can out the back door, and washed it out with a water hose. I hurriedly brushed my teeth and then crawled into the tub and let the warm water cover me. Soaping my arms and body, my thoughts were exclusively on Banton and his tender concern for my well-being. Most guys would have run the other way, not cleaned up after me, or held my hair while I was sick. I knew how lucky I was.

  He knocked on the door and then slipped in the room with me. “Are you all right now?” He rubbed my check with his hand, and felt my forehead.

  “I’m fine, now. I can’t help but think it was something I ate, or maybe it’s just all the excitement about the wedding. I do have some pre-wedding jitters, you know.”

  “You aren’t having second thoughts, are you?” He grinned down at me as he sat down beside the tub.

  I put my hand on his cheek, and played with the dimple at the corner of his mouth. “Never. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than to be your wife.”

  “And I’ve never wanted anything more than for you to be Mrs. Banton Matthew Gastaneau the third.” He stood up, and leaned over the tub to kiss me. I pulled him down on top of me, and he took a bath with me, jeans and all.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I had barely dried my hair and pulled my jeans and a sweater on upstairs before the first knock at the door. John and Brie had finally emerged from his room while Banton and I were getting ready, and they ran downtown to the bakery to get breakfast for everyone. I hurried down the staircase to see who was at the door.

  “Chandler!” Banton’s mother greeted me when I opened the door.

  “Mrs. Elaine, Julia, it’s so good to see you again. And this must be Claudia.” Claudia was the most beautiful platinum blonde I’d ever seen. She had almost masculine features, resembling Banton and his mother. Her cheekbones were high, and she had an unusual, exotic looking face. She held Ava Grace, who was straining her little arms for me.

  “Mommie Andler,
Andler!” she squealed, and leaned for me. I took her from Claudia, and held her close to me, covering her with kisses.

  “Oh Sweetie, I’ve missed you so much!” She hugged my neck so tightly I thought I would choke. Claudia held out her hand to me, and took my free hand in hers.

  “I’m so glad to finally meet you. You are adorable, just like Mom and Dad said you were. Where is my brother, where’s Banton?” she inquired, scanning the foyer and the staircase.

  “Do I hear female voices?” Banton asked, coming down the hallway with Beau. Beau bounded into the room, and jumped at Ava’s little feet, wanting to be near her. She squealed his name, and I put her down on the floor so she could go to him. His tail beat a cadence on the floor as she covered his nose with kisses.

  “Somebody has missed you, Miss Princess!” Banton exclaimed, watching the happy reunion between dog and child.

  “Banin, my Banin!” she shouted, noticing Banton. She ran to him as fast as her legs would carry her, and he scooped her up gently in his arms, kissing her round cheeks.

  He walked over to his mother and sisters, and gave them a group hug.

  Elaine pulled away and exclaimed, “What a charming old house! Your description didn’t do it justice, Banton. Come, give us the grand tour!” She reached for my hand, pulling me into the living room.

  “Well, it’s a work in progress; I still have so much I would like to do.”

  “It’s wonderful, sweetheart. Banton tells me you did all of this yourself?” She stood admiring the fireplace and the woodwork.

  “Well, yes, in here I did. Banton and John came on board for the upstairs and the kitchen and dining room. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

  I took them around the house and upstairs to the bedrooms. Luckily, I’d had just enough time before they arrived to pick our bedroom up, and make the bed. Banton’s old room and John’s were spotless as usual.

  “Will you and Banton stay here after the wedding?” Julia asked when we reappeared downstairs.

  “We hadn’t really talked about it yet,” I replied.

  “He needs to build you a big, new house with a pool and everything!” Julia exclaimed.

  “We love this house, Ju-bean, it’s already like home. I hope we stay here awhile.” Banton smiled at me as he handed me my morning cup of coffee. “Would anyone else like a cup?”

  “Yes, please.” Elaine and Claudia followed Banton into the kitchen. There was another knock at the door, and I opened the door to find Constance and Aunt Sue.

  “What were you thinking, buying this big, old, drafty house?” Constance exclaimed upon walking through the door. “It looks like a lot of work to me.”

  “That’s the same thing your last boyfriend said about you.” Aunt Sue shot back at her, as she hugged my neck. “Chandler Ann, it’s shaping up quite nicely. I can’t believe you’ve managed to completely renovate this old house, get engaged, and keep your grades up this semester. You did pass, right?” she asked me, as everyone else joined us in the living room.

  “Yes, I checked online yesterday. Two A’s, and 3 B’s. It’s all good!” I assured her. Banton came and put his arm around my waist.

  “Aunt Sue, Constance, I’d like for you to meet Banton’s mother, Mrs. Elaine Gastineau. And these are his sisters, Claudia and Julia. And you already know Ava Grace!” Constance picked her up and swung her around, placing a big kiss on her cheek.

  Hugs and kisses were exchanged by everyone, and I could tell Constance and Julia would get along great; they were already absorbed in a conversation about the wedding and bridesmaids dresses.

  John and Brie came in after Aunt Sue and Constance, and after more introductions, everyone grabbed a pastry with their coffee. We headed out the door to meet Everett and Philippe for the big dress fittings.

  Piling into Aunt Sue’s large Suburban, we visited all the way downtown to the dress shop. Everett met us at the door, and more introductions ensued while he ushered us in to the lavish shop. Philippe had a large room at the back of the store he used for formal and bridal fittings, with large comfortable sofas and overstuffed chairs around the walls, and a large tufted ottoman in the center of the room facing a bank of hinged, full-length mirrors. Everett flitted around the room, chatting and pouring champagne for everyone while we settled into the comfortable furniture. Philippe came out from the back, carrying a single dress across his arm for my approval. It was the bridesmaid’s dress he’d picked out, a simple strapless satin gown in dark red, with a black sash.

  “Oh, that’s my color. I just love it!” Constance clapped her hands.

  “Well, then, Miss Thing, let’s get you over here to model it! Talk about a blonde bombshell! You simply have to model for me at a fashion show,” Philippe exclaimed, gesturing to her to step into one of the dressing rooms adjacent to the fitting room.

  “While she’s putting that on, I want you to come with me, Bebe.” Everett’s eyes sparkled like he was about to share a deep, dark secret. He led me back down the hallway where Philippe had just emerged, and then around a corner and over to a rack overflowing with white satins and silks. He removed a hanger from the mass, and pulled a dress bag free from the others. Carefully unzipping the case, he pulled the dress out, and laid it across his arm. It was white satin with a delicate seed pearl and crystal design on the bodice, and then an unusual panel of sand-colored lace from just under the bodice to the hips, where the skirt flowed gracefully and simply down. It had a Grecian vintage feel with the panel of lace. It was like no other bridal gown I’d ever seen, one of a kind.

  I turned to look at him, and whispered, “That’s it. That is the dress I’ve always envisioned. How did you ever know?”

  He tapped his finger to his head, and smiled a knowing smile at me, and I wondered if maybe it was that I can taste your thoughts Aldon/vampire thing he’d told me about. He handed me the dress, and ushered me into a separate dressing room. I undressed, and then slid the dress down, removing my bra so it wouldn’t ruin the look of the dress. I took a deep breath, and then looked in the mirror. It was perfection.

  I opened the door, and stepped out into the hall, around the corner back into the fitting room. Aunt Sue looked up at me, and immediately began to cry. Elaine and Claudia noticed her reaction, and turned to look at me. Tears slid silently down my cheeks.

  “Sweetheart, whatever is the matter?” Mrs. Elaine rushed over to me and put her arm around me.

  I glanced at Aunt Sue, and whispered, “I’m so happy, I just wish…I wish my mom was here.”

  Mrs. Elaine hugged me tightly as Aunt Sue joined us, smiling at me through her tears.

  “Chandler, Kelly is here with you, I just know it. She would be so happy for you!” Aunt Sue declared.

  Everett dug in my purse, and found a clip he knew I always carried there, and brought it over to pull my hair up on top of my head.

  “I think you need to do the soft wavy curls thing for that day. And I wouldn’t cover a thing up with a veil, if I were you.” He pulled my hair up and clipped it high on my head, leaving it for the most part in a loose, messy tumble. It was just the perfect look for the style of the dress. He stood back, and contemplated the dress. “And Bebe, if you lose one more pound, I’m stuffing the bra myself!” Everyone died laughing at his comment.

  Philippe came back into the room with Constance, exclaiming, “Oh, I just amaze myself with my constant hits. I knew that was the one, the first time I met you at your house.” He clapped his hands together, as he turned me around to view the dress from all sides.

  “Well, what do you all think?” he asked all the other women in my life.

  “I hate to love the first dress, this is so much fun, but I think trying anything else on would be a waste. Chandler, you are so beautiful in that dress! Banton will just die.” Julia stood up to come over and get a closer look at the dress.

  “Just what I was thinking. You know me, Chandler. I go for the dramatic numbers with miles of fabric. But you would be lost in those dre
sses. That one is just perfect on you!” Constance exclaimed, hugging me.

  Picking the dress went so much faster than I’d planned. I was astonished as I watched Everett. He took time with everyone – Claudia, Julia, Constance, then Brie – making each one of them feel like the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, pointing out all of their most beautiful features. He was just one of those people who made you feel you were the most important person in his life. He had a gift. After all of my bridesmaids were measured, Philippe invited Aunt Sue and Mrs. Elaine to look through other racks of dresses to find their outfits for the wedding. I giggled, silently wondering how Aunt Sue would feel if she knew she was shopping with a vampire.

  Everett visited with the rest of us girls about other details, and then brought out a dress they’d selected for Ava Grace to wear. She let Claudia take her back into a dressing room and try it on her. She tripped back into the fitting room, and climbed up on the ottoman where I’d stood, so we could all admire her “weddin dwess.” It was white sheer organza with a dark red bow sash. She was the most precious of all and everyone told her so.

  Before we left the store, I gave Laurilee’s cell number to Philippe, so he could call her to get her measurements and text a picture of the bridesmaid’s dress. We then stopped at a quaint tea room, and had a quick bite before returning home.

  “Chandler, you’ve hardly touched your food. Are you feeling all right?” Aunt Sue asked, noticing the chicken salad still on my plate.

  “I haven’t been feeling well the last couple of days. I think it’s just nerves,” I answered her.

  “I wish nerves had that effect on me. I swear I’ve gained ten pounds since finals started!” Constance exclaimed, forking another bite of cheesecake.

  I glanced around at them, and I was suddenly so sleepy I could hardly keep my eyes open. As we loaded back in the Suburban, Brie hugged me and whispered, “Didn’t get much sleep last night either, huh?”