Because of Lauren: A Love Story

by Vivi Underwood

  She heard the first strains of music coming from the band. It sounded muted and lovely and encouraged the guests to take their seats. Carefully Lauren made her way downstairs.

  When Nora saw her coming down the stairs, she drew in her breath in wonder. “You look beautiful, Lauren, like a perfect bride.”

  Lauren hugged her. “And so do you. All of you. I am so proud of you.” Their dresses couldn’t have been more perfect, she thought. With a wide smile, she said, “Do you remember what you are supposed to do?”

  The younger ones nodded in unison and held out their dainty flower baskets. “We remember,” said five-year-old Kate solemnly. “Allison practiced with us one last time. Nora is leading the way so we can just follow what she does.”

  Lauren cast a grateful look at Allison who was standing in the background, hovering nervously. She had been entrusted with the task of teaching the adorable but impish bridesmaids their part.

  “You look wonderful, Lauren,” she said sincerely.

  “And so do the girls,” said Lauren with a soft smile. “Thank you for working with them. I know they will do their part beautifully.”

  The little ones preened a bit, while Nora concentrated on the job at hand. She did not want to disappoint the bride and groom.

  And then they heard the band begin the first strains of the traditional wedding march. The father of the bride materialized as if by magic to take his place by her side. Lauren looked at him and whistled softly. “Wow, you clean up nice!”

  Jonathan chuckled. “Thank you, darling. You don’t look so bad yourself.” In his opinion, she looked glorious. Then he turned serious. “Be happy, Lauren. Know that we love you and will always be there for you, but from this day forward, love Jonas with all your heart.”

  “I will, Daddy.”

  “Ready?”

  She nodded.

  “Here goes.”

  “Not without this you don’t,” said Janice calmly, appearing by her side and handing her the bridal bouquet.

  “Oh, Janice, it’s lovely. Just the way I pictured it. Thank you.”

  “Be happy,” she said softly, echoing Jonathan’s words, before sending them all out the door and on their way.

  The flower girls stepped through the wide-open patio doors and onto the terrace like little professionals. Lauren’s lips twitched in amusement. Allison had achieved the impossible with them.

  They walked across the terrace and onto the runner on the lawn before Lauren stepped out and followed in their wake. The assembled family and friends smiled in delight at the young girls. Wearing lovely, ballerina-length dresses in soft white, and tiny rosebuds in their hair, the younger ones couldn’t quite hide the proud grins on their faces.

  Jonas, who had taken his place by the Bishop, and Jake by his side, couldn’t hide their grins either. Who could have guessed those three scamps would pull off such a perfect performance as they walked sedately in Nora’s shadow, smiling sweetly and dropping rose petals along the path.

  And then, suddenly, there arose from everyone a chorus of “Ah!” as they caught their first glimpse of the bride on the arm of her father.

  Jonas swallowed. Lauren looked like an angel walking toward him. Her eyes fastened on his, her face held the most delicate, enchanting smile. He wanted to go to her and realized he must have taken the first step when he felt Jake’s hand on his jacket.

  “She’ll be here in a moment,” he whispered.

  Jonas saw Lauren’s smile widen. She had seen Jake’s hand holding him back. Hurry up already, he thought. You are taking forever to get here.

  I can’t very well run in this dress, her eyes said. Just be patient. I’ll be there in a moment.

  Suddenly they both grinned as they realized they had read each other’s thoughts.

  By the time she reached him, the flower girls had taken their places and her father was taking his seat next to her mother.

  Jonas and Lauren had met privately with Bishop Hunter the weekend before they visited her family. He’d been honored to perform the marriage ceremony. He had also officiated at Jonas’ baptism the day before, and now this kind, spiritual man gave them sacred and treasured advice as they embarked on their new journey together. When he finally pronounced them ‘husband and wife’, Jonas gave Lauren the traditional kiss before sweeping her up in his arms and twirling her around in sheer joy.

  His wonderfully impulsive gesture set the tone for the evening.

  Cecilie said to Lilly, in wonder, “I have never seen Jonas like this. Loving Lauren makes him so incredibly happy. In the early days, before meeting her, I worried because Lauren was American. I’m ashamed to say I always thought American women were spoiled and difficult.”

  Lilly laughed. “I am sure some of them are, probably the same percentage as Norwegian women who are spoiled and difficult.”

  “I hadn’t thought of it that way,” conceded Cecilie. “Something to think about.” She looked around as everyone began to rise. “I suppose we’d better make our way through the crowd. I’m hoping to meet some of the people Lauren has told me about. I thought she was exaggerating when she said she had twenty-one first cousins, but looking around, I think she must have been telling the truth.”

  “Absolutely, and most of them are married by now, many with children of their own. We’ll keep the introductions simple.”

  Lauren joyfully introduced Jonas to everyone. When he met Molly of wild child fame and her husband Doug, Jonas just managed to contain his shock when she proudly announced boy number six was due in a few months.

  “Six boys?” asked the astonished Jonas. “What are their ages?” Molly didn’t look old enough to be the mother of two, let alone six.

  Molly grinned with pride. “The oldest is almost eight, and they are all about eighteen months apart.”

  “You are a brave woman,” smiled Jonas as he congratulated both Molly and her husband.

  “We’ll try for one more after this,” Doug grinned. “Molly still wants a girl. If it turns out to be another boy, we are calling it quits after seven. Maybe.”

  Jonas’ eyebrows shot up. “Maybe?”

  Molly gave him a mischievous smile, and Jonas was sure he was being treated to a touch of the wild child she had once been. “Maybe,” she agreed.

  Jonas decided to like Lauren’s cousin.

  After congratulations and well-wishes, gradually everyone made their way to the lower garden and the buffet awaiting them. A dozen tables had been set up to feed the hungry guests, while the trampoline had been dispensed with for the evening and a dance floor erected in its place. With lanterns hanging at intervals, emitting a soft glow, Janice had created a magical setting.

  When they were all was seated, Jonathan Hart rose. He greeted everyone and extended a special welcome to those having traveled so far to be with them. Then he paid a heartwarming tribute, first to his daughter and an especially touching one to Jonas.

  Jake also took a few very special minutes and shared with everyone what Jonas’ friendship had meant to him all these years.

  Lauren was close to tears. She knew of the deep friendship that existed between the two men, but this was the first time she had heard Jake speak of it, and so emotionally. His words touched her deeply.

  The garden looked so romantic. As music filled the air, Lauren glanced toward the band and the dance-floor. Tall, decorative lanterns circled its perimeter. The atmosphere was hard to resist, and so was the music.

  When Lauren gracefully moved into Jonas’ arms, there was gentle applause. Finally, he thought and pulled his bride close. When the band segued into the lyrical and romantic The Way You Look Tonight, their vocalist stepped to the microphone. In a pure tenor voice he sang the words that so perfectly described how Jonas saw Lauren.

  As the last strains faded away, they remained on the dance floor, their arms around each other.
Jonas did not try to hide the tear rolling down his cheek. Lauren had torn apart all his fears, just as the song said, and encircled him with her love.

  Lasse stood with Annie and William and watched. The bride and groom made a striking couple, but that wasn’t what kept his eyes on them. It was seeing Jonas enjoying his wedding celebration so openly and happily. He wondered what his country’s tabloids would have made of the great Jonas Juul, so in love with his new bride that he wept openly and unashamedly. The man was a romantic, Lasse concluded, and the tabloids would never know what they missed.

  “I have a favor to ask.”

  The newlyweds had found a secluded spot and stole a few moments to themselves. It was getting late, and Jonas was more than ready to take his bride away for the night. “What kind of favor?”

  “I’m worried about Cameron. He has never quite recovered from the breakup of his marriage and isn’t mingling well tonight. I thought if I asked him to dance, he might come out of his shell a little.”

  “Go for it,” Jonas encouraged. “I’ll grab Annie and meet you there.” He gave her a quick kiss. “See you on the dance floor.”

  She found her brother standing alone watching the few couples who braved the current dance number. It was mostly the younger set, and they seemed to be having a good time moving to the beat. She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “May I have this dance?”

  Cameron turned and looked at her. Her face radiated happiness. He hated to spoil the moment. “I don’t know that I’d be very good company, sis,” he said quietly. “I’ve been standing here watching the kids dancing and remembering my own wedding.” He sighed. “Kellie and I were happy. How could it have gone so wrong?”

  “Beats me. She married the best guy around.”

  “That’s what she used to say. Until she met someone she thought was better, I guess.”

  Lauren wanted to weep. He had loved his wife so much, and she had hurt him so deeply.

  “Are the boys with their mother?” The family had expected him to bring the twins, but he had arrived from Denver unaccompanied.

  He shook his head. “No, they’re with her parents in Wyoming for a few weeks. They like to have them in the summer, and the boys love being on the ranch. I don’t know if you heard, but Kellie moved to Arizona, and I have full legal custody of the boys.”

  Lauren shook her head. “What was she thinking, moving to Arizona? Divorce is one thing, but how could she move away from her children?”

  Cameron sighed. “I couldn’t tell you, Lauren. I stopped trying to figure Kellie out years ago. I’ve had to accept that the girl I thought I married was an illusion. It’s been a long, painful journey.”

  Lauren wrapped her arms around him and whispered, “Oh, Cameron! I wish there were something I could do to help.”

  He looked into her face and saw the empathy there. But this was her wedding day. She shouldn’t be worrying about him, not today of all days. She had looked so radiant just a short while ago, and he wanted to see that look again. He reached for her hand and led her toward the dance-floor. “Talking to you helps,” he said sincerely. “Being with you and seeing you happy helps.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Maybe dancing with you will be the miracle.”

  The band changed tempo as they stepped onto the dance floor. Cameron placed an arm around her. “You pulled off quite an event, sis, and with very little notice. I’m impressed,” he said as they moved to the music.

  “It turned out well, didn’t it? Thanks to Janice.”

  They danced without speaking until a rude couple bumped into them.

  “Oops! Sorry,” said an unrepentant Jonas as Cameron turned his head. And saw a tall, slender, lovely woman in his new brother-in-law’s arms.

  “Well, well,” said a surprised Cameron. “Who have you got there?”

  “Someone you should be interested in meeting,” replied Jonas easily. “Cameron, this is Annie Linde, a distant cousin. You have great-great-grandparents in common. Annie, Cameron Hart, my brand-new brother-in-law.”

  Annie’s charming, British-accented English caught Cam’s interest, and he found to his surprise that he could produce a genuine smile. “Cousin, huh? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  “Someone just did,” replied Jonas drolly. “With an ulterior motive in mind.”

  At Cam’s lifted eyebrow he said, “It is getting late, and I would like your sister to myself sometime tonight. But she refused to leave until she’d had a dance with you so she came looking for you. Annie took pity on me and here we are. So, if you wouldn’t mind . . .” he released Annie and reached for Lauren’s hand, “switching partners, Lauren and I can finally be on our way.”

  Cameron smiled. “Neat trick,” he acknowledged and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for listening, sis. Good night, you two.”

  Watching them walk away, he turned to Annie. “Well, Annie, since I’m being deprived of my dance partner, are you brave enough to take to the floor with a rusty cousin, four generations removed?”

  Annie pretended to consider while she looked him over. He was tall, six-two or three, she thought, and gorgeous. There was an obvious family resemblance between him and Lauren, except Cameron’s features were strong and masculine. He had a nice smile, beautiful, dark eyes, and a slightly crooked nose. Jonas had filled her in when he asked her to dance. Looking at Lauren’s brother now, she wondered what woman in her right mind would walk out on a guy like this.

  “Tough decision, huh?” Cameron commented when she didn’t answer.

  Annie felt herself blush. “Oh, sorry,” she said and covered the blush with a grin, “I was busy comparing your face to Lauren’s. There is a lot of family resemblance. And, yes, I’d love to dance.”

  Cameron held out a hand. “Shall we?”

  Annie moved smoothly into his arms. He was far from rusty, she discovered, as she let herself enjoy the moment and the music.

  “Is this your first trip to the States?”

  “No, I’ve been to Florida a couple of times, and Jonas brought me with him on a business trip to New Jersey about five years ago.”

  “You work for him?”

  “No, the trip was for personal reasons. I run a travel agency.”

  “Interesting work?”

  “I love it.”

  “Your English is beautiful. Very handy in your line of work, I imagine.”

  Annie smiled at the compliment. “My mother was British, so we often spoke English at home.”

  “Ah! So, tell me, Annie, how long are you here for?”

  “Another week or so at least. William and I decided to combine the trip to the wedding with a working vacation. We want to explore Utah a little and look at future tour possibilities. It would be something new to offer our clients.”

  “William is your husband?”

  She laughed. “No, my twin brother. I’m not married.”

  Cameron looked at her with new interest. “You are a twin?”

  “I am.”

  “I have twin sons.” There was deep affection in his voice. “They are twelve. Their mother and I are divorced, and they live with me.” He expected it to hurt more when he said that. It always did. How odd.

  “That must be a challenge. Being both mother and father, I mean.”

  “It can be. But they are good kids.” He chuckled. “The biggest challenge was mealtime as I wasn’t much of a cook. My neighbor came to my rescue and taught me how to decipher recipes, and somehow the boys and I survived. We’re old hands at it now.”

  As the music came to an end, Cameron took Annie’s hand and led her on to the lawn. “How about a stroll?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Jonas, come and look.” Lauren stood by the window in the darkened living room. They’d said their goodbyes. Now she wanted a last glimpse of the beautiful, lighted
garden. “They’re walking arm in arm.”

  Jonas crossed the room to her. “Who?”

  “Annie and Cameron. Look, they are talking and laughing. They like each other, Jonas.”

  He pulled her against him and held her tight. His chin rested on the top of her head. “Looks that way. You sound surprised.”

  “Cam hasn’t looked happy in a long time.”

  “Annie looks like she is enjoying herself, too. Good for them.” Moments later he whispered, “Tired?”

  “A little.”

  “Ready to leave?”

  “Yes!” she said with emphasis.

  Jonas laughed softly. “Me, too.”

  Lauren smiled as he pulled her along behind him across the living room, down the hall, and into the garage where the rental car waited, already packed. He eased the car out of the garage and down the drive-way as quietly as possible, hoping not to draw attention to their departure, then headed for the canyon and the private chalet awaiting them in Deer Valley. Tomorrow their plane would take them back to Norway, but tonight was theirs.

  Eyes still closed, Jonas surfaced slowly to a feeling of tremendous joy and contentment. He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly and saw Lauren curled up next to him. He was sure his heart would burst with love as he looked at the angelic, sleeping face of his wife. My wife! He repeated it silently. He loved the sound of those two words. He turned onto his side, stretched out an arm and pulled her closer. As though born for him, she quite naturally snuggled into his embrace. Reluctant to wake her, he buried his face in her neck and held her close.

  He knew the minute she was conscious of her surroundings and almost laughed at her first, tentative word.

  “Jonas?” she whispered in a sleepy, hesitant voice.

  She felt the breath of his chuckle against her neck and felt safe and loved. “Who else did you expect in your bed the morning after your wedding?”

  Now fully awake, Lauren rolled over. She looked at him. And melted with love. He looked wonderful, slightly rumpled and sleepy, and his eyes held all the love in the world. My husband, she thought as her arms automatically crept around him.