She looked around in confusion. The streets were completely blocked. Cars were triple parked on the side of the road and people were walking about purposefully.
She spotted Gloria, teetering on high heels in a short miniskirt and tank top. Meera waved to her. Gloria hesitated, then walked over. She eyed Jake in the truck. “Another trip together? My, my...aren’t we getting close.”
Meera ignored her. “What’s happening?”
Gloria took her eyes off Jake. “You haven’t heard? It’s only the biggest news of the year. Even bigger than you, Doctor I-don’t-have-my-sights-on-Jake...”
Meera took a breath. No point in correcting her. “What news?”
Gloria bounced on her feet, obviously torn between punishing Meera by not telling her and bursting to tell someone who hadn’t already heard. Jake joined them.
Gloria met him with a stunning smile. Meera blinked against the wattage. “You remember Norma Jean’s cousin, Joe?”
“The Army boy?” Jake nodded.
Meera leaned forward.
“Turns out he and Lily ran away when he was in town and got married.” She paused for effect, her eyes wide. “And she wasn’t eating too many pork rinds at the diner. She’s pregnant. Like, really pregnant.”
As opposed to slightly pregnant? Meera suppressed the urge to comment. She searched for Lily in the crowd of people milling about the town square. She must have made an announcement to the town.
“And Joe just came back,” Gloria continued. “Lily hasn’t seen him for the last nine months.”
Meera grabbed Gloria’s arm. “What did you say? Joe’s here? With Lily?”
Gloria narrowed her eyes. “What do you know about this?”
“Just tell me, Gloria!”
Gloria huffed. “Yes, he’s back for her, but turns out their wedding wasn’t quite legal. The baby is due any minute. So Norma Jean marched over to my uncle Dick, and he opened the clerk’s office and issued them a marriage license.” She gestured behind her at the activity on the square. “The town’s throwing them a wedding. We don’t want a baby out of wedlock.”
Impulsively, Meera hugged Gloria. “This is such wonderful news. Where’s Lily?” Gloria looked in confusion from Meera to Jake, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“She’s at her house, getting ready.”
Jake took her hand. “Come on, we won’t be able to drive.”
Sure enough, Jake’s truck was now blocked in by a van that had come up behind them.
“Hey! What’s going on with you two?” They ignored Gloria as they made their way down the street.
Jake took Meera to the barbershop and poked his head in the door. “Hey, Mr. Alnutt, can I borrow your bike?”
An old gentleman in the middle of giving someone a haircut glanced up in surprise. “Jake! How are you, boy?”
“Please, we need to go see Lily.” He motioned to Meera.
The man nodded and grabbed a set of keys off a hook, then threw them to Jake, who caught them deftly. He pulled Meera around the corner to the back of the barbershop.
Meera caught sight of the motorcycle parked on the side of the road. She shook her head. “No way. I’ve never ridden one of those.”
Jake grinned at her. “It’s actually much easier than a mechanical bull. Come on, get on.” He handed her one of the helmets that were hanging off the side, then put on his own.
She eyed it warily.
He straddled the seat and kicked the stand. “Come on, you said you’ve ridden horses. It’s just like mounting a horse. I’ll hold it steady.”
She grinned and swung her leg over the seat. It was a close fit. She wrapped her arms around Jake and leaned into him, feeling the hardness of his chest, the firmness of his back. He turned his head. “Now, why haven’t I thought of this before?”
She giggled, a delicious fire spreading through her. He vroomed the motor, turned the bike and revved it onto the street. Meera pressed her face against his back, her legs squeezing the sides tightly. As he turned left out of the alley, she was sure her knee was going to scrape the ground. She clung to Jake with all her might. The sound of the motor reverberated in her head, but somewhere her mind registered a whistle followed by a “hubba hubba.”
Jake wove through the parked cars, and Meera laughed with giddy happiness, enjoying the warmth of his body, feeling his chest contract and expand. His breaths were coming as fast as hers.
She felt wild and free, just as she had with the bull ride. It was a heady sensation.
He pulled into Lily’s driveway, and Meera noted a number of other cars already parked there. The front door was slightly ajar. Jake held the bike steady while she dismounted. She took off the helmet and shook out her hair. Jake beamed at her.
“That’s it, I’m buying us a motorcycle just to see you do that again.”
Meera laughed. Us! She liked the sound of that.
Jake held out his hand for the helmet and motioned toward the door. She handed it to him and ran the last few steps. She heard voices and raced up the stairs.
Lily squealed as soon as she saw her. She was sitting at her dressing table in a bathrobe with three other women around her. Lily ignored them all as she flung herself at Meera, almost knocking her over.
Meera hugged her back, holding on to her as best she could, considering her baby bump.
“Have you heard?”
Meera nodded excitedly. She was so happy for Lily. Their last conversation had been stressful. Lily had come to the clinic feeling sick, and Meera found that her blood pressure was high. Lily hadn’t heard from Joe again, even though the date of his promised return had passed. Meera had encouraged her to accept the fact that he wasn’t going to be around. Lily left the office sobbing and hadn’t returned Meera’s calls. Lily’s eyes were shining brightly now; her face positively glowed.
“I want you to be my maid of honor.”
Meera’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, girl!”
Meera looked for the source of the outburst and spotted a woman sitting on the bed, a needle and thread in her hand, bent over a white dress.
“That’s Norma Jean,” Lily said. “Don’t worry ’bout her. So will you, will you please?”
Meera hugged her. “Of course I will. I’m so honored.”
One of the other ladies put her hands on Meera’s shoulders and pulled her back. “Well, then, we best get you something to wear, too.”
“I’m Mrs. Cregg, Mr. Cregg’s wife.” That explains everything.
Meera grinned at Mrs. Cregg. Against all odds, Joe had come back, Lily was getting married and she was the maid of honor!
“Norma Jean’s fixin’ up a wedding dress for me. Joe’s gonna wear his army class A’s, and we have to get ready in a couple of hours.”
“Why the rush?” Meera asked.
Lily patted her belly. “No one wants to chance this baby being born until Joe and I are all squared away.”
Meera wiped tears from her cheeks and Mrs. Cregg put an arm around her. “Now, now, dear.” Meera embraced her. She’d known the woman for all of a minute, but she felt her motherly love envelop her.
“How did this happen so fast?”
Lily squealed. “I know, right! He came back last night, and we had a town meeting this morning and they all just put it together.”
Meera thought about her own wedding. She and Raj had started talking about getting married almost two years ago. Her mother had begun meticulously planning every detail once Meera committed to an engagement date over a year ago. Invitation cards to the various functions and events, guest lists, seating arrangements, flowers, centerpieces, catering, clothes, jewelry, shoes, bridesmaids dresses. It was endlessly exhausting. And here, a wedding was being planned in hours.
&nb
sp; Mrs. Cregg was putting a measuring tape around Meera’s waist.
“I’m sure I have something in my closet I could wear.”
Norma Jean shook her head. “This is my Lily and Joe’s weddin’, and I promised her momma I’d take care of her. I ain’t letting you wear just any old thing. We’ll fix you up with something nice.”
Meera laughed and threw her arms up so they could measure the rest of her. She watched Lily try on a veil that yet another woman had shown up with.
“How can I help?” she asked.
“Why don’t you go fix up her hair. Us old ladies don’t know how you young girls like it these days.” Meera laughed and went over to Lily.
“How’re you feeling?” she whispered.
“I’m on top of the world,” Lily gushed.
“I meant...are you feeling any contractions or pain?”
Lily frowned and placed her hands on her stomach. “Nah, I don’t think so. I’ve just been feeling the baby kicking. He or she must also be really excited.”
“That’s good.” Meera gave her another hug. “I’m so sorry for what I said the last time we spoke. I’m thrilled that Joe came back.” Meera felt fresh tears on her cheeks; she was bubbling with joy for Lily.
“It’s okay. I know it is hard for you, not loving your fella like I love Joe.”
Meera felt a punch to her gut. She meant Raj.
“When you love someone, when you really love someone, Dr. M., you’ll know it in here.” Lily tapped her heart. “And you’ll have faith that it’ll all work out.”
Jake’s words came back to her. “I’m glad you had faith, Lily. It gives me hope to see things work out for you.” She smiled, grabbing the curling iron sitting on the dresser. “Now let’s get your hair done.”
Meera had never done anyone else’s hair or makeup, and they giggled together as she tried different styles. The ladies of Hell’s Bells kept up a constant chatter.
They spent a couple of hours getting Lily ready. Jake had taken off, presumably to the town square to lend a hand. Meera marveled at the fact that they had sewn a simple white dress for her in no time. It had a tight bodice that billowed out in soft waves to accommodate her belly and didn’t have a train.
Meera used the curling iron to frame the bride’s face with soft curls. Everyone stepped back and gasped when she put the veil on Lily’s head. Lily looked radiant. Norma Jean burst into noisy tears, Mrs. Cregg clutched her chest and Meera beamed.
“All righty now, we need to find something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” Norma Jean opened her purse and handed Lily a ring. “This was your momma’s. She told me to give it to you when you got married.” For the millionth time that day, tears flowed down Meera’s cheek as she watched Lily hug her aunt. The warmth and love in the room touched her soul.
“What about new and blue?” The room went silent.
Then it hit her. “I have something that’s both blue and new. I’ll have Jake get it from the ranch.”
“And you can borrow this.” One of the ladies pulled out a little necklace and put it around Lily’s neck.
Meera texted Jake.
“Here you go.” Mrs. Cregg handed Meera a dress, and she laughed in surprise. These women were really something; they had sewn her a dress, too. She used Lily’s bathroom to change. The dress fit perfectly. It was soft pink, a color she never wore. She studied her reflection in the small mirror. The dress was made of silky cotton, and the fabric slid with her body. It had little spaghetti straps, a tight bodice that fell away at her waist and it ended right above her knee. She twirled around and giggled. She’d never looked better in her life.
She stepped out to show the ladies, who oohed and aahed at her. She used Lily’s curling iron to style her own hair. Lily’s makeup didn’t really work with Meera’s complexion, so she washed her face and simply applied a bit of gloss to her lips. She studied her reflection and barely recognized herself. No perfect makeup, no matching jewelry, hair loose and a little wild. It wasn’t a Meera she was used to seeing.
As they stepped out of the house, Meera wondered how they would get to town with the streets blocked. The sun was starting to make its way toward the horizon. While the day had been stiflingly hot, it had given way to a pleasant evening with a slight breeze cooling the air.
Jake pulled up in a horse-drawn carriage. He was dressed in a suit topped with a cowboy hat. She laughed as he tipped his hat. “Your carriage awaits, my ladies.”
His eyes traveled the length of her body, and her cheeks colored. He gave her a thumbs-up.
Mrs. Cregg leaned over to her. “Pink’s his favorite color.”
Meera looked at her with wide eyes, and the woman winked.
Jake hopped off to help Lily into the carriage. It would fit only two people, with Lily already taking up a lot of room.
She turned to Meera. “I want you with me.”
Jake held out his hand to help her climb in. As she stepped onto the carriage, he whispered, “You look like my Meera.”
Meera sat next to Lily, her heart beating a mile a minute as she watched Jake hop on the small driver’s seat and click his tongue to get the horse moving.
As they got into town, there were cheers from people lining the sidewalks. Down the street, Meera could see that the entire town square had been transformed. An archway covered in flowers and lights stood in the center.
“This is unbelievable.” Lily looked radiant.
Meera got her first look at Joe as they approached the makeshift altar. He stood in a dark green uniform in the middle of the archway. Joe turned toward them as the sound of clicking hooves was overpowered by people cheering.
Lily blinked back tears. “This town...they take care of their own.”
Meera sniffed as she took it all in. This had all come together in a few hours, an act of love from the community. There had been no meticulous planning, no checklists, no prior notification... Everyone had just worked in symphony for one of their own. And as she looked around, she realized she would give up everything she had ever planned in her life to have a celebration like this.
Meera turned to Jake. “Did you bring it?”
Jake nodded and handed her a small box, his eyes sparking mischievously. “Wish you weren’t giving this away.”
Meera’s mouth fell open. “You weren’t supposed to look inside.”
He shrugged. “It was open when I got it off your dresser.”
Meera’s face flamed.
She turned her attention to Lily and opened the box. It was a blue-and-white-lace garter. Lily squealed in delight.
“It’s brand-new, and I’d like you to have it.” Meera surreptitiously slipped it up Lily’s leg while pretending to fix her shoe. Priya had bought it for her on their last shopping trip. Raj loves blue and white—wear it on your wedding day, she’d said. Meera liked giving it to Lily. Just a few days ago, she was convinced Lily was headed for heartbreak, and here she was living a fantasy.
They were both giggling as Jake helped them out of the carriage.
“You’d better hurry.” Norma Jean handed Meera a bunch of roses. Again, Meera was struck by all the details that had somehow come together with impressive coordination. She walked to the archway and turned to watch Lily walk down the “aisle.”
A high school band started playing the “Wedding March.”
Meera couldn’t help grinning like an idiot. She was bubbling inside and wanted to scream from the rooftops. She caught Jake’s eye. He was standing in the back, openly staring at her. She turned away, afraid she wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to run into his arms.
Joe’s eyes were shining and locked on to Lily’s as she approached the altar. Lily had been right all along. Against all odds and reason, she believed in her love. Maybe some things can’t
be planned. Maybe some things are beyond logic.
Lily handed Meera her bouquet.
Meera watched as she reached for Joe’s hand. The minister nodded to them, and Joe lifted Lily’s veil then took both her hands.
“Lily, from the first moment I laid eyes on you, my heart told me you were the woman who was gonna make an honest man out of me.”
Meera thought back to her first moment with Jake. She remembered how her breath caught in her throat, how his green eyes sparkled. She glanced back to catch him staring at her.
Her breath stuck in her chest. Will it be like this every time I look at you?
“Lily, you make me feel like I’ve never felt before. My heart hadn’t fully loved until I met you.”
Meera’s fingers curled around the bouquet, a thorn pressing into her finger.
“You’ve never asked me for anything, but I want to give you the world and I’m so grateful you’re giving me a chance to have you, hold you and love you with every breath I take, from now until the Lord takes me away.”
Tears rolled down Meera’s cheeks. She could feel the raw love in Joe’s voice, just like she could hear the silent vows Jake was uttering.
Lily said her vows, and the minister pronounced them husband and wife. Joe kissed his bride, and the couple turned as the townsfolk threw a shower of rice.
The high school band began playing as the entire town cheered and descended on the happy couple.
“You know, everything’s already set up here.” She trembled as Jake’s breath warmed her ear. He had snuck up from behind to put his arms around her.
“I know, I thought about it, too.” She closed her eyes and let herself sway with him. It was a tempting idea. She could be Jake’s wife, right here and now. He would take her back to the ranch and to his bedroom. She could sleep in his bed tonight. She wouldn’t have to dream about it anymore, analyze it to death or make plans that wouldn’t work.
First Comes Marriage Page 18
