Intertwined Hearts Series (4 book collection): (Intertwined Hearts, An Exceptional Twist, Tangled Paths & Grafted Vines)

by Kimi Flores

  Grace, being the refined woman that she was, stepped aside to allow my mom to approach me first. “You’re so beautiful, sweetheart. I’m at a loss for words.”

  Oh no, the waterworks were beginning already.

  “Please don’t make me cry yet, Mom. It took Leah forever to get my makeup on.” I fanned myself, moving my eyes up so the tears wouldn’t fall.

  “Get used to this emotional rollercoaster today, pumpkin, because we just got started.” My mom laughed through her own tears.

  Grace came up next. I was so thankful my mom had kindheartedly allowed Grace to enjoy the festivities right alongside her. There wasn’t a resentful bone in my mom’s body. In all honesty, I imagined my mother being relieved that there was someone else to help with all of the mother-of-the-bride duties. “Your mother is right, darling. You look stunning, although I’m not just referring to your dolled-up appearance. You’re absolutely glowing.”

  I vigorously fanned my face again, willing the tears to go away.

  “May I place the veil on you now?” I hadn’t realized Grace had anything in her hands when she’d walked in.

  “Please.” My voice came out faintly as emotions slammed into me. This wedding was about so much more than me marrying Caleb. I was going to be this woman’s daughter as well.

  “Thank you for asking to wear my veil, Abby. My Rene chose a new one for her wedding that went with her more modern style, but I secretly wished my daughter had chosen mine.” She paused, gulping down her emotions. “Now she has.”

  That was it, I could no longer hold back. Leah would just have to redo my makeup before the ceremony.

  “Sweetie, I’m so thankful you’ve joined our family.” Grace held onto me after fixing the veil. My mom joined us in a three-way hug/cry.

  “Okay, enough of this. My baby girl has a wedding to get to,” my mom announced, getting everyone in the house’s attention.

  Bri, Dani, Maria and Julianne all crammed into the room before Leah said, “Oh no, chica, look at your makeup. That’ll never do. I’ll fix you up right before we get there. Let’s go, girls. It’s game time.”

  ⁂

  Caleb

  I was a nervous wreck as I paced on the side of the yard where the ceremony was to take place. Looking down at the very relaxed Stefen in his tux as he sat on one of the white folding chairs by the aisle, I asked, “What time is it?”

  “Five minutes after you asked me last.” He rolled his eyes.

  “So, they should be here any minute.” The weather was perfect, but my palms were sweating. When we’d decided to get married at the same time of day that I’d proposed, I hadn’t considered the fact that I’d be counting down the minutes all day.

  “Yes, now would you please calm down? You’re starting to make me tense.” He cracked his neck, then got up and walked away.

  Trying not to get aggravated, I glanced upward and took in the sight above. Thin white material draped loosely above my head, creating a canopy-like feel. Hanging from the material, directly above the aisle, were several small chandeliers. Several more were scattered in the reception area toward the back of the yard. I’d gone with Abby to pick them up from a local antique shop. She’d explained that, in memory of this day, the chandeliers were going to be placed throughout our home once we got back from our honeymoon. She was so sentimental in a practical way. God, I loved that woman.

  Just then, I saw Grace. I knew Abby couldn’t be far away. Before my internal freak-out could begin, I forced myself to think about something else.

  Grace smiled at me from across the yard and started toward me. “Look at you, son. Hands down, the most handsome man here today.” She cupped her mouth and whispered, “Shh, don’t tell dad I told you that, though.”

  I was beside myself with joy that Grace and Robert were here representing my parents. My own mother and father had been unable to make the wedding due to ‘previous engagements’. I wasn’t surprised.

  “Thanks, Mom. I’m so happy you’re here today.” I leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  “So, mister, when we got home last night, there was a little surprise waiting for us.” She gave me a knowing look. “I’m not sure when you guys slipped out and hung those pictures for us, but you really made my night. Thank you for sharing those with us. We’ll make sure to get them to Madison when she’s old enough.”

  I rubbed an affectionate palm up and down her arm when I noticed guests were starting to arrive. I must’ve had a look of panic because Grace held the sides of my face and turned me to look at her.

  “Stop that right now. Relax, enjoy, and take it all in. Remember that surfer’s saying you told me?”

  I nodded. It was the phrase I’d repeated in my head on my most intense days: One of the biggest lessons you learn about surfing is how to operate in the present. That’s really what the foundation of the entire surfing experience is.

  She smiled softly. “Apply that to today. Stay in the present, son.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  She kissed me on the nose before walking away. I started going through a checklist in my head, making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, like eating. I’d made sure to eat a while before. I didn’t want to be one of those grooms who fainted at the altar because of low blood sugar.

  Soft music began to play, signaling everyone to take their places. I hadn’t noticed the minister slip behind me under the refurbished wooden altar. The structure was covered in sheer material, flowers I’d recently learned were hydrangeas, and a large chandelier hung in the center. Looking beyond the pastor, I took a deep breath. At least we’d decided to have a backyard wedding. Less stress, and the ocean view today was incredible. Taking my place, I glanced out at the water. The sun was high enough above the horizon to give us time to complete the ceremony before it dipped into the sea.

  Turning my body to face the crowd, I saw that my groomsmen, Stefen, Robert and my friend and manager, Chris, had also taken their places beside me. Once everyone appeared to be seated, the music subtly switched to the song Abby and I had chosen together, “God Bless the Broken Road”.

  Bri appeared at the end of the aisle. Stefen and I saw her at the same time. He let out a protective growl. Having the identical response internally, I understood. Bri’s dress was sage green, and, although classy, it was too short and extremely tight. Trying to recover from seeing my cousin so scantily dressed, I focused on the next girl coming down the aisle, Dani.

  She was a beautiful, voluptuous, curvy girl, similar to women portrayed during the nineteen-fifties. Like Bri, she was also wearing sage green, but her dress was a completely different style. She’d chosen a floor-length gown with straps that accentuated her full bust. Leah appeared next, and I felt that protective nature coming over me again. I loved Abby’s best friend like a sister. She was wearing a strapless, knee-length, sage green dress and the highest, slenderest heels I’d ever seen. Leah definitely enjoyed her shoes, but I couldn’t figure out how she was walking down the aisle without tripping.

  “Holy hell.” Stefen noticed her as well and let out an audible grunt. Not the protective kind, like with his sister, more animalistic. I wanted to punch him in the gut, but I kept my cool. This was my bride’s day. She deserved all my attention and effort. Nonetheless, these girls were all going to be the death of me.

  I could see my sweet girl right behind Leah, dropping flower petals and smiling to the crowd as she went. She was such a ham, but adorable at the same time. She was so excited to show off her flower girl dress. I’d caught her several times, wearing it in her room, practicing dropping petals. Close behind her was Abby’s friend, Melissa’s, son. He was carrying a sign but had it facing the seated guests. I couldn’t read the words until the little boy was standing right in front of me. It read:

  Here comes Your Bride

  After that, the music changed to the only song I was truly interested in hearing today, “The Wedding March”. My eyes located her immediately. Even though I couldn’t see her face throug
h the sheer material of the veil, it didn’t keep my heart from stopping. Her mom, Kathleen, accompanied her. It was completely appropriate for her mother to be the one to give her away. It had been the two of them for most of Abby’s life, and I was so thankful to the woman who’d brought her up to be the incredible woman I’d fallen so hard for. It seemed to take an eternity for them to reach me. I could see her face just a little bit through the veil now. She was breathtaking as usual, but there was an additional radiance to her today. I didn’t want to be conceited about it, but I prayed that glimmer had something to do with me.

  The ceremony began with Kathleen giving Abby’s hand to me, then we turned to each other. Unable to concentrate on the pastor’s words, I decided to keep my focus on Abby. She was tearing up, so I reached under the veil and tenderly wiped under her eyes.

  The time came to exchange vows and rings. We’d agreed to keep ours fairly short, so neither of us started to blubber in front of our guests.

  I began, “Abby Rose, you showed me what true, mature love could be like. You’re selfless, generous, and genuine, and you pulled me out of my dark existence and back into the light. Now I’ll work the rest of my life to make sure you experience the joy you deserve. I love you, baby.” Accepting the wedding ring from Stefen, I placed it on her finger.

  It was Abby’s turn. With a shaky voice, she spoke. “Caleb, I never knew a man like you could ever exist. You took the broken woman I was and helped put me back together. I’ll be forever grateful for your kindness and love. Without you, I am empty. I can’t wait to start our forever together as husband and wife. I love you with all my heart and soul.”

  Once she placed the ring on my finger, the minister said a few more words before announcing what I’d waited months to hear. “You may now kiss your bride.”

  I hadn’t thought about what kind of kiss I’d give her, but now that the time had come, I was going for it. Flipping her veil over the top of her head, I smiled before dipping my head and kissing her like nobody else was around.

  Unable to help myself, I breathed into her ear, “I can’t wait to get you alone, Abby Rose.”

  Her body reacted in my favorite way, with a shiver. Pulling her back up to her feet, hoots and hollers sounded from the crowd, and she granted me a wicked smile. Good, she had the same thing in mind. This reception couldn’t end quickly enough. I was ready to take my bride to places neither of us had experienced.

  ⁂

  Abby

  I was officially a married woman. And not just a married woman, but Caleb Hunter’s wife. I still wasn’t positive I wasn’t dreaming.

  We’d gone through the ceremony, taken all the pictures I could bear, and for our first dance as husband and wife, we’d swayed back and forth to “Beseme Mucho”. After eating and mingling with our guests, I was exhausted and thirsty. All of my drinks had been brought to me throughout the night, so I hadn’t visited the refreshment bar yet.

  Stepping up to the table, my heart stopped. Sitting in the center was the beautiful ceramic pink, green, and white lemonade jar I’d seen last year when I’d gone antiquing with Grace and Leah. Next to it was another jar of a similar style, bronze spout and all, except it was cream with brown trim and had the words ‘Sweet Tea’ inscribed in brown.

  I searched the crowd. Grace must’ve been watching because a smirk took over her face when we made eye contact. My new mom blew me a kiss and turned to chat with someone beside her. I got it. She didn’t want me to make a big deal about this, but it was a big deal. She’d gone back and not only purchased the ridiculously expensive antique for me, but also found a match to it.

  About to cry for the millionth time today, I felt myself being whirled around, and then I collided with Caleb’s chest.

  “There you are. I was in need of a kiss from my wife, and you disappeared on me.” His lips were on me before I had a chance to respond with words, so instead I countered with actions. He didn’t break away as he normally did. This was nice; I could get used to these unrestricted kisses.

  I heard Stefen come up beside us, muttering, “Get a room, you two.”

  We belly laughed until something occurred to me—we had a room. Just up the stairs.

  Drawn into Caleb’s eyes, I could tell that he had the same thing in mind. The fire in his eyes told all. That intense stare sent a million tiny shivers down my spine, resulting in a full-blown body quiver.

  As the song came to an end, Caleb said, “Come here, I have a little special something for you.” He pulled me to the dance floor where we met up with Dave and my mom. Both men smiled at each other, while my mom and I shared a confused look.

  Caleb grabbed my hand and gave it a quick kiss, then leaned in. “Dance with your mom, love.” My husband walked away as I looked at my mom, who was receiving a quick peck on her lips before Dave left her.

  Then I understood. The sound of a woman and her daughter speaking came through the speakers. The song that my mom had sung to me every night before bed when I was a little girl began to play. “You and Me Against the World” by Helen Reddy crooned through the area, embracing us before we’d even had a chance to hold each other. My mom wrapped her arms around me, and we danced, the only two on the dance floor for the entire party to watch. “I love you so much, baby girl, and I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

  That was it. Any chance of me not losing it was long gone.

  “I love you too, Mom.” Raw emotions spilled out as I ugly cried while swaying and hanging onto my mom for dear life. Unknowingly, we’d drawn a crowd. There were just as many cheers as there were tears.

  I was wiping at my eyes when Madison approached. “Mama, why are you crying?”

  “I’m just happy, sweetie, that’s all.” I noticed Madison trying to process, so I added, “Remember how happy you were when Daddy asked me to marry him, and you had happy tears?” She nodded. “I’m crying happy tears, not sad tears.”

  A smile broke out. “Okay, that makes senses now.” This girl and her cute words killed me.

  “Mama, can I show you and Daddy something?”

  I wiped the last of my tears away with the back of my hand. “Of course, sweetheart.” We walked past Caleb, and all I had to do was gesture with my head for him to join and he followed.

  He caught up. “What’s up?”

  “Madison wants to show us something.” We joined hands and followed our little girl over to the large lima bean plant she’d been tending to for months.

  She squatted down. “Look right here. Both of my beans grew because we all gave them love.” She was beaming.

  “It’s a beautiful plant, Madison.” I was so proud of the lesson this plant had taught my little girl about love.

  “No, look closer,” she insisted. “There’re two plants.” She pointed to the stems. Two stalks originated from the dirt, but as if they couldn’t survive without each other, they had joined, embraced, and intertwined all the way up to their tops making them appear to be one plant. Madison wasn’t the only one who’d learned a lesson in love from these seeds.

  Caleb and my eyes met, just as they had when these beans had been planted. This time, however, just like the plants, we were now joined together as one.

  Reaching down, we scooped Madison in our arms, and the three of us embraced, making our family one entity.

  Her eyes swung from Caleb to me and back. “I love you, Daddy. I love you, Mama.”

  “We love you too, pumpkin,” Caleb and I said at the same time.

  Then Madison’s grin got even bigger. “Now, when can I have a baby brother or sister?”

  Bonus Chapter

  Read to Me, Abby

  Abby

  I relaxed under the large beach umbrella that was blocking my fair skin from the scorching Mediterranean sun. It also helped to keep the bright light from blinding me while I read the most recent romance novel on my e-reader. I’d waited for months for this sequel to publish.

  Peeking over my tablet, I stared at the gorgeous man next
to me. Caleb lay back in the lounge chair with his sunglasses on, but I could tell his eyes were closed. He was beautiful to look at. With my heart beginning to pick up speed, I dragged my eyes from my husband’s head to his feet. His board shorts were beginning to dry after the swim we’d just taken in the ocean. My eyes lingered on one of my favorite parts of his body—his taut stomach dusted with just the right amount of hair. Remembering the moments we’d already been intimate this week, I felt my face flushing. Caleb was the most generous and attentive man, in and out of the bedroom.

  Turning my attention back to my book, I couldn't help but daydream about him as I mindlessly read.

  “What’re you reading?” Caleb pushed his sunglasses up to his eyebrows and squinted at the sunlight.

  Startled out of my reverie, I admitted, “Oh, I thought you were asleep.”

  “I was, but I could feel your eyes all over me.” He lifted one eyebrow and rubbed his index finger over his bottom lip. All I could think about was how delicious it was to kiss that lip. “So, what are ya reading?”

  “Um, a new book I just downloaded when we got here.” There was no way I was going to give him the title.

  He reclined a bit further in his chair and laced his fingers together on that firm stomach I was so fond of. Having a mind of their own, my eyes began to roam once more.

  “Which new book would that be, love?”

  Damn. It was as if he just knew.

  His crooked smile and sinister stare had me breathing heavy. “You’ve been squirming and blushing in that chair since we came in from the water and picked up your tablet.”

  Defeated, I finally whispered, “It’s that really popular series everyone’s reading.” I could feel my blush creeping higher on my cheeks—then again, it wasn’t just my face that was burning up.

  “You mean the dirty one?” He slowly rose and stood in front of me. “Why don’t you read a scene to me?”