by S. M. Smith
After stating my name, age, and where I am, all of which I answered correctly, not to mention that I’m fine about twenty times, he finally allows me to sit up. Daphne hands me a cup of water and they allow me to take a sip. The female EMT checks my blood pressure and tests my blood sugar level after Daphne tells her I was recently diagnosed with PCOS.
My diagnosis is that my blood sugar level is too low. After giving me the third degree on how a small latte is not a suitable breakfast, Daphne rushes to her desk and brings me a couple of chocolate truffles which I begrudgingly take and eat.
The EMTs are packing up their equipment and making me promise to grab dinner quickly when the doorbell rings again, and a second later I hear Isaiah filling in Stephen. Shelby goes back into her office to order me some food and Stephen comes into view. He helps me stand and hugs me tight.
“Oh, Jessie! I was afraid something like this would happen. You have got to slow down, baby.”
“Hi. I’m glad you’re okay too,” I say, very much annoyed that he’s lecturing me now when what I really need is a some food and a comfy chair. He pulls back and cradles my head in his hands.
“I’m sorry. I really am glad you’re okay.” He kisses me hard and pulls me back into his arms.
“Seriously, I’m okay. I must have forgotten lunch today. What time is it anyway?”
“Twenty til five,” Jason answers. Oh, yeah. I definitely forgot lunch. Well, I can almost guarantee between Stephen and Daphne, I won’t be forgetting lunch again anytime soon. “Jessie, is there anything we can get you?”
“No, Jason. You and Callie are good to go for the day.” He hesitates, debating on whether to argue with me or not. “Please, Jason, I’m fine. I have my loyal watchdog here.” I pat Stephen’s extra firm pectorals to accentuate my point and I swear I hear Stephen pant in response. “I’m good. Thank you though. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jason starts to hesitate again, but I shake my head and shoot him a warning look. He nods his consent and retreats back into the conference room to wrap up with Callie. I let Stephen take my hand and lead me back to my office.
“Jess, you don’t just forget to take a lunch. What happened today?” Stephen asks after making sure I’m sitting on my messy couch.
“I honestly don’t know where the time went. I started my day with finishing up the edits from the Wilson’s birthday shoot. Then I spent awhile on the phone with the realtor trying to compromise on where to look next for buildings—“
“How is the sour Miss Jenkins?” he asks half amused. I ignore his question and move on.
“And then I had a couple of calls with the DJ and the florist for the wedding. And then when I got up to take Daphne the listings the realtor emailed me, she asked me to take a memory card to Shelby so I did and the next thing I know, I’m waking up to Daphne shouting at me to open my eyes. I don’t really feel like I have done much today for it to be five o’clock already.”
He looks angry, but before he can go off on whatever is bothering him, Shelby pokes her head in my door.
“I’m headed to the deli down the street. Do you need anything else while I’m out?” She looks between us both and after we both shake our head no, she jolts out, leaving me to the wrath of my very upset fiancé.
“Before you say anything. Can you please take a second and take a couple of deep breaths. This was an accident, and now that I know I need to be mindful of my blood sugar, I will be more careful.”
“But that’s just it, Jess. You don’t need one more thing to be mindful of. You have too much on your plate. You need to slow down.”
“I agree.” Daphne slips in and props herself up against the doorframe.
“But I can’t. Daphne and I are hoping to have the new studio opened by the first of the year. And you and I are getting married in a few days. Not to mention that I’m under constant medical attention so that I don’t have another cyst rupture. And we’re going to be trying to get pregnant. I don’t have anything that I can put on the back burner right now, Stephen.”
“Yes, you do,” Daphne says, her voice the calmest I’ve ever heard it. I look at her expectantly. “We can slow down on the hunt for a second studio. We can push the deadline as long as we need to.”
“Daphne. We are turning away perfectly good clientele coming from across the state who want us. We are in high demand and we don’t have enough hands to take on everything. We need this second studio.”
“No, we need more photographers, which we can take on. We will have to make some room, maybe turn the conference room into a communal office or something. But we don’t need a second location. We can make it work here.”
The look on her face tells me that regardless of what I have to say in the matter, her mind is made up.
“Daph, I can’t ask you, or the rest of the team for that matter, to go back on this decision.”
“We’re not going back on it. We’re just putting it on the back burner for a while. We’ll still look, but we won’t be on the hunt. And when we do find some place promising, it doesn’t have to be just you who goes to check it out. We all are on the same page on what we as a company need, and before any major decisions will be made, we will vote, as a team. It’s only temporary. The team will understand that.”
Frustrated tears pool up in my eyes. I don’t want to step back from this, but in all honestly, if I hadn’t been on the phone with the realtor so much today, I know I wouldn’t have forgotten lunch, and consequently fainted.
“I’ll go email everyone now to let them know we need to meet in the morning.” Daphne leaves my office, crestfallen but confident.
I can’t hold back the tears anymore, so I hang my head in my hands. I hear Shelby return and let Stephen collect my sandwich and lemonade from her. I hear him place them on my desk before I feel his hand on my back.
“I know this isn’t what you want. But I think after the wedding is over and you are back from our honeymoon, refreshed and rested, you will be ready to meet this head on.” I finally look up at him, and his eyes give away his pain. I know he doesn’t want to see me like this. I know if the roles were reversed I wouldn’t want to see him like this either.
“Come on, baby. Let me take you home.” He offers me his hand and I take it. Once again, I find myself looking forward to a lifetime with this man. Because if this is what I get to come home to when days go from bad to worse, then I’m one lucky lady.
Chapter Twenty-Two
~Stephen~
“Those arrangements will go back here against this last row. But they need to come out in the morning. Can you make sure that the tarps are secured over each row of hay please?” Jessie directs the traffic of high school boys as they set up chairs, carry out boxes of décor, and string lights.
“Stephen, is she always so bossy?” one of the boys asks, causing the rest of them to all snicker.
“Not appropriate guys. Babe, where are the cloths that are going over the hay bales?”
We’re almost done setting up and it looks really pretty great. Jessie’s kept it classy and simple with rows of hay bales for guests to sit on facing the side of the barn. A white cross has been propped up against Jack’s weathered wood barn with a burlap banner labeled “Cahill” in navy strung from side to side. She’s set up a rustic looking milk urn on either side of the cross, each displaying bare branches sprayed with a thin coat of orange glitter and strung with strings of faux pearls and white Christmas lights.
A huge tent has been set up in Jack’s big back yard. The tables have all been set up and all we have to do tomorrow is lay out the table cloths and center pieces and set up the chairs around them. Grady and Lucas are helping my father set a couple more tables on the deck so that we can all sit to eat once the rehearsal is over.
Everything is coming together, and with each piece in place I see a chink of the burden Jessie has been carrying around slip away. I see the carefree beauty I’ve fallen for each and every day since high school come back from the last few
months of a nightmare she’s been through.
Twinkling, happy eyes find mine and her giddiness overwhelms me. I make the last few steps it takes to reach her and sweep her up off her feet.
“How’s it looking, Miss St. James?”
“Just like I imagined it. You know you can only call me that for,” she checks her watch and smiles really big, “twenty more hours.”
“Well I hope you’re not too attached to your first name either because I have every intention of calling you Mrs. Cahill for…oh, the rest of your life.” I kiss her lips and twirl her around, soaking in her giggles.
“Okay you two, save it for tomorrow. We need to get this show on the road,” Daphne interrupts us.
“Until later, Miss St. James.” I bow my head, causing Jessie to giggle again, before I make my way toward the altar.
We run through the ceremony a couple of times and my dad goes over what he’s going to say. We skip the vows and I’m glad because I don’t want anyone to hear them until tomorrow. Jess and I sat down and decided to use some similar verbiage, but we left the important parts to come up with on our own. I’m excited for her to hear mine, and to hear hers, but I really want to save them for the right moment. An hour later everyone is ready to be done with Daphne’s incessant barking of orders, so we all declare mutiny and head to the deck for some food.
I don’t let Jessie out of arms reach all through dinner since in a few short hours Grady will drag me away and I won’t be able to talk to or see her until the ceremony.
It’s nice to see my mother getting along with Jess. Jessie wouldn’t tell me what how she and Mom overcame their differences, but since their first shopping trip, Mom has been much more relaxed around Jessie. Mom has also done an amazing job of helping me with Jess since she’s been diagnosed. I’m thankful that these two ladies have found a way to coexist in my life without hating one another.
After having my fill of mom’s chicken and noodles, I sit back and sip on some tea, watching everyone interact with one another, while letting strands of Jessie’s long hair tangle themselves in my fingers. Being surrounded by so many friends and our families, I couldn’t feel more blessed. And to think that I’m finally getting the girl of my dreams…I find myself in awe of how God works.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Jessie leans back and whispers in my ear.
“Just wondering how I got so lucky.” I smirk at her.
“But you haven’t yet.” She winks at me and plants a flirty kiss on my lips.
“Touché.” I lean in to kiss her again, this time bringing my hand up to the back of her neck.
I get swatted on the head from someone’s dinner napkin. I pull back just far enough to find Grady standing over me. And his full on assault has the entire table staring at Jessie and me.
“We have an audience,” I tell her. She giggles again. Oh good Lord! “I think it might be time to say good night.”
“That it is, my man. We have a fun filled adventure ahead of us, and I promised your bride-to-be that I would have you sober enough by the time the nuptials start, so we need to get going if we’re to get our party on.” Grady pulls my chair back, with me still in it.
“Grady, you promised no alcohol.”
“My dear Jessie, I promised no such thing. I only promised that, and I quote ‘Your man will be of the right state of mind when it comes time to say “I do”.’ Which he will be, as long as we leave right now.” Grady gives her one of his I-win smiles he ends arguments with in the courtroom and I feel bad for my sweet girl. She doesn’t back down though and turns to me to plead with me not to drink.
“I will be fine. I’ll stop when I’ve had enough. I promise,” I say, kissing her forehead.
“You better,” both she and my mother eerily respond at the same time. Jessie looks at my mom who smiles back at her and all of a sudden I’m not sure I should let them spend a lot of time together anymore.
“Come on, Romeo. We have seventy years of partying to do in one night,” Grady says, just to get to Jess. I see the fear and frustration swirl in her eyes. But my dad pats her shoulder and leans in to calm her.
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
“You’re coming too?” I ask my dad, astounded that he would even consider going to a bachelor party.
“My only son is getting married in the morning. Of course, I’m going to his bachelor party.” He wraps an arm around me and turns me toward the small mass of men making their way to their cars.
I turn back to look at my future wife one last time and see her look up from her phone and smile. A second later my phone buzzes with a text from her.
I’ll see you at the altar. I love you. Have fun. Miss me.
I type back.
Can’t wait. Love you too. Miss you already.
“Okay, lover boy. Hand over the phone,” Lucas says, climbing into the passenger seat of my car, holding out his hand. Grady comes to my door and puts his arms on the window so I can’t roll it up. Feeling trapped, I hand my phone to Lucas, but only because I know he’s more likely to give it back to me later should I really need it.
“Alright where are we going?” I ask.
“Back forty of your parent’s property. Park your car at your house and then we’ll all climb into the back of your dad’s truck and head down there together.”
For some reason, I picture some weird hazing ritual that requires animal sacrifices and I’m not sure I want to leave the St. James’s property. But then I remember my dad’s coming, so surely it can’t be that bad.
***
The roar of the bonfire and the buzz I’m starting to feel from the two beers and shot of whiskey I’ve had in the last hour is definitely helping me relax. The awkward advice my father keeps trying to give me isn’t though.
“And you have to know when to read the signs, son. Like little stuff, for example when you mother wears her silky pajamas—“
“Okay, Dad. I think I’ve got it. Anyone else have sound advice for a successful marriage?” I shout, hoping someone will save me from the very disturbing images now permanently seared into my brain.
“Dude, the only rule I go by,” Isaiah says, “is that your wife is always right. Even when she’s wrong. Just go with it. Trust me. Totally worth it in the long run.” He winks at me from a couple seats down.
“Yeah, man, but that’s generally true about Jessie. She’s—“
A chorus of OHs erupts. I forgot about the No Name rule that was instituted the minute we all climbed into the back of Dad’s truck. Every time I say her name, I have to take a shot of whiskey. This time I get handed a double shot.
“What? I thought you said it was one shot for every one time I say her name,” I argue. Grady just shakes his head at me as he encourages me to take the second shot with him. I do, and let the harsh liquid claw at my throat.
“Ugh! That stuff is terrible. Where’d you get it?”
“Liquor store in town. It’s the best they had,” Grady defends himself.
“Ugh. Dude, don’t buy liquor here. Never buy liquor here.” I chase the shot with a swig of my beer and shiver as it does little to take the nastiness out of my mouth.
“So what’d ya think?” Grady asks, gesturing toward the group of guys and the bonfire. “We’re gonna rough it out here and then be back at your house to shower in the morning. Perfect guys night!” He smiles, proud of himself for his admittedly pretty smart idea for a bachelor party.
“It’s pretty great. Thanks, man.” I slap my hand over his shoulder, causing him to wince.
“Yeah, Jessie’s a great girl.”
“Ha! Your turn!” I tell him, grabbing for the bottle of nasty whiskey.
“Dude, I don’t have to do the shot you do.”
“I didn’t say Jessie’s name, you—“ I realize his trap too late and pour us both one.
“Cheers, buddy.” His smug face downs his drink, unfazed. I follow suit and decide to go talk to some of the other guys.
I catch up with a cousin I haven’t seen in months, but had asked to be one of my groomsmen, before spending some time getting to know Jason a bit more. Someone turns some music on somehow and after a while everyone quiets down just to listen to the sounds of the night.
I finish my beer and get up to see what else we have to drink, making my way around the bonfire, checking to see if anyone needs anything. I find my father sitting in his truck, door open, texting someone.
“Who you talking to, Dad?” I ask as I approach him. He apparently wasn’t expecting me to be there so he nearly hits his head on the roof of the truck when I startle him. When he calms down a bit, he turns to me and smiles.
“Jessie. She asked how you guys were doing. She was worried because you weren’t answering your phone.” I forgot that Lucas has it. I’ll have to see if I can get it back from him.
“Yeah, Lucas took it from me when we left Jack’s. How is she doing? She isn’t freaking out or anything is she?”
“Nah, she’s just fine, Son. Look your mother is bringing out all the tents and sleeping bags. I’d love to stay out here with you young studs, but this old stallion needs a mattress if he plans on being able to walk tomorrow.” He winks at me.
“You have to stop getting old, Pops.” I smirk at him. He just laughs at me.
“Yeah, I’ll remind you of that someday. Listen. I’m proud of you, Son. I know I’m no spring chicken, but I’m not clueless as to what is supposed to happen at these sort of things. I’d say you have a pretty good friend in that Grady. He was very respectful in his requests for tonight. Even cleared the alcohol with your mother. Although, I’m not saying she was overly thrilled with the idea, but he handled her wrath well.”
“Wow. I’ll be sure to tell him how impressed we are. Thanks for being here, Dad. It means a lot.”
“Like I said earlier, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
A set of headlights come around the edge of the woods, letting us know Mom’s on her way. Once she stops her SUV, I help her unload the tents and sleeping bags.
