ARKANSAS WEDDINGS: THREE-IN-ONE COLLECTION

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  Her heart did a somersault. “And I don’t want to go, but they’ve been hurt enough.”

  “I planned to tell them next week. Now is as good a time as any.”

  “When it feels right, tell them.” She set another place at the oak table. “Besides, my allergies are flaring up. I’ve sneezed several times and my throat is scratchy. I need some sinus medicine.”

  Before he could protest, she exited the kitchen and Dayne rushed into her arms. “You’re not leaving, are you? I thought you were gonna eat with us.”

  “Not tonight, sweetie. We’ll do it some other night. You enjoy visiting with your grandparents and I’ll see you later.”

  After Adrea left, the atmosphere didn’t improve. At least Dayne seemed oblivious to the tension as the former family ate in silence.

  Grayson watched his son consume his last bite. “Dayne, go put your pajamas on.”

  “But Grandma and Grandpa are here.”

  “Go get ready for bed; then you can visit.”

  “Okay.” With slumped shoulders, Dayne hugged both his grandparents and went to his room.

  “I know we saw Dayne yesterday.” Edward inspected the intricate pattern on the handle of his fork. “But it just didn’t seem right not seeing him on his birthday. We should have called.”

  “Is it serious?” Joyce’s voice trembled as she pushed her plate away.

  “What?” That’s it. Play dumb. Procrastinate.

  “Adrea. She’s more than a friend.”

  “I’m sorry I haven’t told you.” Grayson folded his napkin and placed it over his uneaten food. “I just didn’t know how to bring it up.”

  “How serious?”

  “Joyce, it’s none of our business,” Edward cautioned.

  “What affects Dayne is our business. How serious?”

  Edward started to say something, but Grayson interrupted. “She’s right. You both have a right to know. Eventually, I’ll probably ask Adrea to marry me.”

  Joyce’s chin quivered. She stood and ran from the room.

  With an apology to Grayson, Edward followed.

  As soon as the Sunday morning service ended, Adrea hurried for the exit and hoped to slip past Grayson as he spoke with a young couple.

  The man and woman left, just as Adrea reached him.

  “I tried to call last night. I wish you hadn’t left.” Grayson’s voice sounded strained.

  “I went to bed early and Mark was out with Grace.” She lowered her tone. “You didn’t tell them, did you?”

  “They figured it out.”

  “Were they upset?” Adrea looked around. Clusters of people dotted the sanctuary. Sylvie Kroft’s stare bored a hole through her.

  “Joyce was, but she’ll get over it.”

  “We’ll talk about it later. I have to go.”

  “I was hoping we could have lunch.”

  “Not today.” She rushed out the exit and to her car.

  Forty minutes later, she stood on the stone steps of the Owens’ home. Three times, she’d gone to the polished oak door, then back to her car, then back to the door. She stood with her finger inches from the bell, but couldn’t force herself to push it.

  I shouldn’t have come.

  The door opened. She stood face-to-face with Edward Owens.

  “Hello, I thought I saw someone out here.”

  “I found your address in the phone book. Is this a good time? If not, I understand completely.” She turned toward her car.

  “It’s a perfect time.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. We need to talk.”

  “Is your wife still upset?”

  He nodded. “It’s not your fault. Adrea? Is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “A unique name. I thought maybe Dayne was leaving the n off of Adrian.”

  “People often call me that.”

  “Dayne thinks the world of you.”

  “I adore him.” Adrea pleated the folds of her skirt between thumb and forefinger. “Grayson has no idea I’m here. It seemed like a good idea for us to speak, but now it seems all wrong.”

  “Edward, is someone here?” Joyce called, just before she stepped into the open doorway. Dark circles under her eyes testified to a sleepless night. Her chin quivered.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come.” Adrea bolted.

  “Grayson said the two of you are serious.” Joyce barely got the words out.

  Halfway to her car, Adrea stopped and turned to face Sara’s parents. “This must be so hard for you. I thought it might help if you knew how much Grayson and Dayne mean to me. They”—Adrea searched for adequate words—“complete me. I love them both, very much.”

  “Please come inside.” Edward beckoned to her. “We need to talk this out and we have rather a—” He gestured to the next house. “Rather an inquisitive neighbor, who should be home anytime.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Joyce nodded. “Please come in.”

  Chapter 9

  Inside the house, pictures of Sara greeted Adrea. While Grayson had one tabletop filled with his wife’s image, photos of Sara occupied every empty space on the wall and all flat surfaces in her parents’ home. Sara as a fat,

  frolicking baby. As a wobbly toddler. In grade school, high school, college. Sara as a bride and a new mother, and then with a toddler of her own. The pictures abruptly stopped, as her life had.

  “Dayne talks about you constantly.” Edward gestured toward the overstuffed sofa.

  She perched on the edge. “I love your grandson very much.”

  “Grayson said you’d been seeing one another a few months.”

  Adrea clasped her hands together, willing them to stop trembling. “They loved Sara long before they ever met me and they still love her. Grayson and I will never have what they had. If Sara were still here, Grayson would never have looked at me twice, and I’m okay with that.”

  Joyce’s tears flowed freely now.

  “I’m so sorry that this hurts you. Maybe it was wrong of me to come.” Adrea started toward the door but stopped and turned back toward the Owenses.

  “It’s not fair. Sara should have lived to see Dayne grow up. She should have grown old with Grayson. I wish to the depths of my soul that she had, even though it would have changed the course of my life. But Grayson is ready to move on. He loves me, and Dayne loves me.

  “Yet, it’s not fair to you. You don’t get to move on. Dayne and Grayson get someone new to love, but you can’t get another daughter. And for that, I’m eternally sorry.” Adrea hurried outside to her car.

  With trembling fingers, she managed to start the engine.

  She scanned the house next door. A head bobbed from the window and hid behind the swaying curtains. The red hair looked familiar. Sylvie Kroft.

  After evening services, Grayson caught up with her. “Where’d you run off to this morning? I tried to call several times.”

  “I went to see Sara’s parents.”

  He cocked an eyebrow.

  “I shouldn’t have.” Her hushed tones were for his ears only. “I rattled on and on. I should know by now that any bright idea that takes shape after midnight is a bad one.”

  “You tried to help and maybe you did. Maybe getting to know you will make them feel better.” He grinned. “I honestly don’t know how anyone could not like you.”

  Her heart warmed. “You’re prejudiced.”

  “Definitely.” He frowned. “You didn’t mention Wade or your relationship with him?”

  “No, I figured they could only handle one bombshell at a time.”

  A niggling unrest struck her in the gut, as if eyes bored into the back of her head. She turned to see Sylvie Kroft’s contempt.

  Adrea moved away from Grayson.

  His gaze questioned her sudden need for escape.

  Helen stopped her progress. “What a lovely arrangement. The two of you. It’s perfect.”

  “I’m glad somebody thinks so.” Adr
ea started toward the exit but remembered she’d left her lesson book in the children’s classroom this morning.

  She crossed the sanctuary and went downstairs to retrieve it. By the time she returned, the church had emptied. She heard voices coming from the lobby.

  “I tell you,” Sylvie hissed, “she’s intent on replacing Sara, in every sense of the word.”

  Adrea peeked around the wall. The three women stood in a circle.

  The kinder of the three, Mrs. Patton she’d learned, spoke first. “I don’t think so. They’ve both been through a lot, and I think it’s wonderful if they can find some happiness together. Adrea seems like a real dear.”

  “Don’t let her fool you.” Sylvie paused to scan the length of the lobby.

  Adrea flattened herself on the other side of the wall.

  “First she took the children’s class Sara used to teach. Then she took Sara’s flower ministry. Now, she’s set her cap for Sara’s husband and child. Why, she visited Sara’s poor grieving parents just this afternoon and tried to worm her way in with them.”

  Eavesdropping. What have I lowered myself to? The white silk roses with sprigs of freesia and Casablanca lilies sat in front of the pulpit. She’d lovingly arranged them to honor Sara.

  Clearing her throat, she straightened her spine and walked casually through the lobby to the exit. “Evening, ladies.”

  She hurried outside, hickory nuts rolling, crunching, and popping with each step.

  “There you are.” Grayson waited beside her car.

  “I forgot my lesson book in my class.” Sounded almost natural.

  “You okay?” With a furrowed brow, he touched her arm.

  “Fine.”

  “Dayne went with Grace and Mark. How about we stop for coffee?”

  “Not tonight.” She opened her car door. “I’m tired.”

  “Edward called me a few minutes ago.” He loosened his tie and ran his hand along the back of his neck. “He and Joyce invited us over for dinner next Thursday night.”

  “Us?” Her stomach twisted.

  “They insisted on your presence. I hope you don’t mind, but I suggested they come to my house instead. I thought you could cook a nice meal.”

  “Win them over with my culinary skills.” A smile escaped. “You sound like my mother.”

  “Actually, I thought it would be good for them to see you with Dayne and me at the house. The house where Sara never lived.”

  The wind gathered brown, curling leaves, rolling and scraping across the asphalt.

  “I don’t know.” An engine started nearby. “School is out for parent/ teacher conferences, and the kids are supposed to spend the night with Mark and me. We promised a hot dog roast.”

  “So, we’ll move it to the house. Haylee can keep Dayne occupied while the adults talk.”

  Sylvie pulled out, without waving. Mrs. Patton waved, when her car passed, but Mrs. Hughes didn’t.

  Adrea shook her head. “Maybe this is all too soon.”

  With the parking lot empty, he pulled her into his arms. “Not for me. Please come.”

  In the comfort and security of his embrace, she’d agree to almost anything.

  And he knew it. Playfully, she slapped him on the back. “Oh all right.”

  Adrea straightened Sara’s checked blanket across the redwood picnic table on Grayson’s back deck.

  “Look. A frog.” Dayne held a large toad inches from her face. The creature lowered his warty head and blinked one eye at her.

  She laughed “I think he just winked at me.”

  “You’re not afraid of him?”

  “I love frogs. When I was a kid, Daddy built my brother and me a frog cage. It had screen all around the sides. Mark put dirt, grass, and sticks in it so they’d feel at home. We kept a pan of water in the corner and spent hours swatting flies to feed them.”

  “Cool.” Dayne petted the frog with one careful finger.

  “We’d keep them for a while, then turn them loose and catch a new batch. Sometimes, we had twenty frogs at a time. Maybe we could talk your dad into building a frog cage.” The lighthearted fun couldn’t quell the knots in the pit of her stomach.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’s afraid of frogs.”

  “Your father is afraid of frogs?” Adrea couldn’t suppress her laughter.

  “Terrified. I love sticking them in his face. It makes him pretty mad. I figured you was afraid of them, too.”

  “What does he think a frog can do to him?”

  “He says when they move their neck like that”—Dayne pointed to the creature’s undulating throat—“they’re working up a spit. I never had no frog spit on me, have you?”

  She laughed so hard, the muscles in her stomach clenched. “No, I haven’t.”

  “Dayne, haven’t I told you not to touch those things?” Grayson set a huge pitcher of sweet tea on the table. “One of these days, one will spit on you.”

  “Adrea likes ’em, Daddy. When she was little, she had pet frogs and says they don’t spit.”

  “She does, huh?”

  “I’m gonna ask Mr. Theo to build me a frog cage.” Dayne scurried away to show Haylee his prize.

  Grayson cocked an eyebrow. “Frog cage?”

  “Mark and I used to have one.” She shrugged.

  Dayne and Haylee chased Cocoa around the yard.

  Adrea set the buns, mustard, and relish on the picnic table, with shaking hands.

  “Calm down.” Grayson stoked the fire. “They wanted you here.”

  A tingling, burning sensation assailed Adrea’s nose and worsened with each breath. She grabbed a paper napkin. “Uh—uh—achoo.”

  “Bless you. That might be more than allergies. Maybe you should go to the doctor.”

  “Adrea, come help us,” Dayne called.

  The small plastic pool billowed bubbles. Not only was Cocoa in the makeshift bathtub, but both kids also, their teeth chattering.

  “Dayne, I told you not to get in there.” Grayson shook his head. “It’s too cool and Grandpa and Grandma will be here any minute.”

  Adrea stifled her laughter and walked over to the kids. “You’ll both need a bath.”

  “We’ll take one here.” Haylee scrubbed Cocoa’s back with a brush.

  “I don’t think you’ll get clean in this bathtub.” Adrea surveyed the muddy water. “Okay, Cocoa, let’s get you washed up and then the rest of us will go inside to freshen up.”

  Large, patient, brown eyes peered at her from the bubbles. The smell of wet dog surrounded them. Cocoa shook. Ears flapping, he doused everything within several feet with gritty water and soap. Adrea ducked as the chilly mess splattered across her.

  “Dayne, get that dog out of the pool!” Grayson shouted.

  Unable to contain her laughter anymore, Adrea gave up. She joined the muddy dog and children in the pool, with icy water up to her shins and teeth chattering.

  Grayson’s laughter roared across the yard.

  Adrea noticed movement at the side of the house. Edward and Joyce.

  The laughter died on Adrea’s lips.

  Following her gaze, Grayson’s amusement instantly stopped as well.

  “Grandma! Grandpa!” Dayne cried, leaping from the pool. The sopping boy ran toward his grandparents.

  In spite of the muck, Edward hugged the child. “You’re a mess.”

  “We’re giving Cocoa a bath.” At Dayne’s words, the dog bailed from Haylee’s grasp, ran across the yard, and shook repeatedly. The adults tried to avoid the torrent, while the children cackled with glee.

  Finally, Grayson caught Cocoa and Adrea supplied him with a somewhat dry towel.

  “Okay, kids, inside and clean up, then we’ll eat.” Adrea herded them toward the house.

  “You won’t leave before I get back?” Dayne asked his grandparents.

  “No, we’ll be here.” Edward squeezed the boy’s shoulder.

  “We’re roasting marshm
allows and making s’mores for dessert.” Dayne jumped up and down.

  “That sounds…cozy.” Joyce tried to join in his excitement.

  “Are you sure you won’t leave?” Dayne pressed. “I promise.” Joyce stood firm, immovable. “We’ll be right here.”

  With Adrea and the kids out of earshot, Grayson shook Edward’s hand and hugged Joyce.

  “It’s always nice to see you. I didn’t like the way we left things the other night.”

  “We came to tell you that we’ve accepted the relationship.” Joyce’s voice quivered. “It’s hard for us, but you’ve been lonely long enough.” She cleared her throat. “Adrea is a wonderful woman. Seeing her with Dayne, just now, proved it.”

  “I truly love and respect you both and hate hurting you. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” Edward patted Grayson’s shoulder. “You deserve happiness. Sara would want it for you, and she’d want someone to love Dayne, as well.”

  “I didn’t know Adrea had a daughter.” Joyce sounded stronger. “But the little girl and Dayne seem to get along well.”

  “Haylee is Adrea’s niece.”

  “Oh. She was so caring with the child, I just assumed.”

  I did, too. Grayson grinned at the memory. “Adrea is great with kids. Dayne and Haylee are spending the night with Adrea and her brother tonight. They do that two or three times a month.”

  A polished Adrea emerged from the house, with a scrubbed Dayne and Haylee, all wearing fresh clothing.

  “Thankfully, I just picked up my dry cleaning today and Haylee had clothes packed.” Adrea seemed flustered, anxious to explain that she didn’t keep clothes at the house.

  Joyce took a deep breath and met Adrea on the sidewalk. “Take care of my boys.” Joyce offered her hand.

  “I will.” Adrea accepted the bridge.

  “You have my blessing.”

  Tears filled Adrea’s eyes.

  Grayson’s heart swelled until he thought it might burst. Nothing stood between them now. With the blessings of everyone involved, she could become his wife. Why wait? I’ll ask her at dinner, tomorrow night.

  Adrea’s stomach clenched. With a temperature of 101, the closer she got to the apartment, the darker the foreboding black cloud of smoke hovered in the sky. Surely, it couldn’t be.