"Go away," I tell him, shooing him away with a wave of my hand as he gives me a pout, "girl talk." At that, he disappears in the blink of an eye and we all laugh again.
I'm happy at how my story is unfolding. I have my family, which is growing with the relationship with my cousin Ellie blooms. I have my friends, who make me laugh and fill my house with happiness at every chance they get.
I'm a lucky woman. And I don't plan on giving any of it, or any of them, up, ever.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
January 26, 2013
Chad
"You ready to do this, Man?" Reno asks from behind me as I straighten my tie in the mirror, and turning to face him, I see that he's doing the same. He gives me a huge grin, and I just laugh, nodding my head. I've been ready for this day for the last handful of years. Today is the day that I'm going to marry my Rhea.
Looking around the room, I feel a little out of place. Reno, Harlan, Brad, and I are in regular black suits while Timmons, Black, and French are in their dress uniforms, gathered around one another fixing medals and ribbons. Looking at my watch for the millionth time today, I swipe my hand back through my newly trimmed hair, bringing it back forward to scratch through my shortened beard. I'm nervous as all hell.
I don't want to mess up my vows, even though I haven't even really hammered down what I'm going to say. So how can I mess up, right? Nope, I'm still nervous I'll say something stupid or stutter or spit, which would be horrifying. I am also anxious because I haven't seen Rhea or Charlie since last night, when the guys basically had to drag me from her arms and throw me in the back of Timmons's truck. It hasn't even been twenty four hours, but I miss them so much.
"Chief is deep in thought," Timmons's voice breaks me from my worry and I flip him the bird as he adjusts the dark blue tie and then his white cover. Watching him makes me take a once over of myself in the mirror one more time and I adjust the SEAL Trident pin on my lapel.
"Bobby, you better watch what you say today because I'm the only thing standin' between you and an ass kickin' from my soon-to-be wife." I give him an evil grin as all the other guys laugh. Brad hits the back of Timmons's head lightly, shoving his cover off center and he swears.
"I haven't done anythin' Chief," he says, dodging a shove from Harlan. I just laugh because the kid is a glutton for punishment.
"You're right, but Rhea has warned you to leave Ellie alone." I point at him as I plop down into one of the leather recliners of our dressing room. "The girl’s goin' through a lot right now, so lay off on the hounding her, okay?" I see Reno smile from the corner of my eye as the other guys chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah," Bobby issues, taking a water bottle from the table and chugging it. I know he is harmless, but Rhea has been chewing my ear off to get him to back off, saying that Ellie doesn't need any distractions right now. As far as I'm concerned, Ellie needs to move in with us so that woman-beating bastard of a husband will learn a lesson or two when he comes pounding on my door, but she's turned us down every time we've offered.
I hear a light knock on the door and nod for Reno to open it, and he ushers my mother and son in. The smile on my face feels as if it reaches all the way around my head as I stand and take my drooling Charlie from my momma.
"Hey little guy," I say, kissing his little cheek and holding him up as he sucks on his hand. His little tuxedo already has a stain on it, and I can only guess that Rhea freaked about it. Looking over to my mom, I see the slight tears on her lashes.
"You look so handsome," she says, wrapping her little arm around my waist and I hug her tight. She sniffles into my shoulder and I nod for Reno to get her a tissue that she accepts graciously.
"You look great too, Momma," I say as I kiss her forehead.
Her graying hair is tied up and pinned with jewels and flowers at the back of her head. She has on a long, navy blue dress with a lace sweater over her arms. The photographer slips in, snapping some pictures of us guys and some with Charlie, my mom, and me.
"How does Rhea look, Momma?” I ask her as the photographer takes some pictures of just the guys and Charlie.
She takes in a deep breath, holding it for a second then releasing it in a happy sigh, leaning her head on my shoulder. "She looks magnificent, Son." She smiles up at me, taking her grandson from Reno as the photographer leaves us. "I won't be surprised if I see you cry a little when you see her," she whispers, kissing me on the cheek. My nerves spike and my palms get sweaty as I think of the moment fast approaching. I can't wait to see her.
My mom leaves us, saying that the Pastor will come get us when it's time and I try to settle back into my recliner. French and Black both slap me on the back, sitting down beside me.
"Don't worry, kid," Austin says, leaning on his knees as he pulls at his tie, mindlessly adjusting his cap for the hundredth time. "Just say what ya feel and I bet it'll sound great. You've always had great instincts."
"LT's right, Chief," Black says, leaning back in the chair and accepting a water bottle from Reno. "Just go with your heart and she'll be happy, no matter what."
Go with my heart. Check. I am here after all, finally. Say what I feel. Are there enough words to explain how Rhea makes me feel? I don't think there are. We all sit here, talking about non-sense as I brainstorm the thoughts I have when the Pastor walks in.
"Ready, son?” he asks, holding the door open so the slight noise from the church filters in. Standing and checking myself in the mirror for the last time, I nod at him.
Standing at the doorway I take a deep breath, placing my hand on Pastor Williams' shoulder. "I've been ready my entire life," I say with a smile, following him as he leads the way.
This is it. I think my heart might explode from all of the joy floating through my veins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rhea
"Stop fussin' with your hair, Ray-Ray; you look great," Ellie mumbles angrily from behind me, pulling at the ties on my dress. Her smile finds the mirror from over my shoulder and I lean back into her for a quick hug. She has been such a huge part of my life recently, and I'm so glad she found her way back home to Wakefield and to me. I can see the bruises on her upper arms from under the sleeves of her lace bolero she had picked to match her dress and it makes me angry. I see that she follows my gaze and she retracts her arms from around me, mindlessly rubbing the dark purple spots and giving me a feigned smile.
"Why don't you move in with us, Ellie?" I turn and whisper, pulling her in close so that my lips are right near her ear, not wanting Rosa or Kendall to hear us. Ellie had run into her soon-to-be ex-husband while we were out last night in Waverly, celebrating my last night of being a single woman, and he had grabbed her and shoved her up against a wall before Kendall got a bouncer to throw him out. I had wanted to call Chad, to have him and the guys pay Jake Heart a visit, but Ellie begged, pleaded, and cried until I had no choice but to say that I wouldn't. It makes me mad and sad at the same time. She is trapped between a rock and a hard place but she won't let any of us help her. She's stubborn, kind of like me.
"I'm okay, Ray." She smiles, kissing me on the cheek but I see that her hand is still held over the bruises. "He doesn't know where I live now, so I'm okay. Besides, I'd be imposing." She laughs and pulls back a little, dropping the subject like it is nothing more than sharing recipes and it makes me even angrier. I go to say something to her, but Rosa and Kendall join us, both bending to straighten the bottom of my dress as the photographer comes in.
"You should see the guys," the middle aged woman smiles, winking at me as she snaps pictures continuously, "they are lookin' mighty handsome." Butterflies take flight in my stomach as I think about seeing Chad. I bet he looks damn hot in his suit. Just the thought of him standing there in the prim black material makes all sorts of naughty thoughts stream through my mind, and a grin breaks out on my lips.
Kendall pushes the bird cage veil to the side, brushing my newly attached extensions that she put in for me behind my ear, but as she cut it into a short bob, the ha
ir flops right back where it was before. The extensions are a chestnut brown and she has curled the locks to lie around my face, pinning my bangs back with pearl clips. I love it and am surprised that I like the short hair because I've always kept it long. She smiles and gives me a wink as the photographer snaps some more pictures, asking the girls to step to the side so she can get some of me in front of the big window in the room.
I love my dress. It is form fitting with a drop waist and it flares at the bottom, flowing out to a small, but beautiful train. Harlan's mother had made it for me on such short notice and it is everything I had asked for. It is a simple ivory colored silk-like material with navy blue roses embroidered up the back, matching the cowboy boots I had gotten for my birthday that are currently on my feet underneath my dress. In the back of the dress, next to the zipper, Chad's name patch from his camo uniform is sewn. I smile as I turn to the side, knowing that a piece of our past, a piece that brought us closer together, is now a piece of my dress.
The girls’ dresses are all navy blue and they either have white or silver sweaters, wearing black cowboy boots of their own. Their flowers are fake white roses with dark blue lilies, while mine are white roses and lilies, with blue roses and one red one, directly in the center. The single red one is to represent my mom and her love of everything red.
"You look so beautiful," Rosa says, leaning her head on Kendall's shoulder and swiping at her eyes with a tissue as I see a little tear drip down. The three of them giggle and the door opens as Garth joins us. He is standing up with us, so he can walk down the aisle with Brad. He is wearing a dark blue suit, complete with a black shirt, white tie and black cowboy boots under his slacks. He holds his hands out and gives me a wink as he approaches, getting me to giggle.
"Lookin' good, momma," he says, kissing my cheek as the photographer keeps clicking away. I pull him in for a quick picture and then pull all the girls over for a bunch of group shots. The photographer finally leaves us, saying she'll meet us in the hall before we walk down the aisle and as the door shuts behind her, my nerves spike. In less than an hour and a half I'm going to be Mrs. Chadwick Payne, and I can't wait. Plus, I have no idea what I'm going to say for my vows.
Sitting beside Garth with a little wince, (my physical therapy has been vigorous but very effective, as I have less than a limp now), I run over the ceremony so far. Fred Black is going to usher Dana down the aisle followed by Brad and Garth, then Bobby Timmons, Ellie and Austin French, then Harlan and Rosa, then Reno and Kendall. Then me: the bride. The future Mrs. Payne. It's crazy and I take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves.
Leaning my head back and closing my eyes, I relax and let my mind wander over the last month of my life. I'd been spared the pain of testifying at Duke's trial as his lawyer took a plea bargain, taking ten years in jail with psychiatric counseling instead of flipping a coin and having a jury possibly sentence Duke to 25 or more years. I did however give a victim impact statement, because I felt the need to show Duke that he hadn't won. He hadn't torn me down. He, in fact, has made me stronger.
I stood in front of that Sussex County court room and told Duke that I forgave him, because I have. I also told him, through tears, that I felt sorry for him. I said I felt sorry for him, because he won't be able to share in the enjoyment that my other friends will have watching my little boy grow up. I told him that I was sorry if I mislead him in any way, but that I had told him from the beginning that I wanted to be friends and nothing more. I told him that I would pray for him to find God and hope that he will find his balance in the world. He never once looked at me, until I was walking back to my seat beside Chad. His blue-green eyes were rimmed in red, his tears falling down silently and he mouthed "I'm sorry," in my direction. All I did was nod, sit beside Chad, and wrap my hand in his. I have forgiven him for what he did, closing that chapter of my life to never be opened again.
Over the last month my cousin Ellie has been spending pretty much every spare minute she has at my house, playing with Charlie and just hanging out with me; catching up on the twenty years we've been separated. She and I are more alike than I thought we would be, completing each other’s sentences and laughing at the same stupid things. She fits perfectly into our little group and I'm hoping that she'll take the invitation that Chad and I have extended many times, and move in with us. Dana has even offered to have her move in there, but she turns us all down every time. I'm praying that her divorce goes through soon so she doesn't have to worry about that ass, Jake Heart anymore, and maybe she can move on to Bobby Timmons; who I know she likes, even though she won't admit it. I give him a hard time, but they would be good together.
"Ray-Ray," her voice breaks my dreaming and I snap my head up to see her smiling face. "Come on, they're sayin' it's time." She reaches her hand out to me and I take it nervously, lifting from the couch and brushing my hands down my hips, smoothing out my dress. Ellie hands me my flowers and kisses me on the cheek. "Calm down, Rhea, you'll be fine. Just say what's in your heart."
I nod and give her a one armed hug, accepting Garth's elbow as we leave our little dressing room. My heart starts to race as Garth leads me down the tiny little hallway, stopping before the double doors leading into the main part of the church.
"Alright, momma," he says, kissing me on the cheek with a grin, "take some deep breaths. You look good enough to eat."
"Thanks." I laugh as he walks to the front of the group of my friends. On the other side of the doors I hear the violins start and my heart seems to jump up to the ceiling, forcing heat to rush to the surface of my skin. I wave my hand in front of my face and Rosa smiles at me. The doors open slightly, just enough to let my friends pass through without revealing my figure and they all look back at me.
"Thanks you guys," I say, hating that tears start to grow on my lashes already and they all smile. One by one they disappear as the music progresses until it's just Kendall and I. With her hand on my arm, she kisses my cheek.
"Alright, Rhea." She grins and I see the tears growing on her lashes. "I'm so proud of you and happy for you and Chad." She smiles, straightening her dress. "I'll be right up there, holding the tissues for you." She winks before slipping around the door, leaving me alone in the empty atrium of my little church.
My mind feels like it's running a marathon. It's spinning so many words around that I feel for a second that I might faint. I'm listening to the music on the other side of the door, waiting for my cue as my ideas for vows roll around. I take a handful of deep breaths, rubbing my hands on my hips to try and get rid of the insistent moisture. There is a pause in the music and my heart stops as I hold my breath, seemingly forever. The doors in front of me swing open with the smiling faces of Chad's former SEAL Team mates, Elliot Uclid and Todd Benson, meet my gaze.
Taking one more big breath, I take the first few steps forward, pausing only when I feel as if I might trip. Both dress uniform clad men wink at me as I pass by them and I can feel the blush creep up as I enter the sunlit church. Everyone is standing and I can feel their gazes on my slowly walking form, but I can't look at them. My eyes are locked on the man at the altar, standing there with his hands clasped in front of him, a mischievous grin on his perfect lips.
Damn, he looks good. His short hair is slicked back slightly, hiding some of the grey I’m so fond of and he has trimmed his beard. His black suit fits perfectly and as I get closer, the golden SEAL pin stands out on his lapel. At the very first pew I stop, look over to the crying Dana, and wrap my arms around her; kissing her on the cheek repeatedly.
“Thank you so much,” I whisper, wiping my fingers on her cheeks to brush away her tears and she smiles. “I hope you don’t mind that if after today I call you Mom,” I say as a few tears of my own slip out and Dana pulls me in tight, holding me as the violins play on behind us.
“You’ve always been a daughter to me,” she whispers, kissing my cheek and releasing me after brushing away my tears with the tissue in her hand. “Now get up there and make my son th
e happiest man ever.” She giggles and I pat her arm, turning to face the pastor, my friends, and my soon-to-be husband just as the violins stop.
Turning and handing my bouquet to Kendall, Pastor Williams winks at me as Chad holds his hands out to embrace mine. Slipping my petite hands into his, he leans in slowly, whispering, “Thought you mighta changed your mind there for a second,” and he grins. I just shake my head as another blush creeps up my neck and I turn my attention to the Pastor as he calls for everyone to be seated.
“I welcome everyone here on this beautifully chilly day, as we are to witness the joyous occasion of matrimony between Chadwick James Payne and Rhea Noel Griggs.” Pastor Williams looks down to us and winks. “As just about everyone here, I have known both of them since they were little and am more than overjoyed to see that they have finally found love in one another.” There is a resounding agreement that rolls through the pews and a few giggles, making both Chad and I laugh as he squeezes my hands lightly.
After a few more good natured ribs, the Pastor issues a nice prayer of good luck and long life, asking for the rings, which Reno hands over. “Before the exchange of rings, the couple has asked to have everyone join in a moment of silence to honor those who have left this world, but will never leave our hearts.” The Pastor nods to the small table we had set up last night, complete with pictures of Randy, my mother, Chad’s father, two tapered candles and one pillar candle. “As Rhea and Chad join the flames of their separate lives,” his voice booms throughout the church as Chad and I hover our candles over the pillar one, lighting its wick, “they bring together their love for one another, not forgetting those who have passed, but honoring their memories with their promise to love one another without fail.”
Coming Home: Book 2 The Wakefield Romance Series Page 21
