His One and Only Bride

by Tara Randel

  “This is one of your best ideas, Zoe. How can anyone turn down supporting a community project like this?” Jenna reasoned.

  “And when I called every person on the list to confirm,” Nealy said, “plus others I added, not one person declined attending the event.”

  “I’ve been talking it up as much as I can,” Jenna went on to say. “I’m also proud to be a sponsor since I make my living with food and stress how important it is to have healthy choices for low-income families.”

  “And a little star power never hurts.” Nealy nudged Jenna with her shoulder.

  “I’ll be honest, I really promoted it the last time I filmed a cooking segment. Told anyone who wants to donate to the cause to get in touch with me.” Jenna reached into a magenta-colored tote with Charming Delights Catering stitched in black and lime green, her company colors, and removed an envelope, which she then handed to Zoe.

  “Some of my regular catering clients have already donated. They can’t attend the fund-raiser so they sent the checks to pass along to you.”

  Zoe’s spirits lifted. “I’ll be sure to contact them personally to say thank you.”

  Jenna, with her short blond pixie-cut hair and bright green eyes, beamed at her. “They’ll be thrilled.”

  “Dane has gotten corporate sponsors, too. Owning the Grand Cypress Hotel has its advantages.” Nealy ginned at Zoe. ‘See, this is all working out.”

  Swallowing the huge lump in her throat, Zoe reached out to hug her friends. They’d been with her during the tough time after Mitch had left, through the dark moments when they’d thought he was dead, to her difficult pregnancy and then the joy of giving birth to a healthy son. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”

  “Same here,” Nealy sniffled.

  Jenna blinked away tears.

  Zoe took the tissue box from her desk and passed it around. “Okay, enough tears. This is supposed to be a planning session.”

  After wiping her nose, Nealy said, “I almost forgot. Lilli called last night. She and Max went out of town, but will be back in time for the fund-raiser.”

  “Good. Her mother is a brilliant fund-raiser, but she scares me.” Zoe shivered.

  The matching looks of fear she observed in Jenna and Nealy confirmed she wasn’t alone. How Celeste calmly talked others into doing her bidding, and not taking no for an answer, was a lesson in itself; one, Zoe had to admit, she’d emulated at different times as mayor.

  “So, the principal said we could set up Friday prior to the event,” Zoe confirmed.

  Nealy tossed her wavy mahogany-colored hair over her shoulder. “Dane and I will be there early.”

  “As will Wyatt and the girls,” Jenna chimed in, then blurted, “I can’t stand it any longer.” After a taut second, she squealed, “Wyatt and I finally set a date.” She danced up and down on tiptoe. “We’re getting married next month.”

  Both Zoe and Nealy screeched. Zoe hugged her friend, but Nealy held back.

  “Wait. A month? How am I supposed to plan your wedding?”

  “You don’t have to. It’s going to be very small. Family and just a few close friends, like you guys, will be invited.”

  Nealy parked her hands on her hips. “I still need to work my magic.”

  Jenna nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “And how about you and Dane?” Zoe asked. “The last holdouts.”

  “We’ve decided Las Vegas is looking better and better all the time,” Nealy said.

  Zoe’s mouth fell open. “No way!”

  “Way. Ironically enough, we don’t care about the wedding, just being married. We eloped once. Twice is the charm, they say.”

  After high school, Dane and Nealy had eloped but quickly had the marriage annulled. Thankfully, they’d found their way back to each other.

  Jenna’s eyes went dreamy. “I know what you mean. About being married, not eloping. We wanted to wait until Lilli and Max had their big day before setting our own date, but we are so ready to be married.”

  Zoe’s heart cracked just a bit at their words. Once, she’d been starry-eyed and in love. Now? She wasn’t so sure.

  They finished tying up the loose ends of the meeting. Nealy closed her notebook and met Zoe’s gaze head on. “So, what’s going on with you and Mitch?”

  Nealy was never one to shy away from showing concern for her friends’ personal lives, so Zoe wasn’t surprised at the change in topic.

  “Same.”

  “And I suppose he’s thrilled about you dating Tim?”

  “We haven’t exactly had a sit-down about our dating lives.”

  “He can’t like it.”

  “He doesn’t have a say.”

  Nealy scoffed. “Really? You’re going to deny your husband the chance to redeem himself?”

  “What makes you think he’s redeemed?”

  “I hear things.”

  Like the fact that Mitch had helped refugees by documenting their lives? The more Zoe thought about it, the more intrigued she became. What had happened to make him see beyond the lens? Why that boy and why at that time?

  “Actually, Jenna told me.”

  Jenna’s eyes went wide. “Thanks for throwing me under the bus.”

  “Hey, Mitch told your boyfriend.”

  Zoe glanced at Jenna, her brow raised in question.

  “The other night, Wyatt asked Mitch what was up. He didn’t go into detail, but he did tell Wyatt a story about a little boy he’d been trying to help. Wyatt was impressed by his compassion, which ultimately led to his accident, and Wyatt mentioned it to me.”

  This wasn’t a fluke? Mitch was really that invested in helping others? She’d never have imagined he’d be drawn to a cause—other than Zoe’s own initiatives, anyway, and that was always secondhand. He’d gone along with her passion to make the world, or at least Cypress Pointe, a safer place. Supported her, even if his heart hadn’t been that into whatever organization she was involved with at the time. No, he’d been all about his career, right? And if he’d really changed, if things were less about Mitch and more about the world around him, how was she going to resist finding out what, exactly, had caused this turnabout in her husband?

  Chapter Eight

  MITCH BRACED HIMSELF against the wooden frame of the town gazebo, scanning the view stretching out before him. From this vantage point, he could see the sparkling gulf waters and a swath of the beach to his left. To his right, the park ran parallel to Main Street where townspeople hurried along the sidewalks, busy with their daily errands or sightseeing. Deciding to go with the beach for inspiration, he lifted his new camera.

  Samantha had personally delivered the gift he’d left behind a week ago, after he’d stormed out of Zoe’s house. Since then, he’d made sure Zoe was out when he stopped by the house, not wanting his time with Leo tainted by the tension created when he and Zoe were in close proximity. He still wasn’t sure how to handle the new normal of his life.

  Refocusing on the task at hand, he opted to see if he still had an eye for choosing a subject. He hefted the camera.

  A jogger passed by, calling a greeting his way. He waved, recognizing an old neighbor. Thankfully, she didn’t stop to chat. Being in public more and more now that he was feeling settled, he still cringed when he received curious looks from old friends. The looks that all said the same thing: damaged goods.

  He’d vowed to change those first impressions. Damaged? Not if he had anything to say about it.

  He still experienced killer headaches, but his hair was starting to grow out, covering the scars. His leg wasn’t cooperating, but his arm was regaining strength daily. He was still frustrated, fidgety and restless, and his memory hadn’t returned except in very blurry flashes, but he was determined to overcome it all.

  So in order to make progress, the prior week he’d allowed himself to be ex
amined, x-rayed and pushed in physical therapy beyond his endurance.

  And this was just the beginning.

  Doctor visits were his job right now but wouldn’t be forever. He would prove that to Zoe and anyone else who questioned his ability to be whole again.

  Which also meant taking photos.

  Blowing out a breath, he picked out a few areas of the local landscape he thought would capture well and lifted the camera. With shaky hands, he aimed and clicked. After taking a few photos, he checked the screen to see how they’d turned out. A little out of focus, but not horrible.

  Encouraged, he continued. It wasn’t long before he turned his attention from the beach to the sidewalk. Hours flew by and for the first time in a very long time, he was in his element. Forgetting the reality waiting for him once he was out of the zone.

  A shout caught his attention. He glanced over his shoulder in time to catch sunlight reflecting off a car window. He blinked, suddenly thrust back to the day of the accident. He fought to make sense of the images.

  Driving along a rutted dirt road. Sand drifting in through the open window, grazing his face. Someone yelling at him to go faster. The scent of gasoline and sour food. Looking in the rearview mirror to see a dust cloud trailing the beat-up truck. Light reflecting off the windshield of the vehicle gaining behind him. A sense of urgency and fear.

  Mostly fear.

  The images started to fade and Mitch willed the vision to continue. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for more.

  Suddenly, he remembered he was alone in the cab; the others with him sitting in the truck bed, the hot midmorning sun beating down on them. The temperature had risen in the cab, an uncomfortably sticky heat. Mitch had wiped his eyes, then turned his head to check on the passengers, his stomach dropping at their frightened expressions. Who was after them? And why? As he grasped for more information, a fuzzy face slowly came into view from the other side of the window. His features clear as he yelled words Mitch couldn’t hear.

  But just as quickly as it formed, the image and the sound of the voice disappeared, locked in his mind where Mitch didn’t have access.

  C’mon, Mitch, he inwardly screamed at himself. You can do this. Remember!

  “Mitch. Mitch?”

  Someone called his name, but it wasn’t a male voice. Confused, Mitch opened his eyes, transported back from the hot, dusty road to a beautiful, lush park in Cypress Pointe, Florida. He shook his head, wanted to cry out in frustration that he hadn’t connected a name to the face before it had all gone blank.

  “Mitch, are you okay? Are you having another flashback?”

  Disappointment tasted bitter on his tongue. He’d been so close to remembering.

  “Mitch, answer me.”

  Taking a breath, he turned to find Zoe, face pale and eyes wide.

  “I’m okay,” he managed to say without letting frustration bleed into his voice.

  “I kept calling your name but you didn’t respond.”

  “Sorry.” He ran a shaky hand over the top of his head.

  “It was a flashback, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do remember anything more?”

  He glanced at his wife, at the intent expression on her face. What he’d just experienced in that flashback had him reeling. He had to go over it when he was alone, pick apart each nuance he’d remembered to try to make sense of what he was seeing. Zoe had enough responsibilities at the moment. No way could he tell her that the danger he’d initially only imagined was turning out to be very real, indeed.

  “A few bits and pieces,” he finally answered, giving her a sliver of information to satisfy her.

  “Did it help?”

  “Not really.” He shook his head, sensing a headache creeping up on him. He noticed that stress and confusion triggered the pain. He breathed like the doctor had suggested when Mitch mentioned the symptoms.

  “I’m sorry, Mitch. I know you want to figure out what happened that day.”

  Exhaustion washed over him. He lowered himself onto one of the steps leading into the gazebo. “It’ll come to me, Zoe. With time.”

  She took a step toward him, then hesitated. He patted the step beside him. “Join me?”

  At his invitation, she sat, angling herself to face him. Vanilla and flowers surrounded him, her signature scent. Mitch never forgot it, no matter where he traveled.

  “I didn’t mean to bother you, but I was running an errand and stopped when I saw you.” She nodded at the camera he’d set down on the other side of him. “My mother told me she’d delivered her gift.”

  “I was doing a test run.”

  “And?”

  “I won’t be booking any jobs based on the work I did today, but it felt good to do something familiar. To keep busy.”

  A pained expression crossed her face. “I’m sorry about that day we saw each other at the house. I didn’t mean to imply you’d never work again.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “It’s really not.”

  He grinned. “I’m glad you said that. To be honest, I was pretty ticked at you.”

  “I was mad at myself.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “I had no right to interfere with your decision to go back to work or walk away.”

  “Very true, but I get the feeling your reservations had more to do with Leo than my brand new camera.”

  “Yes. I... When I came home and saw you two sitting side by side on the floor, it was like a mirror image. The way you both hold yourselves, the lift of an eyebrow or a tip of your lips. It’s uncanny.”

  Warmth crept through his chest.

  “It’s an amazing thing, to see yourself in your children. Leo’s going to look just like you when he gets older.”

  “He has your eyes. I noticed that right away.”

  She lit up. “Really? I look at him and swear I don’t see any resemblance at all.”

  “He has your laugh, too.”

  Her smile widened.

  “This week has been a revelation. Every time I stop by, I try to keep up with him but he’s one tiny ball of energy. Did your mom tell you we went out back to kick a ball around? Even though he’s just started walking, he has some serious balance.”

  “She didn’t give me details, just that the two of you are settling in. Leo is comfortable around you. He feels safe.”

  Which was very important to Zoe. More than creature comforts or a large income. She wanted to keep her son protected from the ills of the world. After experiencing a bank robbery, her outlook had changed from carefree to super vigilant in watching out for those in her life. And he’d caused her way too much heartache by purposely heading into reckless, sometimes dangerous situations as part of his job. It went with the territory. He’d never considered that his actions weren’t fair to her, until his accident.

  He got it now. Too little, too late.

  Mitch didn’t have the heart to tell her that sometimes, no matter how careful or diligent you were, bad things happened. He wouldn’t burst her bubble today.

  Instead, he said, “I know I’m a little biased, but he’s awesome.”

  Zoe laughed, a tinkling sound that lilted straight to his heart. “I agree.”

  It was all he could do not to take her hand in his. She’d made it clear he didn’t have that privilege any longer. It was about time he respected her wishes.

  The topic of Leo having played out, Zoe morphed into serious mode. “So, I really stopped here to run something by you.”

  “Shoot.”

  “There’s a fund-raiser Saturday night at the high school. We’re raising funds and awareness for a community food bank. I was wondering if you’d be available to take pictures of the event.”

  His brow rose. “Really?”

  “Like you said, you want to get back to work. It’s not high-profile li
ke you’re used to, but it’s important to us. What do you say?”

  “My first reaction is no.”

  Surprise flashed in her gaze. “Why?”

  How to explain when he hadn’t quite figured it out himself? “I’m still readjusting. I’m not sure jumping into the deep end is the best scenario.”

  “Look at it like your sticking your toes in the water. It’s an opportunity to ease back into your career.”

  A career she hated. Did she want him to get better and leave again? So she could continue with the new life she’d built for herself without him in the way? It would sure make it easier on everyone, but the stubborn streak in him rose and heartily opposed the thought. She was giving him an opportunity to try out his old life. Prove he wasn’t damaged goods. He’d be a fool to pass it up.

  “I have to say, based on conversations we’ve had in the past, I’m surprised you’re asking me.”

  She held up a hand. “For the sake of your recovery, I’m willing to suggest a truce.”

  “Interesting.”

  She sent him a self-deprecating grin. “While I’m not a fan of the past disagreements between us, you are talented and I would like the event documented professionally. It’s important for Cypress Pointe. So, will you come?”

  “If you promise this isn’t a pity job.”

  Her brow wrinkled, producing a frown. “Look, I agree I messed up the other day. And I apologized. But I do want you to take the photos. Okay?”

  He wasn’t sure he believed she didn’t feel sorry for him, but he had to take her at her word. As he mulled it over, he decided he needed to try to do everyday things. Attending this event would do just that. And maybe show people he could handle this simple job.

  “You aren’t going to boss me around, are you?”

  Her eyes went wide in mock dismay and she placed a hand over her chest. “Me? Whatever are you talking about?”