Hitched: A Jack 'Em Up Wedding

by Shauna Allen

  I sat there for nearly half an hour before the sudden flash of headlights illuminated my side mirror. I heaved a sigh of relief. It couldn’t be anyone I knew, so someone must’ve seen my predicament and taken pity on me. I watched as the baby blue Volkswagen Bug inched closer and parked, then the driver stepped out into the rain and ran my way. Like an avenging angel, he was one of the hugest men I’d ever seen. Well over six feet and three hundred pounds, bald and in black leather, he looked like a biker on steroids.

  I cracked my window and peered up at him.

  “Got a flat, huh?” he asked, the rain pounding down on his head.

  “Yeah.”

  “Need a hand?”

  Relief pooled in my gut. Thank God. “Well, normally I wouldn’t, but my jack broke.”

  He nodded. “I’ve got one. Let me grab it.” Without waiting for me, he loped back to his car. Moments later, he returned with the jack, a giant red umbrella, and his passenger, a tiny woman in some kind of hippie outfit. I could’ve kissed them both.

  I hopped out. “You’re saving my life here, you have no idea.”

  His jovial smile rivaled Santa Claus as he placed the jack and the woman held the umbrella over his head. “Going somewhere special?” he asked.

  I knelt beside him and helped him pump the jack. “My wedding, actually.”

  His smile morphed into a gigantic grin. “Really? That’s wonderful. Congratulations!”

  “Thank you.”

  We worked in silence, getting the car jacked up and the flat tire off, then my spare on. We finished in record time, and as we loaded the flat back into the trunk, he turned to me and held out his hand. “Good luck, Jesse.”

  I accepted his handshake and a hug from his tiny companion, who also wished me well. “What do I owe you?”

  He waved me off. “Go. Enjoy your wedding.”

  Thanking him again, I jumped back in my car and watched as they drove off into the rain with a honk and a wave.

  It wasn’t until I was back on my way and the blue Bug was out of sight that I realized I’d never gotten their names, nor had I told him mine.

  FOUR

  Rachel

  I was almost ready to slip into my wedding dress. A few guests were starting to trickle in and our entire family was at the church. But no Jesse. I had Delilah working as my scout, watching for him, but nothing, and he wasn’t answering his phone. My worry was beginning to eat me alive.

  “Where do you think he is?” I asked Jewel.

  She slapped my nervous hand from my mouth before I chewed off the nails she’d worked so hard on. “He’ll be here, Rachel. Don’t worry. He probably left late.”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  “Well . . .”

  We were interrupted as Delilah came bustling back in, her crimson gown swishing around her legs.

  “Jesse?” I asked for the millionth time.

  She shook her head sadly. “Sorry, no. Blake is still trying to hunt him down. But I do have someone else special for you.”

  Who could it possibly be? All I wanted was my husband-to-be.

  With a flourish and a grin, she guided my half-sister, Aubrey, into the room. She took one look at me and squealed. “Oh, my gosh! You’re beautiful!”

  I caught her as she tackled me with a giant hug as usual. I grinned down into her face, which resembled mine in so many ways. “Hey, you. Where’s your mom?”

  “She’s helping Mrs. Joyner and the florist get all your flowers in place. I didn’t know you were going to have so many roses!”

  I’d probably gone a bit overboard, but Jesse said to do whatever made me happy, and flowers made me happy.

  “Have you heard from Jesse?” I asked. They’d been like two peas in a pod ever since they met, and sometimes texted about car stuff. Audrey and her mom were my new family now that my father was gone and I’d come to love them very much.

  Her brow wrinkled in a frown. “No. Why?”

  Pretending that I wasn’t worried out of my mind, I shrugged. “I haven’t heard from him since he left. I was wondering how close he was.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but Jewel jumped in to change the subject. “You look lovely, Aubrey. That color really suits you.”

  Aubrey twirled and studied herself in the full length mirror. I’d put my attendants in softening shades of red, with my sister and junior bridesmaid in a dark pink. She really did look beautiful.

  We chatted and sipped the last of our morning Mimosas, but the liquor was starting to sit heavier and heavier in my stomach the longer I didn’t hear from Jesse. What if he’d been in a horrible accident? What if he’d changed his mind and made a run for the border? Nausea was setting in.

  “Do you want to go ahead and put on your dress?” Delilah spoke as if she was talking down a skittish mare.

  The room became deadly silent. I glanced at the clock again. Less than an hour to go and still no word. I tried with all that was in me to hold his sweet words from that morning close to my heart, but he should’ve been there by now. I faced my best friend, desperately seeking reassurance. “I’m not sure.”

  Her lips tipped up in a sweet smile. “Sure you are. Let’s get you ready so when that man of yours gets here, we’ll be ready to get this party started.”

  My gaze darted between her, Jewel, and Aubrey. I finally nodded. “Okay.”

  They helped me slide into my gown and I ran my fingers over the satin belt on my simple, empire-waisted lace gown. It fit me like a glove, and I knew the moment I tried this dress on that it was made for me. I couldn’t wait for Jesse to see me in it. If he ever showed.

  Jewel zipped me up and I slid my feet into my beaded ballet slippers as Delilah pinned the ring of orchids and roses to my head like a crown. I faced her and she got misty-eyed. “Oh, Rach, you look like a princess.”

  I twirled to face the mirror. I did not look like myself. More like the prettier wedding Barbie version. I reached up and gently caressed the ringlet curls Delilah had created to frame my face.

  There was a knock at the door and my heart leapt into my throat. Then it dropped with a thud when Delilah opened it and Trace poked his head inside. “Sorry to disturb you, ladies, but I have a small visitor who couldn’t wait to see the bride.”

  I smiled. “Of course. Come in.”

  Trace and Ryder stepped in and I opened my arms to the little boy I adored. He wrapped himself in my embrace and tucked his head under my chin. “You smell pretty, Aunt Rachel.”

  “Thank you.” I hugged him tighter, knowing I was the closest he’d come to a mother figure since his own mother had walked away after he was born without so much as a backward glance. I could not fathom that.

  “You look really nice, too,” Trace added with a smirk. “Stunning, in fact. Jesse is gonna be a goner when he sees you.”

  I peered at him over Ryder’s head. “Have you heard from him?”

  His smile dropped. “No. He’s not here?”

  I shook my head as tears threatened to ruin Delilah’s makeup job. Ryder touched my cheek. “You think Uncle Jesse decided not to come and get married?”

  I swallowed as his innocent words voiced my deepest, ugliest fears. Had Jesse changed his mind? After all this time? He’d given no indication this morning when he called.

  “Don’t be silly, Ry,” Trace said. “Uncle Jesse loves Aunt Rachel more than anything. He’ll get here or die trying.”

  Ryder slid back to the ground but kept a hold of my legs. “Well, if he doesn’t come, I’ll marry you.”

  I ran my hand along his neatly gelled hair with a watery smile. “That’s a deal.”

  “Come on, Buddy.” Trace reached for him. “You got to see her, now let’s go and let the ladies finish getting ready.”

  “Wait.” I stopped them before they got out the door. “I almost forgot.” Digging through my purse, I found Jesse’s ring and handed it to Trace, my eyes on Ryder. “Your daddy can hold onto this until it’s time. You have an important job today. Don�
�t lose the rings.”

  Ryder grinned. “I won’t. I’ve been practicing, too.”

  I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “See you soon, handsome.”

  He took his father’s hand and they headed out. I closed the door and rested my hand against the cool wood. “Do you think there’s a chance Jesse is going to stand me up?” I asked without turning around.

  Suddenly, I was enveloped in a group hug of three sets of arms. “He would never, ever stand you up. Don’t let the words of a child make you doubt,” Delilah murmured softly.

  “I know,” I whispered. “It’s not Ryder. The doubts started nagging an hour ago when he should’ve been here and he quit answering his phone.”

  “He must have a good reason. You’ll see. Let’s just give him some time. Nobody’s going to complain if the wedding starts a few minutes late.”

  I peeked up at the clock on the wall. He had thirty minutes.

  “Come on.” Jewel led me to a padded chair near the window. “Sit down and relax. I’ll grab your bouquet.”

  Aubrey followed her out to check in with her mom, leaving me and Delilah alone. I stared down at my fists, balled up in my lap. “I love him so much.”

  She covered my hands with her own. “I know you do, sweetie. And he loves you. He’ll be here. Have a little faith.”

  I tried. I really did. But as I sat and stared out the window with my bouquet clutched in my sweaty hand, and the minutes continued to tick by, I began to lose hope.

  My friends sat silently with me, their quiet understanding all they could offer. I peeked at the clock again then bowed my head and heaved a wobbly breath.

  Ten minutes until the ceremony and still no Jesse.

  FIVE

  Jesse

  The horrific weather and stupid car troubles might’ve held me up until I was dangerously late, but there was no power on Heaven or Earth that could keep me from marrying Rachel. We had a lifetime to look forward to together and it was going to start today.

  I careened into the parking lot of the church and sprinted inside, where Blake, Trace, Ryder, and Micah all met me with varying degrees of concern and relief on their faces.

  “Where’ve you been, man?” Blake demanded. “Rachel’s been worried sick, which had Delilah worried sick, which had all of us worried sick.”

  I rushed past him toward the men’s changing room and my friends trailed behind me. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Let’s just say it was a cluster.”

  I hated that I’d worried Rachel on our wedding day, but I was determined to make it up to her. As it was, I only had a few minutes to spare, so I closed myself in the bathroom and tried to make myself presentable. My hair was still damp, but I finger-combed it into submission. I tugged on the three-piece steel gray suit that Rachel hand-picked for me and checked the mirror one last time before meeting my friends.

  They were all still rigid and tense as a bunch of worry warts. “Stop looking at me like that, guys. I’m here now and I have a beautiful woman I need to make mine, so let’s go.”

  Blake, my oldest friend and best man, smiled first and pounded me on the back. “Yeah, you do.”

  My sister, Leta, burst in to pin on our boutonnieres and to take Ryder off our hands. She chucked me on the shoulder. “Glad you decided to join us today, big brother. Though you could’ve taken another minute to shave.”

  I ignored her, as usual, and let her do her flower duty. Once we were decorated, we made our way to the front of the church. Soft orchestra music played in the background and the entire sanctuary was lit with candles as the last vestiges of the sun’s light filtered through the stained glass windows, bathing the room in a subtle rainbow. There was no evidence that it had rained and the air was clean and fresh. Roses permeated the sanctuary with their delicate fragrance and I had to admire Rachel’s vision. She’d picked the perfect place for us to say our vows. It was quaint and beautiful and filled with our family and friends and love.

  My mother grinned up at me, her eyes filling with tears as she clutched my dad’s hand. My brother, Dwayne, his wife, Audra, and their five children, filled the pew next to them. My brother had offered to be an usher before I had the chance to ask him to be my best man. He wanted to be a part of the wedding, but still be available to help his wife with all their kids. He tipped his head to me in silent acknowledgment as the music changed.

  From the doorway, Leta prompted Ryder up the aisle, the lacy pillow with our rings on it balanced carefully in his hands. His grin had everyone laughing under their breath. He finally found his way to the front and Trace reached out to tuck him into his side to wait until it was time for the rings.

  Next, Rachel’s sister, Aubrey, waltzed up to the altar, her red hair tamed into a twisty thing. I winked at her and she smiled as she took her place. Next, Jewel floated up the aisle in a slightly darker dress.

  Behind me, someone coughed and cleared their throat and I’d swear it was Micah.

  Delilah was last, her deep red dress catching the light from the candles around us. As she stood across from me, she graced her husband with a smile then faced me.

  “Glad you made it,” she mouthed.

  Yeah. Me, too.

  Suddenly, the organ music began and everyone in the sanctuary stood to face the back. I held my breath and waited until the doors opened. Then, in a perfect moment suspended in time, my bride appeared.

  I blinked back hot tears as our eyes met. She was the single-most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

  On her brother, Weston’s arm, she floated down the small aisle toward me, our eyes locked on each other.

  I could not believe I was here and this was happening to me.

  I had spent most of my life with the knowledge that I was tainted. Unlovable. Yet, somehow, this woman had breezed into my life and woken up every frozen part of my soul and helped me to live again. She’d shown me what unconditional love really meant and let me learn how to give it to her in return. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her or make her happy or to show how much I loved her. It was infinite. I was more sure of her than of anything else in my world.

  Once she reached me and her brother offered her hand, she latched onto me like I was her lifeline. “You scared me,” she whispered.

  “I know,” I whispered back. “I’m sorry.”

  “Your hair’s wet.” Her smile was infectious.

  “Long story,” I murmured with a glance at the pastor.

  “Well, you’re here now.”

  I squeezed her fingers, mentally cursing the events that had put that fear in her eyes. “I wouldn’t miss it, baby. You know that. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  The pastor leaned in with a barely restrained smile. “Would you two like to get married now?”

  Rachel giggled. “Please.”

  He nodded and began the ceremony. I tried to commit every detail to memory, but honestly, I was too caught up in the moment. My beautiful Rachel, dressed in delicate white lace, was vowing to love and stand by me ‘til death do us part.

  Next thing I knew, Ryder was next to us handing Pastor Sharp our rings. I slid Rachel’s on and offered her my life, knowing I’d never speak truer words than I was today.

  With trembling hands, she placed a thick Titanium band on my left hand and spoke the vows back to me. She leaned down and brushed a kiss to the ring now on my finger and I was humbled by the depth of love in her eyes.

  Finally, we were pronounced husband and wife. I swept her up into my arms and kissed her for all I was worth. Probably a bit much for church, but I didn’t care. If I didn’t pour some of this love into her right then, my heart was going to burst.

  We broke apart to catcalls and applause.

  It was done.

  Rachel was mine.

  ~ ~

  “What happened? Where were you?” Rachel asked once I had her alone in the back of the sanctuary after photos had been taken and our guests had filed out to the reception in the church
yard.

  I faced her and studied the way the candlelight flickered across her skin like a caress. “I hit that storm and it held me up, then I ran over something and got a flat and my jack broke. I had no cell service so I was truly stuck. It was like the universe was trying to keep me from getting to you, but that was out of the question.”

  She hugged into my side. “Oh no, my poor baby. I was really worried.”

  “I know you were. I’m sorry.”

  She leaned up and kissed me. “Don’t be. You’re my husband now, and that’s all that matters.”

  She did have a point.

  SIX

  Rachel

  I was married.

  I. Was. Married.

  It was finally a done deal after all these months of waiting. I was floating on Cloud Nine. Before we went outside to be with our guests, I stopped my new husband and cupped his cheek. “I love you so much,” I whispered.

  His sky blue eyes softened as he leaned down and kissed me. I ran my hands up the silky soft material of his suit and clutched his shoulders as he traced my lips with his tongue, showing me without words how much he loved me too.

  Laughter and conversation floated in from outside as our guests awaited us. I drew back and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Think anyone will notice if we sneak out of here?”

  He chuckled. “Probably.”

  “Okay.” I tucked my head into the comfort of his chest for one last moment and he rubbed his fingertips down my spine and kissed the crown of my head.

  He drew away far enough to reach for the door. “You ready?”

  “I’m ready.”

  We linked hands and stepped outside. I froze and sucked in a breath as I took in the wonderland all around me.

  Night had fallen and millions of stars painted the inky black sky. But more than that, the churchyard had been strung with thousands of white, twinkling lights and a huge arch of white roses framed our seats at a table in the middle. Candles were everywhere and the cheers and clapping of our family and friends welcomed us. It was as if there had never been a storm.

  I smiled up at Jesse. “Wow.”