“That might be nice,” Mom admitted, smiling a little.
“We can make the best of it, you know? We’ll go up there, enjoy it, sell it, and enjoy the money,” I told her brightly, cheered by the thought of a little financial security.
“You have a devious mind.” She laughed at me and I threw up my hands.
“What’s with everyone saying that?”
“Who else said it?”
“Jake.”
“Ha, he knows you well.”
I groaned as I glanced at the clock. “I have to get ready to go.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Jules will come banging on the door if I don’t get a move on.”
“I’ll meet you there at six?” Mom asked, picking up my plate.
“Yep, unless you want to come sooner?” I asked hopefully. She shook her head with a laugh.
“I think not. You have fun.”
I dragged myself up with a frown, already anticipating the chaos I was about to head into.
“Where have you been? Oh my God, your hair.” The words blasted me the second I stepped in the room and I held up the tray of sticky buns in my hand as a peace offering.
“Are those?” Jules sniffed the air. “They are!” She took a deep breath and I watched as the heavenly scent of caramelized sticky buns calmed the beast. Two sets of wide eyes met mine as Jules snatched the tray from my hand and plopped down on an ugly Victorian couch someone had stashed in the rectory to serve as seating for the bridal party.
Jules moaned as she picked up one of the buns with her bare hands and shoved it in her mouth. “I haven’t had carbs in two weeks,” she mumbled through the food in her mouth and I laughed at the sight of her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
“Candid shot?” I offered holding up my phone and she gave me deadly stare. “Guess not.” I dug in the bag over my shoulder and pulled out another tray of sticky buns. “These were supposed to go to the guys, but since Jules doesn’t seem like she’s sharing?” I paused and Jules hunched protectively over the pan she held. “Guess that answers my question, you can have these.”
I passed Carly the pan and Nichole peeked at it curiously. I didn’t really know Nichole that well, but she seemed like the kind of girl who could appreciate a pan laden with carbs.
“Your mom made them?” Carly asked as I dug out plates and forks from my bag. I held them up in invitation and said, “Unless you want to dig in like Jules? And yes, Mom made them this morning. She seemed to know we’d need them.”
“Your Mom’s the best.” Carly wiggled in happiness as she scooped out the still warm bun. “It’s gonna take most of the day to deal with your hair, that’s why she sent the sugar.”
“It’s not that bad,” I protested, reaching up to touch the tangled waves I’d wrestled into a top knot on my head before leaving the house. Carly lifted her eyebrow and I slunk down into the only available chair. “Fine. It’ll take time to get my hair fixed, but not all day!”
Jules had told us early on she wanted all of us to have our hair up for the wedding, which wouldn’t be a big deal except I was terrible with hair. Mine was long only because I couldn’t be bothered with getting it cut. I usually dragged it into a ponytail or sloppy bun since my hairdressing skills were nonexistent. Even Carly hated messing with my hair and hers was a crazy, curly mess. I had the curse of thick, silky hair which sounded great until you tried to force it to stay in place.
Carly put an industrial size can of hairspray on the counter along with an unopened box of bobby pins.
“I came prepared,” she said, eyeing my hair as if for battle. I shrank down lower in my chair, intimidated by the arsenal of hair products she continued to pull out of her bag.
“I’ve got the makeup,” Jules told us around her third or fourth sticky bun. She nudged an enormous bag with her foot, the kind people took on yearlong trips, not a normal makeup bag.
I glanced over at Nichole to see what she’d brought that I hadn’t thought of. Her bag wasn’t as big as the other two, making me feel slightly better.
“I’ve got tape, a sewing kit, everything they say you should have for any last minute wedding day emergencies.” She chirped cheerfully, delicately eating a sticky bun as she set her bag on the table. They looked at me expectantly and I flushed. Obviously, I was the worst maid of honor in the history of maids of honor.
“I brought snacks,” I whispered, holding up my bag loaded with chips, crackers, cookies, and anything else I could think of to snack on.
Jules and Carly burst into laughter as Nichole glanced at me awkwardly. I sighed and waited for their hilarity to subside. Jules was the first to get herself under control.
“If you tell me you have your Taser stashed in there too, you’ll make my day complete.”
I huffed and dug in my bag, pulling out the pink stun gun somewhat reluctantly knowing it would set them off again. Tears of laughter streaked their faces when they finally settled down, and the red on my face had faded somewhat.
“Anything else I can do to amuse you today?” I grumbled as Carly yanked on the rubber band holding my hair.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll do something, but not after makeup is applied, do you understand me?” Jules’ threat was clear, and as she whipped out some tiny wand thing I sealed my lips.
Hours later, I’d been plucked, contoured and teased into perfection. I was afraid to blink, sit, eat, or stand in case I messed up their masterpiece.
“Who’s getting married again?” I questioned, feeling like I was the one in the hot seat.
“I am, but…Don’t touch your face!” My hand dropped at her sharp reprimand and I clenched my fingers together. “Do you want us to have to start over?” Jules sighed. “You never get dressed up, like ever, and it’s my wedding and I want Jake to see you all dolled up. Is that so much to ask?”
Yes, I wanted to cry, but I refrained because I’d heard the longing under her question. She had good intentions along with some crazy double wedding fantasies I wasn’t going to mention since she was getting married in a few short hours, and I didn’t want her to think there was a chance of me going along with them.
A knock on the door saved me since I was the only one dressed and ready to go. I padded to the door, kicking the hem of the gown since it was a little too long in bare feet.
The sight of Jake on the other side of the door had me scurrying into the hallway. I almost tripped on the gown but he reached out to steady me, his hand wrapping around my elbow as he stared at me.
“You look….” He trailed off and I hopped impatiently.
“Are you here to rescue me?” Maybe there was a crime they needed me on, or someone lost the rings and they needed to ask me where they were, anything so I could escape the girl hell I was currently trapped in.
“No,” he answered slowly, looking puzzled and a bit stunned. My crestfallen expression made his lips twitch and he said, “Wrong answer?”
I let out a heavy sigh and rubbed my bare toe on the scuffed wooden floor. I should probably be wearing shoes, I thought to myself, but the idea of putting those heels on any sooner than I had to was too painful to contemplate.
“Has anyone told you how absolutely mesmerizing you are?” His question flooded me with warmth as I felt everything he couldn’t put into words. The words stunning, lovely, enchanting, and gorgeous floated through my mind. Each word meant to try and describe me, and in his opinion, failing. I glanced up at him through my eyelashes, finally understanding what Jules had wanted to achieve.
“Only this really hot guy in a tux, but I think he was just hitting on me,” I teased, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. Screw Jules and the no messing up the makeup rule.
A throat clearing finally broke us apart after several minutes of messing up my makeup.
“You two need to find a room already,” Connor fussed and I groaned at being caught by him again.
“That’s a good look for you, man.” Wade tucked his thumbs in his pockets as he smirked at Jake. I touched my lips as I
realized all of my lipstick was currently on Jake’s face. Danny chuckled and I found myself surrounded by good-looking men in tuxedos.
“What are y’all doing here?” I hissed, grabbing the handkerchief Danny held out and scrubbing the lipstick off Jake’s face. He stood there and let me, seeming to know better than to push me at the moment.
“We’re bored,” Connor admitted, rocking on his heels as he watched me. “This is entertaining though.” He continued, indicating what I was doing. I rolled my eyes and stepped back, making sure I’d gotten all of the lipstick off. No need to advertise to Jules where my lipstick had gone.
“And hungry,” Danny rumbled behind me.
“We knew you’d have snacks,” Connor shrugged and stepped toward the door.
“What are you doing?” I shrieked. I slapped him away from the door, guarding it like it housed the crown jewels. And it kind of did. “Jules will neuter you if you see her before she walks down the aisle. Now, shoo.” I flapped my arms and Connor stared at me like I was a crazy woman and maybe I was.
Jake grabbed his arm and dragged him down the hall.
“Come on, man, she’s right.”
Danny lingered next to me looking hopeful and I caved.
“Wait here.” I squeezed through a crack in the door and found all three of them staring at me.
“Told you.”
“It’s all day, waterproof, smear proof, twenty-four hour lipstick,” Jules cried, holding up the tube as proof.
“It’s not Jake proof,” Carly commented laughing, as I went over to my bag, ignoring them, and hefted it up. They watched me lug my bag to the door and Jules shook her head.
“They came begging for food.” She paused and looked back at me. “What did Jake say when he saw you?”
A smile lit up my face and her only reply was, “Good.”
I wrangled the bag through the door along with myself, making sure the guys couldn’t see in. Not that they seemed to care once they realized the bag contained food. Danny took it from me, hooking it over his arm as he hustled down the hall with Wade and Connor. Jake lingered, studying me and I gave an impromptu twirl. He eased backwards, his eyes never leaving mine, and in that moment, I felt as beautiful as a bride on her wedding day.
The chatter from the guests managed to penetrate even the thick walls of the room we waited in and nervous excitement filled the room.
“I can’t believe it’s really happening.” Jules breathed in and out slowly, trying to manage her sudden nerves. “This is it. A lifetime commitment.”
“With Connor.” I added bluntly, making sure she fully understood the choice she was making. Our eyes met and we laughed, breaking the tension as she echoed, “With Connor.”
“You know, I don’t think I can imagine Connor with anyone but Jules,” Carly said, smiling. “You just go together.”
“I don’t know of anyone else who’d put up with his crazy self.” I went to the door, peeking out to see if it was time for us yet. Mom shook her head, having agreed to be our signal. Jules and Connor had tons of family, more than enough to fill the huge Catholic church and nerves coursed through me at the thought of walking past all of them. I was bound to trip in the four inch heels Jules insisted I wear. My only saving grace is that I’d walk down the aisle with Jake. Jules had decreed the men would escort us down the aisle instead of us meeting them at the altar. I couldn’t argue since it practically forced Carly and Danny together.
Jake caught my eye and winked, easing some of my nerves. The guys were in the vestibule seating guests as they came in. I knew that left Connor at the altar waiting by himself and could only imagine how he was feeling.
I glanced behind me at the other girls chatting and slipped through the door before they caught me. Jake saw me coming and met me halfway.
“How’s Connor holding up?” I whispered, suddenly concerned for my best guy friend. My friendship with Connor was an odd one. We’d somehow meshed after he’d finally accepted my gift. He saw all the illegal and fun possibilities of it and had no compunction about exploiting them.
“You tell me,” Jake said with an easygoing grin. “How’s Connor holding up?”
“Exactly as expected,” I answered, my expression a mixture of amusement and disgust. Connor was reveling in the attention and accolades, greeting all the guests and waving at them. He was bouncing with excitement at the thought of marrying Jules and there wasn’t a single nerve in sight.
“That’s good, right?” Jake laughed at my disgust and I grudgingly agreed.
“He could at least pretend to have cold feet like a normal groom,” I argued, knowing it wasn’t possible for Connor. He faced everything with the same happy smile, even death. He’d never been frightened that I knew of except for the time I’d inadvertently drawn Jules into a gun fight.
“You think a normal groom should have cold feet?” Jake teased, wrapping his arm around my waist as he tucked us into a dark corner. “Because I can promise you this, I would be the happiest man on earth the day I married you, not one shred of hesitation in me.” He leaned down and I turned my head suddenly.
“Jules will literally kill me if you mess up my lipstick again,” I told him, cringing at the mere thought. I felt the puff of air from his chuckle and he whispered, “Then I’ll have to be more creative.”
His lips brushed my jaw and then my collarbone and only his arm around me kept me from melting into the floor. I clutched his shoulder, forgetting all about Jules and weddings.
A cleared throat brought me back to Earth and this time it was my Mom’s. I flushed as she gazed at us pointedly and said, “It’s time.”
I nodded, pressing my lips together as Jake’s chest rumbled next to me in silent laughter. He knew better than to laugh aloud since my mother would rip him a new one.
“I’ll get Jules.” I eased away from him and hustled down the hall.
“Showtime,” I caroled, throwing open the door and Jules jumped. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you, but it’s time to get this show on the road, sister.”
“Sister,” Jules smiled and pointed a finger at me. “One day, that word will describe us.”
“Agreed, but not today.” I informed her, waving them out of the room. “Today belongs to you.”
We lined up with our escorts, Jules clinging to her daddy’s arm, and I noticed Carly’s fingers curl around Danny’s forearm with no prompting. I smiled up at Jake and he winked. Music started playing and Nichole and Wade stepped forward. One by one we moved down the aisle, the pews packed with family and friends, many I didn’t recognize, but a few familiar faces stared back at mine, like the captain and Danny’s parents. Each paced step brought us closer to the altar where I saw Connor standing impatiently. I separated from Jake as we reached the front to take my place. I glanced at Wade, who nodded, as he glanced at Connor and around the room. I could only imagine the auras in this room today.
The music changed indicating it was time for Jules and her father to make their way down the aisle. I didn’t turn to look though, keeping my eyes on Connor as he saw his bride for the first time. The impatience disappeared as awe replaced it. He blinked hard and I knew he was clearing tears from his eyes as Jules walked toward him, each step she took bringing them closer together. He shifted, eager as she came forward, and I could see the love shining from him. I glanced at Jake then and was captured as he gazed at me. The look in his eyes was familiar since I’d just seen a similar one in Connor’s. My heart thumped as the world around me receded, and only Jake existed as the priest spoke next to us, every word symbolic. As he married Jules and Connor, I made equal vows to Jake.
To have and to hold,
From this day forward,
For better, for worse,
For richer, for poorer,
In sickness and health,
Until death do us part.
Chapter Five
“Are you just going to stare at it all day or you going to actually open it and I don’t know, read it?”
“I haven’t decided,” I murmured distractedly, fingering the envelope in my hand and completely missing Wade’s sarcasm.
“You’ve been siting there staring at it for the past hour. On my couch.” Wade crouched in front of me, hooking his finger on the envelope and lowering it. “Not that it’s any of my business, except for the fact that you keep showing up here, shouldn’t you be at Jake’s place contemplating whether or not you’ll open the letter?”
I frowned and sank deeper into the comfortable couch. It was so old and worn out all the springs had long been sprung, and the couch embraced you like a long lost child when you sat on it. A feeling I needed as I considered if I wanted to read my father’s last words to me.
Only words actually.
“He’s packing for the trip,” I responded finally, avoiding the real point of his question because I didn’t have an answer. Why was I sitting here with Wade instead of my mom or Jake?
“Yeah, not what I meant, but hell we’ll go with it. See, here’s the thing, I need to pack too since I’ll be going, and I bet you do too. So why don’t you haul yourself home and start packing. You can read the letter another time. Or not read it, either one works for me.”
“I don’t care what he said. It just seems disrespectful to ignore a man’s last words.” I ran my finger along the seam of the envelope determinedly before pulling away at the last second.
“Okay, apparently we’re going to do this,” Wade muttered with a sigh. He rubbed his face as he sank down next to me. “What’s stopping you from reading his letter?”
Wade dove straight into the deep end of questioning. No warmup or casual how do you feel, but straight into the heart of it.
And that’s why I was sitting on his couch instead of Jake’s, I acknowledged to myself. Wade pushed me to face my gift while Jake was content to hold back in an effort to protect me.
“What if he says something that changes everything?” It was the question that had gnawed at me since I’d learned of the letter. I knew he had my gift and part of me wondered - what if he knew something I didn’t? What if the letter contained the reason he left me and my mom and it was only a matter of time till I did it to Jake?
Hidden Secrets (The Hidden Series Book 3) Page 6
