He scrubbed his hand down his stubbly face and stared out the front window. “All right. If you’re satisfied, I am too.”
Jules motioned to Andi, and she bounded towards them, excited about the pink recliner with speakers. Jules led the way to the dark wood bedroom suite which included a bed, dresser, bureau, and two night stands. It was still much too expensive, but it was the best she could do. They wrapped up the purchases, made appointments for the delivery, and they were off.
After agreeing to Rhett’s proposition last week, she turned in her resignation at Marsha’s. Most of her stuff had already been moved and stored in one of the extra rooms upstairs. Rhett had wasted no time outfitting the upstairs with a huge flat-screen T.V. on a beautiful stand, a couch, and a recliner. He’d encouraged her to pick the wall colors, and had completed most of the painting. He still had to apply the soft lavender she’d picked for her bedroom, which he assured her he’d finish this weekend before the furniture arrived.
Everything glowed fresh and looked more like her own private apartment. They’d applied for their marriage license and made reservations in Gatlinburg for the wedding—for next Saturday. A shiver shot through her. This was really going to happen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Rhett drummed a cadence on the cherry-topped table. He was getting married. Again. He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He shouldn’t think of it as an actual marriage, but more a hiring of a competent nanny. No, that wasn’t fair. Jules deserved more than that. Okay, he was acquiring an additional family member. A platonic one. Like an adoption of sorts. He expelled a long breath. What a load of garbage.
How would he pull off living with the woman when every move she made captivated him? Okay, he should focus on the main reason of this merger. Andi. She’d stop asking about a new mother, cease referencing her real one, and she’d certainly quit petitioning God for a replacement. He shrugged his stiff shoulders and reached a hand back to rub his neck. He was merely taking care of Andi’s well-being.
Man. That sounded incredibly self-serving. Rhett clenched his jaw and brought a fist down to rap the table’s surface. A throat cleared in the room, and he blinked his eyes to find the entire staff sitting around the huge table, including Phil Moser standing at the head, staring at him.
Phil gave a snort. “Something you need to share with the group, Carsen?”
Chuckles from Rhett’s colleagues echoed off the conference room walls. Rhett cleared his throat and sat up. “No, sir. I apologize.”
“You get all that information, Carsen?”
Rhett kept his face blank and flicked a gaze at Ramirez. At his slight nod, he answered, “Yes, sir.”
Moser glanced back to his notes, and Rhett gave an appreciative nod at his friend. He shielded the empty pad of paper in front of him with his arms. Thank God, Chris Ramirez would have the specifics. What was he thinking, drifting off like that? He had to stay on the task at hand. And that was part of the problem, wasn’t it? Jules Summers was a distraction. Yeah. Exactly. He’d have to work on that. They were roommates who’d function together to raise Andi.
He inhaled a brisk stream of air. Why would Jules agree to marry him when she really had no vested interest? There was the insurance. Sure. The income. Although she’d told him she had a house to sell stalled in red tape. Or did she? Was there something she was hiding? Why had she agreed to this proposal? He tapped his mechanical pencil on the top page of the pad. The silence woke him from his thoughts. Shoot, he’d done it again.
“You’re on a roll today, Carsen.” Moser’s bushy brows crinkled above his sharp eyes.
Rhett groaned inwardly and expelled a breath. “Yes, sir. I suppose I am.”
* * *
“I’m getting married,” Jules reiterated her previous sentence.
“To who?” Hannah’s voice climbed a few notes.
Jules’s wished she had a bottle of water. Her throat dried up like the Sahara. She pulled away from the phone booth and studied the quiet intersection just a half block up the street. “You know, Rhett.”
“The guy you brought to Dad’s funeral?”
“Yes.”
A pause. “Well, he’s not ugly.”
Despite the uneasiness rolling in her stomach, Jules gave a small laugh. Well, that was true. It was just like Hannah to find a bright spot in this quagmire.
“He’s not awful.”
“No, he’s definitely not awful.” Jules blew up her bangs. How bizarre to tell your daughter you were getting married? It was usually vice versa.
“I…I’m not sure what to say, Mom. Honestly? You’ve been so miserable that I’m excited you’ve found someone. Yet it all seems so…fast.”
Hannah didn’t know the half of it. “True. But it’s for the best.”
Her daughter let out an audible breath. “Well, if you’re sure. I mean, I want to support you. He seems like a nice guy. Is he a Christian?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. When’s the wedding?”
“Oh, we’re just eloping. I don’t want to trouble you with a big ceremony. The baby’s coming and you have”—Jules swallowed—“little Jillian. It’s not like it’s our first marriage. We’ve both been married before.”
“But Mom—”
“Really, Hannah. You have work, Jason has all that overtime. You guys don’t need us adding to your schedule.” Jules closed her eyes a minute. Please don’t let her insist. “How about you all plan a trip up here sometime after we get back?”
“Huh. That might be nice. I’d love to see where you’re at, the house and the area. And it’s not really that far, so I’m sure my doctor would approve the trip. All right. We’ll do that.”
Jules sagged in relief. “I’ll call you from Gatlinburg. Everything will be fine.”
Had she just said that? She was marrying a near stranger for his insurance and money. How was everything fine?
“You know, Mom. This is exactly what you need. I prayed you’d heal and find a way to move on, and now, I think we’ve received God’s answer.”
The same peace she’d experienced in the rain shower enveloped her. Oh, God. I hope and pray Hannah is right.
Of course, her daughter’s easy-going reaction could’ve been aided by the fact they were in the process of gaining custody of Jillian. Either way, thankfulness filled Jules as she bid her goodbye. She spun from the phone and walked toward home, stress wrinkling her forehead. Her hands came up to rub her temples. Once next Saturday was over, and she and Rhett fell into a pattern, all would iron out.
She needed to organize her clothes for the trip. Then she’d have to get over to Rhett’s and arrange all the new accessories in her, ahem, apartment. The bedspread, sheets, curtains, bathroom items, paid for by Rhett. Grrr. Surely the man could’ve let her buy something.
Andi had been over the moon about the wedding. When she’d picked her up for shopping, she’d leaped into Jules’ arms and hugged her silly, squealing the whole time. When they were together, the child was her grinning shadow. Well, at least one of them was in love.
She gave a sigh of relief to step into her dilapidated house and the quiet within. Her head screamed in pain. Expensive luggage stood in the living room. Another Rhett purchase. She eyed the suitcases and her shoulders fell. Suck it up and pack, you goofball. You’re a grown-up. Do something productive. You’re getting married. She groaned and turned toward the kitchen.
Giving in to the pain thundering in her skull, she grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen from the counter and opened the fridge for a drink. She tossed the medicine to the back of her throat, swallowed, and hung her head over the sink. The pills went down like gravel.
It was going to be okay. It was going to be o—kay. She flicked gaze to the clock. Still plenty of time before she had to pick up Andi from school. She just couldn’t pack now. Her mind refused to concentrate.
She settled in the creaky lawn chair with her favorite drink and faced the slider. The backyard, perfectly manicured, bought her future
husband to her thoughts. She closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her aching head. Stop it, just stop it.
“Lord, I’m still having trouble seeing how this is going to work,” she spoke aloud, “but I’m leaving it to you.”
Oh, glory. Was it going to work?
* * *
Friday arrived like a flash of light. She organized everything, and Rhett loaded the suitcases into the SUV. He pulled her jeep into the garage. The rest of her stuff had been moved into her apartment the previous night, and she’d popped the plug on her air mattress this morning. It was the last of the last. A flutter of panic rose in her midsection. She’d soon be married again. Mrs. Jules Carsen. Mrs. Rhett Wyatt Carsen. No, roommate of Mr. Rhett Wyatt Carsen. Great. Moodiness she did not need.
Once everything was stowed in the SUV, Rhett paused to pray before their excursion. Jules’ throat tightened as she added her own silent prayer. And then they were on the road. Andi asked hundreds of questions for the first fifty miles before settling into watching her DVD player. Jules relaxed as Rhett inserted one of her Christian CD’s, and she let herself be lost in the music, singing quietly along with the songs.
They stopped several times for bathroom breaks and leg stretching, or in Andi’s case, joy-jumping. They caught a quick lunch. Finally, around dinner time, they arrived in the mountains. Jules never failed to feel a thrill at the beauty. But even as she scanned the splendor of the landscape, she thought of the untimely death of Darrell and Amanda off a cliff very similar to these. She found herself praying and clenching the armrest of the door.
After navigating a winding pathway, they reached their wilderness hotel safely. The foyer soared three stories high, well-decorated to match the mountainous surroundings, which verged on being cheesy. But Andi oohed and ahhhed at the animal heads staring at them from the walls and the stuffed birds hanging above among the artificial greenery.
The views of the mountains through the huge windows in the main entryway were in no way coerced. It took a person’s breath to witness the blue smokiness settle on the slopes. Far below, a mirrored lake shone, made miniature by the distance.
They checked in and found the room spacious, sporting two queen beds. Their window had a gorgeous view of a green valley, and would be even prettier tomorrow without the shadow of the foothills and the evening mist blocking the extent of the vale. They were perched on the edge of a mountain.
Rhett went into the bathroom, and Jules stood still long enough to study the beds. Now, how was this going to work? She chewed her lip. At the window, Andi settled on her knees in a chair and squealed her delight when a large hawk circled. Jules pulled her concentration from the bed matter and went to stand beside her to listen to her chatter and answer her questions.
A live bluegrass band serenaded the diners in the main dining room. Jules forked the fried flounder into her mouth and forced it down. It proved difficult to eat. Her stomach constantly churned. But the talented group played a slew of instruments mixed with a little comedy in their routine. Several of their selections were old hymns with a bluegrass swing. Andi enjoyed it, too, and ended up on the floor near the stage, clapping and swaying.
After dinner, they strolled outside to the patio where a small garden thrived on the side of the mountain. Andi raced to the huge pond to ooh at the large koi fish that swam lazily among the lights, floating plants, and blooms.
By the time they headed upstairs, Andi drooped from exhaustion. Jules had to admit she was exhausted as well, although she couldn’t understand how she’d get a wink of sleep. They reached the room and Rhett allowed Andi to watch one video before bed. Then the moment she dreaded arrived.
“This is my bed, Daddy, and after you and Jules get married you can sleep in that bed.” She jumped up and down on the mattress.
Oh, boy. Jules stepped back. This was most definitely Rhett’s department. He walked up and took Andi’s hands in his. They were nearly face to face.
“Listen, Andi. Either Jules or I will stay in another room tonight. But tomorrow, Jules will sleep in one bed, and I’ll be in another. Then you can choose who you want to sleep with.”
Andi tilted her head in that way she did when she immersed herself in deep thinking.
“Goldie’s mommy and daddy sleep in the same bed.”
Jules’s face warmed, and she took another step back.
“Yes, that’s true. But Jules and I will not be doing that. Remember the rooms upstairs? That’s Jules’ private spot.”
“But why, Daddy?”
He reached out as she jumped into his arms, and he supported her as she wrapped herself around him. “Because that’s the way we’ve decided it. Now, what I want you to do is not talk about it to everyone you meet. It’s…family stuff.”
Jules murmured. “It’s personal information, Andi.”
Andi lifted her head from her daddy’s shoulder. “Oh. Okay. Will you tuck me in? And can I have a glass of water by my bed? This one?” She pointed to the one closest to the bathroom.
Rhett chuckled softly, and Jules tried to squelch her reaction to it. She liked to hear him laugh.
“All right.” He deposited her under the covers. “I’ll get your water.”
He motioned to Jules with his head to follow him to the bathroom. Puzzled, she trailed him. He filled a hotel cup.
“Do you want to stay in here, or go to the other room?” He narrowed his eyes.
“I…had no idea there was another one.”
“Well, it’s not right to sleep in the same hotel room before we’re married. So I also got an additional one. It’s you or me.”
“I’ll take it. It’ll give you two one last night before I invade you.” Jules looked forward to having a secluded place to herself. If she didn’t sleep, no one would be the wiser. Plus, Andi might waken and not cotton to the fact her father wasn’t in the room.
“All right. Here’s the card. Call me when you get there since I can’t escort you.”
“Are you going to be one of those overbearing husbands?” she quipped.
“I certainly hope not,” A crooked grin weakened Jules’ knees. “But I will make sure my wife gets to her destination safely.”
My wife. Oooh, that was gonna take some getting used to. On the other hand, it was nice to have someone watching her back.
“Okay, you’ve got a deal.” She shrugged and took the card.
She went and kissed Andi goodnight, though the child eyes fluttered closed, and Jules exited.
Her thoughts tumbled in a jumble as she walked slowly, pulling her new suitcase down the hall. It wasn’t far from Rhett and Andi’s. Once inside, she locked the door and gave Rhett a call about her safe arrival. She seated herself on the bed, hugging her purse. For a very long time she sat praying. Praying and fretting. Oh, God, let this be right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Rhett punched his pillow for the fiftieth time. Simple, Carsen. Shut it down and go to sleep. He grunted softly, adjusted himself once more, and exhaled. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that easy. He threw the covers from his body, rose, and stepped to Andi’s bed. She was out cold. A shot of envy flew through his gut.
He rubbed his face with his hand and walked to the window. With stealth, he eased the blind’s cord down to reveal the view. Well, that helped. Complete darkness. What was with him lately? Like some of the dumb stuff he’d pulled last week at work. He shut the curtain and settled into a corner chair near the table.
He’d finally broken down and told Moser and Chris Ramirez he was getting married. The news raced through the agency like a tornado, and the office girls got in on the news, ribbing him and mooning over love. They’d even planned a party. Cake and all. It nearly made his stomach retch.
He leaned forward and clenched his hands between his knees. Was he doing the right thing? He’d be chained to this woman for life. What if she was impossible to live with? What if he met someone? No, not possible. One thing he was sure of, there was no way he was interested in marrying again.
He groaned and leaned back in the chair. But he was marrying again. What if Jules met someone else? His body shot up in the chair. He stood, ran his hand through his hair, and paced. That’d complicate things. He stopped and scowled. How could he react to that? His arms crossed his tightened chest. He’d punch the guy in the face that’s what he’d do. For stealing his wife. If some chump thought he’d waltz up and—
He froze. What was he thinking? Here he was, ready to beat up some mythical guy for making a play for his wife like a jealous husband. Jealous?
Okay, Carsen. Let’s go through this again. She’s a roommate. A nanny to care for Andi. A platonic family addition. A person to join forces with for the sole purpose to accomplish the objective of raising his daughter. The end.
He slunk to the bed and sunk to the mattress. “Oh, God,” he whispered. “If it’s not right, let her back out. I can’t think of her as a means to an end. Jules is a person, Lord. You’ve got plans for her. Don’t let me mess up her life.”
* * *
Morning dawned. Jules dressed and met Rhett and Andi at the breakfast table downstairs off the lobby. The sun burned off the mist across the mountains as Andi chattered and flung syrup from her waffles. Afterwards, they walked a trail to the swinging bridge which spanned a deep valley. Jules wasn’t sure what tossed her stomach. The plunge to the valley below, or her upcoming wedding. They visited the koi pond before Jules went back to her room to put the finishing touches on her dress.
The gown was white at the shoulders, yet as the material fell to the hem, it gradually darkened to azure at the bottom. The filmy overskirt lent a myriad of sparkles, and when Jules saw it, she knew it was the one. It matched the beautiful sapphire and diamond she wore on her left hand. It wasn’t the usual wedding garb. Just a simple long halter dress with a fitted bodice.
She added cute sandals and affixed the veil she’d decorated with a band of small blue and white flowers. It defined the outfit as a wedding garment and not simply an ankle-length formal.
Jules skipped lunch. Her stomach boiled with apprehension. Rhett and Andi would drive beforehand to the Wildwood Chapel, and a driver would bring her separately. For such an unconventional wedding, they seemed to be doing things very conventionally.
Reviving Jules Page 16
