Faithful (13 page)

Cyd gave her a look as she pulled the hose over the other leg. “I did.” She stood and pulled them to her waist.

“You did not. You've always been cynical about men.” Dana unzipped her garment bag.

Cyd held up a finger of correction. “Most men. But I've always said there were a few Calebs and Joshuas out there. Scott's definitely in that category.” Her voice trailed off. There had been another man she'd once thought perfect . . .

“You mean
was
in that category.” Dana pulled out her dress.

“I think he still is, Dana.” Cyd looked at her before lifting her gown from the other bed. Stepping into it, she continued, “What do we love so much about Caleb and Joshua?”

“They were faithful.” She pulled the dress over her head. “Scott wasn't.”

“Is it really that simple?” Cyd turned for Dana to zip her up. “Yes, they were faithful to God. They believed Him when He said the Promised Land was theirs, and they were the only ones of their generation who got to see it.” She faced Dana again. “But, Dana, even
they
weren't perfect. No man on earth has ever been perfect except Jesus. Even David, a man after God's own heart, committed adultery. Scott's not perfect, but he follows after God. I think that's worth holding on to.”

Dana sat back down with a sigh. “Easy for you to say. You don't have to put your trust in Scott . . . and your heart hasn't been shattered into a million pieces.”

Cyd lifted her sash from the bed and draped it around her waist. “True. I'm not saying it'll be easy. Your heart's been broken, but don't give up. God is able to heal. He's the One you put your trust in.”

Dana walked to the window and looked out at the treetops.

“Cyd,” her father called, “the makeup artist needs you
now
. The photographer wants to take some shots in five minutes. The limo will be here in twenty.”

“Coming, Daddy.”

Cyd put her arm around Dana, her head to Dana's head. She spoke softly. “Lord, I pray that You will heal Dana's broken heart and her marriage. Help her to take one step at a time, trusting in You.”

C
YD OPENED A
balcony door to the sanctuary, walked in, and looked down. Tulle bows with white lilies adorned the ends of the pews down the middle aisle, and beautiful bouquets and a candelabra were prominently displayed up front. Twenty minutes before the start of the wedding and a sizable crowd was present already.

Close to three hundred had been invited. Stephanie and Lindell had large extended families; Bruce and Claudia had several friends they felt obliged to invite, as did Lindell's mother; and Stephanie included every friend she'd ever known, it seemed. It was a big celebration, she said. Not every day someone gets to marry a doctor.

Cyd scanned the faces below until finally she spotted them. Scott and Dana sat a few rows from the front, on the aisle, probably to get a good view and great pictures of the kids. Dana's face was cast downward. Even from here, Cyd wanted to cry just looking at her. She said another prayer.

The door opened behind her, and Cassandra gestured for her to come. “The guys are finally here—can you believe they're thirty minutes late?” She sighed her annoyance. “I need to talk to the bridesmaids and groomsmen about some last-minute details before we start.”

Cyd and Cassandra hustled to the room where the bridal party was gathered, and the first person her eyes snagged was Cedric, smiling in animated conversation with a groomsman, more handsome than yesterday in his black tuxedo. She scooted her gaze past him before their eyes could meet—but not before her heart skipped—and grabbed a spot next to Mark and Mackenzie. They stood with her parents, looking like a miniature bride and groom with Mark in his tux and Mackenzie in her white dress. Cyd couldn't even see the shoes.

Cassandra quieted the people and gave a series of instructions about what to do and where to go after the ceremony. When the bridal party was free to mingle again, Cyd headed to the bride's room to check on Stephanie and saw Cedric from the corner of her eye, making his way over to her.

He came up from behind, leaned his head down, and spoke into her ear. “You ought to wear your hair like this all the time. It's very sexy.”

His breath sent a chill through her, not to mention his words. She looked sideways at him. “And how are you doing today, Cedric?”

He lowered his head again. “May I speak with you a moment?” He motioned with his head. “Out there.”

Cyd gave him a puzzled look as he made for the door. She followed behind, down the hall and around a bend. He stopped and faced her, reaching into his jacket pocket.

“I know the color's a little off, but I'm hoping you can sneak this inside your bouquet somewhere.” He produced a lavender rose. “Happy fortieth birthday.”

Cyd accepted it, one eyebrow raised. Her cynical side knew he was angling. She had just seen his girlfriend from the balcony, sitting at the end of the pew again, and here he was up here trying to curry favor with her. Even managed to get a lavender rose from somewhere in the limited time he had this morning. He was definitely skilled at his game.

But no one else had acknowledged her birthday. Not even Dana, which was understandable, but the birthday Cyd once thought would be the most special, the most celebrated, had so far been the most uneventful. Cedric, a complete stranger before yesterday, had added some color. Game or not, she had to admit it was nice to be remembered. And she had to admit something else. Being this close to him again was making her heart flutter.

She brought the flower to her nose to smell its fragrance—and to gather herself. “Thank you. It's beautiful.” She looked askance at him. “I'm guessing the color has some significance?”

A slow smile spread across his face, and for the first time she noticed his teeth were perfect. “I thought you might ask,” he said. “Red roses are for love and yellow for friendship. But lavender, that's unique.” His dreamy eyes bored into hers. “Lavender symbolizes enchantment.” He entwined his fingers with hers. “I'm enchanted with you.”

Her heart hammered inside her chest. Warning bells blared. She backed up and slid her hand from his. “You are something else.”

“What?”

“You know my sister told me what type of man you are. You know that I know you're here with your girlfriend. And you think you can just give me a rose, talk a little sweet talk, and . . . what?” She folded her arms, careful not to mar the rose. “What exactly were you hoping to accomplish?”

Cedric stayed calm, his eyes twinkling. “I'll tell you exactly what I was trying to accomplish. It's your birthday, your
fortieth
birthday, yet you have no plans to celebrate. The reception will be over by late afternoon. I want to take you to dinner, help you celebrate, get to know you a little. Is that a crime?” He didn't wait for an answer. “By the way, where do you live?”

Cyd was still processing his words, poised to reject them. “In Clayton.”

“Seriously?”

“What?”

“I'm not far from you. I'm in the Central West End.”

She was curious. “Where?”

“In those high-rise condos, the new ones that went up a couple of years ago.”

Cyd knew exactly what he was talking about. She'd read articles about them in the paper, in particular how expensive they were. She wanted to know what he did for a living, but she didn't ask. “I hear they're really nice.”

He smiled. “You'll have to come see for yourself.”

She could hear Cassandra's voice in the distance, telling the bridal party it was time to go downstairs and line up.

Cyd started down the hall, Cedric beside her. “There's a new Italian restaurant near my building,” he said. “Excellent food. I can call after the ceremony and make a reservation for seven o'clock. What do you say?”

Cyd's heels clicked, her eyes kept ahead. “So what's the plan? You'll drop your girlfriend home after the reception, get changed, and then pick me up?”

He didn't hesitate. “Exactly.”

She smirked at him. “And how do you think she'll feel about that?”

“Why do you care?”

Cyd flashed him a look as they melded into the group that was headed for the stairs. She dashed into the waiting room, picked up her bouquet, and surveyed it. There were pink astilbe flowers that stood tall, plumelike, flanking creamy white roses and white freesia. Gingerly she tucked the lavender rose behind the pink plume nearest her chest. No one else would see it, but already, as she walked, it was becoming her focus.

Downstairs things were moving quickly. The music changed, cueing the mothers to begin their walk down the aisle, and seconds later the first bridesmaid and groomsman were disappearing through the double doors that led into the sanctuary. Before taking her place in line, Cyd walked to the end to see about Stephanie.

“Where were you?” Stephanie asked. “I had a couple of people looking for you upstairs.”

“Oh no. Did you need something?”

“Not really. I just thought you were going to be there in case I did.”

Cyd fluffed the bottom of Stephanie's gown. “I'm sorry. I was talking to Cedric.”

“
Cedric
?”

They moved forward.

“Shh.” Cyd turned to see if he'd heard.

Stephanie leaned her head toward Cyd. “I knew it. I knew he was going to try to get with you. Cyd, I'm telling you—”

“Steph, this is not the time.” Cyd smiled, mostly for the benefit of their dad, who was looking at them and up the line at Cedric with a curious eye. “So, little sis, you ready? Lindell's in there waiting.”

Stephanie took a deep breath. “Definitely.”

Bruce looked down at his daughter. “You sure? It's not too late to turn this ship around.” He chuckled.

“We're not turning anything around.” Stephanie threw her head back. “We will be Dr. and Mrs. Lindell London within the hour.”

Cyd gave Stephanie's hand a squeeze, pinched the cheeks of Mackenzie and Mark, and took her place next to Cedric. He peeked into her bouquet and smiled. She pretended not to notice.

The faces in the pews were turned to the back when Cyd and Cedric entered. She slipped her hand through his arm and smiled, following the rhythm of his medium-slow gait. The entire walk up the aisle was a battle. She was drawn to him. She was sure of it. His voice reverberated in her head. His aura made her skin tingle. The man was good-looking and smooth, and the way he looked at her with those eyes . . .

Those mischievous eyes
.

Reality jerked her back when they passed his girlfriend. The woman had probably been dating him for years, enduring all kinds of hurt and betrayal.

Get your mind off of him, Cyd
.

Why would she dwell even a second on that man? She'd seen betrayal up close and personal just yesterday. She didn't need to invite obvious trouble into her life.

She dropped her arm from his and took her place in front of the bridesmaids. Mark was coming up the aisle with Mackenzie behind him, both at a rapid clip that made the guests giggle. Scott stood to snap pictures as Dana looked on. She appeared to be smiling, but when the kids passed their pew and got closer to the front, Dana lowered her head and dabbed her eye with a tissue.

Cyd kept her eyes in Dana's direction as the guests stood for Stephanie's march down the aisle. She looked dazzling, her smile wide as she and Bruce took their time in the spotlight.

Seconds later Cyd noticed another guest three rows back from Dana and Scott. Of course. Her own hand had written
Heather Anderson
on the white envelope two months ago. One of the twentysomething crowd from the eleven thirty service that Stephanie invited.

Cyd grew hot as she watched her. How dare she come to the wedding.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Pastor Lyles peered over his reading glasses with a hint of a smile.

“Her mother and I do.” Bruce guided Stephanie to Lindell and took his seat.

Stephanie and Lindell locked hands, and Pastor Lyles began the exchange of vows, which had to be fodder for reflection for Scott. But Cyd could hardly focus. With the drama with Dana, Scott, and Heather; Cedric eyeing her across the way; and the lavender rose peeping up at her, her thoughts were shooting this way and that. A soloist sang, someone read the love verses from First Corinthians, Stephanie and Lindell lit the unity candle.

Before Cyd knew it, Pastor Lyles was saying, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” and Lindell was kissing his bride.

The recessional went quickly, and as the bridal party waited to reenter the sanctuary for pictures, Cyd sneaked through a side door and hunted for Dana. She was sitting in a pew, jaw raised, staring straight ahead. Trish sat beside her. Scott and Heather stood a few feet away engaged in a discussion that ended abruptly, prompting Heather to leave the sanctuary. Scott whispered to Dana, then walked toward the pastor at the front.

Cyd slid next to Dana and took her hand. “Are you okay? I can't believe she showed up here.”

Dana had a fire in her eyes. “That woman's got a lot of nerve. Before the ceremony started, she sauntered past our pew just so we would see her.”

“What did Scott do?” Cyd asked.

“He ignored her,” Dana said, “and after the ceremony, she pranced over here and told him, ‘We need to talk.'”

Trish looked at Cyd. “Can you believe her?”

“I don't even know what they said yet,” Dana said. “Scott told me he wanted to catch the pastor and set up a time to meet with him.”

Cyd watched the pastor lean his head toward Scott. “Do you think he's going to tell the pastor what he did?”

“Given his leadership position, I think so.”

Trish grunted. “Pastor's probably wondering what's going on around here.”

“What do you mean?” Cyd asked.