Jack & Diane (13 page)

“Misti. Go. Now.” He stepped around her and went to the house without turning to see if she left. The house was quiet, accept the increasing sound of conflict in his head.

Before he could head upstairs there was a knock at the door. “Misti, go before Momma pulls out her gun again,” he said flinging the door open to see Cooper and not Misti standing there.

“I thought that was her car I passed. That’s why I came back. What did she want?”

Jack stepped back out and took a seat on the top step. “She’s pregnant and she says the baby’s mine.”

Cooper joined Jack on the step. “When did this happen?”

“I don’t think it did, but she says it happened Halloween. I just remember waking up with a massive hangover and not much memory of the night before.”

“It’s real convenient she tells you the night before your wedding.”

“She thought it would make me call it off.”

“Are you going to tell Diane?”

“When, tonight while she’s drunk or tomorrow right before she vows to love me forever?”

“Neither of those are ideal. If I were you, I would wait until after the wedding, but don’t keep it secret for too long.”

His friend was right. Diane hated secrets. But he’d take his chances of her being mad later. Especially since he had major doubts about the paternity of Misti’s child.

♥♥♥

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Standing outside the doors to the sanctuary with her arm looped through her father’s, Diane took a deep steadying breath. She wasn’t nervous about marrying Jack, but she was afraid she’d trip, or that her mother would stand up and object, or Misti would burst through the doors on Alan’s arm.

She looked up at her father. He was smiling. “You look lovely Sweetie,” he said to her.

“Thank you, Daddy. You look awfully handsome yourself. Why haven’t you asked me if I’m moving too quickly like everyone else?”

“I knew I wanted to marry your mother before the first date. There was no logical explanation, I just knew. When Jack asked me for your hand, he said he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you, and I believed him.”

“I still can’t believe he actually asked you for my hand.”

“I like that he did. That’s another reason I don’t doubt your decision. I know you’re marrying a good man.”

When the doors opened the first thing Diane saw was Jack standing there in his tux with his hands at his side. The sun was streaming through the stained glass windows on him. All thoughts of possible calamities left her mind when she saw him. Diane could not tell what a single flower or ribbon looked like. She only saw Jack.

♥♥♥

When the doors opened, Diane walked through dressed in a simple white satin sleeveless gown that hung to her every curve. The design accentuated all her features making her look beautiful and sweet and sexy all at once. Jack forgot to breathe until she reached him.

“You look so incredibly beautiful,” Diane whispered.

“I think that’s suppose to be my line,” Jack smiled. “But beautiful doesn’t begin to describe how wonderful you look.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, family and friends, we are gathered here together to celebrate the union of Jack and Diane before God,” the pastor began. “I’ve only known this couple a short while. As I’ve come to know them, I’ve seen love. Not just love for each other, but love for God as well. They would like to express their love for each other before the vows. Jack, you’re first. Please turn to your bride.”

“Diane, our meeting was not coincidental, but a destiny chosen by God. When I stopped to help you, I thought you had the most beautiful brown eyes I’d ever seen. Of course I could only see your eyes since you were so wrapped up in that scarf. I love you because your smile is my comfort and your eyes are the beacons to light my way. Diane, God answered my prayer for love with you. It may have taken you twenty minutes of stubbornly sitting in a freezing car to realize God had sent me to answer your prayer for help. I will thank Him in every prayer that you said yes to our first date and to spending the rest of your life with me. I will praise God every day by loving you with all that I am.”

Diane wiped at the tears that his vows caused. Her hands were shaking in his. “We had a deal, you weren’t suppose to make me cry again.”

“Sorry.” He wiped the tear that was falling down her cheek.

“I should have gone first because I don’t know if I can follow that.” Diane took a deep breath. “Jack, when you first pulled up behind my stranded car my heart began to race and it’s never beat the same since. At first it beat with fear, but just one of your smiles turned my fears into comfort and made my heart skip a few beats. If I am sad, you make me happy, if I am happy, you make me ecstatic. Jack, with you, God answered a prayer I hadn’t even thought to pray yet. You are everything I never knew I needed and everything I could ever possibly want. Saying I love you seems insufficient to express how I feel about you.”

The pastor read a verse from the Bible and blessed the rings. Diane and Jack barely heard a word as they gazed into each other’s eyes. “Jackson Sloan, do you take Diane Clark to be your wife?”

It took a moment for Jack to realize he’d been spoken to. “I do. I most certainly do. I take you Diane, to be my wife, loving you now and as you grow and develop into all that God intends. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart; when our lives are at peace and when they are in turmoil; when I am proud of you and when I am disappointed. I will honor your goals and dreams and help you to fulfill them. From the depth of my being, I will seek to be open and honest with you. I say these things believing that God is in the midst of them all. I give you this ring as I give myself to you, with love and affection.”

Jack slipped the diamond band onto Diane’s shaking finger. She repeated the vows, expressing the depth of her love and taking Jack as her husband. She slipped the simple white gold band onto his finger. Though the church was full, it seemed that they were the only two people there.

“Now that Jack and Diane have given themselves to each other, before God, by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Jack,” the pastor paused for a long moment before finishing, “you may kiss your bride.”

Diane wrapped her arms around Jack’s neck as he pulled her to him by her waist. He lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss lasted until they were out of breath. He rested his forehead on hers.

“You’re my wife,” he whispered.

“I know. And you’re my husband.” she whispered back. “You know what that means,” she said with a wink.

♥♥♥

“Momma that cake is beautiful!” Diane said to Rose.

“I was hoping you liked it.”

“I love it.”

“It is a very lovely cake Mrs. Sloan.” Catherine Clark said.

“Thank you,” Diane said with a laugh knowing her mother was talking to Rose, but unable to suppress her champagne induced giddiness at being Mrs. Sloan.

Catherine smiled at her daughter’s joke. “Listen, Diane.” Her mother’s tone took some of the giddiness away. “You seem happier than I have ever seen you before. It is obvious how much Jack loves you.”

That was the closest thing to an apology that Diane had ever received from her mother but their conversation was cut short by the DJ announcing their first dance and Jack was by her side to take her into his arms. They had agreed on Endless Love. The song began to play but instead of the usual musical arrangement, it was just a guitar. Diane lost her step when she heard Jack’s voice come over the speakers. She looked at him in shock and her eyes began to water.

“Jack, this is the second time today you broke your promise to not make me cry.”

“The promise is void if they’re tears of joy.” He kissed her as they danced and cheers went sounded around them.

“You can’t keep kissing me like that. It makes me weak in the knees,” Diane said with passion in her eyes.

“You just took vows to let me kiss you like that for the rest of our lives.”

The song ended, but they remained on the dance floor in each other’s arms. “I’m starting to rethink the open bar. Cooper and Noli seem to be trying to drink enough to break the bank.”

“Don’t worry, the bar tab is on Cooper tonight. He lost a bet.”

“Do I even want to know?”

He shook his head.

When the song Jack and Diane came on it seemed like Jack’s entire family was on the floor. Those that were still in their chairs were singing along. Diane’s family looked perplexed as to how all these people knew this song they’d never heard. Every time Jack and Diane were said in the song there were clinks on glasses for them to kiss, which they gladly obliged.

The next song was the electric slide. All of Diane’s family, both young and old rushed to the floor and began to move in unison. It was Jack’s family’s turn to look inquisitively as to how everyone knew the dance to a song they’d never heard. Both songs got played again. By the third rotation of the electric slide, the dance floor was packed as everyone had learned the dance. The next time Jack and Diane played, both the guests of the bride and the groom sang along and clinked their glasses vigorously each time the couple’s names were sang.

The bouquet headed directly towards Noli, but she batted it away like a volleyball and one of Jack’s cousins from down south caught it. When Jack threw the garter it headed towards Cooper. He stepped out the way making it land on Ryan, who’d been standing on the side with his hands in his pocket.

After posing with the bouquet catcher, Ryan went to the bar for a drink. Amara came to stand next to him.

“You know only single men are suppose to catch the garter.”

“I wasn’t trying to catch it, and I didn’t think it appropriate to announce my secret marriage at my sister’s wedding.”

“There would be no secret wedding if you signed the annulment papers,” Amara said with narrowed eyes.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“It’s an open bar and you’re trying to change the subject.”

“I’m not going to discuss an annulment because I don’t want us to end,” Ryan said studying Amara’s face for a reaction.

“What us? The only us that exists is you’re Diane’s brother and I’m her best friend. Other than that, there is no longer an us because you already put an end to it.”

“There is to me. I screwed up, I know, but…” he trailed off when Diane joined them.

“Why do you two keep getting quiet every time I get near?”

“I was just telling your brother that I felt a migraine coming on.” She shot him a look to ensure he wouldn’t contradict her. “You look so beautiful Diane. And as strange as it sounds, I’m glad you were stranded on the side of the road. I’m really happy for you and Jack.”

“Thank you. You should go lie down. Ryan can take you to the hotel?”

“No, I don’t want him to.” Diane raised an eyebrow at Amara’s aggressive tone. “I mean I don’t need him to, I can drive myself. I love you Diane. Congratulations.” She kissed her friend on the cheek and left.

Once her best friend was safely out earshot, Diane said, “Ryan, you know if I had to choose between you and her that I’d choose her.”

“There is not a doubt in my mind,” Ryan said still staring at Amara.

“Then fix whatever this is so I won’t have to choose.”

“I’m trying.”

“Good, now come dance with your sister.”

♥♥♥

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Diane and Jack sat in the truck after the wedding headed to a cabin he’d rented in Kentucky.

“Are we there yet?”

“No, darling.”

“I wish we’d chosen some place closer.”

He smiled. “I’m excited too, darling.”

“I’m excited, but I’m so tired I don’t know if I’ll be able to act on that excitement. For the past couple of months I’ve been practically attacking you. I’m like some addict that can only think of when I’m going to get my next touch or kiss from you, but right now I just want a nap.”

“You can have me as much as you want for the rest of your life, so if we just sleep tonight it’ll be okay. Or you can just take a nap now.”

She yawned. “I want to keep you company while you drive.” A couple of miles down the road she fell asleep. He didn’t wake her until they reached the cabin that was isolated by thick tall trees and had a stream in the back. Diane went to the bathroom to change. Jack brought the bags in, unpacking some of the perishable foods, and started a fire.

When he walked into the bedroom, he stopped in his tracks. Diane was lying on the bed with only a sheer camisole and matching panties on. Her breast were full and peeped out of the top. The darkness of her areola was visible through the transparent fabric. The white fabric enhanced her smooth rich brown skin. Her nervous smile made her even sexier.

“Wow.”

“Thank you.” she said smoothing out the fabric.

He wished that was his hand. He walked over to her and kissed her lips. “I love you. Let me change and I’ll be right back.”

“Let me help you.” She said kneeling on the bed in front of him on the bed. He stood with his hands by his side. She started by undoing his tie, then concentrated on each button with shaky hands. His shirt fell to the floor and she rubbed her hands down his t-shirt clad chest until it reached the hem then she put her hands against his bare chest leaving her thumb hooked on the outside. Her hands inched their way up his muscled abdomen pulling his t-shirt up along the way. He snatched the t-shirt the rest of the way off and threw it to the floor, but it didn’t speed up her hands leisure caress. Her fingers traced the trail of hair on his stomach moving closer to the waistband of his pants.

As her hands reached his belt he put his hands on her waist and pulled her in.

“Do you know what you’re doing to me?” She raised her eyebrow with a coy smile on her face. The passionate look in her eyes drove him to cover her mouth with his. He held her closer and she threaded her hands into his hair. His hands caressed down her back, when his hands reached her round bottom he realized that she was wearing a thong. His large hands molded to its warm flesh. For months, he had fantasized about holding her like this and touching her everywhere and not having to control himself and stop. Tonight he wouldn’t have to.

♥♥♥

Late the next morning sunlight streamed through the window onto the bed. The sheets were tangled around their bodies. Diane’s head lay on his bare chest with a leg draped over one of Jack’s. His arm was wrapped around her. The bright sun on her face prompted Diane to open her eyes. Lazily she began to run her fingers over his chest as she thought about how incredible it was to make love to her husband.

Jack laced his fingers through hers and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. “Darlin’, I need a little more time to rebuild my energy after last night.”

“One energy building breakfast coming up.” She picked his shirt up off the floor and slipped it on.

Diane’s bare feet walked across the wooden floor of the cabin’s living room towards the kitchen. The floor was somewhat cold because the fire had gone out hours ago. She hummed as she opened the refrigerator and rummaged through bags, collecting the ingredients for pancakes and eggs. The aroma of fresh pancakes beckoned Jack into the kitchen. He stood in the entrance to the room wearing only navy boxers. His eyes were navigating her body. She turned to him and smiled. Her lips were soft and full and needed to be kissed.

His eyes revealed just how much he wanted her, but more importantly they showed how much he loved her. His boxers confined his desire, but that did not make it any less obvious. Looking at her thighs prompted him to move forward. He began by kissing her on the spot on the side of her neck that always elicited a moan.

“I thought you needed to rest and get your energy up.”

“Seeing my beautiful wife standing in my shirt, cooking breakfast gave me energy.”

“Since I’ve cooked, you will eat!”

“Will you feed me? In bed?”

“You can eat off of me if you want.”

“Oh I want.”

♥♥♥

As their honeymoon week was coming to an end, they managed to leave the cabin and enjoy the landscape and some shopping. One of their stops was in a bookstore. She found a book that interested her and pulled out her e-reader to purchase it while they stood in line at the store’s café.

“Hi, what can I get for you?” the barista asked.

“I’ll have a large black coffee,” Jack said.

“A large house blend,” the barista rephrased as he pushed keys on the register. “That will be $2.50.”

Jack reigned in his irritation at the barista’s rudeness for not taking Diane’s order . He turned to Diane and said, “Darling, what do you want?”

She looked up from the e-reader. “A venti chai,” she said returning her attention to the device.

“Sorry, I did not realize you two were together,” the barista apologized sincerely. “One large black coffee and one large chai. Is there anything else?” he asked glancing at the person behind them in line before returning his gaze to Jack’s perturbed eyes.

“Yes, one of those carrot cake cupcakes and a slice of chocolate cheesecake,” Diane added.

“First name?”

“Jack.” He got his change.

“Aren’t you going to get anything to eat?” Diane asked.

Jack bent down with his mouth almost touching her ear. “You’re going to share your goodies with me,” he said softly with a wink.He kissed her cheek. He did not have to see her skin go flush with color to know she was blushing at the double entendre, it showed in her eyes. He took her hand into his as they found a seat.

They sat across from each other at the small wrought iron bistro table sipping on overpriced beverages and enjoying the sweet treats she’d ordered. He was flipping through AR Rifleman while she was immersed in the beginning chapters of the latest Sue Grafton novel.

“That didn’t bother you?” Jack asked.

“What didn’t bother me?” she responded confused.

“The cashier ignoring you.”

“I didn’t think he ignored me.”

“He didn’t acknowledge we were together.”

“It’s an understandable enough mistake,” she said dismissing the thought with a flip of her hand.

“It’s not understandable to assume we’re not together because we’re different races.”

“I think it’s more you’re John Deere and I’m Prada, than the black and white thing. You’re all down home country charm and I’m city slicker. I think it’s pretty understandable to not assume we’re together.”

“We’re too opposite to be together?”

“Not at all. I’m just saying that at first glance, we may not look like a couple.” She reached across the table and put her hand on his. “We’re like two puzzle pieces, it’s our differences that make us fit together perfectly. ”

He slid his hand up her arm, and drew small circles with his thumb in the fold of her elbow then slowly caressed his way back to her hand. “We do fit together perfectly. You want to go back to the cabin and prove how well we fit together?” She bit her lip in anticipation and nodded.

They were a great fit, but how long would it be before his country ways ceased to be charming. He wondered if he could keep her happy enough that she wouldn’t regret living in his world. He had his doubts that he could, especially since he didn’t even know who or what Prada was. He hoped it wouldn’t matter and, like his parents, the honeymoon would never have to end.

♥♥♥

Jack knew the honeymoon was over as soon as he saw Misti standing at the table with a smile on her face. Her joy was usually bad news for him. Diane was smiling at Misti but cut him a look that ripped out a part of his soul. He knew the smile was just for show. Diane would rather die than to let Misti know she’d gotten the better of her.

“Misti, what are you doing here?” Jack said with more than a hint of aggressiveness in his voice.

“I was just asking Diane here if she was helping you figure out the custody and child support for our baby,” she said venomously sweet.

Jack moved his hand over his face to calm himself. “We don’t know that that’s my baby. And if it is that’s something you should discuss with me and not my wife.”

Diane remained quiet as her face grew more and more expressionless. Jack feared what was going on in her mind.

“I know you have your doubts about that night, but I don’t. Jack I know this is your baby.” She rubbed her stomach as she spoke to emphasize its swell. “Why can’t I talk to Diane about it? I want to get to know our baby’s stepmother better.”

“Misti, you should go now,” Jack said seeing Diane’s hand tense and relax around the bottle neck.

“But Jack, we’ve been dancing around this for months. Why not discuss it now. The baby will be here sooner than you know.”

Diane stood calmly. “If she doesn’t want to leave, I do.”

“Oh I get it,” Misti said with a look of triumph on her face. “You hadn’t told her about our baby yet?”

Jack did not respond. He threw a few bills on the table to cover the tab and followed Diane who was already leaving out the door. She was waiting at the truck’s passenger side door when he walked out. He walked behind her to open the door and help her in as usual.

“I don’t need any help,” she bit out.

Jack waited to be sure she didn’t. The height of the truck usually gave her trouble getting in and out, but fueled by simmering anger she hopped in with ease. Jack went to his side and got in, briefly praying that this would all work out somehow and berating himself for not having told her sooner. He started the truck and began to drive silently. He wanted her to take the lead on this conversation so he could gauge the exact temperature of her anger.

A few minutes into the drive she finally spoke. She stared directly out the window, not able to stomach looking at him and asked, “How far along is she?”

“About seven months.” He knew she was doing mental calculations. “If I’m the father, it happened about a month before I met you.”

“How long have you known?”

“Since the bachelor party.”

She let out a sound that was somewhere in between a gasp and a sob and let the tears that had been collecting in her eyes fall.

“Di, I…”

She shook a hand in his direction for him to stop. “Jack I don’t want to hear why you lied to me as you were confessing your love and honesty at our wedding.”

“Di, I didn’t lie to you.”

“You did Jack. You said you’d never keep a secret from me and this is a doozie of a secret.”

“I wasn’t trying to keep this secret from you Di. I didn’t want to bring into our marriage something that I didn’t believe to be true. I have very little memory of the night that she claims we conceived. It was a Halloween party and just that morning we’d found out Dad was out of remission. I drank a little more than I should have and can only remember waking up the next morning in my bed.”

“Then why not tell me that?”

“Because I didn’t think you’d react well to it.”

“When were you planning on telling me?”

“When I had confirmed that it was mine.”

“If the baby turned out to be yours were you just going to come home with a baby one day and say surprise it’s my turn for visitation? Or were you hoping the baby wasn’t yours so you’d just never have to tell me?”

“It’s not just hope, I really don’t believe that baby is mine. I was drunk, but I could never be drunk enough to sleep with Misti.”

“Whether or not the baby is yours isn’t the biggest issue, the fact that you kept the possibility from me is. You promised you wouldn’t keep things from me.”

They were now parked in front of the house. He reached over to take her hand and she pulled away. “I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t fix things. We were so happy that I didn’t want anything to mess it up, especially unnecessarily.”

She stared out the window. Her right hand played with the wedding rings on her left hand. “Perhaps I let my hormones make decisions instead of using rationality,” she said more to herself than to him. “Maybe we moved too fast into such a permanent situation.”

Jack gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “Are you saying you wish we hadn’t gotten married? That this should have just been a fling but we took it too far.”

“I didn’t say that Jack. Maybe we moved into this too quickly without thinking it all through.”

“We or you? I know you thought you were the novelty and I’d move on once I got my fill, but now I see I should have been the one with that concern. You’ve had your fun with the white boy on the farm, but you’ve had enough and I’ve given you a way out that doesn’t make you lose face.”

“How is this my fault? You kept Misti having your baby from me! What other secrets are you keeping?”

“Diane, get off your high horse and stop acting like I’m the only one keeping secrets. You don’t think that I know you’ve applied to every law firm in Chicago? Or that your visit to see your brother was actually your interviews?”

She looked at him for the first time since the restaurant. “What makes you think I’ve interviewed in Chicago?”

“I don’t think it, I know it. I saw the e-mails with my own two eyes.”

“How did you see that e-mail? Are you spying on me?”

“A person without secrets can’t be spied on. I saw it the day you told me to review the application for organic certification. You must have forgotten your email was still open. I also saw you had an entire folder of applications and responses with only one being within a hundred miles of here.”

“I applied to see if I could get hired. It was never my intention to accept any of those positions. I just wanted to see if I was good enough.”