Nickels (43 page)

“It’s the best I could do.  Reserve some time for me after
the rehearsal?”

“I can’t.  Marcy and I already have something special
planned—it being her last night as free woman, you know.”  She was looking
forward to the girls’ only time, especially after eight years of rooming
together.

Kyle sighed.  “Look, one last thing before I go.  I know I
should have told you this sooner and not over the phone like this.  But, I
don’t want you to be surprised next week when you meet Alana and her mother. 
Alana is my—”

The line went dead.

“Kyle?”  Niki didn’t want to believe the call had just
ended.  “Kyle?”

Dejectedly, she put the phone in her back pocket, just in
case he got a chance to call back.  She picked up an empty plate and quickly
filled it before joining everyone else already seated outside.

“Everything, okay?” Marcy asked.

Niki nodded, not trusting her voice.

Rick led them in prayer, thanking God for his expanding
family and asking his protection over them all.  When he finished, Brenda
wasted no time inquiring about the call.

“Was that Kyle?”

Niki swallowed a bite of mashed potatoes.  “Yes.  He said
he’ll be home on Friday, a week from tomorrow.”

“That’s the rehearsal day,” Marcy said.

“He said he should be here for that, but may be late. 
That’s about all we had time to talk about,” she said, ending the conversation
by filling her mouth with a large bite of turkey.  She would keep the
interrupted conversation about Alana to herself.

Chapter 38

Niki followed Marcy into the small chapel building at church
for the wedding rehearsal.  The week between Thanksgiving and the rehearsal
flew by, barely registering on her radar.  Between work and last minute wedding
preparations, she hadn’t missed Kyle as much.  She was too busy.

Looking around the room, she admired the quaint chapel,
reserved mostly for weddings or other small services.  The interior of the
chapel resembled an old church she visited once when her family lived in the
Midwest, though without the ornate stained glass windows.  The floors and pews
were dark wood.  The front wall of the chapel housed a lovely mural imitating
the feel of stained glass.  There was a raised stage, only three steps from the
main level, high enough to provide a nice view of the happily wedded couple. 
Marcy was especially pleased that this beautiful little building was part of
their church.

The next to arrive was Chad.  While he and Marcy chatted
nervously for a minute with the pastor, Tori arrived followed by Matt and Joe. 
While Joe was not officially a part of the wedding, Marcy asked him to come
anyway.  It just didn’t seem right if he missed all the fun.

Niki walked into the foyer, noting the layout for the next
day’s festivities.

“Miss me?”

She jumped at the sound of Kyle’s voice next to her ear. 
She turned around, huge grin on her face, as she flung herself into his arms. 
He wrapped his long strong arms around her, holding tight.  Resting his chin on
her shoulder, he breathed deeply.  She latched her arms around his neck,
savoring his nearness.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Niki leaned back only far enough so she could look at those
gorgeous blue eyes.  “Please don’t leave like that again,” she whispered.  “I’m
not sure I could handle it.”

“You look amazing.  Are you sure you don’t want to ditch my
sister and just go somewhere to talk for hours?”  Laughter and deep love lit
his eyes.  How she missed him.

“Mmm.  Very tempting.  But, the way you’re looking at me
right now, I’m not so sure I would trust you to stick to talking.”

“If we weren’t standing in a church, I’m not sure I’d be
talking to you right now.”  He smiled that devilish smile that caused the hairs
on her arms to stand on end in a pleasant way.

Niki ran her fingers along his smooth jaw line.  He captured
her fingers with his hand and placed a kiss on the palm of her hand.

“I missed you so much,” he said huskily.  “So, if you have
to hang out with my sister tonight, can I at least steal some of your time on
Sunday?  And I want as many dances as possible with you at the reception.”

“As you wish.  I’m half tempted to take Monday off, too.”

“If you’re offering…  I’ll take it.  We could go fishing or
something.”

She scrunched up her nose in disdain.  “Fishing?”

“Well, maybe not.  I’ll think of something better.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement at the
back of the chapel behind Kyle.  Marcy walked towards the back as a little girl
entered, holding on tightly to her mother’s hand.

“Auntie Marcy!”  The little girl cried out in excitement.

Niki stiffened, smile slipping from her lips as she dropped
her arms to her side. 
Auntie?

“About our last call,” Kyle started, blocking her view of
the child with his body.  A pained expression replaced his former dashing
grin.  “I don’t know exactly when we lost the connection, so I’m not sure how
much you heard.”

He reached for her hands as he shifted nervously from one
foot to the other.  “Then again, I wasn’t sure if you might have hung up on
me.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”  The words came out flatly, almost
unconvincingly.

“So, did you catch any of what I said about Alana?” he
asked, searching her eyes for something.  Niki looked away, shaking her head.

The little girl squealed, “Daddy!”

Then she ran towards Kyle, dark brown curls bobbing with
each step.  Niki’s stomach hit the floor in perfect synchronization with Kyle’s
bended knee.

“Hey, baby girl,” he greeted the little girl wrapping her in
a big hug.

The girl giggled as Kyle rocked her back and forth in an
animated fashion.  As he stood, the girl’s bright blue eyes looked up, meeting
Niki’s—eyes identical to Kyle’s.

Niki felt the blood rush from her face.  Though she heard
every word spoken, everything sounded muffled by the pounding of her heart. 
Was this his secret?

Surely the question had been written across her face as she
looked to him for answers.  Swallowing hard, she waited.

“Niki, I would like you to meet Alana, my daughter.”

Air rushed from her lungs in a nervous laugh.  Some secret. 
He has a daughter.  She tried to gather her wits but failed.  Her voice came
out stiff and unwelcoming when she spoke.  “Nice to meet you, Alana.”

“You didn’t tell her!”  Marcy was at Niki’s side wagging a
finger in Kyle’s face.

“I tried.”

“Tried?  You’re an idiot, Kyle,” Marcy said, anger shading
her tone.  “You don’t just try.  You make sure you do.”

A feminine sounding throat clearing drew the foursome’s
attention toward the slender dark haired beauty now standing behind Alana.  She
rested a gentle hand on Alana’s shoulder.

“Niki,” Kyle said, “This is Kelly, Alana’s mother.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Kelly said extending her hand towards
Niki.  “Kyle has told us so much about you.”

Niki snorted, unable to maintain complete control.

Funny.  He completely forgot to mention he slept with
you.  Oh, and that a child came from your night of passion!

Swallowing down her anger, she shook Kelly’s hand and
managed something polite before running out the door for some fresh air.

Kyle had a daughter with a stunning woman who could
practically be a model.  Neither of which he’d ever mentioned.

Did he still have feelings for this woman?  And when had he
managed to tell Kelly “all about” Niki?  If he really claimed to love
her
,
why hadn’t he told her this before?  Why was she finding out at Marcy’s
rehearsal?

She sank down on the concrete sidewalk, resting her head on
her propped up knees.  Stunned.  Blindsided.  Disappointed.  Afraid.

If you love someone, you don’t keep secrets! 
She
wanted to scream.  She wanted to run, flee, and never come back.  But, she
couldn’t.  In a few minutes, she would paste a smile on her face and fulfill
her duties as maid of honor for her best friend, no matter how stupid her best
friend’s brother was.

A body sat down next to her and placed an arm around her
shoulders.  The scent of Kyle’s cologne provided the only confirmation she
needed before she lifted her head and launched into him.

“Really, Kyle?  Just when exactly did you think it might be
important to tell your girlfriend that you had a kid?  Like maybe when you gave
me the third degree about how many kids I want?  ‘Gee, Niki, I think it’s great
that you want twelve, but just got to let you know, it’ll really be a baker’s
dozen, cause I’ve already got one?’”

She could see he was trying not to smile at her quip.  She
scooted away from his arm.

“Look, I’m sorry.  I should have told you sooner.  And I
will tell you the whole story.  Just not now.”

“Do you still love her?”

“Who?”

“Kelly?”

He shook his head.  “It was never like that.  You’ve got
nothing to worry about.  My heart is yours and yours alone.”

She was mad.  Mad.  Mad.  Mad.  How dare he come in here
after months away, drop a bomb on her like this and then expect to smooth
everything over with sentimental sweet talk.

“You’ve got one thing right,” Niki said, standing.  “This
discussion is far from over.  And far from fixed.”  She stormed back inside,
fully aware that they needed to get on with the rehearsal.

Taking a deep breath, Niki pasted a fake, lifeless smile on
her face.

Marcy saw through it.  “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’m fine.  Peachy even.  Sorry for the delay.”

Marcy’s concern didn’t fade immediately, but as the pastor
began explaining how the big day would unfold, her face glowed.  The pastor had
the men stand at the front stage and instructed the women to go to the back, so
they could practice the entrance.

Niki was the first to enter.  She kept her eyes straight
ahead.  At least she tried to.  Then they drifted to Kyle.  He smiled at her,
almost as if she were walking down the aisle for him.  She forced her eyes back
to the pastor.

“You should try not to smile so much,” Joe teased as she
passed the front pew.

Tori followed next. 

Then Alana came down the aisle, holding her mother’s hand. 
Kelly’s soft voice echoed in the empty space as she explained to Alana that
she’d have to do this on her own tomorrow.  “Just remember, sweetie, walk
towards Daddy until you get to the front row.  Then go stand by Miss Tori. 
That’s right.”

Once Alana was in place, Marcy’s dad led her to the front. 
Niki’s smile turned genuine at the sight of her friend in cutoff jean shorts
and fitted pink t-shirt walking down the aisle.  Tissues.  She had to find a
discrete way to hide some tissues tomorrow.

The pastor explained what he would say and when Rick was
supposed to step back.  Then he walked Marcy and Chad through the highlights of
their vows and the exchanging of their rings.  When he told them this was where
he would announce them to their guests, Chad grinned.

“Is this where I get to kiss her?”

Marcy playfully swatted at him.

“What?  I want some practice.”  And practice he did.  He
pulled Marcy to him and gave her a very chaste kiss on the lips.

“Mommy!”  Alana shouted.  “That man just kissed Auntie Marcy
like Derrick kisses you.  Does that mean he loves her?”

Niki glanced over at Kelly, whose face turned bright red as
everyone else chuckled.

“Yes, sweetie.  Chad loves your Auntie very much.  That’s
why he’s marrying her.”

“Oh.  Is Derrick going to marry you?”  Alana’s wide eyes and
innocent expression endeared her to Niki.

“We’ll talk about that later.  Now listen to what the pastor
tells you to do.”

Marcy and Chad walked down the aisle together.  Then Alana
followed, grasping her mother’s hand once she reached the second row.  Niki’s
smile faded as she stepped toward Kyle, putting her arm in his.  Too bad he had
to be the best man.  She refused to look at him.

As soon as they were at the end of the aisle, she removed
her hand from his arm.  She moved next to Marcy, trying to find a place to
stand that would leave no room for Kyle.  As Tori and Matt joined them in the
lobby, the pastor asked if they had any questions.  Since no one did, Marcy
reminded them to all be there at one thirty tomorrow, then made sure they had
directions to the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.

Niki grabbed her things and rushed to her car.  As she
reached for the door handle, Kyle’s hand covered hers.  She squealed in shock.

“Please, Niki, can we talk for a few minutes?”

“What is there to talk about?  You like to keep secrets. 
You kept me in the dark, but you obviously told Kelly all about me.  Is that
how it works?  If so, I’m done.”

She yanked on the handle, trying to open the door.  His
weight against the door kept it shut tight.