No Ordinary Romance (31 page)

Connie was coming out of the shower when her
cell phone rang. She wondered who was calling her on her wedding
day. "Hello."

"Miss Jacobs this is Agent
Constantine, I'm sorry it took so long to follow up with you. As
you know, two bodies were recovered from the house where Mr.
Roberts and Miss Marling were being held. We have finally made a
positive identification of the bodies. Are you familiar with Joseph
and Larry
Jessup?
"

"No I don't recognize either of those
names."

"They were cousins of the other suspect we
found fleeing the scene with a gunshot to his leg. Your mother was
not in the house, so we have issued a federal warrant out for her
arrest. I know this is highly unlikely Miss Jacobs, but has
Crystalline Jacobs made any contact with you."

It had been almost a month since the
kidnapping, Connie held her breath while Agent Constantine talked,
hoping beyond hope that Crystalline didn't die in the fire. "No
Agent Constantine, I haven't had any contact with my mother. If I
hear or receive anything from Crystalline I'll call your office
right away."

"Thanks Miss Jacobs have a nice day."

"You too Agent Constantine." Connie sat on
the bed wishing that the situation between her and her mother could
have ended differently.

"Gal what are you doing sitting there half
naked, your hair is a mess, and we still have to get you into your
dress."

Connie watched her aunt enter her bedroom
full of sass, ready to read her the riot act. She was dressed to
the nines in a floral green and white dress with a matching hat and
shoes. "I just received a call from the FBI; Crystalline's body was
not amongst the remains in the house where Chad and Beth were being
held captive. A federal warrant has been issued for her
arrest."

Mabel came and sat on the bed next to Connie.
She put her arm around Connie's shoulders, giving her a warm hug.
"I'm glad that your mother didn't die in that fire. It has always
been my hope that one day both of you will be free from your
painful past. Baby girl you don't have to be guilty of loving your
mother, you could never be disloyal to Lettie because you long for
a connection with Crystalline. We as humans have a great capacity
to love, which means we never have to be ashamed or sorry about our
feelings. This is your day, a day that won't be mired in loss and
past regrets. You're marrying a man that loves you which is more
than any woman can ask."

"Thanks Aunt Mabel you always get to the
heart of the matter."

Mabel stood and kissed Connie on the cheek.
"We have less than two hours to make it to the church on time; I
don't like being late. So shake your tail feathers and put on a
robe I'll send in the stylist and the makeup artist. Of course, I
don't know why you need all these people to help you get ready, you
get dressed every day by yourself and today is no different."

"Yes Ma'am!"

***

Forty minutes later Connie's hair was a crown
full of curls and the makeup artist was just finishing up when
Jenna and Samantha came back to help her get dressed. The black
bridesmaid dresses were classy and suited all of her bridesmaids.
"Both of you look beautiful. Are you beginning to feel a weird
sense of déjà vu?"

"Yes, I was just thinking about how you two
where there for me on my wedding day. Come on Connie it's time to
get dressed." Jenna uncovered the veil as Samantha removed the
protective plastic surrounding Connie's dress. "Connie put on the
under slip while Jenna goes over your checklist."

“Okay. Something old?”

Connie touched Crystalline's silver pendant
around her neck. “Check.”

“Something new?”

"I have the diamond barrettes in my hair that
you two gave me last night.

“Something borrowed.”

“Joanie gave me her mother's wedding ring to
wear." Connie studied the intricate silver band with a small
carving of a wolf etched on the inside.”

“Something blue?”

Samantha handed Connie a little box. Connie
opened the box and inside was Laura’s blue garter that both Jenna
and Samantha wore on their weddings. She slipped the garter on her
leg pulling it up until it reached her thigh. Connie promised
herself that she wasn't going to cry, at least not until after the
ceremony. "Now this is one garter that has seen a lot of action. I
am so ready to marry the man of my dreams and become Mrs. Thomas
Greywolf Galvin.”

“Look at the time! We’ve got thirty minutes
to make it to the church."

“Well at least we don't have to search for
parking this time.”

Connie left the bedroom and the women in her
wedding party clapped their hands and promptly hustled her out of
the house into the waiting limousine. "Come on ladies, I'm ready to
get married.

***

The wedding coordinator
Melba Dorsey and Chad were waiting for them at the door as they
entered the church. "Connie the groom and groomsmen are ready. I'll
have the ushers escort your Aunt Mabel and Joanie to the front of
the church,
and then
we'll be ready to
begin."

Aunt Mabel hugged Connie, "Both of your
mothers' would be so proud of you today. Be happy baby, no one
deserves it more than you."

"Thanks Aunt Mabel."

Joanie hugged her too as her escort patiently
waited for her. "Constantina I knew from the moment I met you that
you were made for my son. You are already the daughter of my
heart."

Several minutes later, the introduction of
'All My Life' by K-Ci and Jojo came over loud speakers. Melba came
for Tati, she had her basketful of rose petals, and she couldn't be
happier. She was adorable with her Shirley Temple curls. She waved
back at them before going down the aisle.

Connie was a nervous wreck
as she watched her bridesmaids' line up. Kimberly was first to
walk, Connie always wanted a younger sister. Next in line was Beth
who blew a kiss to Chad and winked at Connie before walking down
the aisle. Jenna was next, she was so happy for Connie she couldn't
keep the smile off her face. Samantha was the last bridesmaid to
walk down the aisle before the bride
. S
he
gave Connie the thumbs up sign just before she walked through the
double doors. Chad and Connie were alone in the vestibule waiting
for the traditional wedding march to play.

Connie was so quiet that Chad tried to break
the ice. "You know it's not too late, you don't have to go through
this if you don't want to."

Connie turned to him her eyes changing royal
blue, "If anyone including you brother, tries to keep me from
marrying Thomas, I won't be responsible for my actions."

"Hey calm down, put that tigress to bed, I
wouldn't dream of coming between you and your man. All kidding
aside, Connie you're one of the best women I know, and I'm proud
that you're my sister."

"Chad, I got a call from Agent Constantine
today, they identified the bodies from the fire and Crystalline
made it out. A federal warrant has been issued for her arrest, so
don't be surprised if you receive a call for the FBI."

"I was hoping she would make it out
alive."

"So was I Chad." The double
doors were opened by ushers as the wedding march began to play. She
could feel the warmth of Momma Lettie's touch embrace her as she
walked down Bethel's main aisle. The church was full to capacity
of
well-wishers
from the church, Women's
League, and The Purple Feather. Once her eyes rested on Thomas, she
didn't see anyone else. He was so handsome in his black suit, his
green eyes were full of happiness, and he smile at her showing her
the dimples she loved so dearly. Chad handed her off to Thomas and
she gave her bouquet
to Samantha before
taking Thomas's hand.

The wedding was presided over by Joanie's
pastor from St. Peter's Presbyterian Church. Connie never took her
eyes off Thomas's face, not even when they exchanged rings. He
belonged to her as surely as she belonged to him. The last thing
she heard was "you may kiss your bride". Thomas pulled her into his
arms and kissed her as if his life depended on it. When the kiss
finally ended, the pastor introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
Greywolf Galvin.

Connie gave a whoop of surprise when Thomas
picked her up carrying her back down the aisle. Her feet didn't
touch the ground until they reached the vestibule. "Thomas you were
supposed to carry me over the threshold at the cabin, not down the
aisle."

Thomas gave her a predatory grin. "You're
damn lucky I didn't carry you off and ravish you in the limo Mrs.
Galvin"

"Uhmm I like the way you think Mr.
Galvin."

***

Melba did a good job of
moving the
well-wishers
along to allow the
photographer to take the wedding photos. The wedding party arrived
almost two hours after the ceremony. On specific instructions from
the
bride,
the wedding guests could begin
their dinner without waiting for them. In Connie's mind, the first
order of business was to cut the cake upon their arrival. She lost
count of how many ceremonies she attended who put cutting the cake
at the last moment.

Connie and Thomas cut the cake together and
fed each other a taste of cake before kissing again. "Serving the
guests early and cutting the cake upon our arrival was brilliant. I
always like eating my dessert first before enjoying the full
meal."

Connie didn't miss the double entendre or the
desire in Thomas's eyes. He wanted to claim his wife, and he
doesn't care who knows. "Well I figured that we'd lose half the
crowd early if we cut the cake sooner.

"Mrs. Galvin how long do we have to stay at
this wedding reception before I can take you away?"

Connie kissed him again pulling him to the
head table reserved for the wedding party. "Thomas you know this is
reminiscent of the Valentine's ball are you going to have your
wicked way with me in some small party room down the hall."

"I'm eager to claim my bride. If you hadn't
been so stingy with your loving this week I wouldn't be so
needy."

"Quiet down before someone hears you. We were
together Thursday night after the wedding rehearsal dinner."

"You mean the quickie in the garage, that
doesn't count. All that did was leave me wanting more. Then you
roped me into hosting a bachelor party. They were all restless and
pissy because they wanted to be with their women, me included.
You're walking a thin line Constantina. I'll give you two hours,
and we're leaving to celebrate our honeymoon."

"I know you wanted our
first night together as man and wife to take place at the cabin.
What
would you say
if I told you that I
reserved a room upstairs so that we wouldn't have to make a three
hour drive after the
ceremony?
We'll spend
the night here and head off for the cabin tomorrow
morning."

Some of the tenseness left Thomas's body, "Oh
God how did you know I was dreading the drive to the cabin."

"Because I know you Thomas, so settle down
and enjoy the wedding reception because I've got a surprise for you
that will blow your mind."

"Promise."

"That's a promise. Now smile and make all the
ladies hearts flutter. We'll eat are dinner and enjoy the best
man's toast. Next comes the bride and groom's dance. I'll throw the
bouquet, and you can toss the garter to the males. A few more
dances and the electric slide and we'll be done."

"You can throw the bouquet, but there is no
way in hell I'm going to take a garter from your body and throw it
at a bunch of horny males. Not going to happen."

Connie patted his cheek.
"It's okay honey, the garter I'm wearing is a keepsake. I
b
rought an extra one just for the
reception;
we can't skip over the garter toss. The
guy who catches the garter dances with the woman who catches the
bouquet."

"If nothing else, staying for this reception
should prove just how much I love you."

"If I had any doubts before I certainly don't
anymore."

***

Connie didn't follow
anyone's rules but her own. She didn't exactly throw her
bouquet;
she walked up and placed it in Johana's
hands. "Dear cousin I hope that you find someone who'll make you
happy."

Johana humored Connie and got behind all the
women eager to catch the bride's bouquet. When Connie walked
through the expectant throng of women and place the bouquet in her
hands, Johana felt like disappearing. "Connie this is so
embarrassing."

"It's my wedding, and I'll
do what I want. The right woman got the bouquet, but I don't know
if Thomas plans to follow through with tossing the garter. Thomas
and I are dancing once more
and
then we're
leaving."

Johana hugged Connie and
kissed her cheek. "Be happy." She stood there for a few minutes
watching Connie and Thomas dance they were a beautiful
couple.
Jenna
, Samantha and their husbands
joined them on the floor. At
first,
she
felt envious
and then
envy turned to
yearning. Johana's husband loved her like that and then he was
taken away from her. She was afraid that she would never find
another man to love.

Aunt Mabel left the reception hours ago and
got a ride with Joanie. It was time for her to leave. She went back
to the table were Tati patiently waited for her. She was tired, and
it showed on her face. "Come on baby it's time for us to
leave."

"Okay Mommie."

They didn't get far before someone tapped her
on the shoulder. Johana turned around only to see Aaron standing
there waving a white garter. "I was told that you owe me a
dance."