She Belongs to Me (27 page)

“Do you both drink sweet tea?” Jaynee asked politely.

“Yes, for me and Bobby,” Melissa responded.

“I’m the diet coke
drinker,” Rachael offered. “And
I’m sure there’s Bud Light for Ronny.”

Jaynee prepared the drinks and then delivered Bobby’s and Ronny’s outside. A chance to
move around the house felt good;
she wasn’t ready to leap into conversation with either woman. Plus she figured as a good hostess, she should check on her new mother-in-law and grandmother.

Handing both gentlemen their drinks, Jaynee caught Jordan’s eye as he was turning the chicken. He was grinning from ear to ear
,
and she couldn’t help but wonder if she
’d
missed a joke or if he was just that happy.

Both men thanked her, Bobby more ardently with a “Thank you, darling!” What was it about southern men? Why didn’t they just use women’s names? She was familiar with it from strangers in restaurants
, and
obviously, she didn’t mind when
Jordan used endearments on her.
B
ut it sounded strange emerging from Bobby’s mouth, since she barely knew him.

Jaynee turned toward Pat and Velma but saw Jordan punch Bobby out of the corner of her eye.

Bobby winced. “What?”

“Mine,” Jordan whispered in an admonishment.

So, he didn’t appreciate the darling comment either, or maybe she was hearing things. Jordan certainly wasn’t jealous of his brother-in-law. He didn’t seem like the jealous type anyway, not that she had noticed anyway.

Unable to verbalize the words ‘Mom or Pat’, Jaynee opted just to begin speaking as she approached the women. “Would you like more sweet tea?”

“No, honey, sit down and relax.” Pat tapped the seat beside her. “The
girls’ll
take care of everything. This
is your wedding party after all;
well, one of them anyway.” She grinned conspiratorially.

Her new mother-in-law really was laid-back. Jaynee wouldn’t feel comfortable just sitting, but she sat down for a few minutes. Pat asked her simple things
such as
where she was born, siblings, parents—all the normal
first-time-you-meet-someone questions. They were all easy, non-threatening queries, but Jaynee was still relieved when Jordan called out ‘five minutes’.

She excused herself to assist her new sisters.

When Jaynee stepped inside, everything was ready. Melissa and Rachael had obviously heard Jordan and already placed everything on the island.

Melissa looked up as Jaynee approached. “If it’s okay, Jaynee, we put everything on the island and let everyone help themselves.”

“That sounds like a great system. How often does the family get together?” Jaynee asked.

Rachael adjusted all the items so they all lined up perfectly. “Usually once a month, if there’s a birthday or a holiday we celebrate them all at once,” she piped in.

“That sounds wonderful.” And Jaynee meant it. It should have sou
nded like effort, but it didn’t.
I
t sounded like a family, a family she
’d
always coveted. “I think I’ll enjoy that,” she added thoughtfully.

The men walked inside at that moment carrying the barbequed meat. “Enjoy what?” Jordan asked, curious.

“We were just discussing our monthly cookouts…that haven’t felt too monthly lately,” Melissa reminded him with a frown.

“You’re right, Sis, we need to initiate them again,” Jordan agreed, glancing in Jaynee’s direction, confirming she approved of his assertion. She appreciated the thought and smiled, nodding in assent. “Well, dig in everyone, Cody, Court, you first.” The two children appeared from the living room where they had been watching TV.

Jaynee stood and watched as everyone filled their plates and headed to the deck. There was such an understanding in this family, a peace in the way no one was trying to get in anyone’s way or trying to be the center of attention
;
they all seemed to move in harmony.

When everyone was at the table, Pat looked up at Jordan. “Jordan, why don’t you do the honors, honey?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Jordan broke into a beautiful prayer thanking God for all they had; family, food, health and his new wife then ended the prayer in Jesus’ name.

She’d saw him bow his head several times, but this was the first time she had heard him pray aloud. It was beautiful.

The evening flashed by,
it wasn’t even ten
,
and everyone was offering their goodbyes. Jaynee wondered if that was usual or just their subtle way of giving them alone time. Pat and Velma hugged her along with her new sisters, and her new niece and nephew latched onto her legs calling her Aunt Jaynee. The name took her by surprise; she had no siblings, so she had never contemplated becoming an aunt. But as the idea blossomed, she found herself beaming. They were adorable, Courtney with her tendrils flowing down her back and Cody blushing every time she looked at him.

Jordan called after them that they’d see them tomorrow. Of course, Jaynee had already forgotten the reception tomorrow. That’s why they didn’t stay late. They stood on the porch, waving goodbye, Jordan’s arm wrapped around her waist.

Jaynee watched as the final vehicle drove away. “They’re all going to be there tomorrow?”

“Uh-huh,” he said relaxed, but there was something anomalous in his all-too casual reply.

“That will be nice…knowing someone there.”

“That was sort of the idea.” A long pause elapsed as he pulled her closer, then his eyes took on a look she recognized. “Now, what do you say we go practice making a motor for a tricycle?”

“A motor for a tricycle?” she burst out, understanding the gist of his comment.
“As in a baby?”
She laughed again, this time nervous, feeling a little apprehensive at his request. She’d thought she’d made it clear she wasn’t ready.

“It was something my father always said, thought he was being clever I suppose, so us kids wouldn’t understand. I did say practice though…I remember...” His eyes held hers a fraction longer than necessary as if she may rethink her resolution.

“Let’s go practice,” she teased, but something gnawed at her. She needed to know why he and his mother reacted the way they did when she’d asked Jordan if he wanted a beer.

63

Chapter
Twenty

Brushing their te
eth as a couple, in his and her
sinks, felt bizarre.

Was it only a week ago she was about to brush her teeth and had said he was the man she was going to marry, and now she was standing in his master bath as his wife. It felt like forever that they’d been together, as if she knew everything about the man standing beside her. Then in other respects, he was a total stranger.

When they finished, Jordan approached her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You were wonderful tonight, Jaynee. I am at home and completely content now that you are here, but I was just thinking how strange it must all be for you.”

“It wasn’t as complicated as I anticipated. I feel comfortable with your family. For the first time in my life, I feel
as if
I belong.”

“That’s because you do; you belong to me, and somehow it feels
as though
you always have.”

Jaynee winced slightly at his words. But why should she, the way he said them, they didn’t sound possessive. They sounded perfect.
As though they did belong together, forever.

She took his hand and led him to their bedroom. “Jordan, I do have one question though.” Jaynee sat on
the edge of the bed, pulling him down beside her. “Earlier tonight, when I asked if you wanted a beer, the look on your mother’s face and your comment caught me off-guard. I was wondering why you reacted that way?”

“Well, I guess it’s only fair,” he said, his look turning serious. “You shared your demons. It’s only proper I share mine.” He pulled her back deeper into the bed so they were resting up against the headboard.

He took a deep breath. “When I graduated high school I went directly to college. My dad wanted me to enter the military, but I didn’t want any part of that lifestyle. As a child, I detested moving every couple of years, never being able to establish lasting friendships. It was only in North Carolina, when I came to stay with my grandparents that I felt at home.

“As a teenager, I decided on a career in law enforcement but knew I needed a degree to advance. So after high school, I enrolled at the University of Charlotte but lost focus. I started hanging out late, drinking and partying, standard college-kid foolishness. I managed to uphold my grades, but my father was furious, said I was throwing my life away, that I would never amount to anything.”

Jordan took a breath. He glanced at her once then stared at the wall. Jaynee wondered what he could have possibly done that would upset him so. Was there something he hadn’t told her about his past? She’d always wondered why Jordan didn’t mention his father.

He finally just shook his head as if deciding it didn’t matter. “I came home late one night after drinking too
much. If I drink excessively, I get feisty or frisky—”He stopped abruptly, turned to look at her and placed both hands on her face. “Not that I have ever hurt anyone—well, no one
who
didn’t de
serve it anyway. But
I would never hurt you, Jaynee. I’d never hurt any woman.”

Unable to speak, she nodded her belief. But, she wanted to hear the rest of what he had to say before she spoke.

His hands fell back to his side. “Anyway,
as
I said
,
I was extremely drunk, and my friend, John, had just dropped me off at the end of my driveway.

“My father—a God-fearing, passionate American who raised his family to have upright morals and serve fellow mankind—was standing on the porch when I stumbled
up
the front stoop. I was an affront to everything he represented. All he saw was how I was throwing my life away. When I tried to pass him, he pushed me off the steps and started yelling, infuriated by my actions. He thought every man should enlist, not only to serve his country, but also to become a better individual. And to him, I was mocking the lifestyle he had chosen.

“With great effort, I stood upright, brushed myself off and attempted to walk around him. He grabbed me again. The second time my instincts took over and I knocked
him
down. I sobered up immediately when my mother rushed toward us, but it was too late. I had raised my hand against my father and in front of my mother no less.

“My father was tough though. He scrambled to his feet, undeterred by my actions. That time I ran away, not
trusting myself. I listened to his insults, how I was never going to amount to anything, and it strung a chord. I never wanted to disappoint my father.

“So the following day, I did the one thing I imagined my father would consider a worthy accomplishment. In the vain hope of my father’s acceptance and escaping him, I enlisted in the Army.

“I’d like to think we made amends over the next several years when I visited, but we never did completely. And then when my tour was up,
D
ad was dying, so I decided to return home instead of reenlisting. He died within months of my return.

“While I was in the military, I continued to drink, got in fights and lived a life I was ashamed of. But since leaving the service, I quit drinking and roughhousing. And my mother, though she says she knows everything wasn’t my fault, she’d go ballistic if she ever saw me drink a
gain. So, for her, I don’t. But
honestly, Jaynee, I don’t want you to assume I am an alcoholic
who
goes off binge drinking and hurts the people he loves. I was just an ignorant juvenile.”

Jaynee could see pain in Jordan’s eyes as he tried to assure her. “
Jordan, I don’t assume that. You
were
a
kid, and I’ve seen you drink…even my bartender commented on how you took just a few sips
then pushed it away;
alcoholics don’t do that. I’m not worried.” She exhaled in relief. Almost giddy that that was the worst thing he’d thought he’d done.

“I’d never hurt you, Jaynee;
you are everything to me.” He pulled her closer holding her to his chest. He made no attempt at making love, just held her.

Jordan watched as Jaynee’s eyes fluttered open. He loved watching her wake every morning, even if it meant staying in bed longer than he would have normally. “Good morning, sleeping beauty.” He brushed the hair back from her face, so he could kiss her forehead.

How he loved looking into her eyes. He hated that in a couple days he would have to return to work, which meant getting out of bed before she woke up. He doubted she would want to wake at four in the morning. Who would?