Unpredictable Love (22 page)

“
I’m ready.”

“
Fine,” he said, releasing her and
resuming his place.

“
Ready, Jory?” the minister asked, his
eyebrows raised.

“
Yes.” She smiled and nodded, gripping
Trent’s hand.

“
We are gathered together…” the pastor
continued.

Most of the ceremony was a blur to Jory. The
couple had decided to forego writing lengthy, gooey vows. They
agreed that keeping their feelings for each other private was more
their style.

When Reverend Carlson cleared his throat,
Jory snapped to attention, catching the end of what he had said and
sputtered, “I do.” Trent was paying closer attention and came in
right on time with his “I do.” A few more words, which could have
been in Kurdish as far as Jory was concerned, were said, and then
the ring exchange.

When Trent produced her mother’s ring, two
tears slipped down Jory’s cheek. “Ma,” she whispered, before
offering a trembling hand to the staff sergeant. After slipping on
the heirloom band, he lifted her hand to his lips.

His touch and the understanding look
in his eyes warmed her heart. He
got
her. Their silent communication reassured
her that this wedding was the right move. When the service started
again, Jory’s thoughts were on Trent. Mentally extolling his good
qualities, she almost missed the pronouncement that they were
husband and wife.

“
Huh?”

He cleared his throat. “Are you listening
now?”

She nodded, feeling the flush of
embarrassment steal up her chest at the titter from the
audience.

“
Good. I now pronounce you husband and
wife. You may kiss the bride.”

The groom sported a wide grin as he leaned
down to give her the kiss of a lifetime. The crowd laughed,
clapped, and cheered. Jory heard a few war whoops as she rested in
the arms of her new spouse.

When they broke, the organist played the
recessional. Amber returned the bouquet to the bride. Jory and
Trent exchanged happy, relieved looks as they started back up the
aisle. No need to hurry now, the deed was done. They stepped out
into the early autumn sunshine. A limousine awaited them. Trent
helped her negotiate the church steps in her long gown. Frustrated,
he finally swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the car.
The onlookers cheered and laughed.

“
I hope Laura’s got everything set
up,” she remarked.

“
Laura Dailey? You gotta be kidding
me. She’s the most organized person in the entire county, I hear,”
Trent said, taking her hand and waving out the open window.
Shopkeepers stepped from their stores to greet the newlyweds as
they drove by. Once at the house, Jory marched through to the
backyard, only to be blown away by the scene before her.

Flowers were everywhere, an arch covered in
white roses led to the deep yard, dotted with round tables, clothed
in pink, seating eight people. On the left was a long table,
groaning with cold hors d’oeuvres and chafing dishes keeping food
hot. In the very back, a three-piece band was tuning up on a
makeshift stage that was just a large, wooden pallet.

Trent tugged on her hand. She turned to face
him.

“
You’re not sorry, are you?” A note of
concern rang through his tone.

“
Sorry I married you? Never. Never
been happier.” She got up on tiptoe to kiss his handsome
face.

“
You look beautiful. You looked
amazing, coming down the aisle.”

Laura Dailey and Nan Edwards rushed through
the back door together, getting stuck. Nan pushed through first.
She took charge of the people and set up a receiving line while
Laura managed the food.

“
This is going to be an incredible
party,” Jory whispered to her new husband.

He grinned, resting his arm around her
shoulders. A sensation of lightness seeped through the bride.
Loneliness faded from her life. She closed out that chapter and
faced a new one with joy in her heart. She said a silent prayer
then stepped forward to greet her guests.

People made way for the pastor and his wife.
He took the bride’s hand and held it for a moment. “I only have one
question, Jory. How did you two meet?”

Eight months later

Jory and Trent had slept at Nan’s house the
night before. The town was having a pre-Mother’s Day garage sale,
and Jory was helping Nan set up. Her aunt was determined to get rid
of the thirty years of junk accumulated in the attic and
basement.

Amber had washed her hands of the project
and remained in Orlando. Trent set up the tables and moved the
heavy stuff. Jory and Nan placed items in appealing displays,
including a tray of free brownies, set up two chairs, and
waited.

Trent nabbed a sweet from the plate. “I
think the staff should get one of these.”

“
Help yourself,” Nan said.

It wasn’t long before folks wandered by.
There was a lot of buzzing as news and gossip were exchanged. Two
women stopped at the table, looking over the items on display.

“
Jory, did you hear about that Jackie
Tremont?”

The journalist shook her head.

“
She’s been gone a year and a half
now. Living in sin with that rich man. Old enough to be her
father,” said Cindy Kallek.

“
Her parents are scandalized,” said
Judy Turner.

“
I hear they don’t even speak to her
anymore.”

“
Haven’t for about a year. More or
less,” Judy piped up.

“
That’s terrible. Nothing should come
between a parent and child,” Jory remarked.

“
When a child goes over the line…”
Cindy started.

“
Right! Some children are just born
bad seeds,” Judy interrupted.

“
Not Jackie! She was dating Trevor
Fulton for a long time. I was sure they’d get married.”

“
Bad seed. Yeah. She had it good with
Trevor. He’d do anything for her. But he wasn’t good enough. Nope.
She had to have a multi-millionaire,” Cindy said, sifting through a
basket of odds and ends.

“
What kind of books do you have?” Judy
asked. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that guy didn’t dump her for
someone else. She wasn’t a great prize. Don’t know what he saw in
her in the first place. Oh, Jory, I’ll take this one.”

The women paid for their items and moved
on.

Jory let out a breath. “I’m glad those two
old gossips are gone. Geez. They’re so mean. If Jackie fell for
that guy and wanted to be with him, what business is it of
theirs?”

“
I agree. He was quite attractive
too,” Nan added.

“
Nan! Really? Does Dan know you think
that?” Jory chuckled.

“
I don’t tell him everything,” the
older woman said, rearranging the items on her side. “Jackie’s
parents are very worried. They haven’t heard from her in almost a
year.”

“
Did they have a fight?”

Nan nodded. “Betty said Jackie refused to
take their calls. They’d had fights with her before. But they never
stopped speaking.”

Jory’s brows knit. “I sure hope nothing’s
happened to her.”

“
Me too.” Nan squeezed her niece’s
hand.

Watch for “Too Late for Goodbye” and “Echoes
of the Heart”, coming soon

Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction
author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She
writes contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and
romantic suspense.

Dangerous Love Lost & Found,
First Place
winner in the 2015 Oklahoma Romance Writers of America,
International Digital Award contest.
The Renovated Heart
won
Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café.
Lovers &
Liars
was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And
The Marriage
List
tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the
Gulf Coast RWA. To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the
2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s
Choice contest. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the
New York City chapter of RWA.

Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in
New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her
computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by
her side and a secret stash of black licorice. Jean has 30+ books,
novellas and short stories published. Find it here:
http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com
.
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