Wildfire Wedding (7 page)

Behold, I make all things new
, a phrase of verse came to his mind. New. Well, they were starting a new life together. They needed to hang onto that.

Even after last night's back-and-forth in the hallway outside the gymnasium.

“Hey, don’t look so somber.” Luke felt Pastor Mike nudge him. “This is supposed to be fun, remember?”

Luke nodded and kept his gaze fixed on Krista.

Pastor Mike raised his hand. Krista and her father paused a few steps away. “Now, Tom, I’ll say, ‘Who gives this woman to be married?’ and you’ll say—”

“Her mother and I.”

At her ex-husband's words, Vonda Pignetti rolled her eyes. She'd already proclaimed—loudly—that she didn't care to be lumped in with Tom Schmidt. Then Krista had gently mentioned they were both her parents.

Krista stepped away from her father and joined him where he stood near Pastor Mike. Wisps of Krista’s hair had freed themselves from her ponytail and floated in the lake breeze. She caught her lower lip in her teeth for an instant, then glanced Luke’s way. He winked. Krista’s smile spread across her face, and Luke wanted to tell Pastor to make this ceremony the real thing.

Now that he was holding her hand, and he squeezed her strong, capable fingers. Pastor reminded them to face him.

Luke barely heard the words, but snapped to attention when Pastor got to a particular section of the ceremony.

“If anyone knows why these two may not lawfully wed, speak now or forever hold his peace.”

I know a good reason; I don’t deserve her, but for the grace and forgiveness we've shown each other.
He must have increased his grip on her hand, for Krista looked sideways at him sharply. He'd spend the rest of his life being the kind of man she did deserve.

“I object!” a woman's shrill voice echoed through the chapel.

Vonda Pignetti?

Krista's mother sprang up from her chair. “I've held my peace long enough.” The bangles on her wrists clinked angrily.

“Momma,” Krista began. Luke placed his hand on her arm.

“No, don't have me hush. I'd rather object now in front of just the weddin' party and not the whole town.” Vonda marched down the aisle toward them, jabbing her index finger in Luke's direction as if she were aiming a spear. “You took her away from me and broke her heart, and she took you back. Now you're wanting to take her away again.”

Luke shook his head. “Mrs. Pignetti. . .”

“It's
Miz
Pignetti.” She popped her hands on her hips and glanced from him to Krista, then back to him again.

“Momma, this isn't funny. I'm a grown woman, and I've decided. We've decided. Luke and I are getting married. We've gone through counseling—with Pastor Mike here—and we're going forward.” Krista's voice shook.

“Well, that's all fine and good. But words are words.” Vonda leveled a glare at Luke. “How long until you break her heart again?”

“Tell me what, Luke?” Now it was Krista's turn to shake her head. “What's going on?”

“He's going to move you away from here again. He's going back to California.”

“I've decided nothing.”
Great
. This wasn't how he'd planned to talk to Krista. It wasn't like they had to decide this weekend, or this month, or even this summer. . .

“Decided?” Krista took half a step away from him.

“Maybe we should give you two a moment to speak together, alone,” Pastor Mike said.

“No, we can chat now. What is going on?” Krista asked.

Vonda opened her mouth, but Krista raised her hand.

“No, Momma. I want Luke to tell me.”

Luke wasn't sure whether to feel angry or exasperated. “The other night, Jeff mentioned something to me about possibly joining on with the business again. In Los Angeles.”

Jeff stepped around Luke, where he'd been standing behind him in the best man position. “I only mentioned it.” He glared at Vonda.

“Well, after the drinks we had at the hotel bar, after the town meeting, you made it sound like a done deal.” Vonda jabbed Jeff in the shoulder with a manicured nail.

Pastor Mike glanced from Luke to Krista. “How about the three of us step onto the deck?”

“I think that's a great idea.” Krista marched ahead of them, her head held high. She turned and faced them as they stepped onto the deck.

“Krista.” Luke cleared his throat. “Jeff asked me to think about it. It wouldn't be until after the first of the year.”

“I can't believe you'd even consider this.” Krista's voice shook. “We bought a house. We've spent hundreds of hours fixing it up, the way we want it. When you said you were back here for good, I thought that meant Settler Lake would be our home. Always.”

“I haven't considered anything. I told him I'd have to talk to you and have your support, one-hundred percent.”

“No. You don't have my support. Not at all.”

“I can't believe you're getting this upset over it. All we had was a two-minute conversation about it the other night, and that was it.” He shook his head. Clearly, between Jeff and Vonda, with the story changing as it got to Krista, the whole idea had been magnified to something larger than he'd imagined.

“Well, we're not moving.” Her shoulders sagged a little. “I'm sorry. I didn't want to react this strongly. It's been a stressful week.”

“I'm sorry for not telling you about Jeff's offer right away.” Luke shook his head. “I really haven't thought much about it anymore. I know after you and I are married, we'll have many decisions to make together. I'll do my best to keep you in the loop because we decide together, and with prayer.”

Krista nodded, then gave him a small smile. “All right.” She looked at Pastor Mike. “If you're ready, I think we should finish this rehearsal.”

Pastor Mike beamed. “An excellent idea.”

Luke didn’t release Krista’s hand after the rehearsal. She might be a bit miffed, but understanding now.

Aunt Vangie clapped. “Okay, everyone. We’ve got some sandwiches in the fellowship hall so we can all take a breather.”

He glanced at Krista. “Do you want to stay?” Jeff was chatting with Sami at the moment, who kept darting looks at both him and Krista.

“I was hoping we could get away, but I ought to rescue Sami.”

“Hey.” Luke reached for her other hand. “Just one more night. And now, we have a license.” He leaned toward her, a mischievous grin on his face.

“I know.” Her thumbs rubbed the back of his hand. “But I really do want to get away with you for a bit before the craziness really sets in.”

Luke pulled her close, not caring who saw them. “How about tonight, after we leave here?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“All right. We'll go for a drive, get ice cream, or something.”

“I'd love that.” She slid her arms around his waist, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him quickly. “I’ve missed our time together.” A crease appeared between her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I—I can’t explain it.” She glanced toward the few people left in the chapel. “I feel like something else is going to go wrong.”

He kissed his worrywart fiancée on her nose. “Don’t you worry about a thing. We’ve had to rearrange our plans, but other than that, we’re going full-steam ahead.”

#

A breeze from the lake cooled Krista’s cheeks as she and Luke left the chapel. “One more thing done. And you're right. Everything’s going to work out.” The feeling that had assaulted her earlier fizzled out after time spent with Luke and their friends and family. Her anger over Jeff's idea now seemed like a silly waste of time.

Luke paused, and so did she. He caught both of her hands in his. “I was a fool years ago.”

“Don’t—” She pulled one hand free and placed a finger on his lips. “The past is best left dead and buried. I’m trying to only focus on the future.”

They’d been through this already.

He held her close. “I don’t ever want to make you cry unless you are happy.”

“I know. So don’t be gloomy. I didn’t want my nerves from earlier to rub off on you. Oops—left my sunglasses in the chapel. I’ll be right back!” She gave him a quick kiss and trotted across the parking lot.

Sami was heading to her convertible. “I guess you’ll get a ride from Luke?”

Krista nodded. “I’ll catch up with you when I get back to Nana’s.”

“No problem. I’m going to hit the pool back at the house.” Sami hugged her.

“You did good tonight.”

“Thanks. I’m glad this part’s over now. If only we remember what to tomorrow.”

“I just hope I don’t forget when to take your bouquet and all that.”

“Who’s reassuring whom here?” Krista gave Sami a wave. “Go on, I’ll see you at the house.”

Krista entered the chapel and felt peace wrap around her. The past few days—no, months—had been a roller coaster of highs and lows, mania and quiet. Now she knew why marriage was only supposed to happen once. She couldn’t remember on which pew she’d laid her glasses.

The door that led to the reception hall opened, and Jeff entered. Her stomach lurched as if she’d just hit the downhill slope of the roller coaster.

“Kris-Kris.”

“Hi, Jeff.” She regarded him carefully. “Um, thanks for supporting us. It means a lot.”

“I knew you're not cracked up on me being here. But Luke's my oldest friend, and I'm his.” He clutched the edge of a pew.

“I respect Luke’s loyalty to you as a friend—”

“I told you I felt lousy for what I did back then.”

“And I—I’ve forgiven you.” The words sounded feeble to her ears.

A spark ignited in Jeff’s expression. “You ought to know I didn’t make Luke’s choices for him. He was a big boy who knew exactly what he was doing.”

The words hit her like a punch, but she forced herself to recover and hold his gaze. “That’s right, he did. But you knew he and I were a couple. It’s taken years to rebuild what was destroyed between us.” Krista’s chest tightened as if a vise were pressing on her rib cage.
Stop, stop. You're not a Bridezilla, not a victim.

She struggled to breathe.

“He really does love you.” Jeff glanced at the altar as he spoke.

“I know.”

“No, I mean, he’s changed. And—I envy him. Just don’t put him on some kind of pedestal. That’s a lot of pressure for a guy.”

“You’re in no position to give me that advice.” She spotted her sunglasses and swooped down on them with one hand, then jammed them onto her forehead.

“He’s still human. And cheaters cheat.” Her own words, back at her.

“But he’s not the same guy you knew.”

“Forget I said anything. It seems once you get religion, you can do no wrong.”

“I’ve got to go.” Krista hurried outside to Luke’s Chevy and opened the front passenger door.

“Find them?” He asked as she slid onto the seat.

“Yes.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I—”

The rear door to the extended cab clicked open. “Here I am.” Jeff entered the vehicle.

Silence hung in the air like a wet blanket dragging down a clothesline. Krista faced the window. Jitters, just jitters. And now she smarted from Jeff’s words, and worse, her reaction to them. Jeff couldn’t be right. What did he know about choices except to make wrong ones? She felt Luke’s hand squeeze hers in the darkened truck.
Hurry, Saturday, hurry!

SIX

The sun hung in the west as if it were waiting just for Krista and Luke to watch it sink. The canvas of the evening sky had been painted with a hint of rich pink at the horizon that blended into purple then a deep indigo. Krista moved a little closer to Luke in the driver’s seat as they headed for Settler Lake's only ice cream shop, The Scoop. Luke kissed her hand.

“Did I ever tell you how smart you are, Mr. Hansen?”

“No, not really.” He grinned at her and winked.

“Well, stealing me away for a breather was a brilliant idea.”

“I’ve missed our ‘us’ time.” He released her hand to turn the car into the parking lot.

“I have, too.”

“We have the rest of our lives to look forward to moments like this.”

They soon settled into the corner booth, their sundaes in front of them.

“I have to admit since Jeff’s been in town he’s really made me do some thinking.” Luke dug into the mound of triple-chocolate ice cream.

“About what?”

“I was so wrong, Krista. I made a bad choice.”

“In having Jeff be best man. You could always ask Barry to stand up for you.”

“What are you talking about?” Luke shook his head.

“You’ve decided not to have Jeff as your best man.”

“That’s not what I meant. He’s shown me how I deceived myself into believing that everything I have right now was disposable.”

“And now?”

He looked at her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “I wouldn’t give any of this up—or you—for the world.”