Char checked her watch. It was already five and Kacey and Travis still weren’t back from town. They’d run some sort of last minute errand.
She tried Kacey’s’ phone again, but there was no answer.
Everyone was getting restless. Char began to pace in front of the gazebo. Thirty minutes later Grandma burst through the door.
“They won’t be making it to the rehearsal,” Grandma said. “Flat tires.”
“Tires? As in more than one?” Jake asked, rising from the pew.
“I’m afraid so. It was as if someone slashed them.”
Petunia shook her head. “Portland’s full of gangsters. Probably one of them boys.”
“Right.” Jake smirked. “Because we know lots of gangsters that want to off us.”
Petunia stiffened.
“We’ll just have to carry on without them.” Grandma rubbed her hands together. “Char, you’re the maid of honor, you’ll stand in for Kacey; and Jake, as the best man, you’ll be standing in for Travis.”
Char’s stomach plummeted. God was cruel. The one man she had been in love with since junior high was now standing in the groom’s, only it wasn’t real. And again, so close. Her heart constricted as she looked into his eyes because she knew this would never be her reality. It was all some sort of sick joke from the universe. She’d hold his hands; he’d pretend to put a ring on her finger.
And at the end he’d walk away.
Char jumped when Grandma blew her whistle. “Order, everyone!”
“We aren’t in a court,” Jake grumbled.
“I need order!” Grandma blew the whistle again, this time right in the pastor’s ear. He winced and looked away, poor soul. “Now, let’s have the girls fan out under the gazebo. Yes, perfect!” She pointed to the guys. “And the men: let’s have you line up on the other side. Oh, that looks lovely.”
It looked horrible, but nobody asked Char so she k
ept quiet. Then again, it could just be her crappy attitude.
“Pastor?” Grandma raised her hand instead of blowing the whistle, praise God.
“Yes, Nadine?”
“Will you please go through the entire ceremony? I want to be sure that the microphones are working and we’ll be able to hear the bride and groom.”
“Of course.” The pastor smiled and held out his hand to Jake. “I’m Jim.”
Jake shook his hand.
Pastor Jim turned to Char. “And you must be the maid of honor.”
Her smile was tight as she took his hand.
“Both of you stand just here.” He pushed them together.
Char almost stumbled into Jake’s hard chest. His eyes were distant, as if he was shutting her out from his world. She could almost see his abs through his tight black t-shirt. Lowering her gaze didn’t help because then she had a full view of his distressed designer jeans, and his Marc Nason boots that had probably cost more than her car.
“Dearly beloved…” Jim began reciting the welcome and the prayer. “Now we are going to move on to the vows. Take each other’s hands and repeat after me.”
“I, Jake Titus…” Jim started.
Jake cleared his throat. His hands were so warm as they held Char’s. “I, Jake Titus.” his voice had a husky drawl to it as he continued to talk. “Take you, Char Lynn, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” His voice caught in his throat as his eyes burned into hers. “To love and to cherish, to treasure, to be my best friend, from this day forth until my last breath leaves my body—I will be yours, as long as we both shall live.”
Char had to bite her lip to keep from crying. It was everything she’d always wanted to hear him say.