The Journey Home(44)
Author: Kelly Elliott

“Mr. Rambrandt, you need to get into position please.” She barked. Jack turned to me and swallowed hard. “I’ve got this.”

I nodded and said, “You’ve got this.”

Jack turned and approached the altar where he greeted the pastor.

Tommy Harding, an usher and one of our college buddies, slipped a twenty into my hand. He was tall and thin with white-blond hair that stood out even more in the black tux.

Tommy narrowed his green eyes at me and said, “Shit, you win.”

Tommy and I had placed a bet back in college. I’d said Jack would get married eventually, but he’d said there was no way in hell Jack would ever settle down.

I smiled, pocketing my cash and taking my place next to Jack.

“I NEED THE bride! It’s time.”

I rolled my eyes at Monica’s wedding planner as I looked at Monica in the mirror. “You look beautiful,” I said, my voice cracking.

“Don’t make me cry, Maddison Nicole Powers. I’m about to walk down the aisle.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You? Cry? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry.”

“I’ve cried before,” she said. “I’ve cried plenty of times.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

She shook her head and looked away. “I can’t believe I’m getting married, Maddie.”

I sat down. “Are you scared?” I asked with a slight smile.

She began chewing on her lip. “I’m so scared it’s not even funny. I mean…what if Jack changes his mind? What if I go to start walking down the aisle and he realizes he doesn’t want this? What if we moved too fast?” She attempted to hold back the sob, but it was too late. She fanned her eyes as she took deeps breaths.

I grabbed her hands. “Monica. Do you love Jack?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes. More than I could ever imagine.”

“Does your heart feel like you’ve rushed this?” I asked. “Not your head, your heart.”

She shook her head and a single tear escaped and slid down her cheek. I wiped it away. “Then don’t be scared,” I said. “Trust your heart, Monica.”

Another tear slid down her cheek and she pulled me closer and held me tight as she did the one thing I’d never seen her do before. Cry.

“Oh, no. That is not what the maid of honor is supposed to do,” the wedding planner chastised. “You’re supposed to keep her happy, not make her cry! We have fewer than two minutes to get your makeup touched up and get you down the aisle. They are walking down right now. Maddie, go get your flowers and get into position!”

I jumped up and saluted to the young girl Monica had hired to help plan the wedding. Both of Monica’s parents were in France, and when they’d told her they wouldn’t be coming back to the States for her wedding, it had nearly broken my heart. Monica hadn’t been surprised. That was just what they did. Even in high school, Monica had spent more time at my house than her own. I knew it had hurt, but she would never admit it.

I winked at Monica and made my way to my position. As the music started, I stood and waited for my turn to walk down the aisle. We were all dressed in light teal gowns with white shawls. It had taken Monica all of thirty minutes to choose our dresses. Her only request was that they be the most expensive light teal dresses in the store. For her dress, we’d flown to New York. I was almost positive she’d bought the most expensive dress just to stick it to her parents—especially after her father told her to just bill him for all of the expenses. Her first stop after the news that they wouldn’t be attending was to Pinnacle Country Club. Two hours later, the wedding date had been set and Monica had a smile plastered across her face. I swear, her wedding was fit for royalty. I had made a round through the private room where the reception would be held and I’d never seen so much crystal and silver. And she must have found every kind of flower known to man.

Fingers snapping in my face pulled me back. “Maid of honor! You’re up.”

Ugh. I hate this wedding planner. I shot the planner a look and said, “I have a name. It’s Maddie, not maid of honor.”

I was feeling pretty good about myself for standing up to the Wicked Witch of the West—until she glared at me, making a strange noise.

“Walking now,” I said as I made my way to where I would start heading down the aisle. While I was walking, I smiled and nodded, saying hello to complete strangers. I didn’t know most of these people, and I was pretty sure Jack and Monica didn’t either.

That’s when I saw Cale. I sucked in a breath and attempted to keep my jaw from dropping to the ground and drool escaping. Holy shit. I need a new pair of panties.

He was dressed in a black tux, white dress shirt and a light teal tie. His messy brown hair was tamed, but not too much. The smile on his face made me slow my pace, until I heard a whispered, “Speed it up maid of honor!” I looked behind me, but the evil wedding planner was nowhere to be seen. Maybe I’d imagined it. Or she had something planted in my flowers so she could boss me around remotely.

As I came to the front, I saw Cale’s parents, Mary and Mitchel, sitting with Jack’s parents, Craig and Diane. My heart hurt for Monica, knowing that her parents weren’t here. Mary was holding Lily, who was also dressed in a light teal dress. She was five months old and just the sweetest little thing. I felt tears building in my eyes, and I looked away. I glanced back at Cale and his smile faded briefly before I gave him a slight grin. When I got to my position, he caught my eye and mouthed, “Happy tears?” I nodded and winked. I wasn’t sure why, but I was suddenly overcome with sadness.

The wedding march began and everyone turned to watch Monica. My heart leapt with awe. She was stunning. I smiled when it looked like Jack’s knees were going weak. His smile was huge as he watched her walk toward him. When she finally arrived at his side, he held his hands out for her. He leaned in and I could hear him say, “You look beautiful, Monica. More beautiful than what I dreamed.”

That’s when it happened. My best friend, a woman I’d known since middle school, publicly broke down in tears. Rachel, me and Monica’s college roommate, leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I’ll give you the fifty bucks after the reception.”

I smiled and nodded.

I TOOK IN a deep breath, inhaling Cale’s heavenly scent. I closed my eyes, moaning just slightly.

“Maddie,” Cale said, “keep making noises like that and I’m going to sneak you out to my car and have my wicked way with you.”