Beyond the Stars (11 page)

DEVOTION

My parents were ecstatic with the news of our engagement. They were flying in from New York this weekend to help with the rushed wedding plans and meet Jack. Our small families would make things easy. Our friends would make up most of the guest list. Jack showed up just before 10 a.m. Saturday morning even though my parents weren’t going to be at my apartment until noon. We couldn’t wait to see each other since he had been working off-site again all week. He walked over to me and pulled me close to him.

“What are you up to, stranger?” I asked seductively.

“Missing you,” he muttered. He drove his fingers through his hair, uncovering a three-inch gash at his hairline above his left eye.

“Jack … oh my goodness,
what
happened to you?” I gasped and quickly lifted his hair back up to expose the sutured wound.

“What?” he said innocently like I wouldn’t have noticed his injury.

“That! You know, the stitched area on your head,” I snapped sarcastically.

“Oh—um … I just had a little mishap when I was testing out one of the aircrafts,” he murmured briefly. I quickly looked him over to discover that he was banged up in other places as well. Both of his hands had partly healed cuts all over them.

“
Jeez
, look at you. Are you sure you’re okay? Why didn’t you say anything to me about it?” I screamed. I couldn’t help freaking out. It was shocking that he didn’t mention anything about his accident when I talked to him on the phone this week.

“Really, it’s no big deal,” he muttered. He shifted his body as though my concern made him uncomfortable.

“Are you kidding? No big deal! What exactly do you
do
when you go away, Jack?” I asked bluntly, crossing my arms while I waited for an answer. I wanted to bombard him with a hundred questions. I didn’t care if I was crossing the line here. Why the secrecy? How dangerous was this job? Was he doing something illegal? I suddenly realized just how little I knew about him.

“Well, I guess I have to tell you a little bit.” He frowned and distanced his body from mine. “I help test prototype aircrafts for a specialized division of the military. They’re experimental, one of a kind. You’d be amazed at how much headway we’re making. Aviation will never be the same. It’s all top secret, though, so I can’t really talk about it. Great, I’ve already said too much. If I tell you more, then I’d have to
kill
you,” he teased with a serious undertone, reminding me to keep my questions to myself.

“How did you get hurt?” I asked more casually, trying to pry for information.

“I sort of crashed. I dipped the aircraft nose a little too steep. It skimmed … no, really, it just grazed across the ground a little when I landed.” He winced as if he were trying to lift the nose of the aircraft with his face while he relived the event in his mind.

“Wow, I didn’t know …” I stopped myself and just shook my head in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?” The very thought of him racing across the sky at supersonic speed made me ill. I wished he could work safely behind a desk every day and give up his work for the Air Force altogether. Of course, one job wouldn’t be enough for someone with all of his ambition, and he probably wouldn’t be satisfied without taking risks with his life. The whole world moved too slowly for him. I noticed his stiffened body language and somewhat threatening glare urging me to let the conversation drop. He didn’t want to tell me more. There was no point, anyway. He’d be vague in answering any of my questions. I knew he couldn’t tell me the full story since he was obviously sworn to secrecy. I wondered what other mysteries he kept hidden inside. I decided it was better if I looked the other way. Jack’s love for adventure was what propelled him through life. There was no changing that. I tried to eradicate the worries from my mind. How else could I allow myself to love someone like him? I had to accept everything about him. No one was perfect. I just couldn’t believe how he could talk so calmly about the whole thing. It was as if he could turn off his emotions at will.

“That’s it, that’s all you’re going to say? Why aren’t you yelling? Aren’t you
mad
at me?” He sounded confused by my calm reaction.

“Yes, a little, but I’m just glad you’re okay,” I said coolly. “Wow, you never cease to amaze me.”

“Why?” I frowned.

“God, Sami, I never thought you would react so well to my crash. Most women would either scream at me till they were blue in the face or be running for the hills by now. But
you—
you’re remarkable. Man, I must have done something right in a past life to deserve you,” he said, sounding relieved.

“You know, you don’t have to tell me exactly
what
you do, but from now on, will you tell me
if
you get hurt?” I decided to strike a deal.

“I will. I’m sorry—I should’ve told you.” He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead.

“Mm-hmm,” I agreed. He was already forgiven in my mind. My mind flashed forward as I thought about how many more mishaps I would have to endure with him in the future. At least life would never be dull.

“Hey, I got something for you.” He smiled mischievously, breaking my sudden silence. His eyes held mine as he took my hand, led me to the sofa in the living room, and took a seat.

“What? Oh please, don’t start buying baby stuff before the wedding,” I demanded. I felt worried because, for all I knew, he could have a crib in the hallway. He was so excited about the baby. I knew he was dying to participate in any way he could.

“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s something for
you.
” He smirked.

“I’m waiting,” I said while my patience drew thin, unable to predict what he was up to.

He reached in his pocket, pulled out a small white box, and placed it in my hand. “Here, open it,” he said. My face blushed with embarrassment at my incorrect conclusion. I opened the box and discovered a sparkling round diamond. It reflected rainbow facets of light across the room as it caught the morning sun shining through my living room window.

“Oh, Jack! It’s beautiful!” I beamed.

“I thought you’d like it. I had to get something that was pretty enough for my stunning bride.” He took the ring and placed it on my finger.

“It fits perfectly,” I said.

“I used a ring guide to measure your finger while you were sleeping. I thought for sure you were going to wake up, but you slept like a log.” He laughed.

“It’s huge! How much did you spend?”

“Enough, but don’t worry about it. I sold my car, and I even have some leftover for a down payment on a house.”

“What, you
sold
your car? Are you crazy? You need a car more than I need this ring,” I argued.

“Samantha, relax. Not my Acura,” he sighed. “I’ve been restoring a 1957 Corvette convertible.”

“I didn’t know that!” What else was he hiding from me? His mysteriousness was alarming and intriguing at the same time. “Why didn’t you ever show it to me?” I asked, puzzled.

“It was time to let it go. Besides, I don’t think it would fit a car seat. Plus, it was really fast, and I know how you hate fast things.”

“I never said that.” I gave him a playful nudge on the arm. It hurt my hand without fazing him at all. He shrugged his shoulders while seeming to hold back a smile at my response.

“I’m just kidding. I didn’t want to show it to you in case you liked it. Then, I could never sell it. I spent so much time rebuilding it. At this point, I was afraid to even drive it. I think a scratch would give me a heart attack. Besides, I just sold it for ninety-five thousand on eBay,” he said proudly, with excitement in his voice and a joyful expression across his face.

“Wow, that’s great! Forget the car, I’ll keep the ring.” I smiled with astonishment while I looked at my hand.

“Hmmm.” He smiled widely before he took my hand in his and looked at the ring. “I thought you’d see it my way.”

“I’ll cherish it forever,” I mused, looking up at him.

“I’ll cherish
you
forever. Come here. I really missed you,” he said before he gave me a passionate kiss. Our close proximity was all the foreplay I needed. It was almost impossible to control myself around him. Jack felt the same and wasted no time before he lifted me into his arms to carry me into the bedroom. I tipped my head back over his shoulder and quickly looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. My parents wouldn’t be here for another hour and a half. Yes! We definitely had enough time to fool around.

Jack and my parents hit it off from the start. He had chemistry with them, as well. It made me happy to see them be so comfortable together. I think my parents understood why I loved him. Before they arrived, I had warned Jack about my mother’s excessive enthusiasm about the wedding. He didn’t fully grasp my mother’s grandiose plan for the event until she started telling us about all of her well-researched ideas. He gave me a bewildered stare bordering on terror as she went on and on about how wonderful the wedding would be. We both decided it was all in her hands. Before the weekend was over, Jack was calling my mother “monster-in-law wedding planner” in a charming manner every time she brought up the wedding. She would laugh it off and continue explaining her ideas. She was not the kind of person who minded being teased for her extravagant imagination.

***

The wedding commenced exactly two months later. An unexpected cancelation opened up the perfect reception spot. It was phenomenal how quickly everything was arranged. I was truly blown away by the details my mother tended to. It also didn’t hurt that she had friends in all the right places. I wore a soft ivory gown that had an empire waist, disguising my slightly distended belly. It didn’t look like I was pregnant at all, just really fashionable. My aunt, Sarah, also from New York, helped me to find the gown. Although I would have loved to have had a cousin, her and her husband chose not to have children. They both enjoyed their freedom and seemed dumbfounded by my parents’ years of yearning for a family. I’m not sure if she still felt that way. I did know that she was more than happy to assist her only niece in finding the perfect dress.

At the reception, I introduced Jack to my old friends, and he introduced me to his. Every one of our friends from work flew into the Big Apple for the event. For the most part, I instantly liked all of Jack’s guests. All except for one peculiar man who worked with Jack in the Air Force, test piloting aircraft. He wasn’t married and came alone. He was so standoffish that he should have had “top secret” stamped across his forehead. I was surprised that Jack befriended him enough to invite him to the wedding. I asked him how he knew Jack, expecting to open up a conversation. My question was answered with uninviting eyes and a two-word response: “Air Force.” It made me wonder what kind of duties Jack performed when he was testing the aircrafts.

Jack’s dad gave me the biggest hug. “Welcome to the family, Samantha. I am so happy that Jack found you,” he beamed. I could see the family resemblance when they stood side by side.

“Thank you, sir. I feel the same,” I replied.

“Oh, please, call me John,” he quickly corrected me.

Jack and I made our way across the room. Noah came up between us and put his arms around us both. “Hey, there you are.
Come here
, you two lovebirds,” he said. Noah was our best man. “I need a picture with the lovely couple.” He reached his arm around my neck to hold his camera out in front of the three of us.

“Noah, take the picture already,” I pleaded. The weight of his arm was strangling me in a choke hold. I grabbed his arm with both of my hands and tried to lift it off my upper chest.

“Wait, it’s not good. No, not yet,” he said as he fiddled with the zoom.

“
Come on,
Peterson, just take the picture.” Jack groaned.

“There.” He finally snapped the shot and quickly turned the camera around to admire his work. “Oh, yeah, it’s perfect.
Beautiful
, see.” He held the screen up to show Regis and his wife, Tina, standing nearby. They held back a laugh.

“What, Noah? Let me see,” I demanded and grabbed Noah’s arm with the camera. He showed Jack and me the image. The picture was only of me and Noah. He had completely cut Jack out.

“You’re such a dork.” Jack chuckled and pushed him away like an annoying little brother.

“Thanks.” Noah made a dippy smile and nudged Jack back. He was such a goofball. I couldn’t believe someone so intelligent could be so immature.

Regis interrupted. “Play nice, kids.”

Jack retorted, “Yeah, play nice Noah.”

Regis leaned in to hug me and then Jack. “Congratulations. You two are great together. Take good care of her.” Regis looked at Jack.

Jack’s eyes met mine. “I will,” he promised.

Regis smiled. “So, is there any news on when you’re gonna launch the Space resort?

Jack grinned. “Not yet, Regis, but don’t worry. You’ll be the first person I call.”

Tina rolled her eyes. “Oh you’re just afraid you’ll die before they get that place built.”

Noah shook his head. “Well, have no fear, sir. I can assure you, it will be built. The future demands its existence,” Noah said convincingly. His extreme confidence made me wonder if he knew something the rest of us didn’t.