Facing Redemption (30 page)

“It’s perfect, isn’t it?”  Chastity twirled once more in front of the mirror.  Anne nodded.  “And I have a little bit of a train, but not much of one … so it’s not too over done.”  Chastity reminded herself.

Anne and Chastity picked up her dress after the last fitting yesterday.  Chastity had to try it on just once more before the rehearsal dinner.

“I need to pinch myself.”  Chastity whispered.  She felt a sharp pinch at her arm below her.  She looked down to Anne, who was sitting in the chair next to her.  “Ow!”  Chastity yelped.

Anne laughed and lifted her champagne glass to her friend.  “You said you needed to be pinched.”  Anne laughed.

“No, I said,
I need
to pinch myself. I didn’t ask you to.”  Chastity teased.  She rubbed her arm and reached behind her to unzip.  “We’d better hurry if we want to beat these storms that are coming.  It better not rain on my wedding day tomorrow!”

Anne stood to help her friend out of her dress.  “Here, I’ll unzip this.  You go get dressed and then we’ll head to the church.”

“We’re supposed to get more flash floods this evening.  Think that will put a damper on things?”

“No.  It would only damper things if you change your mind about going out tonight.  Terri just texted though and said she won’t be going out afterward. ”

“Well that’s okay.  She’s a couple months pregnant.  I’m surprised she can still fit into her bridesmaids dress!”  Chastity laughed.  “I’m still up for it.  Nothing crazy though, right?”  Chastity said worried.  Going out with flash floods and thunderstorms was not her idea of fun.

“No.”  Anne smiled.  “I promise.  Also, I invited a few girls that you volunteer with.”

“From the center? Great!”  Chastity volunteered a few days a week, teaching art classes at a local center for children’s camps.  She’d grown close to a few other staff members.

Anne nodded.  She had a mild night planned for her friend, starting with the dinner after tonight’s rehearsal. Then they’d meet a select few out for dancing.  Anne had already packed a bag full of tricks for her friend.  And to top if off, she’d hired a limo to shuttle them around.

Chastity came out of the dressing room, with her dress carefully laid across her arm.  Even though she’d changed back, she looked positively radiant.  She slipped on a pair of black Capris and a loose silky top that was off the shoulder.  Her dark purple top complimented her emerald eyes and dark skin.  Anne felt so stark in comparison.

“You’re a knock-out!  Timothy will see you and not let you go out tonight.  We may not get you out of the church…he’s going to want to marry you on the spot - even without your designer dress on.”

“Oh no!  I have to wear my dress.  He’ll have to let me go.  I am wearing that dress down the aisle!”  Chastity was adamant. 

“Okay sunshine – let’s get you to the church.”  Anne followed Chastity, with keys in hand to help Chastity put her dress carefully in the trunk.

“Thank you for being here with me through this.”  Chastity said quietly as they slipped into the car. 

Anne turned to reflect how hard this must be for her without her mom.  She took her hands from the start button on her dashboard, and smiled sadly at her friend.  “I’m not her, but I’m family.”  Anne said sadly.

“I’m not going to cry, …” Chastity stated firmly. “I will not cry.”

Anne heard a sniffle and shook her head.  “I know sweetheart, but it’s okay if you do.  You know your mom is with you, looking down on you.”

Chastity sighed, her chest tight.  “I know.  And it gets easier on the normal days, but during times like this,” she raised her hands in reference,  “It’s just not easy.”

“I know.”  Anne had no words to make Chastity feel any better.  “Trust me, I know.” 

Chastity turned to her friend, with who she had so much in common.  “I know you do sweetie.  Sometimes I feel selfish telling you how I feel, because I know you miss your momma too.”

Both girls pulled each other into a hug.  They consoled each other for a few minutes before strapping in.

“Okay.  You ready to get going?”  Anne asked to be sure.  Chastity nodded with a sigh.  Anne looked up through the windshield, wondering if they’d make it in time.

They pulled into the parking lot just as the storms rained down on their car.  Timothy was waiting for them at the door, with a large golf umbrella.  Chastity smiled sweetly at the sight of him. 

“He’s so sweet.”  She waved at her fiancé through her window, as he ran to the car to walk her in.

Timothy opened her door, and yelled into the car.  “I’ll be right back for you Anne.  Don’t get out.”  He ushered Chastity inside and true to his word, he came right back out for her. 

Anne shook her head.  That sealed it.  Her friend did find the very last good guy left on the planet and part of her cringed with envy – even though she’d sworn them all off.

Timothy grabbed her door handle and did the best he could to keep her dry.  They ran to the interior of the walkway, where they were sheltered under the overhang.  Anne shook off the rain, as Timothy opened the church door for her. 

“I’ll go park your car.  Will you tell Chastity I’ll be right in?”  Timothy hollered over the wind.

Anne nodded and quickly shut the door.  She shivered and wished she’d brought a sweater.  Maybe going out tonight wasn’t such a good idea.  She waved to Cheryl and Lauri as she set her purse down on the pew.  Chastity was at the front of the church with her uncle and little Alex, going over the ring bearer’s duties. 

As Anne ran her hands through her matted wet hair, she felt someone walk up behind her.  She turned around and bumped into Guy, who almost fell over her. He stumbled but caught them both from falling.  When Anne separated herself from him, she had a second to take him in…and decided he was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen.  He was perfectly manicured … almost too perfect.
He probably spends more time in front of the mirror than I do.

“I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean to …” Anne started to apologize for almost taking out this random stranger.

“The wet look suits you Grace.”  Guy pushed some hair from Anne’s face and looked her over from head to toe.  It made her feel completely self-conscious.

“Grace?” Anne retorted.  W
ho does he think he is?

“Yeah, Grace…you know opposite of clumsy…graceful.  You almost took me out.”

“My name is not Grace.”  Anne sent him an icy stare, but then she chastised herself for being rude. 
It’s pure coincidence that he’s calling you by your sister’s name… plus it’s a joke Anne. Lighten up!

“Okay Grace, if you say so.”  Guy winked down at her and tried to put an arm around her shoulders. 
Okay, this time he’s being rude! 
Anne shrugged off his arm and bounded down the aisle, a few steps ahead of him.

Guy laughed and said nothing the rest of the way into the sanctuary.  He liked how her back went stiff in reaction to him.  She was a handful, he could tell … and a challenge.  Guy didn’t back away from challenges.

Anne, disgusted, quickly made her way to rest of the group assembled at the altar.  Terri waived a hand in greeting.  Anne waived back and then pulled Chastity to the side.

“Who’s the turd in the suit?” 

Terri’s eyes went wide.  “You know we’re in a church, right?  And it’s lightning outside?”

“Yeah Anne.  What gives?” Chastity asked.

Cheryl giggled as she overheard their conversation.  She pardoned herself and sat in the pew with her husband, and Timothy’s parents.

“What?  I’m not cursing.  I’m stating a fact.  That guy is a turd.”  Anne gestured toward Guy, which only resulted in giving him an ego boost.  He smiled in return to her gesture, to which Anne released some sort of noise that Chastity could only interpret as disgust.

Chastity laughed instantly.  “Well that turd …” Terri nudged her laughing, and Chastity silently hoped they wouldn’t be struck down.   “… is the one you’re walking down the aisle with.  His name is Guy. He’s …”

Anne interrupted.  “Guy? His name is Guy?? Of course it is.”  She wobbled her head back and forth.  “His name is Guy.” She said in a mimicking tone.

Chastity belted out a laugh.  “What is your deal?  It’s just a name.”

“Just a name?  You ever meet a guy named Guy that wasn’t an ego-centric turd?”

“No!  I’ve never met anyone with his name.  And he seems pretty nice to me. He’s actually kind of funny.” 

“That’s because you’re almost married to his best friend, who has questionable taste in friends.  And that’s all I’m going to say.”

“Okay … whatever.”  Chastity put her hand up in surrender.  She wasn’t about to waste her time trying to pry Anne out of a bad mood.  Since coming to town, Anne had pretended like everything was okay … but Chastity could tell there was a hardness about her that wasn’t there before.  It worried Chastity, but tonight was her night.  It was time to focus on Timothy and her wedding.

As if on cue, Timothy walked in and headed down the aisle slightly drenched.  His dark eyes met hers at the end of the aisle, which made Chastity’s heart leap.  He looked so handsome in his slightly drenched khaki’s and his OU polo.  Even when he was casual, he looked like a million bucks, and she knew he was someone that would always have that effect on her.  She drew a deep breath in and walked toward him with her hand extended.  He took her hand in his and drew her to his side.

“Let’s do this.”  He whispered and kissed her on the cheek.  He led her to the altar, where the rest of the party was waiting.  Scott and Terri dutifully took their places, but Chastity had to glare at Anne to make her stand up next to Guy. 

Since the news of the pastor’s death, they’d asked another pastor in the church to marry them.  Not only was he a friend of her Uncle Jesse, but he also knew the Banks family.  He wasn’t who they’d planned on, but he was a pretty good substitute. 

Pastor Allen took his place in front, with their eccentric wedding planner, Curtis. The over emphatic planner staged the scene with dramatic flare, in an effort to paint the picture for everyone.  Curtis explained everything to a detail and reminded everyone of their designated spots, as if it were a play - and they had to hit their marks.  He tapped Anne on the shoulder a couple times to remind her to stand closer to Guy.

             
“Where’d you find this guy buddy?” Guy leaned over and whispered to Timothy.

             
“Be nice, Guy.  We can’t all have the chiseled chins and manly arms like you do.  He’s the best at what he does.  They say he works magic.”

             
Guy laughed just as the power flickered and went out.  Everyone in the room gasped. “Well buddy – can he get the lights back on?”

             
“Oh NO!” Chastity groaned.

             
Without missing a beat Curtis, hurried up to the bride, flashlight in hand, to calm the waters.  “Sweetie.  This happens all the time.  I bet the lights will be on any minute.” Curtis, the wedding planner extraordinaire, snapped his fingers in gesture … just as the lights came back on.

             
Timothy watched Guy’s eyebrows shoot up.  “He’s good.”  Guy whispered.

             
Timothy belted out a laugh that echoed through the room.  They all joined in.

Chapter 43

After rehearsal, Jesse treated the group to dinner downtown, off the Bricktown Canal.  Their dimly lit private dining area, decorated in tones of red and black, overlooked the restaurant from the loft above.  It was as exclusive as you could get in this town.

             
Jesse waited till all of them were served with their wine to stand, glass raised.  He smiled warmly down at Chastity.

             
“I’ll make this quick. I know you two have your individual plans tonight.”  Jesse saw the exchanged looks between the young friends and the couple.  What an exciting time for them all.  What an exciting time for him!

             
“I grew up relying on few people, and never understood how or what I was missing until I learned how to love by the grace of a good woman.”  Jesse looked to Lauri and smiled.  He then turned to Timothy.  “And when you’re lucky, you find someone to show you the way, like you have Timothy.  Someone like Chastity, who is strong and gentle … who is level headed yet passionate.”

             
Timothy squeezed Chastity’s hand under the table.

             
“And when you find someone who turns your whole world upside down, it changes you.  If you’re lucky enough, you hold on to her without squeezing too tightly.  You love her without taking her for granted.  And if you find that balance – and strike a partnership that is so rare that the rest of the world will be jealous, you will have a love that lasts.”  Everyone started to raise their glass. 

“But most importantly …” Jesse continued, as the group brought their glasses back down. Lauri laughed at her husband, who was milking it for all it was worth.  “Most importantly you take into consideration what God’s hand can do for your marriage.  Timothy … Chastity … you’re both amazing young people.  I would encourage you to not only look to each other in good times and bad for support but also to keep God as your anchor, in the center of your marriage.  May He guide and protect you.  He doesn’t promise life will be easy – but He promises to always be there for you…just as you two will, as you take your vows tomorrow.”