Facing Redemption (35 page)

Terri knocked on the glass screen door.  Chastity waived her inside.  “Hey there.  You made it!”

“David just dropped me off … I feel a little car sick though.  Maybe it’s from driving around all the stuff in the roads?  It might be morning sickness. Where’s your bathroom Chaz?”  Terri looked a bit green.

Anne grabbed another mimosa.  It was going to be a long day.

Chapter 49

John woke up like any other day, sleep deprived and anxious.  Even though his dreams had subsided, his mind wandered all night to his daughter’s wedding day.  Today was the day that he wouldn’t walk his own daughter down the aisle.  Today was the day he was supposed to ignore one of the biggest days in his family.  John dragged himself to sit at the side of the bed and laid his head in his hands. 

             
God help me through today.  My heart aches.

             
Andie, freshly showered, walked in from the bathroom and wrapped her hair up in a towel.  She walked to the side of the bed, ruffled his hair and leaned over to kiss him on the head.

             
“Morning.” He mumbled.

             
“Morning sleepy head.  Any sleep?” Andie reached into her dresser and pulled out some panties. 

             
John shrugged his shoulders. “A little.  It’s easier than it used to be, since the nightmares have stopped but…” John’s eyes lit up when he realized his wife was naked.  “Even pregnant, you’re sexy as hell.”

             
Andie laughed in return and handed him her panties.

             
“Is that an offer?”  He teased.
             
“Yeah.”  She said in the sexiest voice she could muster, before laughing.  “I’m suggesting you help me put them on…not take them off.  I get a bit off balance being this big.”

             
John laughed and stood up to kiss his wife.  “Now, it’s a good morning.”  He said through his lips.  “Even if I can’t be at my daughter’s wedding today…it’s a good day.  I’ll make sure of it.”

             
Andie loved the way he was trying to stay upbeat.  Over the last few months John had slowly transitioned out of his martyr mentality and was truly trying to move forward.  It was progress, but she knew he was struggling today.

             
John let his hands travel from around her waist and land on her belly.  He leaned down and kissed it…once on the top and once on each side of her belly.  It was as round as a basketball now and to John, she couldn’t be more beautiful.

             
“Any day now… I can’t wait to meet you sweet baby girl.”  John whispered into Andie’s navel. 

             
“I know it’s not the same sweetheart – but you’ll be the one walking her down the aisle on her wedding day.  And little Lanie will know and love her daddy.  It’s not reassurance right now, but you’ve got this baby and Chastity will come around some day.” 

John lifted to stand straight. “Andie, if only I could see her on her special day.  I know I can’t walk her down the aisle.  I would never hope for that, but to just be able to see her get married, in her dress.  To be there in some way would be so special.”  He sat back on the bed and reached for her to sit down next to him.  John began the task of helping Andie get dressed.

“Why can’t you?”

“Can’t I what?”

“Why can’t you see her today?”

John’s head snapped around.  His face was so close to hers that she could see his pupils react with excitement to the prospect.

“But I wasn’t invited and I told Jesse I’d stay away.  I gave him my word.  That means something to me.”  He said trying to convince himself.

“You can still honor your word.  You can stay away from the bride, but you’re only a plane ride away babe. And you could sneak in the back before she comes in or after she comes in…either way, no one has to see you, but you could see her.  What size church is it in?”

“It’s not huge.”
“But it’s big enough you could mix in the crowd without being seen?”

“Yes, but I may be recognized.”

“Well I’m not suggesting you stay for the reception and mingle.  Just go for the service and leave out a side entrance or something before it ends.”

John sat in a stupor staring at his wife.  He couldn’t believe what she was suggesting. 
             

Andie laughed and threw her head back.  “Ugh men! Okay what are you waiting for? Go! Book a charter flight to get there faster.”

“You’re due any day now Andie.  You’re more important to me than anything.”

Andie smiled sweetly.  “I know.  Listen, you work for a security company that services the top dollar clients.  You can get your hands on a charter plane fast enough to quickly get there and back.  This day will never come again. … GO!” she softly urged.

John jumped off the side of the bed in a panic, looking for his phone.  “Okay … I will.”

“Except will you help me get dressed first?  I can’t put on my socks.”  Andie stuck out her bottom lip and pretended to pout. She got the reaction she’d hoped for.  He burst out in laughter and helped his very pregnant wife finish dressing.

“Thank you babe.”  Andie said.  “Now get on the phone and get out of here.  If you leave now, you’ll make it in time.”

John kissed Andie and then leaned down to kiss her belly.  Andie stood to watch out her window as John ran to his car.  She waved through the curtains and watched him drive off until she couldn’t see his car anymore.

Chapter 50

Curtis spun full circle and took in the room.  It was as elegant as he’d imagined. Flowers were perfectly placed around the atrium from every angle. To him, it seemed like a perfect tropical paradise.  The orchids and lilies overflowed generously over the end of each pew. A generous spray of lilies, orchids, and birds of paradise, sat at the top of the steps in front of the church.  Curtis could almost picture where the lovely couple would step through the centerpieces upstage to stand under his piece de resistance.

I’ve really outdone myself this time.
He smiled and clapped his hands.  Curtis walked up the church steps to center stage where he’d placed wire columns as the main focal point, and ran his hands over the his work of art.  It took him until midnight, but the diligent work to hand wrap each wire with tulle and twinkle lights had been worth it.  His staff came in early this morning to set his fresh cut flowers in perfect positions throughout the tulle and lighting.  It gave the illusion of flowers cascading down the entire structure, and twinkle lights added an extra glow.  It was pure magic.

             
Quietly, Curtis’ assistant, tiptoed down the aisle and up the steps behind him.  She didn’t want to break the spell that she knew Curtis was under.  Every wedding was the same.  He’d make a mad dash to finish all the checklists of what had to be done, he’d stop to marvel at his work, and finally prepare mentally for what was to come.  She reached to tap him on the shoulder but hesitated.  She wanted Curtis to enjoy the moment, before the rest of the day came crashing around their heads.

             
Curtis hummed and leaned in to smell his work.  “Looks good don’t it Opal?”

             
Opal knew better than to ask how he knew she was standing there.  She knew by now, that Curtis knew almost everything.  “Yes, you – we do wonderful work.”  She stammered.

             
“Well then … enough standing around my little Opal.  We’ve got a lot more work to do.  I’ve already had too many fires to put out today and don’t need any more.  Chop! Chop!”  Curtis clapped his hands and whirled around to face his assistant. 

             
“Um, you’re not going to like this.”  Opal’s face was strained.

             
“Oh no!  You’re not going to tell me any more bad news!  This weather has really put a damper on this day!”  Curtis stepped down and away from Opal, and started waving his hands in the air.  “Ahhh!  Okay.”  He stopped and whirled back around.  “Tell me!  What happened now?”

             
Opal’s face was still pinched.  Curtis grabbed her by the hands and pulled her to the pew.

             
“You look like your head is going to explode at any minute.  It must be bad.”  Curtis whined in anticipation.

             
Opal nodded.  “I think it just might.  It just keeps coming!”

             
Curtis let out a gust of air and sunk into the pew.  “If I were a praying man …”

             
“You’d better start now.”  Opal nodded her head and stared ahead.  She took a deep breath and started in. “Okay, the caterer’s dad died this morning.”  She heard Curtis gasp, but continued on, “… So she’s not going to be here to serve food.  She had someone send the food over but,” she saw Curtis’ look of panic,  “she left her part-time high school aged help in charge of serving and cooking.”

             
“Eeek!”  Curtis lifted his hand to his mouth.  “Part-time kids in charge of serving over 500 people?” 

             
Opal nodded and continued.  “And … the reception hall called me.”

             
Curtis gave her a blank stare.  “And?  There’s more?  Why would they call?  They already canceled!”

             
“Yes, but the bakery didn’t know that.”  Opal thought she might have to pick Curtis off the floor any minute.  “And our bride wanted a certain kind of cake that the caterer couldn’t do, so remember … they hired an outside baker for the cake.”

             
“So why would the reception hall call about a cake?”

             
“Because the baker just showed up there five minutes ago, and he told them that there was no reception being held there.  He sent them away.”

             
“Where’d he send them to?”  Curtis’ eyes were bulging, and his forehead began to sweat.

             
“I don’t know.  I tried calling the bakery but their phone lines are down and I couldn’t get through.”

             
“Well, this just won’t do!!”  Curtis screeched, stood up, and began pacing back and forth.  Opal could see the wheels spinning.

             
“Okay, okay.  Here’s what we’ll do.  Take the van and drive to the bakery.  They have to be going back there.  Intercede and tell them we need it delivered to the church’s kitchen stat!  And call me on my cell as soon as you track them down.”  Curtis urged.  Opal’s face loosened up for the first time in an hour.  Curtis was working his mojo and Opal knew it would all fall into place.  It always did.

             
“But what about the caterer?”  Opal asked.

             
“There’s nothing we can do about that.  We can’t bring her dad back… so I’ll go prep the kids and make sure they know what to expect.”  Curtis started to run down the aisle, and yelled the rest over his shoulder.  “I still have to get the wedding off without a hitch and now the reception that almost wasn’t is almost not again.” 

             
Opal grabbed the van keys from her purse and took off, like lightning, for the parking lot.  As she was getting in her van, she noticed how full the parking lot was getting.  Guests were arriving.  She had to find that cake!

While panic ensued for Curtis and his team, the bride was completely unaware as it should be.  Chastity leaned forward to inspect the vision she had become in the vanity mirror.  She heard the camera click behind her.  She smiled at the reflection of the camera, to give the photographer what she wanted, and heard the camera click again. 

“I think I got it Ms. Chastity.”  Kimmy, the photographer, grinned as she reviewed the back of her camera.  She showed Chastity a few shots from the morning.  Chastity wistfully smiled when she saw one of Cheryl and Anne helping her with her veil.  

“Look guys.”  Chastity called to her friends.  They quickly crossed the room, still getting ready but wanting to see the pictures.  “These are so good. I can’t wait to see the final product.  Do you have any of Timothy on there?”  Chastity shot Kimmy a mischievous grin, and raised her eyebrows. 

Kimmy laughed. “Of course, but I’m not showing you.”  Kimmy quickly turned her camera off and put in her bag.  “That would ruin the surprise.”