A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina

by Annalisa Daughety

  Madelyn walked over with a tiara and veil. “Try this, too. You want to get the full experience.”

  Summer bent down, and Madelyn placed the headpiece on top of her head. She stood upright and looked back in the mirror. “I look so—so…bridal.”

  They burst out laughing.

  “That’s kind of the point,” Ashley said. “Here, smile.” She held up the phone and snapped a couple of pictures.

  Summer turned back to the mirror. She’d never told Luke, but not having a real wedding had always bothered her. She’d dreamed of a church wedding at St. Michael’s. Chloe’s wedding had taken place in the historic building, and it had been so beautiful. Every time Summer planned a wedding at

  St. Michael’s, she imagined what her own would’ve been like. But it was too late now. “This has been fun. I guess now I know how I would’ve looked as a bride.”

  Madelyn smiled. “Hon, with your looks and figure, you could model those dresses. Be a bride every day.”

  Summer stepped down from the platform with a laugh. “This was enough. Besides, if I were dressed like a bride every day, it wouldn’t be special anymore.”

  “Um, I’d take that job,” Ashley said. “Any day that includes a tiara sounds like a great day to me.”

  Summer paused for Madelyn to unzip the dress. “Thanks for this. It was fun.” She smiled. “The most fun I’ve had in a while.”

  “I’m glad you were a good sport.” Madelyn smiled. “I love to see that look on a girl’s face when she sees herself in the dress for the first time. You were no different. For a minute, even the toughest girl turns into Cinderella.”

  Summer closed the fitting room door behind her and glanced in the mirror one last time.

  She was nobody’s Cinderella. But it had been fun to pretend for a few minutes that everything was perfect.

  Chapter 26

  Luke sat in his truck in the nursing home parking lot. He hadn’t seen his dad since Bobby’s funeral almost a year ago. Almost exactly a year ago.

  And even then the old man had been feeble. Broken. A lifetime of regret had been etched on his weathered face.

  Luke hadn’t tried to contact Summer since he’d seen her on Memorial Day. He hadn’t known what to say. Her eyes had been so full of anger and hurt. He’d never dealt that well with emotions, so he wasn’t sure what he could say or do to take away her pain.

  But today he wished he’d called her. He wished he’d asked her to come here with him. She would’ve known what to say, how to act. Her presence would’ve put him at ease.

  He climbed out of the truck and walked slowly toward the entrance. Rose had warned him that Daddy might not recognize him. She’d given him so many instructions on the phone last night, his phone battery had almost given out. He walked inside the building and glanced around the big hallway.

  A few elderly people shuffled past in robes. A teenage girl pushed an older woman in a wheelchair.

  He inhaled. He must be near the cafeteria, because there was a distinct food smell in the air. It didn’t seem as much like a hospital as he’d expected. It was a little homier with nice décor and wallpapered walls.

  He glanced at the sign on the wall. His dad’s room should be down the left corridor. He walked to the room and stopped in the doorway.

  Roy Nelson sat in a recliner next to his hospital bed, staring straight ahead. His gray hair was longer than the buzz cut he’d worn most of Luke’s life.

  Luke tapped gently on the door. “Hello,” he said.

  Daddy looked up, and his face brightened. “Pete,” he said with a grin. “It’s great to see you.”

  Pete Nelson had been Daddy’s older brother. He’d passed away fifteen years ago while Luke was in Nashville. Everyone in the Nelson family had always thought Luke resembled Pete more than he’d favored his own father. “Hi,” Luke said. Rose had warned him, but even so, the situation made him uncomfortable.

  “It’s been such a long time. How are Lucille and the kids?”

  Luke smiled. “Fine. How is your family?” He wondered what year it was in his dad’s mind.

  Daddy shook his head. “You know how hard it’s been since I lost Martha.”

  Luke nodded. “I know.”

  “But the kids are doing well. Rose stays with Martha’s sister a lot. She’s turning into such a good little cook. And so sweet. And Bobby is my athlete.” Daddy grinned. “Even though he’s just in junior high, I think he might end up playing football someday for the Gamecocks.”

  Bobby had played for a year until he’d torn his ACL. Luke had been so proud of his little brother and had gone to every home game. “That’s great.” He leaned forward. “How’s Luke?” He steeled himself against his dad’s response.

  Daddy’s face lit up. “Luke’s my pride and joy.”

  Luke’s eyes filled with unexpected tears. “Yeah?”

  “He’s so smart. That boy can be anything he wants. He’s in Nashville right now, trying to make it as a musician.” The older man chuckled. “But his heart’s here. Her name’s Summer.”

  “She’s a nice girl?”

  Daddy nodded. “She comes from money, but that doesn’t matter to Luke. First time I saw them together, I knew. He’d found someone to love like I loved Martha.” He sighed. “I’ve been so hard on him over the years. I’ve always been so proud of him, but I wanted him to want more than the life I had. Sometimes I wish I’d handled things with him differently.”

  Luke gripped his daddy’s hand and forced back the tears. “It’s not too late. I’ll bet he’d love to hear from you.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t want to bother him. He’s got his own life to live now.”

  Luke nodded. “They do grow up quick, don’t they?”

  Daddy’s face grew sad. “Too quick. I blinked, and they were gone. Bobby’s the only one at home now, and the next couple years will fly by.”

  “Make the most of it.” Luke couldn’t stay in the room any longer. The pain was too much.

  “Oh, I will. I’m hoping to have all the kids back in the house for Christmas.”

  Luke remembered that Christmas. He’d stayed in Nashville instead of coming home. And right now he’d give anything to be able to go back and accept the invitation his father had offered. “That sounds so nice.”

  Daddy beamed. “Oh, it will be.”

  “I’d better get going.” Luke stood.

  “Tell Lucille and the kids hello.”

  Luke nodded. He turned to go then turned back around and threw his arms around Daddy’s neck. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Daddy smiled and patted him on the back. “Okay. Bye, Pete.”

  Luke rushed out of the room, almost knocking down a nurse. He had to get to the truck. As soon as he hit the exit door, he broke into a run. He climbed into the truck and hunched over the steering wheel, his body racked with sobs.

  Luke hadn’t cried in years. Not when Bobby died. Not when Summer miscarried. Not even the night last week on the boat when he’d realized he might not be able to put his life back together again.

  He’d heard of people hitting rock bottom. But this was the first time he’d experienced it for himself. He’d waited his whole life to hear those words from his dad: I’m proud of you. They’d never come. Not once. Not when he’d graduated second in his class and spoken at the ceremony. Daddy had made some comment about how he should’ve worked harder and been first. When Luke married Summer, Daddy had just warned him not to mess up. And when he’d graduated from college and begun working for the National Park Service, Daddy had only shaken his head and muttered that Luke hadn’t reached high enough.

  But today, as Daddy thought he was talking to Uncle Pete, his pride had been evident. Maybe it had been there all along and Luke had been so sullen he hadn’t noticed it. He thought about all the times Summer had tried to persuade him to visit Daddy. Luke had given her a million reasons why he didn’t have time.

  And now time had run out. Even if he visited Daddy ever
y day for the rest of his life, it wouldn’t matter. He couldn’t turn back the clock.

  Luke leaned back and rested his head against the seat, his eyes blurry with tears. He glanced over at the passenger seat. He’d tossed Bobby’s things there and left them. He reached over and picked up his little brother’s Bible. He flipped it open, surprised by how many passages were highlighted and how many pages were dog-eared. He stopped in Ecclesiastes where nearly all the text on one page had been underlined and began to read in chapter 3:

  There is a time for everything,

  and a season for every activity under the heavens:

  a time to be born and a time to die,

  a time to plant and a time to uproot,

  a time to kill and a time to heal,

  a time to tear down and a time to build,

  a time to weep and a time to laugh,

  a time to mourn and a time to dance.

  He looked over the words again. How had he missed it?

  He’d looked at everything that had happened in his life over the past year as a personal attack. But that wasn’t it at all. It was just life. Unpredictable and unsteady. But God must know what He was doing even if Luke didn’t understand.

  And even though his pain was fresh, that thought gave him comfort.

  Summer flipped through her planner. June was flying by. Maybe it was best that this was one of her busiest months, because she’d barely had time to think about her problems. She’d spent the day being all too aware of the significance of today’s date though.

  Bobby’s accident had happened exactly a year ago.

  She’d been expecting Luke to call her all week. After the way he’d stopped by the house on Memorial Day wanting to talk, she’d thought he would seek her out. But maybe he’d expected the same thing from her. Or maybe he was so mad at her for letting Jefferson know about their problems that he didn’t want to talk to her.

  She leaned back in her chair and sighed. She’d been thinking lately that their relationship problems were a two-way street. He’d alluded to it on Memorial Day. It might be easy for her to blame Luke for pulling away and being distant, but she knew she’d done the same thing. After the miscarriage, she’d felt so lost. Luke didn’t want to talk about it, and only Gram and Ashley knew the truth. So she’d tried to handle her feelings herself.

  Over the months, she’d been so distracted, so foggy. No wonder Luke hadn’t known how to respond to her. He wasn’t the only one who’d acted like a different person. She had, too. It had taken some time alone to see her part in their problems more clearly.

  “You okay?” Ashley asked.

  Summer startled at the sound of her voice. “I’m fine. Just thinking. Today is the anniversary of Bobby’s accident.”

  Ashley furrowed her brow. “I’m so sorry. I know that’s got to be tough. Have you talked to Luke?”

  Summer shook her head. “No. I think I’m going to call him. Although I doubt he’ll tell me how he’s really feeling about everything.”

  “Why are men so much trouble?” Ashley dramatically put the back of her hand to her forehead. “Is it them or us?”

  Summer couldn’t help but laugh at her friend. “Probably a little of both.” She shook her head. “Any news on the website launch?”

  Ashley nodded. “Yep. It’s finished. Justin says it will be live come Monday.”

  “Awesome. Thanks again for your work on that.”

  A shadow crossed Ashley’s face. “You’re welcome.”

  Summer tried to read Ashley’s tone. Something was off with her. “Everything still okay with Justin? You went out last week, right?”

  “I did. But all I could think about was that I clearly remember the year he was born. I was in the first grade for Pete’s sake. Then I realized that when he was seven, I was fourteen. Which means I could’ve been his babysitter.”

  “I think you’re overthinking it.”

  Ashley sighed. “Maybe. Probably. But I still can’t shake that feeling. He is great though.”

  “You kissed him again, didn’t you?”

  “I sure did. And man, that boy can kiss. I swear, he makes me feel sixteen when he kisses me.”

  Summer couldn’t hide her smile. “I still think he’s a keeper.”

  Ashley shook her head. “I’ve made up my mind. We’re going out this weekend, and I’m going to tell him I can’t see him again.” She frowned. “I wish I could handle it, but I can’t. I’m too scared he’ll start to think of me as old and want to trade me in for a younger model.”

  Summer could only surmise that had been what happened in Ashley’s marriage, but she wasn’t certain. “You might be surprised.”

  “Or I might be heartbroken. I’d rather be alone than have my heart broken by Justin.”

  “There are no guarantees. On anything.” Summer had learned that lesson the hard way.

  Ashley raked a strand of blond hair from her face. “I know. But I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

  Summer stood up from her desk. “I’ll be out for the rest of the afternoon. I’m going to the boat to wait for Luke to get home from work. I want to see how he’s doing. Maybe he doesn’t realize what today is.”

  “Okay.” Ashley turned her attention back to her computer.

  Thirty minutes later, Summer pulled up to the marina. Luke should be here soon. She turned off the engine and went to sit on the dock next to the water. It was so peaceful. Waterhad always calmed her. She glanced over to where the Summer Girl sat. Had she been too hard on him for buying it? Maybe they would’ve had a great time on the boat this summer.

  She glanced at her watch. He should be here by now. She picked up her phone and dialed his number.

  Voice mail.

  Where would he go? She took a deep breath and tried not to worry.

  After fifteen minutes, she tried the call again and still got his voice mail. Her heart pounded. What if something had happened to him? It had been her constant thought over the past weeks. That something would happen and no one would know.

  Until it was too late.

  Summer picked up the phone and tried Rose’s number. Maybe Luke had decided he needed to be around his family today.

  “Hello,” Rose said.

  Summer quickly explained why she’d called.

  “I haven’t seen him, but I’m glad you called me,” Rose said. “He told me what was going on. He told me everything. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  Summer’s eyes widened in surprise. It wasn’t like Luke to confide in anyone. “Thank you. I’m surprised he told you though.”

  Rose chuckled. “Oh, I had to drag it out of him, and he kicked and screamed the whole time. Getting that man to talk is almost impossible.”

  Tell me about it. “Well, I’m sorry to bother you. I hoped you might know where he was today.”

  “Hang on. I think you and I should get together. I’ve dealt with the loss of a child, too. I’d love to talk to you about it. See if I can help any. I wish I’d known when it happened. I know how lonely the experience can be.”

  Unexpected emotion washed over Summer. She’d always gotten along with Rose, but Luke had wanted to keep his distance from his family. “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  “No problem,” Rose said. “I’ll call you in a week or two, and we’ll make plans to meet.”

  “Okay.”

  “And Summer? You might try the cemetery. I went out earlier this morning and took some fresh flowers. I have no idea if that’s a place Luke would go, but it might be.”

  Summer ended the call and sat in the SUV for another minute. As far as she knew, Luke hadn’t visited the cemetery since the day of Bobby’s funeral. Maybe today had been the day he’d finally faced it.

  She headed to North Charleston to the cemetery where Bobby had been laid to rest. Her mind reeled with the news that Rose had also lost a child. She and Luke should’ve known about it. And they would have if they were closer to his side of the family. She resolved to strengthen that bon
d once she and Luke got things worked out.

  If they did.

  She drove the SUV through the cemetery gates and spotted Luke’s truck in the distance. She quickly parked next to it and set out toward Bobby’s grave. It seemed like just yesterday when they’d been out here for the burial. Luke had been stoic,unwavering. At first she’d admired his strength, but soon she had begun to worry that it was unhealthy.

  And then she’d miscarried and had been so focused on herself, she hadn’t the time to make sure he was dealing with his grief.

  “Hey,” she said quietly as she approached Bobby’s grave.

  Luke rose from where he was kneeling and turned to face her. “How’d you find me?”

  “Lucky guess.” She stood next to him. “You okay?”

  He raked his fingers through his hair. He still wore his park service uniform but had left his hat in the truck. “I’m not sure.” He reached over and took her hand. “I’ve made a mess of things, haven’t I?”

  She squeezed his hand. “Let’s focus on remembering Bobby today.”

  “He’s at peace,” Luke said quietly. “It took me a long time to realize it.”

  She glanced over at him. Something seemed different, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

  Luke continued. “I think the accident was so violent, I couldn’t imagine him being at peace. You know?”

  Violent was the only word that could be used. Bobby’s car had been unrecognizable as a car. And an open casket hadn’t been an option. In a lot of ways, she knew that had only made it more difficult for Luke. “He knew the Lord. Had his life in order. So yes, I believe he’s at peace.”

  Luke nodded. “I’m trying to find my own peace with the situation.”

  “It’s hard. But you know Bobby would want you to let go.”

  Luke knelt down and brushed a speck of dirt from the headstone. “I’m getting there.” He rose and faced her. “I’d like to take you out to dinner. Would you go with me?”

  His uncertainty surprised her. After years of dating and marriage, she wouldn’t have expected him to be so unsure about asking her. “I’d like that.” She smiled. “A lot.”