by Morris, T M
“So you do love me? You’re not just saying it ‘for the good of our baby’?” She was in shock.
“I love you. I love you and I’m a miserable excuse of a man without you.” Devon smiled and without releasing Lucy he reached into the front pocket of his trousers and pulled out his mother’s diamond solitaire ring. He had carried it in his pants pocket since Thanksgiving. “It was my mother’s. I asked Dad on Thanksgiving if I could have it for you. I’ve been trying to find a good time to ask you if you would marry me. I wanted to ask you the night but the break in side lined me for a while.”
“It’s beautiful, Devon.” Her eyes sparkled anew with fresh tears. Tears of joy.
Devon’s blue eyes were smoky with emotion as he looked deep into Lucy’s bright green eyes. He brushed away the tears on her cheeks with one long finger as he said, “Lucy, I love you. I can’t live without you. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Yes. I will marry you.” Her heart was about to burst with joy.
Devon’s kiss was full of passion. Then he slipped the ring on her finger. “We will get married as soon as possible. How does Monday sound?”
“I didn’t realize you were in such a hurry.” Lucy laughed.
“I am. I can’t wait any longer. We’re going to be a family. We can get the license first thing and get married right afterward. I’ll have Sylvia call the minister.” He said as he pulled her toward the study door. He was leading her back to the living room to rejoin his family, soon to be her family as well.
“You are in a hurry.” Lucy couldn’t keep from laughing from joy. All her worries were gone. Devon loved her and wanted their baby. He wanted to marry her. Her heart overflowed with joy.
Chapter Twenty Two
“I can’t believe it. This is all happening so fast.” Sylvia exclaimed from her seat in Jonathan's study. Moments before Devon and Lucy had returned from the County Clerk’s Office with a marriage license in hand.
“When will the minister arrive?” Devon asked looking at the mantel piece clock for the seventeenth time in five minutes.
“Are you in a hurry to get to your honeymoon, son?” Jonathan laughed.
“He should be here within the next half hour. Eli and Claire should get here soon as well.” Carmella supplied. She was beaming with her own remembered joy as she looked into Thad’s loving gaze. Then she added in a solemn voice, “Too bad Jack is already in rehab and couldn’t be here.”
Everyone nodded in silent agreement. Devon changed the subject. “Would anyone happen to know where my bride has disappeared to?”
“I know where she is, honey. Don’t worry. She will be here for the ceremony; she’s changing.” Sylvia explained with a knowing smile, her eyes on Jonathan. He too smiled.
“Um, is my suit going to be formal enough for this change she’s making?” Devon asked.
Jonathan laughed. “Son, we told you not to worry, so stop.”
Devon paced the floor too nervous to stand still. He ran his hands through his hair causing it to spike up everywhere. “Where’s the preacher?”
“His name is Joel House and he is on his way in as we speak. We just saw him pull in the driveway,” Claire said.
“I’ll go help Lucy finish changing.” Carmella rose from her seat and headed for the door.
“Oh! Did it fit?” Claire asked.
“It was perfect. We didn’t even have to get any alterations.” Jonathan smiled.
“Did what fit?” Devon asked distracted. He was staring out the window toward the garden. He mused, “Maybe we should have done this in the church.”
“Where the ceremony takes place means little,” Joel House said as he entered, “it’s the vows that matter, young man.”
Devon eyed the portly man with a sparse pate in a dark suit with nervous eyes. “I suppose you’re right. It’s just—I hadn’t planned for our wedding to take place at my parent's house. It’s not very romantic.”
“Well then, son, maybe you should have put the horse in front of the cart—not behind it.” Jonathan remarked. Devon stared into his father’s eyes so much like his own.
Devon answered. “That’s rich Dad, seeing as how my birthday is seven months after your wedding day.” Having realized what he had said, he hurried to add, “I’m sorry, sir, I shouldn’t have said that. You had taught me to do better. I’m sorry to have disappointed you.”
“I’ll get over it, Devon.” There was a flash of pain in Jonathan’s eyes before he enveloped his son fierce hug. “Just be sure you keep her happy. After all she’s the mother of my grandchild, you had better keep her happy or I’ll have to knock some sense into you, boy.”
“Yes, sir.” Devon smiled as he hugged his father.
Carmella knocked on the bedroom door. “Lucy, honey, are you about ready?”
Lucy looked at her reflection in the mirror. “I suppose I’m as ready as I will ever be. What do you think?”
Carmella eyed her through a mist to tears. “You are so beautiful, sweetie. My sister would be so pleased to see you in her dress. Devon will be thrilled."
Lucy looked once again at her reflection. The dress was white satin underneath a simple lace covering. It had a scoop neck and a tight bodice. The skirt had a soft flare from the waist to just below mid-calf with the help of a crinoline. It was thirty years old, yet it was still beautiful without being dated.
Carmella smiled. “Do you need some help with your hair?”
Lucy sighed. “Is there any hope for it?” Her hair hanging down to her shoulders a mass of raven waves refusing to be tamed.
“I think there is, hold on.” Carmella said as she commenced to arrange Lucy’s hair into a tamer version of what she had been staring at without the frizz. After a few moments she helped Lucy place the floral and beaded headband into her hair. Carmella stepped back to take in the full effect. Her eyes filled with tears. “You are so beautiful.”
Lucy hugged the older woman and said, “Thank you.”
Claire poked her head into the room as she knocked. “Is everything okay? Devon’s wearing the out carpet.”
“Yes everything is fine.” Lucy smiled. “Let’s go before I get cold feet.”
As they reached the bottom step Camilla smiled. “Stay right here. I’ll send Thad out to escort you. You don’t mind if he gives you away do you?” Lucy was so touched she could barely manage to nod. Then Carmella and Claire went into Devon’s office and Thad appeared in the hallway.
He hugged Lucy and murmured, “You are almost as beautiful as my own lovely bride on our wedding day, girl. But I am biased. Devon will always have the same opinion too, once he sees you. Shall we?” He offered Lucy his arm. “Okay y’all start the music.”
“We have music?” Lucy asked surprised. Thad nodded as they heard the music of the bridal march begin from inside the study. He guided her into the room to find Devon waiting for her in front of the window with the minister.
Devon saw Lucy slip through the door on Thad’s arm. She was more beautiful than he remembered her being even one short hour ago. Was she wearing his mother's dress? He felt his heart would soon burst with joy. She was going to marry him. He still couldn’t believe his good fortune. Soon they would say the vows binding them together forever. It was almost the exact way he wanted it. Almost. After a moment or two of thought he decided he didn’t care anymore if it was the way he wanted it or not, as long as Lucy was his wife.
Lucy beamed with joy as she reached the window.
Thad slipped her hand into his nephew’s and squeezed them together. “God bless you both.” He choked.
Together they turned to face the minister.
It all seemed to be a blur. Within minutes the minister was telling them they were now husband and wife. He told them to kiss. Devon didn’t need to be told twice. His hungry lips possessed hers. Everything else melted away until it was just the two of them standing in the study, kissing.
“Um, Devon? Shouldn’t you wait for the honeymoon?” Claire tea
sed.
Devon pulled back from Lucy with a dazed expression. “For what?”
Everyone laughed and Claire shrieked. “You were kissing her as if you were already alone, Brother.”
Lucy buried her face against Devon’s chest as he smiled sheepishly. “Uh, sorry?”
The room vibrated with laughter. Still smiling Devon turned to Joel and offered his hand. The older man took it and shook it as Devon said, “Thank you so much for presiding over the ceremony on such short notice Brother Joel.”
Brother Joel smiled as the laughter died away. “Promise me you won’t rush out even though you have rushed in.”
For a moment Devon appeared confused by the preacher’s cryptic comment. When understanding dawned on him and he nodded. “Sir, you have no need to worry. We will do everything we can to make sure our marriage lasts forever.” Lucy nodded vigorously in agreement.
“That’s good to hear. All the same, when you get back in town, I expect to see you in my office for premarital counseling. I mean marital counseling.” The preacher squeezed them both on the shoulder. He turned to the others in the room and addressed them. “Ladies and gentlemen may I present to you—with great pleasure I might add—Mr. and Mrs. Devon Andrew James.” The family applauded.
“Now that we have you two married, let’s go celebrate. We don’t want to be late for our reservation.” Sylvia directed. “Joel, please, won’t you join us?”
“I wish I could Sylvia, but I have to go counsel with another couple who attend our congregation.” Joel said with disappointment but then he continued with optimism. “Maybe I can make up for it at the next wedding you all have in the family.” He eyed Claire and Eli hopefully.
“You may be in for a long wait, preacher.” Jonathan laughed, patting his wallet. “A long wait.”
As the minister moved toward the door he smiled and said with resignation, “I am a patient man.”
As they left the house and walked toward their cars, Devon pulled Lucy aside. “I can’t wait to get you alone so that we can continue that kiss. And then I’m going to whisk you away to the cabin for a little peace and a lot of honeymoon.
Lucy nuzzled against him. “My peace is wherever you are. I love you, Devon.”
“Mmm. Now that is what I like to hear.” He kissed her passionately. Just as Devon lifted his lips from hers there was a screeching of rubber on concrete. “What the—” He started to turn to see what was happening but didn’t get a chance. He was struck over the head and his limp, unconscious body crumpled to the ground.
There was screaming and shouting all around. Lucy wasn’t able to assimilate what was happening. It was as if she was watching everything from outside her body. Devon hadn’t even hit the ground before someone shoved a sack over her head and she was tossed into the car. Before she could catch her second breath, she heard the tires squealing again as the car sped away. “You can’t do this!” She screamed.
“I can and I did. Now shut up, Lucy. I’m taking you home.” A voice she hadn’t heard since high school ordered. Melvin Talbert?
“Melvin?” Lucy’s voice squeaked.
“What?” He snapped.
“Why are you doing this? I just got married.” She cried.
“It don’t matter. It hain’t been consummated. Ya belong to me. Ya always have, since junior prom. Don’t ya remember? I sent ya all those flowers to remind ya. And then I see ya kissing on that guy. My blood plumb boiled over.”
“Are you insane? Mel, we broke up a week after the junior prom.” She said, sitting up and pulling the pillowcase off her head.
“Put it back on!” Mel shouted. “I’m not insane. I’m in love and my woman went off and married someone else. No, I’m not insane, I’m mad. I’m furious.”
Lucy took a deep breath. “Mel, I married the man I love. You don’t love me. You’re obsessed. You need help. Take me back to the James’s house. NOW! I need to know that Devon is okay and I need to get on with my wedding luncheon.”
“No. I said put the sack back on yer head and ya need to lie down. You ain’t never going back to them. I told ya, yer mine.” The crazy man yelled.
“Okay. Okay.” She pulled the pillowcase over her head and lay back down in the rear seat. She wondered if he was telling her the truth. Was he taking her back to Rebel Creek? Or was he a crazed lunatic intent to do her harm?
“Mel?”
“What?” He yelled.
She bit her lip. Should she ask him? Would it provoke him? She sighed. “I need to know something. Are you taking me back home?”
“You don’t need to know nothing. Stop asking so many questions.” He growled.
“So, you’re saying we’ll be driving straight through? Because, if we are, we’ll need to stop soon. I have to use the restroom.” Lucy said, hoping she wasn’t being too pushy, too proactive. Melvin seemed to have developed a very short fuse over the years. His temper was one of the reasons she broke up with him. His temper and his jealousy were more than she wanted to deal with back in high school. She definitely didn’t want to have to bother with him now.
“I’m not saying anythin’ more. Now, shut up.” Melvin muttered as the car drew to a stop.
“Where are we?” Lucy sat up and started to pull the pillow case off.
“Get down and keep that on yer head.” He growled. He pushed her down with one hand as he drove the car a few more feet and then killed the engine. Then Lucy heard a garage door close.
“Where are we Mel? Is this some kind of sick joke?” She asked. She was beginning to feel more than a little trepidation. Did this ex-boyfriend from her high school years intend to keep her as his secret prisoner mere minutes from the James’s home or did he stop here for another reason?
Her stomach clenched. Dear God, please don’t let him rape and murder me. Terror rose up inside of her causing her stomach to lurch in a violent spasm. She knew she was on the verge of losing her breakfast when Mel grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the car. He pulled her against his body with one hand and ran his free hand down her back and squeezed her bottom while grinding against her. She forced herself not to react even though she felt her stomach heave.
“This way.” He muttered next to her ear through the pillow case. He pushed her forward a few steps. She heard a door open and she heard a voice that made her stomach roil. “So you got your bride, did you?”
“Sydney, yer information about the time of the wedding was all wrong.” Mel bellowed. “It seems my Lucy and yer Devon already got married.” Mel gave Lucy a forceful shove causing her to trip and fall against the edge of the door.
“Hey! Now watch it.” Lucy cried. “I can’t see, you know, which seems a bit ridiculous, since I know who both of you are.” The pillow casing was ripped from her head along with a few of her dark wavy tresses. “Ouch!”
“Quit your complaining, Lucy James.” Sydney spat the words at her. “What did you do to change the time? The wedding wasn’t supposed to start until eleven.”
Lucy stared into Sydney’s hate filled brown eyes for a moment. She didn’t know why but she began to laugh hysterically. “You’re blaming me? The minister had an appointment for eleven-thirty, so he asked if we could move up the time. So we did.” She gasped for air. Still laughing she continued, “You managed to get the date and time of the wedding—but missed the time change. Oh! What a hoot!”
Sydney’s fury could no longer be contained. She slapped Lucy’s face so hard her head jerked to the side. “You bitch! You slut! I’m going to kill you!”
Sydney lunged forward to wrap her hands around Lucy’s throat but Melvin stopped her. He shoved her against the wall and hissed into her ear, “Ya hit my girl again and I’ll kill ya.”
Lucy shook her head back and forth in slow careful movements. She knew her neck would be stiff in the morning…if she were still alive. Her attention now, however, remained locked on the unlikely duo of Melvin and Sydney who were arguing at the tops of their voices a few feet away from her. This is
just too unreal. Who would have ever thought these two would combine forces? She thought as she tried to move down the hall behind them. She needed to get away from this illogical pair. Maybe she could get to the front door unnoticed.
No such luck.
“Where do ya think yer going, sweetheart?” Mel demanded. He grabbed hold of her arm again and squeezed it so tight she yelped. She would have a bruise there also, in the morning—if there was to be a morning for her. “I said where do ya think yer going?”
“I told you in the car I need to pee.” She said hoping he would remember and hoping he would believe her.
Sydney pointed. “It’s the last door on the left.”
Well…maybe she would have some luck after all.
Lucy closed the bathroom door behind her and locked it. She rushed over to the window and raised it. She studied the opening for a moment. It would be a tight squeeze—but she had to get away. Lucy stuck her head out the window and looked down.
Her hopes plummeted. The ground was at least twenty feet down. She muttered, “Figures.”
Lucy sighed. She had to try. She lifted her skirts and began to climb backside first out of the window. Lucy could hear Sydney and Melvin yelling at each other down the hall, what about she didn’t care. She had to hurry.
Lucy was hanging on by her fingertips. She looked down. It still seemed like a long way down. She kicked her high heeled pumps off and then let go of the window sill. She stifled a squeal of exhilaration when she landed unharmed. Absently she noted the ground was damp and cold. She grabbed her shoes and ran barefooted around the corner of the house.
She was just about to the street when she was tackled from behind. “Umph.” The air was forced from her lungs. Her diaphragm seemed paralyzed, she couldn’t inhale.
“Why’d I know ya was gonna run, Lucy?” Melvin huffed into her ear.