“Trixie, Trixie, you haven’t changed at all. I’m here and I have every intention of attending my daughter’s wedding. And by the way, I never liked you either. Especially after you stole Janie away from me. I’ll never forgive you for that.”
“Don’t go down that road, Margaret. You threw that child away. Fred and I thank God every day of our lives that we were there to catch her. Oh, and in case you weren’t listening, no one cried at your funeral,” Trixie said, unable to help herself. “Jane wanted to, but she didn’t. She’d already used up all her tears. And afterward, she burned all your things. It was terribly sad. I just want to know why you aren’t burning in hell for what you did to her!”
“This is my hell, Trixie. Cut me a little slack, will you? I’m trying my best to make amends. I can’t do it overnight, but I think I can do it eventually, if everyone cooperates. Maybe I can even make amends with you. I really didn’t mean what I said to you. You just have a way of getting under my skin.”
Trixie laughed. “I’m no hypocrite, Margaret. I meant every damn word I said, and a few I didn’t say.” Trixie shook her head to clear her thoughts. She must be getting old. She was nodding off in the middle of the day.
Jane was blotting her lipstick when she saw her mother’s reflection in the mirror.
“You look beautiful, Jane, more beautiful than I ever looked. I think it’s because you’re beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. I never was, so I’m able to recognize it in you.”
“Mom,” Jane said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come.”
Margaret smiled. “I know you still have your doubts about me, but believe me when I tell you I wouldn’t have missed your wedding day for anything.” She leaned forward and kissed Jane’s cheek. “Thank you for making it possible for me to be with you today. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me.”
Jane smiled. Now her day was perfect. She touched her cheek with the tip of her finger. Her skin felt warm to the touch. She was all smiles when she poked her head into the bedroom. “She’s here, so we can get started.”
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Mike lifted Jane’s veil and smiled. “This is the second time I get to kiss the bride in one day. Pucker up.”
Jane giggled. It was a kiss that promised a lifetime of sweet tomorrows.
The church organist struck the opening chords to “Here Comes the Bride.” Dr. and Mrs. Michael Sorenson started down the aisle, their faces wreathed in smiles.
Outside in the warm sunshine, the bride and groom giggled and laughed as the guests blew bubbles and let loose one hundred monarch butterflies from their triangular envelopes.
“Are you as happy as you look, kiddo?” Trixie whispered.
“Trixie, there are no words to tell you how happy I am. I had two weddings today and got married twice to the same wonderful man. I feel like I have it all and then some. It’s all because of you and Fred. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for you two. I’m sorry if I don’t tell you often enough how much I love you. I promise to do better in the future.” She hugged Trixie, then Fred. “I didn’t expect so many people to come to the church. I think most of them are Mike’s colleagues.”
“Janie, I think I saw . . .”
Jane placed a finger against Trixie’s lips. “Shhh, I know. Mom told me. She also told me to tell you that green is not your color. She likes you better in that leopard outfit.” Jane grinned.
Trixie’s eyes almost popped from their sockets. “Freddddd!”
“They’re leaving, they’re leaving!” Trixie shouted to the assembled guests. “She’s going to throw the bouquet. All the girls over here,” she said, pointing to a circle in the courtyard. Jane obediently turned around and tossed her bridal bouquet of lilies of the valley into the air.
Sharon Thomas squealed her pleasure as she held up the beribboned bouquet. Jane laughed as she walked toward her old colleague. Tom Bradley, Sharon’s escort, grinned from ear to ear.
“Guess you’re next, Sharon.” Jane leaned closer, and whispered, “I like your new nose. The eye job ain’t bad either. Do I see a chin tuck?”
“Yes, to all of the above. Tom didn’t even notice. Listen, Jane . . .”
“I was wrong, but so were you,” Jane stopped her. “Let’s leave it at that. Invite us to your wedding and we’ll call it square.” She turned to walk away.
“Jane!” Sharon called, stopping her.
“What?”
Sharon smiled. “You make a beautiful bride. Be happy, okay?”
“I will, Sharon. You, too.” Jane smiled back.
“Come on, Mrs. Sorenson,” Mike said, waving Jane over to the car. “We don’t want to miss our flight. Just think about it, thirty whole days in sunny Hawaii!” Mike held the door open for his new wife. He leaned over and whispered, “Let’s make a baby right away.”
Jane threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Mike. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I want a bunch of little Janes running around our house.”
“What if we end up with a bunch of little Mikes instead?”
“We’ll take them. God, I love you, Jane,” he said, looking longingly into her eyes.
“I love you more.” She tweaked his nose. “We aren’t going to fight over this are we?”
“Nope. Did you bring that floppsy-doodle hat?”
“First thing I packed,” Jane giggled. Funny how he loved that hat.
Mike leaned on the horn as he headed out to the main road, the guests clapping and whistling until the car was out of sight.
Thirty minutes later, the caterers arrived just as the last guest drove off. While they worked at cleaning up the party remains, Trixie sat down on the porch steps next to Fred. “It was such a nice wedding and reception. Those kids have some nice friends. Even Janie’s archrival was nice. I want to ask you something, Fred. I’m an old woman, creeping up on eighty. How is it possible that my heart and mind feel like they’re only twenty years old? My memories are so wonderful. When the music was playing, I was young again. When I watched all the young people dance, I was dancing in my mind. My feelings for you haven’t changed one bit. I don’t understand it, Fred. I’m old. You’re old. We look old. Sometimes we act old. More often than not, we feel old. At least I do when I look in the mirror. Lately, I don’t look anymore. I need an answer, Fred.”
Fred put his arm around his wife. “I guess you feel young because you think young.” He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “And because we’re still in love. Love keeps people young, Trixie. And ours is the truest kind of love. We never faltered. We stayed the course. You respected me, and I respected you. Our memories are golden. If you want something better, you’re going to have to get a book on the subject or better yet, write a book.” He kissed her lightly on the mouth. “I think we should go upstairs and get our dogs. They’ve been cooped up long enough.”
“All you have to do is whistle, Fred. Flash knows how to open the door.” Fred whistled and the dogs came on the run, the magnificent Malinois and the yellow Lab. Olive lingered behind, then crept closer to Trixie. Trixie moved so there was room on the step for all of them. She leaned her head against Flash, who nuzzled her neck while Golda did the same with Fred. Olive wiggled onto her lap. “We have a nice little family here, don’t we, Fred?”
“Trixie, my love, it doesn’t get any better than this.”
“Woof.”
“Woof.”
“Woof.”
Epilogue
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The turnout was nothing short of spectacular. Jane sucked in her breath as she looked around at the media trucks, the throngs of people, the representatives from the various police departments, and, of course, the K-9 Corps from Louisiana, Kentucky, and Alabama.
It was all to honor Trixie and Fred for their unselfish generosity and devotion to the K-9 Corp t
hey founded. Even the weather had cooperated, with warm breezes and bright sunshine. A picture-perfect day for such a momentous honor. The only problem was, where were the guests of honor?
Jane craned her neck to look around. A squeal of babyish delight brought her back just in time to see her six-month-old daughter smile and gurgle at the yellow butterfly perched on the side of the two-seat stroller. Mickey, the baby’s two-year-old brother, tried to catch the elusive creature with chubby fingers. He laughed happily when it took wing and circled overhead.
“How late am I, Janie?” Trixie asked breathlessly as she came up behind her goddaughter. “I got hung up with one of the police commissioners. He said we have a discrepancy where the dogs’ shields are concerned. Do you know anything about it?”
Jane kept a straight face. Of course she did, but she wasn’t going to admit to it. “What kind of discrepancy?”
“One too many badges. I told him it was nothing to get excited about. He started to get a little pissy, and Flash let him know we didn’t much care for his attitude. He backed right down and said he was sure it would be resolved, that it was probably some sort of computer-input error.”
Jane nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably what it was. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.” She glanced to her right. “Have you seen Mike?”
“He’s headed this way with Fred.” Trixie bent over the stroller. “And how are my two little darlings today?” She tweaked the children’s cheeks and kissed them. “Ooh, you’re both just too cute.” She straightened and looked around. “My God, Jane, there’s so many people.”
“Uh-huh. Are you nervous?”
Trixie made a hissing sound.
“You’re supposed to wait until the LSU Golden Band winds down. John Murray is going to escort you, Fred, and Flash to the parade ground, where you’ll review your troops.” Jane took Trixie’s arm and squeezed it. “All one hundred thirty-seven dogs are here with their handlers. I think the whole state has turned out to see you and Fred receive this honor.”
“Do you think any of the dogs will remember me?” Trixie asked, her voice anxious.
“Every damn one of those dogs is going to remember you, Trixie,” Jane said in no uncertain terms. “You wait and see! Oh! Here comes the band. Straighten up, lady, this is your fifteen minutes of fame. Enjoy it.”
Trixie grimaced. “I feel like a cat on a hot griddle.”
“You’re whining. Stop it right now,” Jane scolded.
The Golden Band from Tigerland as they liked to be referred to, marched onto the parade ground. John Murray appeared to take Trixie’s arm.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Trixie bleated as she stared around at the enormous crowd.
Jane leaned toward her and whispered, “You have to do it. You bought that ass-kicking outfit just for this occasion. And Flash wants to see all his old buddies. I’m so proud of you I could just bust.” Jane grabbed her and hugged her, then turned her around and pointed her in the right direction. “Get moving, lady!”
“You should be over there with me,” Trixie said over her shoulder. “You did as much as I did.”
“Go!” Jane commanded.
“Okay, okay, I’m going.”
As soon as Trixie moved into the crowd, Jane turned to her husband. “Mike, will you watch the kids for a minute? I have to do something. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t be long, or you’ll miss the introduction,” Mike called after her.
Jane sprinted toward the Student Union. Breathless, she leaned against the tree and opened her clenched fist. A shiny police shield winked up at her. Police Officer Jeeter, Shield number 138. She closed her fist again. “Billy, it’s me, Jane. You said if I ever needed you to call. I’m calling. Hurry. Billy, can you hear me? Please, Billy, hurry.”
“I’m here, Miss Jane. Turn around,” a distant voice said.
Jane turned to see him standing at the top of the steps, looking just as she remembered him. Still a boy. Forever a boy. Her breath exploded in a loud sigh. She lifted her hand, and said, “Catch!” She tossed the official police shield through the air and smiled when he caught it. “Hurry, Billy. You need to put it on Jeeter!” She watched Billy tie a bright blue bandanna around the speckled dog’s neck and then pin the shield on it.
“Go, Jeeter!”
The speckled dog raced to the parade ground and came to a halt next to Flash, who stopped his parade strut long enough to acknowledge his ghostly friend. He continued on, his tail swishing furiously.
Jane clapped her hands in delight as tears dripped down her cheeks. She motioned Billy over to her. “Come with me and meet my family, Billy. You’ll be able to see Jeeter better.”
Mike held out his arm to his wife. “It’s about time. What took you so long?”
“I had something I had to do, honey. It’s awesome, isn’t it?” she said, gazing lovingly at the parade of K-9s, dogs she and Trixie had trained and loved.
“Why are they playing the ‘Marine Corps Hymn’?” Mike queried as he tapped his foot to the rousing music.
“That was one of the conditions Trixie imposed. We play it all the time to psych up the dogs. They love it. They’re prancing now. See? They remember. Oh, God, look at Flash!” They watched as the big Malinois used his nose to inch two of the K-9s into a straighter line, the speckled dog at his side.
“I must need glasses,” Mike said, blinking his eyes. “For a minute I thought I saw a brown-and-white-speckled dog next to Flash.”
The inspection over, Trixie pulled her whistle out of the pocket of her dress. She brought it to her lips and let loose with three sharp blasts. “Drill’s over! Stand down, troops! Come on now, give Trixie some loving! One at a time. I have all day!” Trixie shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Jesus, I’ve seen everything now!” Mike whooped as all 137 dogs dragged their handlers toward Trixie. “It looks like she’s holding something on her lap. Does it look like that to you, Jane?”
“Yeah. It’s Jeeter, Mike. See, he has his shield just like the rest of them. The first command those dogs learned was, give Trixie some loving! And she was afraid they wouldn’t remember her. Can you see him, Mike? Can you really see Jeeter?”
“I—Yes, now I can. That has to mean Billy is here. Is he, Jane?”
“Over there.” Jane pointed to the smiling boy.
“So that’s what the extra shield that police commissioner was in a tizzy over was all about.”
“Uh-huh.”
Mike pulled Jane into his arms and hugged her. “God, I love you.”
“Him loves you, Mommy,” two-year-old Mickey giggled.
Jane patted his little head. “I know, Mickey. I love him, too.”
“Forever and ever,” Mike said.
“Forever and ever. And then some,” Jane said.
If you enjoyed PLAIN JANE,
you won’t want to miss Fern Michaels’s
brand new stand-alone novel,
SOUTHERN COMFORT.
Turn the page for a special preview.
A Kensington hardcover, on sale in May 2011.
Prologue
Atlanta, Georgia
March 2002
Detective Patrick Kelly, Tick to his friends, signed out of his precinct and headed to his car, an eight-year-old Saturn with 120,000 miles on it. It purred like a baby when he turned the key. Then it sputtered and died. He’d given it too much gas and flooded the engine. He knew the drill—wait five minutes, try again, and if he was lucky, Lulu would get him home.
Sally, his wife, had named his car Lulu but never told him why. She’d just giggle and say it was a lulu of a car. Sally drove a ten-year-old Honda Civic. The only good thing about owning two old cars was not having to make car payments. Everything was about cutting corners, saving for college for the kids and doing without.
Tick sighed, leaned back against the headrest, but didn’t close his eyes because, if he did, he’d go to sleep. He’d worked a double shift because Joe Rollins had a
ruptured appendix, and he’d filled in for him. He couldn’t wait to get home to Sally and the kids, take a shower, maybe eat something Sally kept warm for him, and go to sleep with her spooning into his back. When he felt his eyelids start to droop, he turned the key, and, miracle of miracles, Lulu turned over. He was on his way to his family, whom he loved more than anything on earth. He loved them more than he loved his job, and he dearly loved his job. There were days when he hated the job, but the love always won out. He truly believed he made a difference. Where his family was concerned, there was no doubt, he loved them twenty-four/seven, unconditionally.
When he worked the late shift, he always let his thoughts go to his wonderful little family as a way of unwinding on his way home. He’d met Sally in the seventh grade, when she transferred from out of state. He fell in love with her that day when she stood in front of the class, and said, “My name is Sally, and I’m new today.” He’d seen the sparkle of tears in her eyes and knew instinctively that she was afraid. Afraid the kids wouldn’t like her, afraid she’d make a mistake, and they’d laugh. He never did figure out where or how he’d known that, he’d just known it. Then, when he found out she had moved one street over from his own street, and they would be walking to school at the same time, he’d almost done cartwheels. Later, Sally said she didn’t fall in love with him till they were in the eighth grade. He’d been heartbroken at that news but covered it up well. She loved him, and that was all that mattered.
Married for fifteen years now, and he loved her as much as he did that day in the seventh grade when she introduced herself. He hoped and prayed nightly that his two children would find mates as wonderful as their mother when it was their time.
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