“I will not cry. I will not lose it,” she murmured, mindful of the fact that Jayden was standing mere inches away from her. He was staring at her with a small measure of fear in his eyes, as if he had zero confidence in her mantra. Her shoulders heaved with emotion and her body shuddered as she collapsed in a sea of tears. Suddenly, she felt strong arms holding her. Although she had no idea what she was going to do, she suddenly didn’t feel alone anymore.”
***
“What do you do when your entire career has just blown up?” Kit asked, wiping away tears from her face. Jayden hated seeing her so upset. It made him want to do some damage to Patrick Laughton, although he knew that would solve nothing. He hated bullies, especially rich and entitled ones.
“First of all, your career has not blown up. Not by a long shot. Celia and Patrick Laughton don’t own the world. They can’t stop you from making a living.”
“But they can blackball me!”
He shrugged. “They can try, but, as I said, they don’t own the world. From what I saw tonight, you’re one talented event planner. You’re smart, beautiful, hard working…and very easy on the eyes. Celia could take a few lessons from you.” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t wait for the day when she crashes down to earth. Mark my words. She’s going to land on her rear end one of these days.”
Kit threw her head back and chuckled. The sound of her laughter was like sunshine. It shimmered and shone just like the sun. And it made him think good things were just around the corner. It made him want to take her in his arms and never let her go. It was a crazy thought. He had never been the type of guy to think long-term. What was happening to him?
“Thanks for the compliments. At a time like this I can’t believe you made me laugh. That’s a gift, Jayden.” She wiped away tears of laughter from her cheeks.
“You’re a treasure, Kit. And this may sound all kinds of crazy, but I don’t want to walk away from what’s happening between us. It’s more real than any attraction I’ve ever felt. Maybe it’s because we grew up together. We have history!” He shrugged. “I don’t know. All I do know is that I can’t walk away from what’s happening between us. I don’t want to walk away from it.”
“Neither do I. It’s been a crazy night full of ups and downs. I almost feel like the world is spinning right now.”
Jayden reached out and took Kit’s hands in his own. “You can look at this night as a failure or an opening. We would never have reconnected if it hadn’t been for this evening.”
Kit nodded. “You’re right about that,” she said, chewing her lip. “But I still wish tonight had been a smashing success.”
Jayden jerked his chin in the direction of the ballroom. “Trust me. If you ask any of the guests, they’re going to say it was the event of the season. Don’t let the Laughton’s drive you crazy. You need to get away for a little while and decompress. Forget about all this madness for a bit.”
“I wish,” Kit said, letting out a sigh. “It would be nice if I had a tropical island to disappear to.”
“I have to catch a red-eye flight to Las Vegas. It leaves in a few hours.” Jayden could see the look of disappointment as it crept over Kit’s face.
“Oh,” she said in a soft voice. “I guess we won’t be seeing each other for a while. I mean, no pressure. It’s not as if we have to see each other.”
“Do you want to see me again, Kit?” he asked, praying the answer would be yes.
Kit nodded. “I really do, Jayden.”
“This may sound crazy, but I want you to come to Las Vegas with me. I’m there for four days to do some endorsements. No strings attached. Separate hotel rooms. Nothing sketchy at all. I promise.”
“I can’t,” Kit said. “We barely know each other.”
Jayden locked eyes with her. “We’ve known each other for most of our lives. You know me, Kit. I know you. We may have lost touch for quite a few years, but we still know each other.”
“We still know each other.” Kit repeated his words. He could tell by the look on her face that she was considering his invitation.
“Come on, Kit. What do you have to lose? It’ll be an adventure.”
Chapter Five
“You came to Vegas with me and we were married four days later,” Jayden said, his voice infused with emotion. The trip down memory lane had left them both emotional.
“You asked me what I was doing for the rest of my life and gave me a cigar band as a ring.” Kit shook her head. “It was the perfect proposal.”
“I never in a million years thought I could fall so hard and so fast.”
“Me neither. And remember when we came back home to Hope Valley and told our families? No one could believe we’d gotten married.”
“They thought we were pulling their legs,” Jayden said.
“We were so hopeful back then,” Kit said, dabbing tears from her eyes. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about how our love story began for a really long time.”
Jayden reached out and clutched her hand. “We had faith. In our love. In God. In each other and our future.” Jayden shook his head. “What happened to us? Even though our wedding was impulsive, it was done out of love. We stepped out on a limb of faith and pledged our lives to one another.”
“I don’t regret a single moment,” Kit whispered, tears coursing down her face.
“You’ll always be the great love of my life,” Jayden said, choking on the words.
Kit sniffled. “Things became so complicated. We couldn’t face up to our problems without lashing out at each other. The fear and anger seemed to surpass everything else.”
“And pride. We let our pride get the best of us. Neither one wanted to admit fault. Neither of us ever backed down.”
“I’m so sorry, Jayden. I should have fought harder to hold on to what we had. I should have remembered our wedding vows.”
“We can move past all of this, Kit.”
Kit wiped away tears with a tissue. “Oh, Jayden. I think we can too. We lost our way, When things got tough we caved. We crumbled under the pressure. We lost faith in each other and our ability to ride it out.” She shook her head fiercely. “Never again. Being here at the cabin has allowed both of us to remember the strength of what we had. Things aren’t always going to be rosy and we can’t expect them to be. Life is hard. Marriage is even harder.”
Jayden reached out and cupped her face between both of his hands. “I’m willing to wade through all the difficult stuff in order to save our marriage. I’m willing to fight for it.”
Kit began crying hard. She nodded her head in agreement, too overwhelmed to speak. “Oh, Jayden,” she finally said. “I love you so much. And I don’t want a divorce. I only want to be your wife, your other half.”
“I love you too, Kit. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I truly adore you,” Jayden said, wrapping Kit up in his arms and placing a tender kiss on her lips.
Christmas Day
Tasha folded her arms across her chest and gazed at the newly married couple with a look of satisfaction etched on her face. Georgia, Robin and Mallory stood beside her, their faces beaming with pride.
Kit tightly held Jayden’s hand and looked over at the best friends she would ever have in her life. Because of them, she and Jayden had been reunited at the cabin. Because of their faith in their love story, they had stepped out on a limb of faith and worked to put them in each other’s orbit. Kit had been forced to take a good look in the mirror and face her own false pride and stubbornness. Jayden had also been forced to face his flaws and they had both committed themselves to being better spouses to one another in the future.
That’s what it was all about. Marriage was give and take. Learning. Facing your flaws and working hard to be better for each other. Striving for better communication and a deeper understanding of the other person’s needs. Knowing God was by your side during the good times and the bad. Not expecting perfection. And learning to toughen up as you faced the hard times.
“Can you believe this?” Jayden asked as his gaze surveyed the ballroom. “So many people came out today to witness our vow renewals and to celebrate with us. I never knew we were so loved.”
“We’re very loved, Jayden. God loves us so much that he paved the way for another chance at making things right in our marriage. And we had friends and family who were willing to fight for us. That’s a rare thing.”
Jayden reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly. He bent down and pressed a kiss against her temple. “It really is, sweetheart. Their faith in us will serve as a reminder of the fact that people believe in us. It’s really not just us, Kit. And one of these days, we’re going to have children, whether it’s biological or adopted. I just want to raise kids with you, Kit. I want to have a family.”
“Me too,” Kit said, blinking away tears. “For so long I focused on being able to get pregnant. I lost sight of what we really wanted and needed. I promise you, I won’t ever do that again.”
“Neither will I.” He reached out for her hand and entwined it in his own. “Dance with me. We need to have our first dance.”
“I’d love to dance with you, husband,” she said, following behind him as he led her onto the dance floor. The crowd of guests began to clap enthusiastically as the strains of “At Last” by Etta James began to play.
Jayden drew her against his chest and whispered, “I love you, Kit. I’m so proud to call you my wife.”
“I love you too, Jayden. Thank you for believing in us.” She stood on her tippy toes and pressed a kiss against his lips.
“I always will,” he said, leading her around the dance floor as if they were floating on air.
Jayden and Kit knew without a single doubt that their marriage would make it through any obstacles thrown in their path. They had come so close to losing their marriage and everything they held dear. From this moment forward they would be living each day together with gratitude and love. They would never take their relationship for granted again.
What God has joined together, let no man put asunder!
THE END
Coming in February (Just in time for Valentine’s Day)
Guardians Inc. Prequel….Sierra and Caleb’s story
“THROUGH THE FIRE”
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”
Prologue
It was time. Although the old woman had kept her damnable secret for eight long years, she knew she could no longer shield herself from the sin she had committed. Time had caught up with her, and she could no longer deny her body was wearing out on her. Lilliana Rose Jackson’s time on earth was nearing an end.
She knew the time had come to tell the truth.
With great difficulty the woman raised herself from her sick bed, her gnarled hands tightly gripping the massive, oak cane for support. She shuffled across the room at a slow pace, her left foot dragging behind her as she struggled to walk the short distance.
When Lilliana Rose reached the other side of the bedroom she impatiently reached into her top dresser drawer and rummaged through the contents. After a few minutes of frantic searching, her face broke into a smile as she pulled out a large, velvet scrapbook, floral stationery and a pen. A feeling of triumph surged in her heart as she clutched the precious items to her chest. They were among her most treasured possessions on earth.
She wasn’t so old and decrepit that she couldn’t handle her personal affairs herself, she mused. Too bad her family couldn’t see her now. They were all so insistent that she stay in bed and try to maintain her strength. Little did they realize that she hadn’t slept a wink in twenty-four hours. She was way too busy to sleep.
What good would it do to save her strength? She was fading fast, and wasn’t going to waste her last minutes on earth flat on her back in a sickbed. After all, she reckoned, she had all of eternity to lie on her back in a pine box. And besides, she had to put the finishing touches on her legacy.
The memories of a lifetime were right here in her scrapbook, captured in faded black and white photographs that would act as a bridge to the past for future generations. So many memories, both bitter and sweet. Her wedding day. Birthdays, first communions, graduations. Naturally, not all the memories were good ones. She couldn’t help but shudder as she relived the worst memory of all: her daddy’s cold-blooded murder by the night riders.
Sierra! The thought of her granddaughter always brought her to tears, which was annoying for a woman who prided herself on her rigid control and iron will. From the moment Sierra had been born Lilliana Rose had known the girl was special. She had come into the world like a lioness in the middle of the worst tornado in Texas' history. And like a true lioness she'd let out a mighty roar to signify her arrival into this world. Like her glorious name, Sierra was unique. Best of all, she reminded Lilliana of herself: beauty, guts, determination and a brain. She was everything that Lilliana Rose had been...and more.
From the beginning she had wanted so much for her grandbaby. Too much. She had pinned too many hopes and dreams on Sierra’s future. And in one agonizing moment of weakness, she had ruthlessly crushed her spirit.
No longer able to support herself with the cane, Lilliana Rose sank into the plush, yellow armchair that was the color of vibrant buttercups. Lilliana remembered selecting the piece of furniture because she had wanted her bedroom to look like a burst of springtime all year round. Always in full bloom. Lilliana Rose settled in the armchair and gazed out of her window at the profusion of flowers that graced her garden. Tulips. Roses. Snapdragons. How she would miss her magnificent flowers and the glorious perfumed scents that wafted through her bedroom window.
Lilliana took out a sheet of stationery and smoothed the page. Her hand trembled with emotion as she began to write. She intended to put her entire heart and soul into this letter - there was so much riding on the outcome.
When Lilliana Rose finished the letter she read it aloud to herself, her voice ringing out in the stillness of the room whenever her pent up emotions rose to the surface.
My dearest Sierra,
As I sit writing this letter I know my time draws near. As much as it pains me to think I may never lay eyes on you again, I reckon it’s the truth. It’s time for me to say good-bye.
More importantly, it's time for me to fess up.
Sierra, it was a lie. A terrible, wicked lie. You may never be able to forgive me child, but please know I never meant to hurt you. It has taken me this long to realize that I did an incredibly selfish thing. I separated you from the boy you loved. Because of my lie you ran away from Texas and from everything you loved. The truth is it nearly broke my heart. Perhaps it was punishment for my wicked lie.
I reckon you're trying to figure out why I would tell you such a wicked lie. It all goes back to a time and place when I first fell in love. I was twenty years old and I fell recklessly and hopelessly in love with a man named Jock Matthews. The day Jock asked me to marry him was the happiest day of my life. I felt like the luckiest girl in Briarwood until the day Jock ran off and married someone else. Sierra, the hurt and disillusionment I felt has never truly left me. I carry it with me always. I wanted to spare you the same hurt, the same bitter disillusionment.
My darling, you must finish it for me. You must find Jock Matthews and discover why he jilted me. It’s something I should have done in order to set myself free, but I waited too long...my pride was too strong...it ran too deep. Please do this for me, Sierra, so that I may finally rest in peace.
So now you know the truth. You must realize now that there is no obstacle standing between you and your beloved Caleb. Your future is as unlimited as your heart.
All my love,
Grammy
Hot, salty tears flowed down her face as she lovingly signed the letter and licked it closed. She hoped it would be enough to gain her granddaughter’s forgiveness, as well as her understanding. It was important that Sierra understand her motivations.
She was now re
ady.
With a deep sigh she closed her eyes and pressed the velvet scrapbook to her breast, the precious letter to her granddaughter lying on her lap waiting for delivery. Lilliana Rose turned towards the window and gazed at the huge expanse of land that stretched for hundreds of acres as far as the eye could see. It was cold, hard and unforgiving land upon which she had carved out a lasting legacy. She had loved this land fiercely for so long, and she wanted to leave this world having just glimpsed paradise.
It was time. The good Lord was coming to carry her home.
Chapter One
Despite the warm April weather in Briarwood, Texas, Sierra Jackson had never felt colder in her life. She took a deep breath, then released it, anxiously shifting her weight from one foot to another as she stood on the wooden steps. She began to gnaw on her nails, then pushed her hands into her back pockets, wishing that she could cure herself of the bad habit that had left her nails bitten down to the nub.
Lilliana Rose and her lies! she thought angrily. If it hadn’t been for her grandmother’s deception, she wouldn’t be standing here on his doorstep like a prisoner awaiting execution.
From the moment she had opened the letter two days ago, Sierra had known that this moment was fast approaching. Some might call it a moment of reckoning. She could no longer avoid the inevitable. It was something that she needed to do, regardless of any discomfort she might feel in coming face to face with her past. For a moment she considered turning tail and running back to her car, but she quickly dismissed the notion. She was through with running away from Caleb Matthews. She had done it once before and it had turned out to be the worst mistake of her life.
She had to see him.
Lord, please give me the courage to face this moment with grace.
The very thought of Caleb made her limbs tremble and her heart beat at a pace three times faster than normal. Eight years had passed since she had last seen him, and she could only imagine how the years had changed him. If she closed her eyes she could still picture him as he’d looked the last time she'd laid eyes on him. He'd been standing next to his motorcycle, all six feet inches of him, leanly muscled and uncommonly graceful, his right fingers jammed into his back pocket as he blew her a kiss with his left hand. There would be no kisses blown in her direction today, she thought with a grimace. Not after what she had done!
Three Matchmakers And A Christmas Wedding (Hope Valley Book 2) Page 6