“Can’t a husband check up on his ex-wife?”
“Why should he?”
“Heather, don’t be stubborn. Let’s be friends.”
“I have all the friends I need.”
“But how can we ever patch things up if you don’t want to be friends?”
“Fred, you’re losing your mind. We’re never going to patch things up. In fact, I’m marrying the most wonderful man on earth, and I don’t want to talk to you on my wedding day. I’m going to hang up.”
“Wait! Please, wait.”
“What is it?”
“If I have to, I’ll accept the fact you’re not going to make up with me. I want to ask one favor of you, and I promise I’ll never bother you again.” When she said nothing, he went on. “Will you do me one favor, for old times’ sake?”
“What favor do you want, Fred?” When he didn’t say anything, she prodded, “Well, I’m waiting.”
“I heard you got almost a million-dollar advance for your next book.”
“So.”
“You know how Peggy likes to spend money. Well, she kind of put me in a bind with her last shopping spree. The company cancelled my card and I need a few thousand dollars to get it caught up. I thought if you could see your way clear to help me out a little…”
“I don’t believe this. You’re actually asking me to give you money?”
“Since you’ve got so much…”
Heather was furious. “Fred, do you remember the time I called you and begged you to give Tim the money to buy his books for one semester because he and I had spent all we’d been able to scrape up for tuition? All I ever asked from you was one semester of books. Do you remember what you told me? You said you and Peggy were going to Cancun and you needed all your money, so Tim would have to take a semester off. You couldn’t spare any money for your son, but you could take a fancy vacation with your new wife. Well, Tim got his books. To this day he doesn’t know I hocked my television set to buy them. When he came home for Christmas I lied to him for the first time in his life. I told him the TV blew up and I had to have it taken away. And now you have the gall to ask me for money to pay credit card debts your wife ran up? Well, my answer is no. I will not give you one dime, and don’t you dare call Tim and ask him for money. You’re going to have to tell Peggy to get off her lazy butt and go to work. She made the debts, and if you can’t pay them, it’s your problem.”
“But, Heather—”
“Don’t you ever call Tim or me again, Fred.”
She hung up the phone and looked at Mavis. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. My ex-husband is not a very nice man.”
“I kind of gathered that.”
Heather shook her head and laughed. “I don’t know what anyone has told you, but Fred walked out on me after twenty years of marriage. He moved in with his secretary who is about the same age as Tim, and when the divorce was final, he married her. He’s had very little to do with Tim since.”
“I can’t believe he’d ask you for money.”
“For debts his wife ran up. Can you believe it?” Heather looked at Mavis. “I know we hardly know each other, but please don’t say anything about this to anyone. I’ll eventually tell Alex, but I don’t want Tim to get involved.”
“I understand, Heather.” Mavis reached over and touched her arm. “Sometimes, it’s best to keep things to ourselves.”
Their eyes met, and in that moment, both women knew they had formed a friendship. Heather smiled and said, “Now, that’s settled. I don’t want to think about my ex-husband anymore. Would you please come and help me pack for a honeymoon I don’t know where will take place? I only know I’ll be with the man I plan to spend the rest of my life with.”
CHAPTER 36
“Do I look okay?” Heather stood back and smiled.
“You’re beautiful,” Juanita said.
“And radiant,” Brenda added.
“Alex’s heart will do flip-flops when he sees you,” Mavis declared.
“Now, do you have everything?” Juanita began rattling off the items needed. “Something old?”
“My mother’s pearls.”
“Something new?”
“My dress and my shoes and my underwear.”
“Something borrowed?”
“Mavis insisted I borrow her pearl earrings. She’s wearing mine.”
“Something blue?”
Heather pulled up her dress. “This silly garter you girls made me buy has a blue ribbon on it.”
“It’s sexy, Heather. You know Alex is supposed to take it off of you in front of everyone.” Brenda laughed.
Heather shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
There was a tap on the bedroom door and Juanita opened it.
“Hi, honey, I bet you want a few minutes alone with your mom.” Tim nodded.
“We’d better get back, anyway,” Brenda said. “We’ll leave for the church soon, but I’ll let you know.”
“Yeah,” Mavis said. “I need to hurry back, because it’d be like Neil to eat something and dribble on his new purple tie.”
“We’ll meet you at the church,” Tim said.
“You look handsome, Tim,” Heather held her arms out to her son as everyone else left the room.
“And my mom is gorgeous. Alex Hargrove is a lucky man, not only because of your beauty, but because you’re such a special lady.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“The best way you can thank me is to be happy, Mom.”
“I’ve never been this happy except maybe the day you were born, son, and that was a different happiness.”
He hugged her tightly then let her go. “I need to hear you say one more time that this is what you really want. You know if it’s not, I’ll slip you out of here and nobody will be able to find you until you’re ready to be seen again.”
“You’re sweet, darling. Please rest assured this is what I want. I know Alex and I are going to have a wonderful life together.”
“Always remember, Mom—I love you, and I’m only a phone call away.”
“Same here.”
As he kissed her forehead his cell phone rang. He looked at it. “It’s Dad.” Before Heather could say anything, he said, “I’m not going to answer it. Not on your wedding day.”
“Tim, promise me something.”
“What Mom?”
“Please ignore your father’s calls for a while. He’s not going to say anything productive for either of us, and the best thing we can do is not feed his ego.”
“You’re probably right. I won’t answer his calls for two weeks, how’s that?”
“Great.”
Tim turned toward the living room and called, “Juanita, you and Ben bring in the gift the family has for Mom.”
Juanita brought in a beautiful bridal bouquet made of white roses and a few of the surviving wild flowers.
“Oh, it’s lovely. How did you manage to do this?”
“It wasn’t easy. I slipped the wild flowers to Brenda last night and I’ve worried all day you’d miss them.”
“We had Alex a boutonniere made from one of the lady slippers. We knew you’d be pleased, Mom.”
“Oh, I am.” Tears filled her eyes as she reached for the flowers.
“We wanted the surviving lady slippers to be in your bouquet, so the other guys are wearing a flower in the same color.” Juanita turned and pinned one on Tim’s lapel. She glanced at Ben. “Here, honey. We didn’t forget you.”
“I like having a flower like Daddy.” Ben grinned as she pinned it on him. “Does Jacob have one?”
“Yes, he does. It’s the same as yours.”
“Good.”
“We took a few of the surviving flowers for each of us and had them tied with streamers,” Juanita continued. “Fortunately, the florist had lots of roses and a few other wild things to fill in.”
“You’ve thought of everything.” Heather smiled. “I’m so proud of my family.”
“Let’s say
a prayer,” Tim said.
“The Lord’s Prayer,” Heather said.
They joined hands and prayed together. Even Ben said all the words. When they said amen, Tim’s cell rang.
“There’s the signal.” Tim answered and said into the phone. “We’ll give you five minutes and we’ll be on our way.”
They were ready to go out the door when Heather stopped. “Wait. Maybe I should go to the bathroom one more time.”
Juanita laughed. “I told you not to drink all that coffee.”
•♥ •
At the church, Alex introduced everyone to the minister. “It looks like this is going to be a happy wedding,” the Reverend Black said. “Now, where’s the lovely bride?”
“Her son is bringing her,” Brenda explained. “We went with the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride until the ceremony.”
“I hope she shows up. You don’t think she’ll change her mind, do you?” Alex looked at Luke.
“Don’t worry, Dad. She’ll be here.”
Almost before the words were out, Juanita came into the sanctuary. She was alone.
“Where’s Heather?” Alex looked frightened.
“Calm down, Alex,” Juanita said. “She’s waiting back there with Tim. I guess Brenda told you we choreographed your wedding.”
“I did. You only have to stand here, Alex. Luke and the preacher will be here with you and when we all get out of here you can have the organist start to play. Okay?”
He nodded.
“Let’s go, folks,” Brenda said.
In the quietness of the lovely little church the organist began to play the love songs he and Heather had asked for. Mavis came down the aisle with Neil. She took her place on the bride’s side and he stood a few paces behind Luke.
The two grandsons came next. They were carefully stepping to the music. Ben went to stand with Mavis, and Jacob stood with his father.
Brenda came down the aisle next. She joined her husband and son. Juanita followed, and stood beside Ben.
As the musician began to play George Strait’s song, I Cross My Heart, Heather started down the aisle on Tim’s arm. When she saw the grin on Alex’s face and the sparkle in his eyes, she knew, without doubt, this was the right thing for both of them.
After the happy couple said ‘I do’ and Alex had kissed his bride, the minister said, “Family, I present Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hargrove.”
Before anyone could say anything a series of flashes went off in the back of the church. Instantly, Luke and Tim headed toward the picture taker. Before they could catch him, a man in a printed shirt went running out the door to a beat up old Plymouth.
“Well, I guess somebody has one of your wedding pictures,” Neil said.
“Sorry,” Luke said when they returned. “He got away.” He looked at Heather. “May I be the first in the family to give my new stepmom a hug?”
Soon, everyone was hugging and laughing. The uninvited photographer was forgotten.
When the picture taking by the arranged photographer was over, everyone went to a local steak house for the after-wedding dinner. Alex had made special arrangements for them to have the small area in the back overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. After a couple of hours of kidding and laughing and talking, Alex stood. He took Heather’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Well, folks, it’s been fun and I appreciate everything you did to make this a special day for us.” He looked at Heather and put his arm around her shoulder. “But this is as far as you can go with us. It’s now time for me to take my beautiful wife on a honeymoon.”
Everyone began hugging, kissing and saying good-bye. Out of the corner of her eye, Heather saw Alex put his arm around Tim’s shoulder and whisper something in his ear. Tim nodded, smiled then shook Alex’s hand. She figured he was telling Tim where they’d be, but was immediately distracted when two little boys came up to her and four little arms went around her neck. She bent down and two grandsons, one on each side of her, put greasy kisses on her cheeks. She didn’t mind at all.
CHAPTER 37
The next morning, Heather came out of the dressing room wearing the sundress and white sandals she’d worn the morning they’d had breakfast in Asheville. Alex was sitting in the plush chair in their suite. He had on khaki slacks and a blue Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He wore a grin like a cat that not only ate the canary, but had managed to slip into the pet shop and devour all the birds.
He stood and held his arms out to her. She cuddled against him. “I never dreamed a man of my age could be so happy,” he whispered.
“This old woman is pretty happy, too.”
He laughed. “After last night, I never want to hear you call yourself an old woman again.”
She blushed. “I could say the same for you.”
“Well, I never intended to call myself an old woman.”
“You!” She squeezed him tightly.
“Are you ready to go?” He looked at his watch. “This wonderful wedding present says it’s time for us to get out of here.”
“I guess I’m ready, but I kind of hate to leave this beautiful place.”
“Our honeymoon spot should be beautiful, too.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “When are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
He picked up two tickets he had on the end table and handed them to her. “I hope you’re pleased.”
“Oh.” She sucked in her breath. “You’re taking me to St. Thomas.” She flung her arms around his neck. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Virgin Islands. I can’t believe you knew this.”
“I keep my ears open.”
“I’m thrilled. Thank you, darling!”
He kissed her long and hard. Finally, he pulled away. “We’d better stop this. We’ve got a drive before us, and if you get me too worked up we might miss our flight.”
“It’s kind of hard to control myself around you, but I don’t want to miss out on this trip.” She moved away laughing.
“Neither do I. They say the island air is great for romance.” He winked at her and picked up their bags.
She got her makeup case and purse. “As if you need island air,” she said, and headed out the door.
•♥ •
Reverend Clyde Albertson stood in the front of Coverton Mills Methodist Church on Sunday morning. “Well, folks, today as we share our joys and concerns I’m happy to say nobody in the congregation is in the hospital or sick. It’s been a good week for all of us health-wise. Now, there are some joys to share. First, let me call on Bertie Williams.”
Mrs. Williams stood and went to the front of the church. “Our daughter, Leigh had an eight-pound three-ounce baby girl on Friday. Bruce and I are glad to finally get a granddaughter in the family. Her name is Ellie.”
Everyone laughed and clapped. Several people called out, “Congratulations, Bertie. Give Leigh our love.”
As Bertie went back to her seat, the preacher said, “Congratulations to your whole family Bertie. We were all praying for a girl this time.” He smiled at her. “Now, for the shocker. I’m not quiet over this one myself, but I’m going to let Luke Hargrove tell you about it.” The preacher nodded and said, “Luke.”
Luke came up front. “As most of you know, I lost my mother eighteen months ago. For a while, I didn’t think my father would ever recover, much less find happiness again.” He took a deep breath. “I was wrong. With the Lord’s help, he has done both. He met a wonderful woman named Heather, and with us all in attendance, they were married Friday afternoon in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As of today, they’re on their honeymoon in the Virgin Islands.”
Minnie Cox either threw or dropped her hymn book and it clattered against the pew in front of her. A collective gasp rippled through the audience. Then the clapping started. When it died someone asked, “Is she a nice person, Luke?”
“Yes. Very nice.”
“Do you like her?” Someone else asked.
“I like her very much. I think she’s
the perfect woman for my dad.”
“May I say something?”
Luke smiled. “Of course you can, Mavis. Would you like to come up here with me?”
“I might as well.” She went to the front of the church. “Neil and I were privileged to take part in this wedding. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two happier people. I’m sure you’re all as stunned as we were when we heard Alex was getting married, but I’m sure when they get home, all of you are going to like her as much as we do.”
“Thank you, Mavis,” the minister said.
She started to sit down, but changed her mind. “Oh, there’s one more thing.” Everyone one looked at her. “Now, when you meet her, relax and you’ll soon see she’ll put you at ease.” Mavis went to her seat as the audience began to buzz among themselves.
Without saying anything further, Luke joined his wife in the pew.
The service continued and when the final hymn was sung and the benediction given, Luke and Brenda were bombarded. In a little while, the nursery worker appeared with Jacob. “I thought I’d bring him to you,” she said. “All the other children had been picked up.”
Brenda said, “I’m sorry, we were waylaid.”
“No problem. I wanted to hear about this wedding, anyway. One of the mothers said Alex got married.”
Before Brenda could answer, Minnie Cox got hold of Luke’s coat sleeve. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Weren’t the women in our church good enough for your father?”
“I’m sure they were, but he didn’t happen to fall in love with any of them.” Luke tried to be polite. “Besides, Heather is a very active Methodist herself.”
“Humph. I bet he’d have a better wife if he’d concentrated on the hometown girls instead of this Heather person.”
“Are they talking about Grammy, Mama?”
“Yes, honey.”
He grinned. “I love Grammy. She loves me, too.”
“Why, little boy, she don’t love you.” Minnie shook her head. “Children are so silly.”
“Grammy does love me!”
“You know she doesn’t love you. I can’t believe the woman would use a child to worm her way into Alex’s heart.” Jacob began to cry.
Stalking her Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 1) Page 18