by Debra Holt
Jan wrapped her arms around Mercy. A wave of safe comfort and relief engulfed her. It felt right to step back finally, stop the interference, and let her mother live her life, no matter what might lie ahead. Hadn’t a wise man said that to her not too long ago?
Mercy stood and wiped more moisture from her cheeks.
“So, we weren’t too late, and you aren’t married?”
“No, we aren’t married yet. We got to the chapel, and I just couldn’t do it. I want my children with me when I make my vows. Guess I’m just old-fashioned after all. And poor Larry, he says he understands. In fact, he wants to send tickets or a plane for the boys tomorrow.” She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you think they would come? Having all of you with me when I take this next step in my life would mean everything.”
Mercy hated the look of uncertainty in her mom’s eyes. “They’ll come. I promise you that.” She reached out and brought her mom up to stand with her. “Tomorrow, we’ll get to work. Anything you want, we’ll plan. Who’s your maid of honor?”
“I was hoping you’d take the job.”
“Well, it just so happens I now have some experience in that area,” she began, and then laughed when she saw the quizzical look on her mom’s face. “It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in on it later. But don’t worry. We’ve got it covered.”
They found Josh and Larry in a small café off the lobby. The two men could only look on in amazed silence as the women began making lists on a stack of cocktail napkins. Larry was in charge of getting the transportation lined up for the boys and their families. His plane and pilot would be in the air before dawn, heading for Russ. Tickets would await Steven and his family. They charged Josh with arranging transportation and hotel rooms for the wedding party and getting the wedding attire appointments for the men. He would also serve as the best man. Hair and nail appointments needed to be made, a new dress for the maid of honor and one for the bride … flowers and cake and food …
Mercy felt slightly overwhelmed at the realization that she’d finally found peace with her mother’s decision. Sometimes one had to let go and place faith in something else.
Faith? Whoa!
Where had that thought come from? Hadn’t she expounded on the negative side of that idea not so long ago? But she wasn’t going to take time to dwell on that sudden realization. They had a wedding to plan. Who said a wedding couldn’t come together in just forty-eight hours?
The list making became quite a project. Mercy reeled from the effects of a long and emotional day. She glanced over at Josh and saw the tiredness in his eyes. She’d become aware that he kept flexing his leg under the table, and guilt stabbed her into action. H needed to get off the leg and take some pain pills.
“We have a full day tomorrow, so it’s time for sleep. We can meet for breakfast at nine. Where are you two staying?” Mercy smiled at the engaged pair.
“We’re here at this hotel, also,” her mother said. “We have a lovely cabana suite at the back of the property.” A blush crept over her cheeks as she added, “With two bedrooms.”
“While you two were talking,” Larry announced, “I prevailed upon the management and acquired another cabana with three bedrooms. Jan will move in there tonight, and when the boys arrive, there will be room for them with your mother.”
“That’s great. We’ll see you both at nine.”
Mercy kissed her mother on the cheek and did the same to Larry, who returned the gesture with a hug and a whisper in Mercy’s ear. “Thank you, Mercy. You’ve made your mom very happy. Me, too.”
Mercy couldn’t resist giving the man a tight squeeze before moving toward the elevators.
Josh remained quiet on the ride to their floor, and that silence continued even after they arrived at the door of the suite. She waited while he opened the door. To his surprise, she marched past him. “I assume your pain pills are upstairs.” She scaled the stairs without another word, and Josh followed slowly.
Mercy waited at the top step for him, a glass of water in one hand and two pills in the other. “You know better,” she said, stretching out her palm with the meds. “I certainly should. You’ve overdone it today. Take these and soak in a hot tub. Just don’t fall asleep in there. We don’t have time for a hospital visit in our tight schedule.”
Josh reached for the pills and the glass. His eyes stayed fixed on hers as he swallowed the pills and the water. “Okay, nurse. But I can’t promise not to fall asleep in the tub. Maybe you should keep an eye on me while I—”
“No thanks. You’re a big boy; you’ll do just fine.”
She left him standing on the landing as she made her exit down the stairs and to the door at her side of the suite. She didn’t trust herself to turn and look back, keenly aware that he watched until she closed the door between them.
Josh would never tell Mercy he didn’t take the long soak in the tub because, by the time he got out of his clothes and lay down on the bed, he was out. He didn’t open his eyes again until sunlight awakened him through a crack in the drapes. He rolled over and looked at the bedside clock.
Seriously? He had twenty minutes to shower, dress, and make the nine o’clock deadline for breakfast.
He must have been more wiped out than he’d thought last night. His throbbing leg had been much more painful than usual. The memory of the way Mercy took charge when they got to the suite made him smile. The hard armor, which he had first come up against at the hospital, had a chink or two. Maybe he was growing on her.
I can only hope.
He still felt a little groggy, but the hot spray of the shower revived him. Two nicks along his jawline with the razor got him into gear. As he dressed, his awakened mind found its way back to that fairly potent kiss at the fountains the night before. And how she still managed to fix him with looks that clearly labeled him the enemy—or at the very least, on the wrong team. But that kiss! His heart warred with his brain over that one. Her response had to mean something. He was counting on that more than he cared to admit.
Mercy Smith had saved his life and turned it upside down at the same time. Infuriating one moment and compassionate the next, she was unlike anyone he had ever met. She had a gentle and mercurial spirit … and yet, slightly damaged. He sensed a pain deep inside her. He knew some of the bits and pieces of why, but he needed to know more and to find a way to make the hurts go away.
The sight of her made his chest constrict, and his heart beat as if he’d set out to run a marathon. Just a smile from her made his day.
I’m in deep.
He shook his head at his reflection in the full-length mirror. He’d been a goner from the minute he’d opened his eyes and saw her deep chocolate ones looking back, steady and true, through all the pain and tragedy. The warm honey-flecked pools had drawn him immediately into their comforting depths. Then she’d smiled, and the world had tipped on its axis. Nothing would ever be the same again. He wanted those smiles to remain and not scurry away when things became too serious … or too painful.
Josh had heard people talk about love at first sight, but he’d never experienced it. Until Mercy. His work was cut out for him, though. Mercy had issues, obvious ones, many of which had to do with her former fiancé. While Jan had shared a bit of the history with him after she and Larry had announced their engagement, he needed to know more, and that information could only come from Mercy. And getting it wouldn’t be an easy task.
Good thing he’d never been one to shy away from difficulty.
“There he is,” Larry announced his approach.
Mercy, Jan, and Larry had already claimed a table overlooking the atrium. She looked up from her coffee and saw that Josh looked more like his old self—as handsome and dangerous to her peace of mind as ever. Leg-hugging jeans and a pale blue oxford shirt brought out the color in his eyes, making them appear even bluer than usual. To his credit, he didn’t seem to notice the female attention he garnered as he crossed the room. His eyes stayed fixed on hers, and when the
connection grew too intense, she broke contact first.
“We were about to send out a search party,” Larry joked as Josh joined them. “You’re usually the early bird.”
“Good morning, everyone. It must be the desert air or something.” Josh took the chair next to Mercy. “How many lists have I missed so far this morning?”
His smile seemed too delicious so early in the day. Mercy would have to concentrate on other things a lot harder.
“Don’t worry, yours hasn’t grown. But mine has,” Larry informed him with a tap of his finger on the notepad beside his plate. “We have a lot to do and a short time to do it. Hope you brought track shoes.”
They kept the conversation general until the breakfast dishes had been cleared and they were working on their last cups of coffee. Mercy’s cell phone rang, breaking into the conversation. She looked at the caller ID and took a deep breath. A slight furrow creased her forehead. Pushing away from the table, she arose and laid her napkin in her chair. Their eyes followed her.
“Excuse me. I need to take this call outside.”
She scanned her surroundings for a quiet place away from the main flow of traffic and made her way to the patio as she spoke into the phone. “Hello, Steven. I trust the information on the plane came through this morning. The car will be there in two hours to pick all of you up. Your tux will be fitted when you get here.”
“Do I get to speak now?”
“I would consider your words carefully when you do. I’m not in the mood for any further childish behavior on your part. It’s time to realize that our mother is a grown woman who raised us in a good life and with a lot of love. She sacrificed so each of us could follow our dreams. Now it’s time for us to give back to her. This is what she wants, Steven, this marriage to Larry Sanderson, and by heavens, she is going to have it. Understood?”
“Childish behavior?”
“Is that all you got out of what I just said? I’m hanging up now before I tell you what I really think. Get yourself on the plane and have a smile on your face when you get here. Love you!”
Mercy dropped the phone into her pocket.
That went well … much the same as the earlier call that morning with Russell. As Larry had said, the clock was ticking, and there was, indeed, a lot to do if they were going to pull together the wedding her mother deserved. Mercy headed back into the dining room with determination in her step and in her eyes.
“Do I dare ask how it went?” Her mother enquired as Mercy rejoined them at the table but did not take her seat.
“Steven has received his instructions and is looking forward to joining us this evening. Now we need to get a move on. We have fittings this morning.” Smiling at them all, she added, “Gentlemen, you have your lists.”
Jan and Larry stood and moved toward the exit. Mercy moved to Josh’s side and handed him a small card from her pocket.
“What’s this, another addition to my list?” He looked down with sudden recognition. “The hotel spa?”
“You have an appointment for a massage this afternoon … for your leg.” She spoke in lowered tones so the couple in front of them wouldn’t hear. “Don’t be late.”
Josh’s hand on her arm stopped her. She looked up at him.
“This isn’t necessary. Do I need to remind you that you’re off duty?”
“Don’t argue. Yes, it is necessary if you plan to do any dancing with my mother at the reception. You’ll thank me later.”
“One condition.”
She raised a fine brow as she waited for his demand.
“You save a dance for me.”
“As I said once before, I don’t dance.” She turned on her heel and left him to follow.
Chapter Eleven
Shopping with her mom for wedding items turned out to be a lot of fun. They’d spent the longest part of the morning finding just the right dress for the bride, followed by deciding on one for Mercy, too. Her mother had originally planned to wear a simple two-piece beige suit, but when the wedding suddenly took on a life of its own, she wanted to shop for a dress that would make her feel like a bride.
They found the perfect dress in the third shop they entered. The gown had an ivory lace top over an ivory chiffon floor-length skirt. The draped neckline would be perfect for the pearl necklace and matching drop earrings Larry had given her as a wedding present. A small barrette covered with fresh stephanotis would work with her hairstyle. Simple yet elegant … and very romantic. Her mom’s description, not Mercy’s.
“Now I can sit and watch you be the model,” Jan said, a sigh of happy relief escaping her as she settled into a comfortable chair, preparing to watch Mercy try on dresses next.
The first dress she tried, a light blue chiffon, didn’t make an impression on either of them. She returned a short time later in a second dress, however, and Jan sat up, her eyes on Mercy as she turned in front of the double mirror. The full skirt—a confection of lavender chiffon with a tulle petticoat—billowed as she walked. The hem fell just below the knee.
“I think the color is perfect on you and the fit is perfection.”
“Do you think the strapless top is too much?” Mercy eyed the dress with a critical eye, but she felt almost like a princess wearing the dress.
“No—not too much. And that long scarf drapes around your neck and flows down your back so softly. The look will go great with you putting your hair up on top of your head. We can even add some little sprigs of stephanotis tucked here and there. I think it’s very beautiful and perfect for you.”
Mercy smiled in reply. As usual, her mother saw the big picture, and she had to agree. She had found the perfect dress for the wedding. At the same time, another sudden thought took her by surprise.
What will Josh think?
She pushed the thought away almost as soon as the notion flitted across her mind. She and Josh had issues to discuss after this wedding was over, but right now she would focus on giving her mom and Larry the perfect day.
The next stop on their agenda took them to the catering manager and pastry chef at the hotel to discuss the menu and cake. They had decided to have the wedding in the elegant chapel on the hotel grounds and the reception in a small private dining room. Not for the first time in the last couple of days, Mercy marveled at how things just managed to happen when Larry stepped forward and spoke with the management of the resort. Where before the hotel had been booked, suddenly the private cabanas usually kept on reserve for special high rollers who might visit unannounced had been placed at their disposal. The staff didn’t blink an eye when faced with the request for a wedding in such a short amount of time. They clearly wished to please the man.
Jan and Mercy made their way upstairs to the spa for their appointments, and Mercy had to ask the question on her mind. “Mom, did I understand that Larry is retired?”
“Yes, he retired from the engineering field when he sold his controlling interest in the company he founded and worked at for almost forty years. But you can’t keep him idle for long. He and Josh invested in a large wind-field operation a couple of years ago, and that has grown into quite a business in itself. Why do you ask?” Jan gave her a measured glance.
“I guess I just wanted to make sure your future husband could support you in the manner you deserve.”
“Now you sound just like your brothers. Let’s just say that both of your brothers had their questions put to rest when Larry faxed them each a copy of his profit and loss statements for the last five years. I think Steven may have passed out for a minute or two,” she quipped. “So do not worry, my little girl. Larry and I will not need any help from you or your siblings in our old age.” Jan finished it off with a wink as they arrived at their destination.
Mercy responded with a smile.
Way to go, Mom.
A few minutes later, they both relaxed to enjoy their mani-pedis.
“I must say, this was a very good idea of yours,” her mother said. She settled deeper into the chair next to Mercy
’s and watched as a demure young woman applied a pale pink polish to her toes. “I feel quite like a queen today with all this pampering.”
“Yes, I do come up with brilliant ideas now and then.” Mercy grinned. “You deserve to be pampered. After all, you’re the bride. I hear this is what most brides do before their weddings, and we must keep to tradition.”
“Well, I don’t know about most brides. The first time around, I simply got dressed in my best white sundress with tiny yellow daisies embroidered on the waist. Aunt Sharon did my hair for me, and your father and I stood before the justice of the peace at the local courthouse and said our vows. Then we ate the pot roast dinner my mother had prepared. We spent the night at the only place in town—a small motor inn—and went back to work the next morning.”
Mercy saw a hint of wistfulness in her mother’s eyes as she remembered the past.
“You’ve never told us a lot about how you and dad met and married, Mom. I’ve heard bits and pieces, but I don’t know why I never asked you for the details.” One corner of her lips rose in a crooked smile. “I do remember how dad would bring you bouquets of lilies for no reason at all. People always said the gesture was so romantic. Then you would end up sick for a week afterward. Did you ever tell him you were allergic to them?”
“I didn’t have the heart to tell him. He was so sweet.”
“Of course, this probably isn’t the time to bring up memories like these, but—”
Jan reached over and patted her daughter’s hand, careful not to interfere with the polishing of Mercy’s nails. A soft smile creased her face. “It has nothing to do with the time or place. Lovely memories are always welcome. And it’s only natural that your father is on my mind, even as I prepare to marry another man. I’ve been blessed when I least expected it. It’s been so long since I lost your father. I never expected to feel this way about anyone else again. When he died, I threw myself into raising you and your brothers to the best of my ability. You were my future.”