“Jaycee and Max, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. It is with these in mind, that I pronounce you husband and wife. You have kissed a thousand times, maybe more, but today the feeling is new. No longer simply partners and best friends, you have become husband and wife, and can now seal the agreement with a kiss. Today, your kiss is a promise. Maxwell, you may kiss your bride,” he directs.
Max gently cups my cheek with one hand, as his other wraps around my waist. I slide my palms up his chest and rest them on his shoulders, right as our lips touch. When I feel his warm lips, I raise up on my tiptoes to deepen the oncoming kiss. Our first kiss as husband and wife is not going to be a peck. God, no. I’ve waited forever to kiss my very own prince, so I do. It’s not Max who takes the kiss deeper, it’s me. The hand cupping my cheek, goes around my waist and Max lifts off my feet. It’s all the hollering and cheering that has Max and I finally breaking our kiss on a smile.
“Ladies and gentleman, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Bradshaw.” That gets a standing ovation, and another round of cheers.
Max and I turn to our guests and smile, taking it all in. After a couple of seconds, I take my bouquet back from Abigail and give her a quick hug, before she leans down and straightens my train. I gesture for Callie and Dillon to come with Max and me, as, Only You Can Love Me This Way, begins playing. Another song Max must have picked. I glance up at him and he’s smiling down at me. I lean over and give him a quick kiss, before we all walk back down the aisle with Callie and Dillon leading the way, and Johnny and Abigail following.
When we exit the tent, we don’t stop until we’re in the cabin. Callie and Dillon come with us, and when Johnny and Abigail walk in, Max growls at them, “Keep an eye on them until their moms’ come. We’ll be back.” Without waiting for an answer, Max drags me through the cabin and doesn’t stop until we’re in the back room. Once my train clears the doorway, he allows it to close, then locks it, before he turns to me grinning, but his eyes are hungry.
“Mrs. Bradshaw.”
“Husband,” I return breathlessly, and my body comes alive with need, but also my heart is burning with love. My husband. The dream, the one I thought would never come true, came true. Max quickly closes the small distance between us, and burns me alive with a scorching kiss. When we stop to catch our breath Max leans his forehead against mine.
“Jaycee, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he proclaims, then steps back. “Turn around,” he orders softly. I blush at his compliment, then turn slowly. “A princess. My princess, sparkling like a thousand tiny candles.”
I blink at him, stunned that he remembered my exact words. I then stare down at my dress for a moment, and watch as tiny bursts of light bounce from the stones. When I look back at him, I don’t speak as I walk over, and run my hands up his chest then around his neck. It’s then I declare, “My prince.” Then we’re kissing again.
We stay tucked away for a little while, kissing and whispering our love to one another, before we walk back into the main cabin. Most of our family has come inside, and when they see us, they all rush over to offer their congratulations. Pastor Mays steps in with his wife, and as we all visit, Max and I, along with Pastor Mays, Johnny and Abigail, sign our marriage certificate.
A soft wrapping on the door has my dad stepping over to answer it, and whoever it is, has him grinning from ear to ear. When they step inside and I see who it is, I rush to them. I wrap Captain Walters up in hug, and he holds me tight for a long time before releasing me. I smile up at him, before turning and hugging his wife. Then I turn to Sergeant Taylor, and hug him just as tight.
“Jaycee, this is my finance, Maya,” he announces with a huge smile, and I take in the beautiful blonde with green eyes standing next to him.
“Hi Maya,” I greet with a smile.
“Hello,” she says softly, almost shy. “It was a beautiful ceremony. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. So glad you both came.”
“Hey, so glad you made it,” Max says, as he comes over and shakes hands with all of them. While they’re talking, I make my way to the final man.
“Sheriff Cullens, you’re here.” I hold him tighter than the others, because this man almost died trying to protect me, and spent weeks in the hospital recovering from being shot in the back. I’ll never forget watching him fall to the ground, and being defenseless to help him.
“Now where else would I be today, silly girl?” he grumbles, his words thick with emotion. He may be Uncle Duke’s friend from high school, but he’s been like another dad or uncle to me. All three of them call and check on me often, and it means so much that they’re here.
“Where’s Mrs. Cullens?” I ask.
“She’s out there,” he points to the tent. “She ran into a friend of hers and said she’d come see you in a bit. She knew you’d be overwhelmed, and wanted to give you space. I told her hogwash, and that I was coming to see you.”
“I’m glad you did, and I’ll make sure to go by and see her,” I promise. “Save me a dance?” I ask, and glance back at Captain Walters and Sergeant Taylor, and they both nod.
“You bet,” Sergeant Taylor replies, and smiles at me, then Maya who’s also smiling.
“I’ll be first in line,” Captain Walters says, and pulls his wife close. I feel for them. I know they hoped to share this day with their Scarlet and I, and see a touch of sadness in both their eyes.
“We’ll get going and let you visit with your family,” Sheriff Cullens says, but it doesn’t sound right, and it doesn’t feel right. They are family, too.
“Picture time,” Betsy Kay announces.
“Um, before you go, would you mind taking a picture with me?” I ask them, and they smile.
Betsy Kay keeps us tucked away on the other side of the cabin, in the beautiful field of bluebonnets for our wedding photos. First up, are me and Max, along with the three men that worked so hard to keep me safe, Captain Walter, Sergeant Taylor and Sheriff Cullens, because without them, I would not be here today.
After we do group photos, Max and I take ours. When we’re done, the photographer asks to take some of me alone. I stay, standing alone in the sea of blue, and a warmth, that I’m sure is Grandpa, surrounds me. I know he’s with me. As I gaze at the blooms by my feet, a sweet scent swirls around me like a summer storm. Mom. I feel the gentle mother’s touch on my hair, for only a second, before the touch and sweetness is gone. Instantly I miss it, but I breathe in deeply, and turn my face to the setting sun and close my eyes. I don’t even startle when two warm solid arms snake around my waist.
“My beautiful wife,” Max murmurs against my ear. “What are you thinking?” he asks, and I turn to him.
“Grandpa’s here. So is my mom. I feel them both, but her sweetness…it took me over for a second before drifting away.”
“I’m so glad for you,” he murmurs while holding me close.
We stand for the longest time, both staring at the setting sun, and only when Callie and Dillon come running through the field to tell it’s time to come in, do we break our hold on one another and head back to our guests.
44
Max and I stand side by side, hand in hand, watching Callie and Dillon enter the reception with Johnny and Abigail, then disappear. We’re waiting out of sight, at the spot I stood earlier with my dad. Magic Mike’s voice introduces our small wedding party, before announcing me and Max.
“Here they are, Jaycee and Blue. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw.”
Max and I walk into the tent, and applause breaks out as Magic Mike plays, Party For two. We both smile and wave at everyone as we make our way to the table, where Abigail, Nick, Johnny and Macie are sitting. Max pulls out my chair and I sit down next to Abigail, then Max takes his next to Johnny. Once we settle and we say hello to everyone, the wait staff begins bringing out plates of food to our guests. Abigail leans over and informs me that individual menus were actually broug
ht out with food choices for each guest. They checked off what they wanted, and they staff went to prepare it all, while more showed up and took drink orders.
“Holy cow, Betsy Kay is good,” I praise, and Abigail nods in agreement. About that time a young man in a white shirt, black slacks, bow tie and apron, walks over to our table.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw, I’m Charlie and I’ll be your table’s waiter for the evening. Would you like a drink from the bar? Or we have tea, sweet tea, raspberry tea, lemonade, and almost all varieties of sodas. The bar has wine, domestic and imported beer, and more. Just let me know what you’d like, and if we have it, I’ll get it for you,” he declares. He’s good.
“Jaycee?” Max asks.
“Charlie, may I have a sweet tea and water for now?” I ask.
“Of course, Mrs. Bradshaw,” he replies, and my heart and stomach flutter.
Mrs. Bradshaw.
“I’ll have a Dos Equis, dressed,” Max replies.
“Yes, sir. Anyone else?” Charlie inquires.
“A Dos Equis, dressed, sounds good. I’ll have one, too,” Johnny says.
“Same here,” Nick adds.
“Moscato, if you don’t mind,” Macie asks.
“Same as her,” Abigail says, and points at Macie.
“Will that be all?”
“I think so,” I reply.
“Thank you. While I’m getting those, would you mind filling these out?” Charlie asks, and hands each of us a menu and tiny pencil.
“Of course. Thank you, Charlie,” I say. The menu is super cute, with a country theme of sunflowers along the edge. Max and I, check off almost everything, and when Charlie comes back with our drinks, we give them to him.
“Okay, I’m just putting this out there, but whoever I marry and whenever I get married, that woman is getting the gig,” Macie states about Betsy Kay matter-of-factly, and takes a drink of her wine, while Johnny proceeds to choke on his beer, which causes Macie to smirk. Max pats him on the back while laughing.
“What do you mean, ‘whoever you marry’?” Johnny growls and scowls at her. “There’s no whoever. There’s only me,” he pouts. Macie laughs, then leans in and gives him a kiss that calms him.
“Yes, sweetheart, there’s only you,” she insists.
Before we know it, Charlie is back with salads, and not long after our main dish arrives. My mouth waters when I smell all the amazing food. We eat, and about mid meal, I ask for a Bud Light when the guys ask for another round. When we’re done, Max and I make our way around the room, and talk and laugh with all our guests.
We sit down and talk with Noralee, Kaitlin and Bernice for a while, then head over to the table where his work friends and a few of his close patients are sitting. While watching my guests during my meal, I saw Lina walk in, her arm linked with Red’s. I almost dropped my fork when I saw she wasn’t only walking without a cane, but she was wearing high heels. I glanced at Abigail and she was just as surprised.
“I knew she was going to physical therapy three times a week, but I had no idea. Last I saw her, granted it’s been only briefly the last few weeks, with school and coming here so much, she was still using a cane,” Abigail shared. Last time I saw her at Holloway’s, for me and Max’s bachelorette/bachelor party, she was still using a cane as well.
Max and I make our way to them, and sit and talk for a while. The woman I met so long ago, happy, yet so very sad, is seemly gone. Now, she’s just happy. My thoughts briefly travel to Daniel, and I hope he will soon have the same level of happiness and freedom as his mom, brother and sister.
Next is the toasts, and Johnny and Abigail have our guests laughing, then crying as they each share a story from our youth. Mine revolved around threatening a girl that had been picking on Abigail at school. I had forgotten all about that.
“So, my big bad sissy says, ‘if you leave now and never bother my sister again, I may let you live’,” she brags, as I bury my face in my hands to hide my embarrassment. I flip back and forth from, laughing to groaning, as she tells the story.
Johnny makes the situation worse when he leans over and makes a declaration. “Threatening to kill people? I may have to take you in, sis,” he teases.
“She didn’t technically threaten to kill her,” Max defends with humor in his voice.
“Yeah. She said she’d let her live,” Nick says. “If she walked away, and stopped picking on my fire. No worries. I would have bailed you out darlin’. You never would have seen the inside of a cell,” Nick adds, continuing the teasing, and everyone laughs.
“I was eleven years old,” I defend through embarrassed laughter.
“Well, it was effective, because she never bothered me again,” Abigail jokes, but then goes serious. “Sissy, what I really want to say is that I’m so happy for you. You would gladly take a place at the end of the line of happiness, and give up your own, for anyone in this room. You’ve always stood aside, while the spotlight shone on others. Your joy, has always been others joy. You’re the strongest and most selfless person I know, and you deserve the world, just as I know that Blue is the man to give it to. I’m glad you have someone to give you what you’ve always given to others. To Blue and Jaycee,” she cheers, and everyone toasts. Then it’s Johnny’s turn.
“Brother,” Johnny begins, glancing down at Max before addressing our guests. “Everyone knows my brother is one hell of a good man. He has an outstanding military career; he’s an amazing son, and a great friend and big brother. When we were young, I followed Blue around like his shadow. Anything he did, I wanted to do. Well, one time when we were visiting our grandparents in Surigao, Blue was going out on the boat, but wouldn’t let me come. In his defense, he was older and had permission. Well, this one afternoon, he set out to go fishing when he saw me standing on the beach staring at him.”
“You were longing after me. And, you were crying,” Max jabs.
“Psssh, you say, longing? I don’t think so. And crying? I had sand in my eyes. We were on a beach for Christ’s sake,” Johnny responds on a grumble.
“Oh, okay.” Max chuckles, along with everyone in the room.
“Anyway,” Johnny huffs, but chuckles. “Blue, feeling bad, came back and got me. We had maybe gotten a few yards out, when I leaned over to look in the water. The water is so clear you can see to the bottom. I saw something, and leaned into get a better look, when I almost fell in. The only thing that stopped me, was Blue grabbing me. But upon grabbing me, he lost his balance and fell in.” Johnny cringes, and glances down at Max in apology, but Max is just laughing. “He fell right into a swarm of jellyfish. When he cried out in pain, I panicked and began to...uhhh...not cry...nope, didn’t cry, but I did call for help,” Johnny chuckles, along with our guests. Max glances at me with a grin, then winks, before giving Johnny his attention again.
“When he saw my panic, he calmed down. He acted like it was no big deal as he swam through them, while getting stung. He then climbed back in the boat, and rowed us back to shore. As soon as we hit the beach, I took off to get my mom and grandma. They rushed back down, and helped him back up to the house.
“All night, my mom and grandma saw to him, while all I could do was say I was sorry, over and over. I don’t think there was any part of his body that didn’t get stung. But, he never cried or complained. He just told me that it was okay, and it didn’t hurt. He said when he was better, he’d take me out again. That was the first time I looked at Blue like a hero,” Johnny confesses, with a thickness in his voice.
Max is no longer laughing. He’s listening to his little brother, and I can see he’s touched.
“The next would be at any, and all, of his sporting events. Blue is the epitome of a team player. He never hogged the plays or the limelight. He was always happy to let others have the glory. Kinda like Jaycee,” he says softly, and glances down at me, and winks just like his brother did a moment ago. I smile at him before he turns and goes on.
“The next time was when I was out drinking with
him, right after he had joined the Air Force. Hearing him talk about his patients, his level of devotion, and going to visit him at the hospital, while watching him work to heal the warriors, made me so proud. His dedication to them is like no other.” A round of, hooah’s, can be heard from Max’s friends and co-workers. “But as dedicated as he is to them, the dedication he has for Jaycee, can’t be measured. It’s infinite. So, to my hero and his beautiful wife, I wish you infinite happiness,” Johnny cheers, and so does the room as we all toast.
Max and I give Johnny and Abigail hugs, before I turn to Max and ask, “Did you really fall into jelly fish?”
“I did.”
“Didn’t it hurt?” I ask.
“You have no idea,” he growls.
“Aw, sugar, I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Didn’t want Johnny to get freaked out and never go back in the water. So I sucked it up. No big deal.”
“Max, it was a huge deal.”
It’s not long after the toasts, do I see Betsy Kay making her way over to us, with a huge smile. She has an earpiece in her ear, and a phone in her hand. She, too, is in a rose dress, only hers has a jacket with short sleeves, like a business suit.
“We need to steal you for a bit. We need to get a few pictures of you by the cakes, and then while you’re having your dances, we’ll cut them and pass them out,” Betsy Kay explains.
We take our pictures and then cut the cake. Max looks way too amazing for me to splatter cake in his face. He took his coat off halfway through dinner, but left his vest on. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up to his forearms, and he’s so hot. I don’t dare ruin a thing about him, so I just dab a little frosting on his mouth when I raise the cake to feed him his piece.
As I smile at the frosting on his beautiful lips, my thoughts turn heated. They take me to tonight, and I hope those lips are all over me. I bite my lips to withhold my moan, as I envision Max’s mouth covering my body in hot wet kisses. Max’s eyes go to my lips, and his eyes flare. I’m sure he can figure out my thoughts, as he’s probably having the same. I release my lip, set the cake down, then lean against my husband, and wrap my arms around him. I stare into his eyes, before rising up on my tiptoes to kiss off the frosting. When my tongue invades his mouth, his moan and my mewling is drowned out by the cheers going around us.
Forever & A Day Page 26