Sweet Salvation

by Maddie Taylor

  “The compromises I’ve made are for both of us. We’ve talked about this, cara. I have altered my schedule. We brought in a new partner, but you haven’t done anything but go from bad to worse. At least when you were in the OR I got to see you and spend time with you, even when you were working. You had a set schedule and shared an on-call rotation. We found time to have lunch together. When was the last time we did that?”

  Another long silence hung awkwardly between them.

  Finally, Jessie answered in a soft, well-controlled tone. “That’s going backward, which means I went to graduate school for nothing. I planned to work this job for a few years and gain some experience. After that, I should be able to get a job like Gwen’s. She’s well removed from all direct care nursing responsibilities and rarely has to come in on weekends or holidays. That’s what I was working toward; if I stop now, I’ll be back where I started.”

  “Gwen is in her fifties, Jess. She worked the floor or in supervision for twenty years before this position opened up for her. We can’t wait that long, at least I can’t. Besides, I thought it was the patients that drew you toward nursing. When did that change?”

  It hadn’t. She enjoyed the patient care, but it didn’t help her reach her goals. She didn’t tell him that though. What was the point? She turned to him, knowing tears wet her cheeks, but she wanted to see him when she asked him her next question. “So where does this leave us? Are you telling me I have to choose between you and my career?”

  He didn’t say it, not with words, but he looked away. This evidently was a deal breaker, for both of them.

  “You haven’t even tried to fix the current problem.”

  “I said I’d take care of it Monday.”

  “You’ve made those promises before.” He looked at his watch. “Damn, I’m late. I’ll have to pass on the shower.” He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “I don’t want to leave things like this, baby, but I really have to go.”

  Her arms wrapped around him, her heart breaking. “I understand.”

  “I’ll see you tonight when you get back from your mom’s. I love you, bella mia.”

  “I love you too, handsome.”

  As he walked away, she thought to herself sadly, love evidently just wasn’t enough.

  * * *

  It was ten o’clock when he dragged himself out of his truck and into the dark house. He’d been disappointed that Jessie’s car wasn’t in the garage. As he walked down the hall toward the kitchen, he pulled out his phone to check for a message from her. Maybe she’d called to tell him when she’d be home. They needed to settle things before going to bed tonight.

  As he walked, flipping on lights, he realized how quiet and empty the big house was without her. She’d made it a home. Even though they weren’t always home during normal hours, they always seemed to go to bed together. That was something. Bed was the place where they were of one mind. Sex between them was always fantastic, explosive; now if they could just figure out all the rest of it.

  In the kitchen, he headed straight for the refrigerator. He wanted a Bud badly, but he was still on call. Bypassing the beer, he grabbed the next available bottle of something cold and wet. The first sip made him regret it. Looking at the label, he saw it was one of Jessie’s diet flavored teas, kiwi-strawberry something, disgusting.

  Setting it down, he noticed a paper on the counter and a small black box. His heart lurched as he looked at the familiar box. He remembered teasing her when she’d saved it. Women were so sentimental. Lifting the handwritten note with a gut-wrenching sense of foreboding, he forced himself to read.

  Marc,

  You are right. I have doubts… so many, and it is no way to begin a marriage.

  I love you but we are so different, too different for this to work.

  This is why I resisted you in the beginning. I was trying to save my heart from what it is feeling now. I knew if I let you in, you would own a piece of me forever. I was right.

  I’ve decided to stay with my mom for a while so you can reach me there.

  I’m off on Wednesday and will return to get the rest of my things.

  I’m sorry I wasn’t brave enough to tell you this in person.

  Another reason we don’t fit.

  I’ll love you always,

  Jessie

  Opening the black box, he found her engagement ring, as expected. His hands clenched reflexively as anguish ripped through his heart. The edges of the ring box dug into his palm as the other hand gripped the bottle of crap tea. Emotions roiled through him, pain warring with anger and despair. They fought for prominence but one boiled to the surface—anger. He turned and with a roar blindly hurled the bottle across the room with such strength and fury that it hit with a shattering crash. Like a grenade blast, the bottle exploded, obliterating the unfortunate dishes and glasses in the hutch on the far side of the room. As glass rained down, bouncing along the granite counters and hardwood floor, it pinged like ice pellets in a winter storm. His outburst, uncharacteristic in the extreme, did nothing to ease the abject misery that lingered inside.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Palm Beach, Florida

  One month later…

  The sun was peaking above the horizon, painting the sky and the water below a spectacular rainbow of pinks, blues, and yellows. The warm breeze swept across the men and women gathered at sunrise in celebration. As the sun crept higher and cast the beach in soft light, the minister turned to the gathering and began.

  “Dearly beloved…”

  Barely registering his words over the thud of her heart pounding in her ears, the bride clutched her groom’s hands. Hazy with excitement, her admiring gaze swept over him. He was beyond handsome with his dark hair fluttering gently in the breeze as he smiled down at her. Dressed in a lightweight linen suit appropriate for a beach wedding, the shirt underneath was open at the throat, revealing his corded neck. On his feet, he wore his favorite pair of brown loafers, having adamantly refused to wear flip-flops or sandals.

  The bride wore a white chiffon gown in a Grecian one-shoulder style, the airy material gently flowing around her in the light wind. The material was held snugly to her body by a belt at her waist, accentuating her curves. In her hair, fragrant freesias were woven, the strands reflecting golden tints in the burgeoning sunlight. On her feet were gold-tone flip-flops.

  Without fuss or fanfare, the bride and groom, with their best friends as attendants, came together to take their vows before the small gathering of family. As the ceremony began, the mother of the groom wept openly while the groom’s father held her closely as they happily watched their only son marry a girl they adored.

  “Do you, Jared…”

  She squeezed his hands tightly, anchoring to him in her haze of elation. It was like a dream, and she worried he might vanish upon waking or float away on the warm coastal breeze. Thankfully, he was substance, not fantasy and proved it when he squeezed her fingers in return.

  “Will you, Stacy…”

  Staring into those chameleon green eyes, she barely registered her surroundings. The guests, the gazebo, the sand and sun, even the crashing waves of the vast ocean were background to this beautiful man who was vowing to love her forever. It was exactly as she’d dreamed when she was thirteen, only better because of Jared. He was the perfect match for her in so many ways. He had been a ray of light when her world had been in darkness. Like a knight of old, he’d been there to protect her, like a warrior, he’d fought back her demons, and like a hero, he’d swooped in to save her. He was her love, her life, her salvation. And doggone it, he was so much more perfect than Brad Pitt.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, son.”

  In that small blip of time, it was over. As Jared turned her face up for his kiss, the touch of his hand to her cheek startled her from her daze, like an alarm waking her from a deep sleep.

  Startled, she cried, “Wait.”

&nb
sp; “That part is over, my dear,” the minister said with a frown. “It’s a done deal.”

  “But it went by too fast, I missed it.”

  Jared and the minister both huffed a sigh of relief, unsure what her panicked ‘wait’ had been about.

  “No, seriously, I missed every word. Can we do it again? Please?”

  Jared answered by bending her back over his arm, taking full possession of her mouth and kissing her senseless. When he lifted his head, he smiled down at his flustered wife.

  “Truly, Jared,” she whispered, her expression vague and much more contained. “I don’t remember a word I said.”

  “You promised to love, honor, and obey me, Stacy-mine. You also vowed to forsake all others and pick up my dirty socks and underwear, until death do us part.”

  The witnesses heard and laughed, their amused smiles focused on the bride who was always entertaining.

  “Jared! I did not.”

  “No, Mrs. Baker, but you did say ‘I do’ and that’s good enough for me.”

  “Mrs. Baker?” she said with a sigh. “I really like the sound of that, darlin’, but I missed our whole wedding.”

  “Let me replay the best part.” Jared again kissed her senseless.

  When he showed no sign of stopping, the minister cleared his throat, reminding them of their guests. Turning to their friends and family, they accepted their hugs and congratulations. Marc shook Jared’s hand and they pounded each other’s backs as they chest-hugged as men did.

  “Congrats, bud. You’ve found a real gem in Stacy.”

  He turned to Stacy and pulled her in for a brotherly bear hug. “Be happy, piccola. He loves you very much.”

  “I know, Marc. Thank you for being here for him, for us. I know it hasn’t been easy.” Noticing that Jared was hugging Jessie, she took the opportunity to meddle. “Jessie loves you. You can’t let her slip away. You two are supposed to be together.”

  “Not in her opinion, Stace. She won’t even talk to me. I’ve tried.”

  “Don’t give her a choice. When I told Jared to get out, he ignored me and took matters into his own hands, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do, but our situation is a bit different.” Marc said, smiling sadly.

  It hurt Stacy’s heart to look at him; he always looked sad these days. They both did.

  “She’s stubborn, but she isn’t stupid. Show her you are meant to be.” That was all the time they had as Jared’s mother came up for hugs and kisses. Next came Jessie who hugged her, tears misting in her eyes.

  “Do you really not remember your vows, honey?”

  “Not a word. Damn nerves, now I know why everybody records their wedding these days.”

  “Then you missed what Jared added to the traditional vows.”

  “What?”

  “He vowed, and I want to get this exactly right so give me a minute. He said ‘I, Jared, take you, Stacy, to love, honor, cherish, and to always keep you safe in my arms.’”

  “Heavens, Jess! That’s what he’s promised me from the beginning. I think I’m going to cry again.”

  “Now his promise is a vow, in front of witnesses. I’m so happy for you, Stace.”

  She dabbed at her eyes with the tissue her friend produced, then frowned. “You don’t look happy. Every time I see you, you’re crying. You’re miserable. Admit it.”

  “I always cry at weddings.”

  “Bullshit,” Stacy whispered for her ears only. “If you don’t fix this thing between you and Marc, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Take a chance, Jess, as I did with Jared.”

  Jessie gave her a small smile as she shook his head. “It’s over, Stace. You’re going to have to accept it like I did.”

  “He said you won’t even talk to him, Jessie; at least hear him out.”

  “There’s no point. We said it all. Please, this is your day. Don’t let our problems distract you.”

  “Mrs. Baker,” Jared’s dad said from behind her.

  The use of her new last name was startling and she grinned as she turned to him. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

  He was beaming as he pulled her into a warm embrace and planted a fatherly kiss on her forehead. Over his shoulder, she saw Jessie move quickly way.

  “Joanne and I always wanted a daughter, Stacy. Now we have one.”

  “That’s so sweet, Russ.”

  “I know your father is gone and can never be replaced, but any time you need fatherly advice or a hug, you come to me, sweetheart.”

  Her eyes flooded with tears. She’d been missing her parents today, especially her dad. Since he wasn’t there to give her away, Jared had escorted her down to the beach gazebo. Jessie and Joanne had stood in for her mother, helping her with her dress and hair, but her presence was sorely missed. So Russ’ sweet words brought her comfort and filled her heart that much fuller.

  “Are you making my bride cry, Dad?” Jared appeared at her side and Russ relinquished her to his arms.

  “Sorry, son, but I’m afraid she’s like your mother was on our wedding day. Floodgates couldn’t hold back the tears she wept. I wrung out my handkerchief at least a dozen times.”

  “They were happy tears, of course, but stop exaggerating. You only wrung it out once.” Russ smiled and held out an arm for Joanne, who came to him, eyes liquid.

  He squeezed her tight and pressed a kiss to her temple, as was his habit. “Hold off on more waterworks ‘til we get to the house, Jo. You’ve already gone through my stash of tissues.” He winked at Stacy, then steered his own bride of thirty-five years back toward the house. A testament to their love and happiness, they walked sedately, arm in arm, stopping to kiss, bending to pick up a shell, but always touching, maintaining a constant connection.

  “They look like newlyweds themselves,” Stacy sighed, looking on from the circle of her husband’s arms. “It’s so sweet.”

  “It’s always been that way. It was awkward for me as a teen, but now that I’m an adult, I see how special their relationship is. I want that for us, honey.”

  She nodded, wanting it too. Her eyes flicked to the couple further up the beach. She wanted it for them too.

  Marc and Jessie walked beside the minister as they escorted him back to the boardwalk. Stacy’s heart ached for them, both stiff and downhearted, their natural spark extinguished. Although they stood close together, the distance between them was as wide as a canyon and twice as deep. Today was awkward for them both, she and Jared knew it would be and although they offered them an out, they had agreed to put their differences aside in order to be there for their best friends.

  “I hurt for them too, baby. This was hard for them, but they’d be more upset if they knew being here was ruining your day.”

  “Nothing could ruin this day, Jared.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  Everyone had left to give the newlyweds privacy, to savor their first moments as husband and wife. Stacy nuzzled against Jared’s chest, enjoying his strong arms around her for a moment before tilting her head back to look up at him. “Thank you for this. It was just as I always dreamed. You remembered every detail.”

  “I remember everything about you, but I had help this time.”

  “Jessie?”

  “No, your scrapbook.”

  Standing on tiptoe in her flip-flops wasn’t enough to reach his lips, so she wrapped a hand around his neck and pulled him down until she could whisper against his lips. “You did everything perfectly.”

  Tugging her down the steps into the cool morning sand, he sat, guiding her between his spread legs. His arms encircled her and snuggled her back against his chest. The light breeze was fresh and invigorating as they watched the sun rise over the Atlantic. Silently, they relaxed in each other’s arms as the waves rolled in long and lazy.

  “This is a gorgeous spot. Whose house is it?”

  “Yours.”

  “What?” She angled
her head, looking back over her shoulder to see if he was serious. The grin on his face didn’t really tell her for sure. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope, it’s a wedding gift for you and Je—”

  Beside herself with excitement, Stacy’s ear-piercing squeal drowned out anything else Jared had to say. It also scared away a nearby flock of gulls who bounded into flight, squawking and flapping indignantly at the intrusion. Stacy turned in Jared’s arms, laughing in delight. “I can’t believe it! We own a beach house in freakin’ Palm Beach! Pinch me ‘cause I think I’m dreaming.”

  “I know. I’ve had a time wrapping my head around it too, but we don’t own it, honey. You, Jessie, Marc, and I do.”

  “What?”

  “It was Marc’s idea to go in together. He knew I was looking and I could never have swung something like this on my own. We thought it would be a perfect wintertime getaway.”

  “Oh, Jared!” Just as quick, her excitement turned to disappointment as her heart ached for her friends. “Like adding insult to injury; this must be torture for them.”

  “Jessie doesn’t know yet and Marc has no plans to tell her, for now. No sense in making things worse.”

  “That just breaks my heart. What the hell is wrong with them, Jared? They love each other.”

  “I have to believe they will work it out, sweetheart.”

  “I feel so guilty, to be so happy when they are so miserable. Maybe if we—”

  “No interference. They’ll work it out between them, or they won’t. But we are not getting in the middle of it.”

  “But Jared—”

  “I’m serious, Stacy. Would you want them meddling in our relationship?”

  “No.”

  “Then be a good wife and stay out of it. I know it’s hard but if we plan to maintain our friendship and working relationships, we have to stay neutral.”

  “Hmph…”

  “Stacy,” Jared warned.

  “Married fifteen minutes and already you’re laying down the law on the little woman.”