Clarissa looked her sister-in-law over once more before being finally satisfied she was ready. “All right, something old.” She reached over and pulled out a pearl bracelet. Steph felt her throat choke up and the tears threaten to fall when she saw it. “That’s…” she recognized the pearl bracelet as the one her father had given her mother for their tenth wedding anniversary.
“Yes, your mother let you ‘borrow’ it, and don’t you dare start crying, you’ll ruin my hard work.” She swiftly finished clasping the bracelet before she grabbed a length of toilet paper and rushed to capture the two tears that had escaped.
“Pull yourself together woman or we’ll both be a mess,” Clarissa said with a grin as she gripped Steph’s ivory silk-covered shoulders. Steph took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down.
“You okay?” Clarissa asked.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, something new,” she indicated the wedding dress. “Something borrowed.” She placed the veil she had worn at her own wedding over Steph’s face.
“And something blue,” Clarissa offered her a pair of sapphire studded earrings. She helped Steph put them on.
“Ready?”
“I think so.” Steph’s response was tight, laced with nerves.
“I can’t hear you.” Clarissa sounded like a football coach, revving the team up for a big playoff.
“Yeah!” Steph shouted, raising her bouquet in the air like a weapon.
“Good girl, let’s go get you married to that gorgeous man.”
“He is your cousin, remember?”
“I can still think he’s gorgeous.” Clarissa giggled as she opened the door of the bathroom to Steph’s mother waiting in a wheelchair. Her oncologist stood behind her, ready to escort her to the chapel.
“Oh, Stephanie.” Kathryn gasped, clasping her thin hands together as tears trickled down her face.
“Mom, don’t make me start crying. Shit, too late.” She bent down and wrapped her arms around her frail mother while the oncologist watched on, a tear sliding down his own cheek, which he tried to hide
“Aw, hell.” Clarissa muttered as she went for the tissues on a table beside Kathryn’s bed. “Good thing I have my mini-makeup emergency kit here somewhere,” she said, handing out tissues before she dabbed her own eyes.
“Come on, we have to get moving,” Clarissa urged. “Don’t want to be late for your own wedding.”
“Isn’t the bride supposed to be late? Like tradition or something?” Stephanie asked, pulling away from her mother.
“Not on my watch.” Clarissa was obsessed with punctuality. “Come on, future Mrs. Hiller, time to go and make that future a reality.”
The small bridal party swept through the ward and down the halls. Patients, staff, and visitors pulled out their phones to take a picture of the bride as she glided towards the chapel.
Steph stopped at the closed doors where Stu waited. He looked nervous.
“What’s wrong?” Steph asked. Clarissa bustled past her and asked the same question.
“Kyle’s not here,” he admitted.
Steph’s heart galloped in her chest. Fear he had abandoned her reared its ugly head.
“What?” Clarissa’s voice was shrill as she opened the door to the chapel to peek inside, not believing her husband.
“He said he had to get something, but I can’t remember what. He’s been gone a while.”
“How long exactly is a while, Stuart Matthew Regent?” Clarissa demanded.
Steph cringed. When someone used her brother’s full name, he knew he was in trouble.
“About an hour, maybe two?”
“Which is it, an hour or two hours?” Clarissa poked her husband’s chest as she spoke.
“Sweetheart, it’s okay, he’s coming back. I promise you,” he said, taking Clarissa’s poking finger and kissing the tip.
The sound of the automatic doors opening in the distance and the hard, squeaky pounding of a pair of shoes against the hospital’s linoleum floors heralded the arrival of a disheveled and out-of-breath Kyle. He slid to a stop in front of them before bending over and attempting to catch his breath.
Clarissa would not let him off lightly—he was on the receiving end of her wrath. “Where have you been? You had Steph worried sick. I’ve a good mind to call the wedding off.”
Steph was horrified.
“I won’t because for some reason which escapes me, Steph loves you and wants to be your wife.”
Kyle held an envelope over his head as his breathing returned to normal. “I had to get the marriage license. I had to wait until the courthouse opened this morning.” He stood and looked at his bride. “Oh, Steph, baby. I’m sorry I worried you.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her.
The door of the chapel opened, and the chaplain peered out. “Son, we have to get through the ceremony before you can do that.” He chided him with a smile.
Kyle reluctantly broke the kiss. “Right, sorry.”
“I suggest we get started. Your guests are waiting.”
“Guests? I thought it was just going to be us?” Steph asked as Kyle gathered her hand in his. An usher opened the door and he escorted her into the beautiful chapel.
The room was crowded with people—well-wishers, friends, and strangers. She glanced around as she walked hand-in-hand with the man she had loved her whole life. She was about to marry the man of her dreams.
Her brother and sister-in-law followed, and their mother was wheeled in by her oncologist. The small congregation settled. Those who had seats sat, while others had no other option than to stand.
Kyle gazed lovingly at his bride. She felt the unshed tears of happiness as the chaplain began the ceremony.
“Dearly beloved…” Steph’s eyes were locked with Kyle’s the entire time. In truth, she had barely heard a word that was spoken. It wasn’t until Stu nudged Kyle, breaking their eye contact that they realized that they were up to the vows and the exchange of rings. They spoke of their love and devotion to each other and exchanged rings. The chaplain then granted them permission to continue the kiss which had begun outside.
Kyle pulled her hard against his body, his lips crushing down on his wife’s. His arms wrapped around her as she embraced him. Every touch of skin to skin sent sparks racing through them. Steph moaned softly as her tongue danced with her husband’s. Applause and whistles were drowned out by their desire for each other.
All her worry and concern melted away. In her loving husband’s arms she found sanctuary from the world. They parted reluctantly, their wedding ceremony concluded. Kyle wrapped his arm around her waist and escorted her to her mother, so she could give them their first congratulations. Stu then informed them that the cooks had prepared a small feast, complete with a wedding cake. It awaited them in an area of the cafeteria which had been closed to the public.
****
Steph looked over to her mother as they enjoyed their wedding feast. Kathryn’s face shone with happiness. Even knowing she was not long for this world, she was happy her children had found the other half of their hearts, their souls, with their partners.
She raised her glass of orange juice in a toast to her daughter, who also raised hers. “I’ll be with you soon, Bob, a few more days yet,” she whispered to her husband.
Epilogue
The dark mahogany-colored casket stood stoically in the sunshine as mourners paid tribute to Kathryn Regent. A wife, a mother, and a woman who loved her family and community.
Her twin children sat with their spouses. Handkerchiefs damp with tears shed throughout the day. Their eyes red and puffy as they said their final farewells to a woman who had fought and lost her battle with cancer.
The celebrant concluded the service and the mourners respectfully waited for the family to make their move towards the casket. Stuart and Clarissa moved first, placing pictures of them on their wedding day and a large bouquet of flowers on the casket. Clarissa turned and sobbed into Stu’s shoulder, his arms comforting h
is wife before they moved on.
Kyle reached over and squeezed Steph’s hand, she looked up, the broad brim of her hat lifting to reveal her tear-streaked face. In her gloved hands she held a picture. It was grainy, black and white. An ultrasound. She walked over, hand-in-hand with her husband of just over two weeks, and placed the picture of their unborn child on the casket.
“Thanks, Mom, for everything.” She pressed her fingers to her lips and placed them at the head of the casket. Kyle took her in his arms and placed a kiss against her cheek.
“She’s still with us, baby. She’ll always be with us.” Kyle drew her away to allow other family members, distant cousins, aunts and uncles, friends, and members of the community to pay their respects before their mother was interred with her husband.
“I know, in our hearts forever.” Steph lifted her hat upwards, so her lips could meet his in a soft and gentle kiss. Kyle’s hands moved over her stomach, where their baby grew.
“I love you, Steph.” Kyle broke the kiss to gaze at his beloved wife. “You will always be my best friend, my lover, but, more importantly, you will always hold the key to my heart.”
“I love you, too, Kyle. Now and forever.” She snuggled against his chest.
“Now and forever.” Kyle repeated as he kissed the top of her head.
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BONUS SAMPLE CHAPTER
SUBJECT 26-A
The Trenin Alliance, 1
Scarlett J Rose
Copyright © 2017
Chapter One
“Ellis, when you’re finished there I need to see you in private,” Doctor Forsythe said as he passed her.
Samantha Ellis nodded. “Yes, Doctor.” She turned back to her patients, a mother and young child. The little boy looked up at her with wide, black eyes, each dark iris swirling with a kaleidoscope of colors. His mother’s face showed weariness from running and hiding for months from the Trenins, from whom she and her son had escaped. They had been brought to Camp Ninety-Four by a group of mercenaries that helped human slaves escape from the Trenin. Sam couldn’t even begin to know what this poor woman had gone through in her years as some Trenin’s sex slave.
“Okay, sweetheart, this will just be a little sting, and then we’ll be finished,” Sam said as she drew the inoculation into the syringe. The technology was considered primitive, what with all the new tech that the Trenins had brought with them and that the humans had stolen from their enemy during the war with the humanoid aliens. Mankind’s reverse-engineering skills had been put to the test, and even with the scattered military, humans were slowly clawing back from near extinction.
Sadly, not every refugee camp on Earth could obtain the much-needed supplies. Camp Ninety-Four was fortunate to have what they did. The camp where Sam’s parents and younger sisters were located had conditions that were much worse than here.
Their world was dying as a result of the Trenin’s devastating weapons. People were starving, and the rising levels of the Earth’s oceans had displaced so many people that law and order were things of the past. Only in the camps was there some semblance of sanity and stability. Though there had been a truce called and negotiations for peace were being conducted between Earth’s remaining government bodies and the Ruling Clan of the Trenins, there were still those of the alien race who were rebelling against the peace. The rebel Trenins would occasionally attack defenseless camps and capture humans for slaves. The woman before her was both fortunate, and unfortunate. She had managed to escape her fate, but had a permanent reminder of her ordeal in the form of the sweet little boy in her arms.
Sam took a small square of precious gauze and pressed it against the mouth of a bottle of antiseptic. She dampened the gauze before gently wiping it on the boy’s bare arm. His mother held her child securely, trying to comfort him before the pain of the needle. She hummed a soft tune to calm the child as Sam pressed the needle into his skin.
The boy screamed, his mouth wide open, revealing a small blue-tinged tongue, and his skin hardened around the needle, almost stone-like. The boy was undeniably a Trenin-human half-breed. Sam knew she would have to register this young boy with the fledgling Earth Interspecies Registry, a reasonably new service from the weakened United Earth Government’s attempts to regain control over their people, which kept track of all alien/human children who returned to Earth.
“Okay, sweetie, almost done,” she said softly as she injected the serum into the child’s body. She withdrew the needle from his skin, which had slowly returned to its original suppleness as she wiped the sore spot over with the antiseptic soaked gauze. She looked up to the mother, who cuddled her son close, whispering soothing words to him. Sam was lucky with this boy. Sometimes the needles broke off in a Trenin half-breed and would require a bit of force to pry the needle from the hardened skin. It would have proven quite traumatic for both child and mother.
Sam smiled, her heart melting a little at the sight. She knew that although the boy had a rough start to life, anywhere would be better for him than under the Trenins’ rule.
“All right, bring him back for his next check up in a month and make sure you get some food into both of you,” Sam said, as she patted the boy’s head. He snuggled against his mother’s chest, his trust of her shattered by the painful experience.
“Thank you, Nurse,” the mother said, before she carried her son out of the medical tent and into the refugee camp.
Samantha sighed and stretched, pushing her hands into the small of her back, gently massaging the sore muscles with her fingertips. She packed up, disposing of the needle and gauze before she made her way to the head physician’s tent.
The air was hot outside the stuffy medical tent, the summer breeze providing little relief as she walked along the small grouping of tents with the red cross on the sides, displaying their medical purpose. She avoided the guy-ropes in the narrow alleyway that the rows of tents had created as she walked. She thought about her own family, her parents and sisters, who were in another camp hundreds of miles away. She was scheduled for a Comms link-up with her family after her shift, and she was looking forward to it. She had managed to get her family on a waiting list for a migration pass to the new Human Colonies that were being set up as part of the peace treaty with the Trenin High Command.
On the Trenin home world there were political instabilities between clans, great struggles for power. Some called for the annihilation of the humans, while others called for the humans to be absorbed into the Trenin Alliance. There were great conflicts being fought on both the Trenin home and on Earth. If Earth’s inhabitants proved viable to joining the Trenin Aliance, it could be a new start for her family and a chance at a normal life for her teenage twin sisters, Celeste and Sasha.
The tent of the lead physician of Camp Ninety-Four stood at the back of the medical section, away from much of the noise, stench, and general misery that such camps seemed to have in abundance. She entered the small tent and waited a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darker room.
“Ah, Nurse Ellis, please have a seat.” Doctor Forsythe’s voice drew her attention to the small trestle table that served as his desk. The legs seemed to bow under the weight of the near-mountain of paperwork that the lead physician had to go though. Forsythe waited until she had sat down in a rickety old chair that was probably an antique scrounged from some abandoned farmhouse somewhere.
“Cup of water? I’m sorry I can’t offer you coffee. As you know, we ran out of tea and coffee two weeks ago, no word yet on the resupply,” Forsythe said sadly as he pushed his battered glasses up along his nose. The spectacles were being held together valiantly by a piece of old sticky tape. “It’s becoming a running joke, ‘what will we run out of next?’”
Sam shook her head at the situation.
“Thanks, but I’m okay, Doctor. What was it you needed to see me about?” she asked, leaning back in the chair, the
n sitting upright again when it groaned warningly.
“Ah, yes. What I am about to tell you is highly classified, and must not leave this tent. The United Earth Military has requested a nurse with experience in Trenin physiology, and I’ve put you forward. Seeing as you have worked extensively with several half-breeds, you are perfect for the position. There is a good remunerative package, and they have said that your family will be looked after as well, should you take the position.”
Sam frowned a little, before she schooled her face to an impassive visage. “Ah, thank you, Doctor. I’m not sure what to say.”
“I’d say take the job, get out of this hellhole.” Forsythe sighed. “I know I would.” The doctor stood up. “Colonel Holmes from the UEM will be here shortly. He wants an answer. If you agree, you’ll depart immediately. Think about it, but don’t take too long. Imagine what this could mean for your family. There could even be a push forward for that migration pass to the new colonies for them.”
Sam thought about the proposal. Her family were in an even worse place than Camp Ninety-Four. If it meant getting her parents and little sisters out of that cesspit, she would take it. “All right, I’ll take the position,” she said.
“Very good, I’ll send a comm to the Colonel. Go and pack your belongings.”
Sam nodded her thanks and turned towards the tent’s exit.
“Oh, and Sam?”
“Yes, Doctor?” She turned back to face him, a hand grasping the weathered canvas flap of the tent’s exit.
“Good luck. You’re an excellent nurse, and we are sorry to lose you.”
“Thanks, Rodger.” She smiled, turned, and headed for the tent she shared with four other nurses to pack her gear.
She had packed in no time. Many of her few belongings were easily stowed in her duffel bag. Sam looked around the tent that had been her home for the last year. She placed the duffel on her rickety old cot and headed out to the comms tent, noting it was five minutes until she was due to call her family in Camp Sixty-Six.
The Best Man (Romance on the Go Book 0) Page 5