Marry Me

by Kristin Wallace

  “When can he go home?”

  “We’ll keep him here until he sobers up. Don’t want him driving in his condition.”

  “Oh, thank goodness. My poor nerves can’t take this.” Mercy looked over at Julia. “I hope you’re happy, young lady.”

  “I didn’t—” Julia broke off. Why bother? They’d never believe her. “I’m glad to hear your husband is going to be fine.”

  “No thanks to you.”

  Julia couldn’t stop the wince. She shouldn’t care if the miserable old lady believed her, but the knowledge still stung.

  “Mercy, stop it,” Mrs. Coleman said in exasperation. “Julia had nothing to do with this.”

  Mrs. Coleman’s show of support did a lot to soothe Julia’s bruised psyche. “Thank you”, she mouthed back before turning to Nicole. “Listen, I only came down to make sure everything was all right, but I have to hurry back upstairs.”

  “What’s going on?” Nicole asked.

  “Sarah is here. The baby is coming.”

  Both Nicole and her mother looked concerned.

  “It’s still a few weeks early, isn’t it?” Mrs. Coleman asked.

  “Sarah is thirty-three weeks, which Grace tells me is good.”

  “Go, go,” Nicole said, urging Julia toward the door. “I can’t believe you came down here at all. We’ll go to the chapel and say a prayer before we leave.”

  “And I’ll call my prayer circle and let them know,” Mrs. Coleman added.

  “Thank you,” Julia said, giving them both a hug.

  The waiting room was a lot more crowded by the time Julia made it back. Seth had arrived with his father, and Eric’s parents were there as well.

  Grace raised her head from John’s shoulder. “Is everything all right, dear?”

  Julia didn’t bother trying to explain her situation now. They could all dissect her latest disaster after the current crisis had been dealt with. “Any word on Sarah and the baby?”

  “Not yet,” Grace said.

  Double doors opened behind them, and Eric strode out. Everyone froze as they waited for news. He smiled, though he still seemed tense. “I came out to tell you everything is going well. The labor is progressing nicely. The doctor thinks it’ll only be a few more hours.”

  “Thank you, Eric,” Grace said.

  “I think Sarah could use a visit from her mother,” Eric said. “She’s worried.”

  Grace sprang out of her seat. “Of course I’ll come.”

  They disappeared through the double doors. John leaned his head against the chair and closed his eyes, while Seth paced along the far wall. Eric’s parents decided to take a walk. Spent, Julia sank down into a nearby chair.

  Seth dropped into the seat next to her a moment later. “I hear you’re spiking punch these days.”

  Her eyes flew open. “My growing infamy is out already?”

  “Amy called me. How’d you do it anyway?”

  The old Julia would have given a pithy response. The new, and currently unraveling Julia, couldn’t manage to get any words out. The stupid tears she’d been holding back most of the day erupted.

  Panic flashed across Seth’s face. “Hey, what’s this?”

  “I didn’t… put… anything… in the… punch,” she managed to blubber.

  “Aw, Jules, I know that,” Seth said. “I was joking.”

  Julia gulped in a shuddering breath. “Oh… Okay.”

  “You have to stop crying. It tears me up.” He ran a finger across her cheek, wiping away her tears. “What’s going on?”

  “Don’t look at me like that.” She swiped his hand away, unable to handle having him touch her right now. “I’m probably having a nervous breakdown. I’ll be fine in a minute.”

  “You don’t really think people blame you for the spiked punch?” he asked, relaxing into the chair again.

  “I know they do.”

  “When did you start caring what all those people think anyway?”

  “I’m not sure, but it’s starting to tick me off,” Julia said, with a shaky sigh. “Caring is so messy.”

  “Sometimes caring can also be incredibly rewarding.”

  Julia swiped the heel of her hand across her face. “Uh huh, and I’m sure you’re going to tell me why it’s so great.”

  “Of course I am.” Seth pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and used it to clean her up. “Try this. Caring takes you beyond yourself. It makes you think of more than your needs.”

  There was too much intimacy in the act of him stroking her face, so Julia snatched the bit of white cloth before she did something stupid. Like cry on his shoulder again. Or kiss him.

  “You carry real handkerchiefs around all the time?” she asked.

  A corner of his mouth lifted. “Tools of the trade. People are always bursting into tears around me.”

  “Another one of the hazards of your profession, I suppose.”

  “No, one of the rewards. Easing people’s pain is one of the best parts of my job.”

  “You are so strange,” she said. No. He was wonderful and kind, which was such an inconvenience when she was trying so hard not to like him. Why couldn’t he be insufferable and boring? Or forgettable?

  He gave her a salute. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you for not carting me off to the funny farm.”

  “I told you, you’re not crazy. Realizing you care for people is a good thing. It’s growth.”

  “So these are growing pains?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “Hmm… still ticks me off.”

  Whatever Seth might have said in reply was cut off when Amy burst into the waiting room. She paused when she saw them huddled in the corner. With almost comical precision, Julia and Seth put a healthy amount of distance between themselves.

  Seth widened the gap by rising to greet Amy.

  “Darling, I came as soon as I could get away from the wedding,” Amy said. “Is there any news?”

  “Nothing yet. It could be several more hours.”

  “Oh, poor Sarah. She must be so worried.“

  Seth put an arm around her. “We all are.”

  For a moment they all went silent. Finally, Seth cleared his throat. “I think I’m going to hunt up some coffee. Anyone else want a cup?”

  “I could use one,” Julia said.

  Seth went in search of sustenance. Julia glanced over at John and saw he’d dozed off. Which left her alone with Amy. The two women stared at each other in strained silence.

  Amy launched the first salvo. “How is our unfortunate wedding guest?”

  “Sleeping it off,” Julia said, keeping her expression blank. “He should be fine.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t see anyone near the punch table when you were setting up this morning?” Julia asked, searching for any explanation.

  “No, I’m sorry,” Amy said, fisting her hands together. “I feel so awful, like it’s my fault somehow. I should have been paying closer attention. And I only made things worse by pointing out the empty bottle in your hand.”

  “Yes, thanks for that,” Julia said dryly.

  Amy managed a perfect little blush. “I hope the family isn’t too angry with you... er... us.”

  “As it turns out Henry’s niece is a friend from school.”

  “You have friends here?” Amy blurted out. “I mean, people you still keep in contact with?”

  Julia suspected the first question hadn’t been an accident. “Nicole Coleman. Nicole Rivers now. We hung out.”

  “Of course, I know Nicole. Her aunt is a nervous sort.”

  No kidding. “I noticed. Anyway, I’m sure things will blow over in a few days.”

  “Of course they will, and I’ll help any way I can.”

  Why did that suddenly sound like a warning?

  ****

  Four hours later, Mary Grace Austin greeted the world with what the doctor described as a lusty cry. The baby was immediately whisked away
to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. When Julia finally got to see Sarah, the new mom was sitting up in bed, looking tired, but happy.

  “Hi, you,” Julia said, from the doorway.

  Sarah tried to smile, but didn’t succeed. “Hi. Have you seen Mary yet? I told Eric to go down and stay with her. I don’t want her to be alone.”

  “I came here first,” Julia said. “I think the doctors are working on her now.”

  Tears filled Sarah’s eyes. “She’s so tiny. Barely bigger than Eric’s hand. They said there’s a small hole in her heart. They’re giving her medication, hoping it will close on its own. They said it’s common for preemies—”

  A shuddering sob escaped, and Sarah covered her face. Panic-stricken, Julia hurried over to the bed and climbed in next to her stepsister.

  “I just want to hold my baby,” Sarah cried. “She needs me.”

  “You will, I promise,” Julia crooned. “You need to rest so you can get strong.”

  Sarah’s hands clenched the sheets, as if she might rip them to shreds. “I tried so hard. I stayed in that blasted bed for months. I watched TV till I thought I’d go mad. I even peed into a cup, and it wasn’t enough.”

  “Listen to me.” Julia framed Sarah’s face. “You did everything right. This wasn’t your fault. Mary’s impatient, that’s all. You know she comes from strong stock. Besides, she’s going to cure cancer and save my life some day. She has a destiny.”

  A soft chuckle took the place of weeping. “I’m such a brat.”

  “Yes, you are, but I love you anyway,” Julia said, stroking Sarah’s hair.

  “Julia, did you hear what you just said?” Sarah asked on a shocked breath. “You used the “L” word.”

  Used the word and lightning hadn’t struck. A few months ago, Julia would never have been able to utter them. “I did. I can’t help it. You’re impossible to hate.”

  “I love you, too,” Sarah said.

  How long had it been since anyone had truly loved her? Like a convict who’d been let out jail, the portion of Julia’s heart that had been encased in a hard shell cracked open to touch freedom. If Sarah hadn’t been in the room, Julia might have wept, too.

  “Even though I’m hard to love?” Julia asked.

  “It’s not hard to love you,” Sarah said. “Getting you to accept love is the difficult part. Making you believe someone could love you is nearly impossible.”

  “I guess I believe it now.”

  “Well, it’s about time.”

  They both looked toward the door, where Grace now stood. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

  “About time for what?” Julia asked.

  Grace’s smile was luminous. “To see my girls together again.”

  “Have you seen my baby, Mom?” Sarah asked, pulling herself up in the bed.

  “I have.” Grace walked over and stroked Sarah’s hair. “Mary is beautiful and holding her own.”

  “Speaking of Mary, I need to go see the little savior myself,” Julia said, easing off the bed to make room for Grace. “I’ll be back.”

  The nurse warned her, but Julia could never have been prepared for the sight of the tiny baby hooked up to a million tubes. Mary looked like she was in some sort of lab experiment. Julia’s insides clenched like an accordion. She stepped closer, resting her hands on top of the incubator, wishing there was a way to scoop the helpless infant up and run. Get Mary away from all those needles and wires.

  “Hi, little girl,” she whispered. “I’m your Auntie Julia.”

  The baby squirmed and opened her eyes. Of course, Mary probably hadn’t heard, but if she could arrive weeks early and have a chance, anything was possible.

  Julia sank down to her knees, until she was level with the baby’s head. Their eyes met through the glass. “Listen, you’re going to be fine. There are so many people who love you. Your parents are amazing. You have no idea how lucky you are there. I don’t know your other grandparents well, but I do know your Grandma Grace is the coolest person in the world. And your Uncle Seth is the best man I’ve ever known. He’s going to spoil you rotten. I can tell. Plus, I have it on good authority that you’re supposed to save my life, so you’re just going to have to stick it out.”

  The baby stared, unblinking for a moment, and Julia had the oddest sensation she was the one being reassured. A moment later Mary closed her eyes. Julia stood up, shaking from the intense encounter.

  The door opened behind her, and she didn’t have to look to know who’d arrived. She didn’t object when Seth wrapped his arms around her waist. Maybe she should have, but for now she couldn’t make herself pull away. Anyway, he only offered a comforting embrace.

  Right, Julia?

  Right…

  Since it was only comfort, she let herself lean against his chest. He had a remarkably strong chest for someone who sat around writing sermons all day.

  “I don’t even know how they find enough skin on someone that small to shove all those tubes in,” she said.

  His lips brushed her temple. “I keep telling myself those tubes are what’s keeping her alive until she can do it on her own.”

  “Mary looked at me. She opened her eyes and looked at me.”

  “I saw.”

  Fierce love rose up, and Julia knew she’d do anything to ensure this little girl lived and never had a worry for the rest of her life. “What happens if she doesn’t make it?”

  “We can only pray she does. The doctors seem to think she has a very good chance.”

  Prayer seemed the least she could do. “Teach me how to do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “Pray.”

  “You don’t need anyone to teach you,” he said, with a gentle smile. “Just close your eyes, and say what’s in your heart. God doesn’t care how eloquent you are. He only wants to listen.”

  “Okay.” She closed her eyes. “God, please let Mary live. We need her.”

  “Amen,” Seth echoed.

  To her shock, Seth had tears in his eyes. Reaching out, Julia wiped them away, like he’d done earlier to her. He caught her hand and touched his mouth to the tender skin on the inside of her wrist.

  It would be so wrong to make out with a man over an incubator, wouldn’t it?

  Yes, absolutely wrong.

  “Seth?”

  Especially when he was dating the perfect woman… who happened to be standing right behind them.

  Seth stepped back as Amy drifted closer. Her face revealed nothing, so Julia wasn’t sure if she’d seen what Seth had been doing. Not that they’d been doing anything. Nothing they could be arrested for anyway.

  “I came to see the baby,” Amy said.

  “I’ll leave you two alone,” Julia said, edging toward the door. “I’m going to sit with Sarah again.”

  As the door closed, she saw Amy take Seth’s hand, and rest her head on his shoulder. They both turned to gaze down into the incubator.

  Slowly, Julia let the door shut.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  A grassy curve next to the road didn’t seem romantic, but somehow the spot was the most beautiful place in the world. Mostly because it was where one life had ended, and where today, a new one would begin as Annie Truman became Mrs. Todd Baldwin. Annie had to be the loveliest bride Julia had ever seen. Not physical beauty, but a quiet loveliness born of loss and ultimate triumph. Molded by tragedy and complete joy.

  Annie hadn’t even changed yet, but her ratty jeans and T-shirt might as well have been silk and lace. Her tennis shoes satin slippers.

  “I can’t believe this is really happening,” Annie said. “I feel like I’ll wake up at any moment and realize I’ve been dreaming.”

  “If you’re dreaming, I’m having the same one,” Julia said.

  She placed a dainty, white folding chair at the end of a row and stepped back to survey her handiwork. Four more rows of chairs were arranged in front of a trellis festooned with pink roses. About a hundred feet away were tables draped with fine linen. Devon a
nd her crew were arranging long tables for the food to come, and a parquet dance floor had been set up.

  Not bad.

  “This is amazing,” Annie said, a soft smile on her face. “It looks like a slice of paradise.”

  “Hard to believe, isn’t it? I’m rather pleased with the results myself.”

  “You should be. Julia, it’s perfect.”

  “I was worried about the weather last night. The storm had me wishing I’d insisted on tents, or an alternate inside venue.”

  “I think you worried for nothing.” Annie’s gaze tracked upward. “There isn’t a cloud in the sky. God must be smiling today.”

  “He should, after all you’ve been through. I’d say perfect weather is the least He could do.”

  “Did you tell Him that last night while it was pouring?” Annie asked.

  “Nearly. I didn’t want to be too demanding, in case He got ticked off. I haven’t had the best of luck with weddings so far. Between marauding wildlife, wardrobe malfunctions, and drunken sprees I’m crossing my fingers that the trellis doesn’t collapse or that a giant gust of wind doesn’t come through and carry off all these fragile-looking chairs.”

  Annie laughed in earnest and gave Julia a hug. “All right then, I’m going to get dressed.”

  “I’m amazed you took the time to come out here at all.”

  “I wanted a moment to see everything before the wedding. Banish all the horrible images of this place once and for all.”

  “I can’t believe how calm you are when you’re about to pledge yourself to someone for the rest of your life.”

  “Considering that the alternative is Todd not being here at all, I can only thank God I’m able to pledge myself to him.”

  How could Julia disagree with such a statement? “Put like that, getting married seems almost trivial.”

  “Maybe not trivial, but I’m vowing to be grateful even for the difficult times.”

  “I’ll call and remind you of that ten years from now.”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “Listen, I haven’t even told you how grateful I am that you’ve managed to put this whole thing together in such a short time.”

  “I didn’t do that much.”

  “You don’t take compliments very well, do you?” Annie said, shaking her head in exasperation. “Would you please just accept my thanks?”