ARKANSAS WEDDINGS: THREE-IN-ONE COLLECTION

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

“A few weeks ago, I preached the funeral for the man who accidentally killed Sara. Four years ago, I’d have never dreamed I’d have the strength to do such a thing.”

  The people in this church gave their pain to God, like Ryler’s parents had. He’d had eighteen awesome years, then turned bitter and blamed God. He could have had a lifetime of woe. And he still had a whole other set of parents he could get to know. If he could only muster the courage to tell them who he was. Maybe Sylvie had changed. Maybe Martin could get help.

  “If you have loved ones who’ve passed away and they were Christians, you can see them again. Accept Jesus. His truth will set you free.” Pastor Grayson finished his altar plea.

  Ryler could barely stay seated until the music began. He rose to step around Shell, but she made the first move. He followed her.

  At the altar they both knelt. Soon Pastor Grayson joined Shell, while Mark knelt with Ryler.

  “Do you want to accept Jesus, Ryler?”

  “Yes.” Ryler’s voice quivered as joy swooshed through him. “And I understand salvation. My parents were Christians.”

  “All right, then. Just stay until you’re finished. I won’t bother you.” Mark stepped away.

  “Dear God, I’m sorry for breaking my parents’ hearts. I’m sorry for turning my back on You, and ignoring You. Forgive me for the mess I’ve made of my life. Help me to turn it around, to rely on You for strength and to live the way my parents would have wanted me to. Mold me into a new creature. Be with Shell and me, Lord. If we’re right together, give me strength to treat her like a lady and honor her.

  “Help me find the grace You’ve shown me in dealing with my biological parents, Lord. Help me to honor them. Most of all, thank You for dying on the cross for me. Thank You for saving my soul.” He stood and wiped the tears from his face.

  Sylvie and Laken knelt at the altar also, along with Collin and Hayden. Tears streamed down the women’s faces. Praying to find Him? Praying for their father? Probably a bit of both.

  Shell was already standing in their row again, singing along with the hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Her eyes glistened and a tremulous smile lifted the corners of her lips. As a few others lingered at the altar, she held the hymnal so he could see. Her other hand rested on the pew in front of her. Thankful they’d made such a monumental decision together, he covered her hand with his.

  The last of the church members wished them well and left. Still in the sanctuary, Shell turned to Ryler. “I can’t believe I did that. I didn’t even want to go to church today.”

  “But aren’t you glad you did?”

  She nodded. “I had no idea what to do or say. Grayson had to explain everything and he even said the prayer for me. I just repeated it in my head and at the moment, I don’t understand anything. My brain is spinning.” The man who was hurt most by her and Wade’s antics had led her to Christ. Her vision blurred.

  “You don’t have to understand, as long as you accept His grace. You’ll understand more as you keep attending church and read your Bible.”

  “You seem to know all about it.”

  “Not all about it, but my parents were Christians. I was in church until I was eighteen.”

  “I only went to church maybe six months out of my whole life and it seems like a lifetime ago.”

  “Just stick around and you’ll catch on.” Ryler linked his fingers with hers. “You got any of those leftover sandwiches Grace sent over yesterday?”

  “Two or three. I tried to get you to take them.”

  “Let’s go on a picnic.”

  Pastor Grayson and Adrea stood inside the lobby door as the last of the congregation trickled outside.

  “I’d be glad to answer any questions anytime.” Adrea hugged her.

  She seemed so sincere. How could someone forgive so completely?

  “At this point, I don’t even know what to ask.”

  “Just know I’m willing to talk.”

  “We’ll set up a meeting soon and talk about baptism, too.” Grayson shook their hands. “We’re really glad y’all came this morning, and please come back.”

  They strolled out the door and across the street, with her hand tucked in his elbow.

  “I’ll run home and change. I thought we’d have a picnic at the park. Do you want to meet me there or at my place?”

  “I don’t know where your place is.” She leaned against his side as her heel wobbled on the gravel drive.

  “I’m on Highway 5, number 124.”

  Shell shivered. Across from Wade’s old house.

  “Are you cold?” Ryler frowned. “It’s got to be at least ninety degrees.”

  “I’m fine. I’ll meet you at the park.” She never wanted to see Wade’s house ever again. Not even from across the street.

  “All right. See you there and don’t forget the sandwiches. I’ll bring snacks and drinks.”

  Birds chirped and sang as Ryler spread a fuzzy taupe blanket on the wildflower carpet of purple, yellow, and white. His muscled arms rippled with each movement.

  Find something else to look at. Shell turned away from him.

  A few families dotted the park, but they’d chosen a secluded corner behind a large sycamore tree.

  She emptied the sacks they’d brought. “This would be the perfect picnic if we had one of those wicker picnic baskets like you see in the movies.”

  “The food’s just as good from a brown paper sack.” He handed her a bottled sweet tea. “This morning can change our lives. It’s like a do-over. Our pasts are forgiven. We get a new chance to live differently.”

  “A fresh start.”

  A couple rounded the walking path, hand in hand.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “I won’t promise to answer.”

  “Fair enough. Why did you break things off when I asked you to move in with me?”

  Shell swallowed hard. Because I was falling for you, so I thought I’d leave before you got the chance to leave me. “I wasn’t looking for…”

  “Mr. Forever. Just Mr. Right Now. Same here, only Ms. of course. But it didn’t work out that way for me. I didn’t mean to fall for you, but I did and this job brought you back into my life.” He took her hands in his. “My feelings haven’t lessened, Shell. And I don’t want you to walk away again.”

  Why hadn’t he told her that then? Could she trust him with forever? Her mouth went dry.

  “You don’t have to say anything.” He drew her into his arms. “I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

  Me neither.

  His kiss was soft and tender, as if he treasured her. Not about sex. Dizzy, she leaned against him for support. Despite the gentle, undemanding caress of his lips, fire swept through her veins as it always had when she was in his arms.

  With a groan, he pulled away enough to gaze into her eyes. “I want to do things right.”

  “Right?”

  “We can’t have sex.”

  “Huh?”

  “We’re Christians now. God created sex for marriage only. I want to live right. The way my parents raised me to live.”

  He grabbed his Bible. Sitting cross-legged, Ryler kicked off his shoes. His knee-length shorts revealed muscled calves.

  Concentrate on the Bible.

  He flipped through the pages. “Here it is. First Corinthians 6:18–20.”

  Shell sat next to him, head huddled close to his and read along with him.

  “ ‘Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?’ ”

  The text blurred as hot tears filled her eyes. “How do you know where to find stuff?”

  “My youth pastor drilled this into our brains. And before I moved from Little Rock, I visited with my aunt. Our visit got me thinking about where I came from. Since then, I’ve been reading the Bible.”

/>   “Go on, read more.”

  “ ‘For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’ What it’s saying is that every sin is outside the body, except for premarital sex, which is a sin against our own bodies. When we became Christians, the Holy Spirit entered into us.”

  She cringed at the places her body had been. “So, everything we do with our bodies, we’re taking Jesus with us.”

  “And we were bought by the blood He shed on the cross for our sins, so whatever we do, we should glorify Him. Sort of like making Him proud or doing things that lets other people see His love inside us.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever done anything that would make Him proud.” Shell shook her head.

  “But we’ve got a clean slate.” He squeezed her hand. “Today, we start over.”

  “Thanks for showing me. I’m glad you know all this stuff.” She drew away from him a bit. If she could get far enough away, maybe she could resist him. Yeah, right.

  “I was on the verge of accepting Jesus as my Savior before I left home.”

  “Why didn’t you? It seems like you’d have needed Him more than ever after your parents’ deaths. You were all alone.”

  “You’re right, but instead, I turned my back on God. For a long time, I refused to care about anyone. Until you.”

  She wanted to tell him she felt the same way, but would he stick around? No other man in her life ever had.

  “I want us to be honest with each other. Starting with the reason I left home.” He took a deep breath. “My parents told me I was adopted.”

  Shell gasped. Could Ryler be sylvie’s missing son?

  “I wish they’d just told me from the beginning.”

  She leaned her forehead against his shoulder. Offer comfort without seducing him. “Maybe they wanted you to feel you truly belonged with them.”

  “Whatever their reasons, I shouldn’t have left.”

  “Do you know where your biological parents are?” The Krofts?

  His jaw tensed.

  “You should try to find them. You’ve got a whole other family out there somewhere. You don’t have to be alone.”

  He stiffened and pulled away from her. “Just replace the parents who died with another set? Like buying a new car.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Good.” The word came through clenched teeth. “Because my parents could never be replaced.” Ryler stood.

  She jumped to her feet. “I just meant—you might even have siblings.”

  “Riley and Loretta Grant are my parents. I don’t need another set because I had perfection.” He ran a hand through his hair and stalked toward his SUV. “But I didn’t realize it until it was too late.”

  “Ryler, wait.”

  He didn’t even turn around.

  Shoulders slumped, she sank back to the blanket.

  No, he wouldn’t stick around. He was like all the rest. One wrong word, one wrong gesture, one wrong question, and they bolted. Like a racehorse, but in the wrong direction. Away from her.

  The porch swing stopped. Shell pushed off with one foot to set it swaying again. Paint fumes burned her nasal passages, even out here. The nonexistent breeze of early June didn’t help matters. With all the doors and windows open, surely the smell wouldn’t last long.

  The reds, golds, and sage tones she’d chosen gave each room a romantic, soft feel with their billowy curtains and sleek antique furnishings. The rest of the furniture would arrive next week, with the bedspreads to follow. Then the final touches of mirrors, paintings, and wall hangings. It was all coming together quite nicely.

  Except for the constant distraction named Ryler. A week had passed since their argument and they’d barely spoken two words to each other since.

  “Hey, Shell.”

  How did he always do that? Call her name, just when she was thinking about him.

  She stood and stepped over to the railing.

  Covered in dirt, he looked better than any clean man had a right to, despite the frown marring his forehead.

  “What?”

  “My helper won’t be here today, and I can’t find anyone to replace him.”

  She closed her eyes. So close to completion. So close to going home to Chance. So close to leaving Ryler behind.

  “I’ve already set the date for the grand opening.” Even though Darrell conveniently hadn’t found a manager yet. She threw her hands up. “I’ve called Grace about the food and ordered the flowers from Adrea. This place has to be finished, including that monstrosity of a waterfall. If I have to do it myself, it will be done on time.”

  His frown grew more intense. “Glad you feel that way. You better go put on some clothes you don’t mind ruining.”

  “Huh?” Her mouth moved, but nothing else came out. She propped her hands on her hips. “I didn’t really mean—” She sighed. But if it would get this job finished…“I’ll be right there.”

  She hurried down the stairs and out the back door to her apartment. Something she didn’t mind ruining…She pulled her most faded jeans from the hamper. Yesterday, she’d accidentally leaned her hip into a freshly painted wall. They’d do.

  The oversized T-shirt she slept in, with an old iron-on mostly peeled off, and grass-stained tennis shoes completed the lovely outfit. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail.

  Ryler’s mouth flattened into a thin line when he saw her. “You look like a teenager with your hair like that. Very fitting.”

  Whatever. “What do you need me to do?”

  “If you’ll dig the holes, I’ll wrestle the rocks in.” He handed her a trowel, careful not to touch her.

  “Okay, how deep?”

  “Not very. See this rock?” He flipped over a flat boulder, half the size of him, with ease.

  “It’s thicker on one end.” He strode past her. “It’s going right here. I need this area dug out, so it’s level. You might break a nail.”

  She rolled her eyes and jabbed the trowel in the ground inches from his foot. “I’ll live.”

  “If you stab my foot, I won’t be able to finish the job on time.”

  And she’d have to put up with him longer.

  Tension roiled in the humid air as Ryler left her to digging and started on the other side. As far as he could get, away from her.

  The stiff cleaning brush Shell usually used on the bathtub would surely scrub the hide from her fingers. She added more soap. Still a line of embedded soil remained under the few nails she had left.

  Pounding at the door made her jump.

  Drying her hands, she hurried to peer through the peephole.

  Ryler.

  “Shell, can I come in? I’ve been thinking about what you said last week. About contacting my parents.”

  She jerked the door open. “And?”

  Clean and shaven, he’d changed into fresh jeans and a hunter green T-shirt that strained over his shoulder muscles.

  “I’m sorry I stormed off like that.” He paced her small living room. “You were only trying to help.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes, it does.” He strode over to her. “I still want that future with you. Just know it will include my temper.”

  Gently, he gripped her shoulders. “Can we talk?”

  Her breath stalled. “I’m not sure. Lately, every time I talk, you bite my head off.”

  “I’m sorry.” He hung his head. “Being adopted—it’s a sore subject with me. It reminds me of how badly I hurt my parents when I left, and now I feel guilty even thinking about contacting my biological parents.”

  All her anger evaporated. “Like you’re replacing them, you said. How did the Grants feel about your biological parents? Do you know?”

  “My aunt gave me a letter they wrote in case anything ever happened to them. They wanted me to find my family, so I wouldn’t be alone.”

  She cupped his cheek in her hand. “So what do you have to feel guilty about?”
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br />   “My biological family lives in this area. That’s why I came to Searcy and that’s why I moved to Romance.”

  Her eyes widened. “Here? Do you know who they are?”

  The muscles in his throat flexed. “The Krofts.”

  She gasped and her jaw dropped. “Oh Ryler. They don’t know who you are.”

  “I moved to Searcy to decide whether to reveal my identity. Or not.” He ran his hand through his hair. “And to tell you the truth, when I first met Sylvie, I decided not. But then I learned I had siblings.”

  Her gaze dropped to his massive chest. “So you moved to Romance.”

  “To watch them from afar.”

  “That’s why you invited me to Laken’s dinner party.” Her eyes met his. “It wasn’t about me.”

  “If it wasn’t about you”—he grinned—“I’d have gone alone. But I wanted to make sure you didn’t get a date with anyone else. Who knew you had a past with my brother?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Nothing happened.”

  “Yeah, but he wanted it to.”

  “Not anymore.” She traced his jaw with her thumb, his nearness working on her pulse. “Ryler, you have to tell them. Have you decided?”

  “I have. I think you’re right. Sylvie has changed.” He captured her hand and pressed his lips to her fingertips then leaned his forehead against hers. “Will you come with me to tell them?”

  She shivered and all resistance she possessed dissolved. “Only if you’ll kiss me again. It might help me decide.”

  He backed up. One brow lifted. “Decide what?”

  “Whether we might have a future? Or not?”

  His lips sought hers. Again, soft, sweet, and gentle. Like no kiss she’d ever known.

  A kiss to savor and remember. Because she’d already decided.

  Even as his kiss melted her into a puddle at his feet, she knew.

  He was a Kroft and Shell Evans didn’t run in the same circles as the Krofts. She’d go with him to tell his family—offer him strength, but there could be no future for them. From her disreputable beginnings and sordid past, she couldn’t span the gulf between them. Ryler Grant’s past was a bit sordid, too, but his blood ran in the right circles. Even though his mother had befriended her, they weren’t of the same class. And they never would be.