by Fiona Roarke
Samantha wanted to step into the slot so badly her soul ached. She promptly turned and gave JD a pitiful look of longing. “Is it wrong to want to get married in three days?”
He grinned like she’d made his day. “I’d marry you today if we could pull it off.”
“We do have to leave on Sunday at noon.”
Marcia added, “You’d only have a two-night honeymoon left, but I’ll bet any of the wedding planners at Barefoot Brides, Willow, Gussie or Arielle, would give you a discount rather than eat the cost they’ve already incurred. And I’d get to be a server again. Win-win for everyone.”
JD said, “Wouldn’t hurt to ask, right?”
Samantha had expected him to balk, but it sounded like he wanted to get married even faster than she did. Marcia gave them directions to the wedding planners’ office, located in the lobby of the main building.
Before they even went back to the villa, they stopped in to make an appointment. Fate and the amazing ladies in Barefoot Brides smiled on them in the form of a mostly ready-to-go wedding they’d be allowed to step right into on Friday morning.
The planners were so elated not to waste what had already been prearranged, they also offered a very generous discount from the cost of the original wedding plans, since otherwise they would have had to absorb the costs of what they’d already incurred. Bridezilla’s non-refundable deposit covered the first third.
While the decorations, food and cake weren’t exactly what Samantha would have selected, it was fairly close. Samantha and JD took a spin through the wedding warehouse to select specific decor to be used in the chapel and at the reception to follow, scaling it down to the few friends and family who’d be able to attend.
The planners let her make any changes to things that hadn’t been set in place, making the day more like what she’d envisioned.
It was simply an opportunity she could not ignore. Plus, it gave Samantha the chance to get married to her love, JD, in a perfect fantasy place before leaving paradise.
How could she pass that up?
After obtaining the crucial marriage license at the clerk’s office, all that would be left to get was a tux and a dress. That was their agenda for the day.
JD called Robin from the car and put her on speaker, so Samantha could hear her. She squealed out loud when he told her they were not only back together, but engaged and getting married on Friday. She immediately agreed to fly down the night before the ceremony. Luckily, the bridezilla had also cancelled her block of guest rooms at the resort, making it easy for Robin and Derek to come down and stay on the grounds.
Robin told JD and Samantha in no uncertain terms that regardless of what happened in paradise, she still planned to throw them a party when they returned to Atlanta to celebrate with all their mutual friends.
She was still talking excitedly when she hung up to make travel arrangements.
JD drove into a lot and parked his rental car next to the century old building, so identified by the plaque erected on the way inside. They entered the Lee County Clerk’s Office holding hands. There were two couples ahead of them in line for marriage licenses.
“Something just occurred to me,” she said slyly.
“What’s that?”
“I’m finally going to discover what JD stands for.”
He laughed. “Unless I bribe the clerk.” He reached for his wallet.
“In college all my friends were convinced you shouldn’t sleep with a guy until you at least knew his middle name.” She lifted one eyebrow in challenge.
“You, my darling Samantha, totally ignored that advice.”
“That’s the truth. I don’t even know your first name. I mean, come on. How bad can it be?”
“I never said it was bad. Maybe it’s part of my whole sexy mystique. Got any more guesses?”
“I do. How about Jack Dusty, John Deere, or Juris Doctor?”
He shook his head. “None of those.”
She pushed out a mock sigh. “It’s not Juvenile Delinquent, is it?”
“No.” He didn’t hide his smile.
“Good.” She tried again. “How about…Jedidiah Dunwoody? Or Josiah Dudley?”
“Nope.”
“Am I getting closer?”
“Nope.”
She narrowed her eyes, stared at the ceiling and pondered for several seconds. Sucking in a quick breath of realization, she said, “Wait! I know! I know what it has to be. It’s my best JD guess ever.”
“Do tell.”
“It’s…Jelly Donut, right?”
That made him laugh out loud. “No. Not Jelly Donut, although that’s my new favorite guess.”
“Too bad. I really like Jelly Donut Macalister the best, too. Not to mention, Mrs. Jelly Donut Macalister is awesome.” She let out a long-suffering sigh. “Will you ever tell me?”
He winked at her. “Sure. Once we get married and I know you’re mine forever.”
“Are you sure it’s not bad?”
He shrugged. She loved the sexy smile that shaped his lips.
“You’re just in love with that whole sexy mystique thing, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.”
They stepped up to the counter together and filled out the necessary paperwork to procure their license. Since JD wasn’t a Florida resident and Samantha hadn’t gotten around to the paperwork of becoming one, they didn’t have the standard three-day waiting period.
At the clerk’s suggestion, they took a tour of the small on-site chapel. The beautifully decorated matrimonial room was very nice and almost hard to resist. They got a list and description of the wedding package pricing, in case the Barefoot Bay bridezilla reconsidered and they needed a backup.
With the ink on their marriage license not even dry, JD and Samantha stepped out of the historic building, stopped between the two massive white columns on the top step of the courthouse and kissed passionately as a few folks passed by. They took a commemorative selfie with the marriage license between them and big grins on their faces before driving back to Barefoot Bay and their amazing villa in paradise.
* * * *
Barefoot Bay – The Wedding
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of JD Macalister and Samantha Scott Duke in holy matrimony…” JD listened to the judge they’d acquired for their ceremony, so grateful to stand here this morning with the woman he loved beyond reason. Their parents hadn’t been able to make it to the Sunshine State, but plans were underway to get together so both families could meet the newly married couple very soon.
“…is an honorable estate, which is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly.” He and Samantha stood side by side, listening while their small gathering of friends watched them tie the knot.
They’d already gotten quite a few pictures taken in their wedding finery. JD wore a standard tux. Samantha’s dress was simple and beautiful. Luckily, she’d been able to find one that was very similar to the ragged folded up magazine photo she’d been carrying around tucked away in a pocket of her purse. She’d shown him her dream dress as they made their initial plans only a few nights ago.
“…into this estate these two persons present come now to be joined.” The judge smiled benignly at them and continued.
Robin and her new husband stood with them as matron of honor and best man. They even brought their own wedding participant finery, which according to Robin, gave their elegant wedding attire—only worn once—another chance to shine.
The judge continued. “If anyone here can show just cause as to why these two may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
JD held his breath for a few seconds, then started to relax. Too soon. The double doors at the back of the chapel slammed open, bouncing against the walls on either side of entryway.
“Wait!” a familiar voice screamed from the back of the chapel. “Stop this wedding!” Trey Wakeman strode purposefully down the center aisle,
anger radiating off him in waves as if the proceedings affronted him.
The judge, having been forewarned this might be an issue, straightened indignantly, ready to go to bat for them. “What just cause do you have?”
Trey stopped ten feet from where they stood.
“What?”
“Why can’t these two be married?”
“Because I’m planning to marry her,” Trey said, turning his attention to Samantha. “You can’t marry him, Sam. I told my father we were together months ago. That’s why he gave you that promotion and sent you to Florida, so you could marry me and take over the operation of Wakeman’s.
“Don’t marry this loser.” He gestured at JD. “I have so much more to offer you than he does. Besides, I need to marry you. Everything falls apart if you marry him instead of me.”
Samantha’s mouth fell open. She looked at JD with something akin to horror, reaching out to grab his hand as if seeking the needed strength not to race down the aisle and throttle Trey for disrupting their day. She started to speak, but JD squeezed her hand in return.
The judge cleared his throat loudly and said, “Young man, you’re too late.”
“What do you mean? How am I too late? I just heard you say, ‘Let them speak now or forever hold their peace.’ Well, I’m speaking up, trying to lend sanity to today’s foolish wedding. She should come away with me right now. Her life will be much better as my bride.”
A figure approached Trey from the back of the chapel—someone else they’d warned might be needed for today’s nuptials.
“It’s too late, son,” the judge said again, “because this ceremony is only a formality for the couple to have pictures in their wedding finery along with a video of their special day, which you’ve now ruined. They got married three days ago at the Lee County Courthouse.”
Trey’s eyes widened to the size of full moons. “What? I thought they only got their marriage license there three days ago.” He looked over his shoulder at a man waiting nervously by the open chapel doors. JD assumed he was some lackey Trey paid to follow him and Samantha around. The man shrugged.
“How do you know we were there three days ago?” Samantha demanded. “Were you having us followed?”
Trey, maybe realizing things were not going to go his way, actually sneered before he said, “I’ve had you both followed since the night of that stupid wedding and reception all those months ago.” Robin sucked in a shocked breath and frowned at Trey.
“I knew it. I thought someone was following me.” JD wanted to yell, but didn’t. He smiled at Trey instead. He figured it would piss him off more.
“When my guy told me that loser here was shopping for engagement rings, I quickly set in motion your transfer to Miami.
“I figured you’d both try the long-distance relationship crap, but you surprised me and cut things off clean.” Trey looked proud of himself for essentially breaking them up. It was JD’s turn to want to march down the few steps between them and strangle their nemesis.
Samantha faced Trey. “Tell your father something for me.”
Trey perked up, looking hopeful for a moment. “What’s that?”
“Tell him that I quit. Consider this my notice. Make sure and tell your father that you are the reason I’m leaving. You can also explain it all, including the many annoyances, the following us, the breaking us up, the crap about demoting me to director and making Drew the VP of Operations in Miami.”
Trey’s eyes widened and he started to stutter. “Wait…who told you…they were mistaken…”
“Don’t bother denying it. I overheard you and Drew talking in the conference room before I left Miami last week. For now, I want you to leave. If you don’t go peacefully, you can talk to the deputy sheriff behind you. He’s here to escort you out and ensure you don’t come back.”
“You’re making a big mistake, Sam.”
JD pushed out an exasperated sigh. “Her name is Samantha, not Sam! Practice saying it once, why don’t you? Only make sure you add Macalister to the end of it from now on, you got me?”
The deputy sheriff had a hand on Trey’s arm, but Trey yanked it away, gave them both one last dirty look and then stalked down the aisle with the deputy sheriff on his heels all the way.
When the chapel doors closed, they continued the ceremony promising to love and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, until death parted them.
They each said, “I do.”
“You may kiss your bride,” the judge said.
JD didn’t hesitate. He kissed his bride, who was already his beautiful wife, passionately, like he’d been doing for the past three days with gleeful vigor.
To the assembled folks gathered, the judge said, “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Daniel Macalister.”
She winked at him. She’d likely mentally replaced the Jackson Daniel part of his name in the announcement with one of her previous amusing guesses. He had an idea which one, too.
The moment they got to the end of the aisle, still arm in arm, Samantha tugged him toward the exit. As the rest of the small wedding party followed, JD and Samantha headed to the beach.
Once there, they kicked their shoes off. JD rolled his pants cuffs up to mid-calf. Samantha carefully held her dress up around her knees and together they strolled toward the water’s edge.
Gentle waves lapped at their ankles when JD grabbed his wife close and kissed her.
“Is this what you had in mind?” he asked.
“Yes. This is exactly what I wanted. Kiss me again.”
“Gladly.” They kissed and then danced along the soft sandy beach of the gulf as the photographer snapped lots of candid shots and so did the rest of the folks watching them.
Epilogue
Key West – a few days later
“So, you come here for two weeks every year?” Samantha asked.
“Yep,” JD said. They were each on their backs, sunglasses in place, seated side by side sharing an oversized lounge chair, holding hands and relaxing outside his Key West condo.
They still had several days left to relax before heading back to Atlanta. They planned to stay until the very last minute before returning to the much colder weather in Georgia.
“Cool.” Samantha squeezed his fingers.
“Helps recharge my batteries.”
“I’ll bet. I could certainly get used to this.”
“Know what else helps me recharge my batteries?”
“What’s that?”
“Sleeping with you every night, whether you submit to my carnal whims or not.”
“Very funny. So if I hadn’t made you split the cost of the Barefoot Bay package we could have come here instead?”
“Maybe, although I really liked the Casa Blanca Resort and Spa. And I hate to ruin the surprise, but you should know that I already booked us a week there for our first anniversary next year. I even spoke to the owners, Lacey and Clay Walker especially, to ensure we also got the Rockrose Villa again. It’s on me this time. No need to use two credit cards.”
She grinned. “Awesome. You’re a very good husband, whether you submit to my carnal whims or not.”
“Good point. Maybe we should set up our respective carnal whims on a blind date together later tonight. They would get along perfectly.”
“That’s a deal.”
JD was glad they had nearly another week together here in Key West before returning to reality. Plus, there was no sense wasting a perfectly good condo rental.
“Robin called earlier,” Samantha said.
“Yeah?”
“She’s planned a big reception for us next month at her house. She already got confirmation that both your parents and mine will be there.”
“Good. I’m glad we can all get together sooner rather than later. Did Robin have any good gossip or would you rather not discuss Wakeman’s?”
“Of course she shared the gossip. Word on the street is that Mr. Wakeman was beyond furious for all the difficulties nimrod used to not
only trick me, but also to fool him and mislead the board of directors, especially in the wake of my departure.”
“Are they going to beg you to return?”
“They already have. I get daily texts from Mr. Wakeman urging me to reconsider.”
“Will you reconsider?”
“I don’t know. Once we leave Paradise Part Two here in Key West, I thought I could discuss it with my husband, to see what he thinks about their offer.”
“What’s their offer?”
“The most recent one is to let me be VP of Operations for both stores and live wherever I want to. Then I can video conference as needed.”
“Seems like a good deal, especially if you don’t have to move or share half your time in Miami.”
“I thought so, too.”
“But you’re not going to tell them your decision until after the rest of your vacation is over.”
“That’s right. We’ve already endured more than our fair share of trouble in paradise. And I’ve lost enough time to foolishness. Any serious decisions can wait.”
“Your husband says, ‘Good plan.’”
The bad boys next door streamed outside and started jumping into their huge rectangular pool cannon-ball style, splashing and making lots of noise, but laughter accompanied the water sounds.
Samantha glanced over at the five men and said, “I know I’ve called you a bad boy all this time, but—”
“Now you see the bad boy neighbors and realize I’m more like a bad boy pretender,” JD finished for her.
Giggling, she said, “No. I was about to say now I know where the rest of your kind are.” She pointed across the cement. “There they are, right there.”
“I’m glad you think I look like a bad boy, especially if it will help aid in my tireless pursuit of carnal whims.”
One of the bad boys in question waved, catching JD’s attention. He motioned them both to come over for a swim.
“See,” Samantha said. “They’re calling you back to the wild. I’m just glad I get to go with you. The water looks great.”
JD laughed. “Likely you and that sexy bikini you’re wearing are the reason they want us over there. Maybe they need more eye candy.”