The Wager

  “A few days ago?” Jake asked, and then turned to his guilty grandmother. “That confident, huh?”

  She merely lifted her shoulder. “What can I say? I know my boys.”

  “Good guess.”

  Beth pinched Char in the arm. “How dare you not invite me!”

  “It was…” Char looked to Jake for help.

  “Sudden.” He put his arm around Char. “Very, very sudden, you could almost say we didn’t even know it was going to happen.”

  At that point Grandma had meandered closer and was now looping her arm with Beth’s. “Now dear, let’s get you a drink. I heard you’re single…”

  Beth threw back her head and laughed. “I’m married to my job.”

  “Oh dear, your job can’t do what a man can, believe me.” She steered Beth closer to the bar, where Jace was sitting, and held up two fingers to the bartender.

  “Is she—” Char folded her arms.

  “She’s not happy unless she’s meddling.” Jake held Char closer. “Case in point.” He nodded in Grandma’s direction as she left both Jace and Beth alone with their drinks. Hopefully they were both Benadryl-free. But it was hard to tell with Grandma. She did favor over the counter drugs.

  “You’re so damn beautiful,” Jake whispered in Char’s ear. “What do you say we go back upstairs and—”

  Char stepped out of his reach. “I’m under strict instructions to make you suffer until after the wedding. So there.”

  “By who?”

  “Grandma.” Char giggled. “I think I owe her, all things considered.”

  Jake frowned.

  “Just think of all the hidden things you can look forward to…” And then Char whispered into his ear exactly what she was wearing, piece by piece, ending the little erotic conversation with a tug on his ear.

  Knees week, he almost collapsed.

  Damn Grandma, she never was happy unless someone was suffering.

  Chapter Fifty-nine

  In two hours she was going to be married. Cocktail hour had gone great, but now it was time. Kacey had chosen an eggshell dress with a plunging neck and back. It was a bit racy for her taste, which was exactly why she’d picked it. It made her feel daring and beautiful. Plus she’d worked hard doing that stupid wedding workout; she deserved to wear a sexy dress on her wedding day.

  Tiny beaded straps formed a halter around her neck before trailing down the back and connecting to the dress. It was form fitting all the way to her hips and then slowly flowed out in fluffy chiffon layers. The lace and crystal overlay that went from her breasts all the way down the dress was her favorite part. She turned and smiled in the mirror. The three-foot train was perfectly pooled around her. She sighed.

  She was perfect.

  So how was it possible that she was still nervous? Her hands clenched the sides of her dress, then she remembered that would make it wrinkle, so she let go and began to pace in front of the mirror.

  “Nervous, dear?” a soft feminine voice said.

  Kacey looked up. Petunia was standing in the doorway, wringing her hands.

  “Uh, a bit.” Kacey admitted.

  Petunia nodded. “I can understand. After all, it’s only natural to worry about what goes on in the marriage bed.”

  “Oh.” Kacey swallowed. “It’s not—”

  “Oh, I know. It’s terribly fragile talk, bedroom talk. And I’m not the one to have such a discussion with. I’d probably bring a bat or some sort of other object just in case he got too frisky. Give him a good beating; that’ll teach him.”

  “A bat?” Kacey pressed her lips together. “I don’t think that will be necessary and it’s not that I’m nervous about the marriage bed.”

  “Oh.” Petunia waved at Kacey and laughed. “It’s okay to be nervous, my dear. Tell you what. You just give your Aunt Petunia a call if that nephew of mine gets too…” Petunia blushed and looked away. “Oh, you know what I mean. If he, if he…” Petunia pressed her hands together. “If he hurts you, you just tell him no.”

  “I don’t think Travis would hurt me.” Kacey said in a calm voice, though she was trying desperately not to burst out laughing. “After all, he’s a gentle… man.”

  “Ah, a gentle lover.” Petunia nodded. “I see, and you know this, how?”

  Kacey hoped her face didn’t look guilty.

  Petunia’s eyes widened.

  And then Grandma burst through the door. “Petunia! You aren’t supposed to be in here.”

  “I was giving much needed advice.”

  “About staying a virgin, no doubt.” Grandma snorted. “Now go change into your wedding attire.”

  “I refuse.” Petunia lifted her chin. “You know how I feel about bright colors.”

  Grandma closed her eyes for a brief moment and pinched the bridge of her nose. When she opened her eyes again, even Kacey took a step back. “You will wear the damn dress and you’ll smile. Now go put it on, or so help me God, I’ll drug every last one of your cats!”

  Petunia gasped. “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “Tell me, how is Garfield? My, my, he is getting up there in age. Pity to see him take a tumble down the stairs, or accidently eat something he shouldn’t.”

  With a huff and stomp, Petunia quit the room.

  Grandma shut the door behind her and dusted her hands off into the air. Straightening her gold jacket, her eyes fell to Kacey. “Sweet pea, what’s wrong?”

  The tears Kacey had been holding in streamed down her face. She collapsed into Grandma’s arms in soft sobs.

  “Oh dear, oh dearie, don’t cry. Grandma’s here, she’s here. Now, if you’re scared that’s perfectly normal. Well, men can be absolute beasts! They make noises no human should make in public. They find themselves funnier than hell, and don’t understand the concept of doing dishes—”

  Kacey hiccupped.

  “Oh, but honey dear, they are wonderful. They were created for us you know, specifically made to be strong where we are weak, to be able where we are not able, and to share such a magical union that you won’t ever want to remember what it was like before that ring was put on your finger. Honey.” Grandma pulled back and offered Kacey a handkerchief. “Love is magic. And you, my dear, are so in love; why, it shows in your every action, in your every breath.”

  Kacey dabbed at her eyes and gained control of her breathing. “It’s not him.” Kacey shook her head. “Travis is a godsend. He’s incredible. It’s not him. It’s me.”

  Grandma was silent as she patted Kacey’s hand.

  “I love him so much, I just wish—”

  “What?” Grandma said.

  “I wish,” Kacey’s lips trembled, “that Dad could walk me down the aisle. That my mom was sitting in the front row smiling, I don’t know… I just wish they could see me.”

  “Oh.” Grandma pulled Kacey into her arms. “But Sweet Pea, they can! They can see you! Didn’t I say love is magic? Well, I imagine the love you and Travis have for one another is only created by God himself, and if God himself is paying attention, how could it not gain the attention of your parents? I’m sure they have front row seats tonight. Love is bright. It’s like a star in the night sky. You can’t help but see it. It’s like the very sun; you can’t help but feel it. It’s like breathing; you can’t help but breathe it. Oh, honey, the least of your worries is your parents knowing exactly how incredible your wedding day is—they’re here.” Grandma touched Kacey’s chest. “And dearie, they’re here, too.” Grandma pulled out a small box from her satchel and set it in Kacey’s hands. “Go on, open it.”

  Shaking, Kacey opened the box. Inside was a long silver chain with an oval charm. With a tug, the charm fell open. Inside was a picture of Kacey’s parents.

  “It’s your something old,” Grandma whispered. “It’s been in my family for a very long time. It was my mother’s, and her mother’s before her.” She took the necklace from Kacey and undid the clasp. “When you feel afraid, I want you to remember that your parents are never far…”
She attached it behind Kacey’s neck, and the oval fell directly between her breasts. “They’re right on your heart.”

  With a sob, Kacey threw her arms around Grandma’s neck and held her tight. Never in her life had she expected this. It was perfect, and suddenly as if a weight had been lifted, Kacey felt alive again, excited, ready, and oh so done with being just Kacey. She was ready to be Kacey Titus.

  “I love you, Grandma.”

  “And I you, sweetheart.” Grandma sighed. “Now fix your makeup. We don’t want you looking like you’ve been crying.”

  Kacey kissed her on the cheek and stood. “I think this calls for pink lipstick.”

  “That’s my girl.” Grandma reached into her purse and pulled out a tube. “Use it wisely. I’ve been told pink lipstick also holds magical powers.”

  “Oh, yeah? By whom?”

  “Well, your grandfather, rest his soul, he loved the pink.” With a saucy wink Grandma rose to her full height and walked out the door.

  “God bless her,” Kacey said aloud. “And keep her alive forever… I know you want her, but you can’t have her yet.”

  Chapter Sixty

  “Ready?” Jake slapped his brother on the back a few times as Travis looked in the mirror and cursed.

  “Damn, I can’t stop shaking.” Travis closed his eyes and shook his arms, then jumped in place.

  “Uh, first stop jumping.” Jake put his hands on Travis’s shoulders. “It’s not a basketball game. We aren’t in the state finals.”

  “Right.” Travis stopped moving and nodded his head a few times.

  “And stop nodding. You look insane.”

  “Shit.” Travis sat down on the chair and hung his head in his hands. “I need to get out there before I lose it.”

  “Agreed.” Jake reached into his front jacket. “But until then, take this.”

  Travis didn’t look up. “Jake I hardly think this situation calls for Grandma’s infamous Benadryl remedy.”

  “Not a pink pill.” Jake thrust the tiny bottle of liquor into Travis’s face. “Liquid courage, my friend. Drink up.”

  Travis opened his eyes and took the plastic bottle. “Hmm, so it’s a Jake Titus remedy? I like.”

  “Or just a Titus remedy, although mom usually goes for the wine.” Jake shrugged. “Either way, I don’t need all the credit.”

  Travis twisted the cap and cringed as he drank the entire bottle of cheap vodka, all four ounces. “That tastes terrible.”

  “Stole it from Grandma.” Jake nodded. “Figured it did, never seen a woman love cheap vodka like her.” He shrugged. “At any rate, it’s almost time to walk down that aisle. What do you say to growing a pair?”

  After a few seconds Travis said, “Done.”

  “Well, that was fast.” Jake smirked.

  “Yeah, well, I just realized I get to seduce my wife in exactly forty-six minutes, possibly forty-four if I can say my vows fast enough.”

  “There’s the spirit.” Jake patted him on the back. “Now, I’m off to find your future wife; seems I have a girl to help walk down the aisle.”

  “She trips, you get a black eye.”

  “Noted,” Jake called as he left the room and went in search of Kacey. He found her, standing all alone at the back door porch entrance, waiting while the music played softly in the background.

  Char was standing next to her and they were murmuring in hushed tones; that is, until Jake made himself known by clearing his throat loudly.

  Kacey turned first, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

  “I’ll just, uh…” Char pointed behind Jake. “Go stand over there, until it’s time to walk down the aisle.”

  Char’s perfume floated in the air as she tried to walk by Jake. Not happening. He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her on the mouth. “You can’t just walk by me without saying hi.”

  Char’s lips met his again. “Is this how we say hi now?”

  “Yes.” Jake opened her lips with his tongue. “Hell yes.”

  Pulling away, Char gave him a saucy wink and walked off.

  He was still staring after her when Kacey said, “I never thought I’d see the day.”

  “What?” Jake scratched his head nervously and approached Kacey. “What day?”

  “You know.” She crossed her arms and nodded toward the section of the room where Char and the rest of the bridesmaids were sitting. “The day.”

  “Still not following.”

  She shrugged. “Call it puberty. You actually grew up and fell in love.”

  “So I’m a man now?” Jake squinted.

  “Congratulations.” Kacey laughed. “Oh my gosh! I bet you even have chest hair!” Jake winced. He’d always been the type of guy to manscape, and perhaps he took things a little far, what with his monthly facials.

  He slapped Kacey’s hand away when she went to touch his chest. The brat.

  “You ready?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “I think so.”

  “Good.” Jake laughed. “Prepare to be awed. In fact, prepare to cry. I heard you and Grandma had a good chat.”

  “That woman can’t keep a secret to save her life,” Kacey grumbled.

  “Well, I have Char on alert just in case.” Jake reached out and grabbed Kacey’s’ hands in his. “Kacey, I’ve known you since you were a little girl with pigtails. You were obsessed with Barbie and told me I should be your Ken. In fact, I’m pretty sure I played Ken more times than I’d care to admit.”

  Kacey giggled.

  “We’ve laughed together, cried together, yelled at one another, fought, hated each other…” Jake tried to rein in his emotions. Damn it, forget Kacey crying, he felt like losing it. “I broke your heart and never fixed it.” He licked his lips and let out a breath. “He did.”

  Kacey reached for Jake’s hand and squeezed it.

  “He fixed it, my brother.” Jake closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Kace, I took your heart, in college. I took it and I wasn’t careful with it. I was careless, young, stupid, you name it.” He released her hand and reached into his pocket to pull out the gift. “So here’s to me, returning the broken pieces so that he can have it all. Travis deserves it all. I wanted to mend what I broke, I wanted to fix what went wrong, but you know it’s kind of hard to do that, so here…” He held out the pin for her hair. “It’s a blue heart, a sapphire. Your something blue is also your something new.” He shrugged. “I’ve always loved you, Kace.” He tucked the pin in her hair and kissed her forehead.

  Kacey slapped him on the shoulder. “Stop making me cry!”

  “Sorry!” He pulled back and lifted his hands.

  “Oh, come here.” Kacey pulled him in for another tight hug. “Thank you, Jake. For everything.”

  Music sounded from outside. “Well, I’m not done just yet.” He held out his arm just as his father came around the corner.

  “You ready, dear?” Dad said as he wiped some tears from his eyes after he’d kissed Kacey on the cheek.

  “Ready.” She swallowed and looped one hand through Jake’s arm, and the other through his dad’s. “Let’s do this.”

  Char approached, holding Kacey’s flowers. Jake sent her a quick wink before turning back toward the door.

  Jake felt Kacey shaking beside him.

  “I love you, Mom and Dad,” Kacey whispered under her breath.

  “I am so proud of you,” Dad said, and a tear fell down his cheek before he could walk away. “And I know they are, too.”

  Jake squeezed her arm tighter and nodded at his dad, fighting with everything he had not to fall prey to his emotions.

  But it was hard.

  Especially when the music started.

  And just like that, the memories came.

  * * *

  The wedding ceremony was near the tree house. Kacey was transported back in time, as she watched her five-year-old self run around the tree, Jake chasing her the entire way.

  Her mom came around the corner yelling. “Kacey you put
that down! Don’t you dare throw mud on him!”

  Kacey didn’t listen.

  And then the memories skipped ahead a few years, the same tree house, same boy. Jake was older then, he and Travis were arguing, and then Travis told her he’d found a snake and held it in front of her face.

  Her mom came running out of the house with Bets, screaming at Travis to kill the snake.

  And then it was high school. Travis was watching her from the house while she and Jake went out by the river. She looked back at him and rolled her eyes as he and her dad came out on the back porch to put the rest of the fishing gear in the truck.

  “Be safe!” She’d yelled.

  “Always!” Her father called back, and then, as if he’d just remembered something, ran toward her, arms open wide. “I almost forgot!”

  “What?” She giggled as she ran toward him.

  “A prince always deserves a kiss from his princess before he goes off to war!”

  “You’re not going to war; you’re hunting fish.”

  “And lions and tigers and bears!” Her father’s eyes widened as he kissed her cheek again and again.

  “Stop!” She pushed him away and laughed. “Fine. Here is your kiss, good sir.” She did a curtsy as her father bowed. “Will you wear my colors, dear prince?”

  “But of course!” Her father pulled a pink ribbon from her hair and held it in his hand. “I shall keep it forever and always, dear lady!”

  As Kacey was brought back to the present, she realized all those memories, all that time spent here at Titus Abby—it was as if her parents were with her, pushing her toward her future.

  Travis lifted his gaze.

  And suddenly she couldn’t walk fast enough. Eyes locked on his, she made it all the way to the front of the gazebo. He was so handsome in his black suit. His hair was slightly mussed still and his tan just made his smile that much more devastating.

  Travis took two steps toward her. Wescott released her arm, as did Jake, and then Travis reached for her hand.

  As he took it, he flipped it over and opened her clenched fingers.