Redemption(72)

“What time is it?” I yanked a brush through my long hair hoping to get an answer before I turned on the blow-dryer.

“We need to leave in twenty minutes.”

Dan peeked his head in the bathroom to find me naked in front of the mirror. His eyes scanned my body. He had to be kidding me with that crap right now. “Don’t even think about it.” I laughed and pushed the door closed shutting him out. Only a man would think there was time for foreplay when his woman had sopping wet hair, no makeup on, and needed to dress.

With my head between my legs, I prayed like hell my hair would dry faster than normal. I ran my fingers through it hoping to air it out and allow the heat to penetrate the thickness. I should have turned the lock, but he was back in the bathroom, and I was in a precarious position.

“What are you doing in here?” My behind greeted him, and all I could see were his legs. I shot straight up and flipped my hair over continuing to dry and shout over the sound of the dryer.

“I thought I could hold the hair dryer while you put on makeup?”

He was out of his mind, but I was out of time. I handed him the round brush and let him go to town. I was impressed with how well he managed and watched for far too long as he wound the bristles in my hair and then straightened them as he applied the hot air to the strands.

He shrugged when he caught me evaluating him. “What? I’ve watched you do this a hundred times. How hard can it be?”

When he was done, I had applied what little makeup I wore and then appraised the results. “When I start back to school, you need to plan on getting up half an hour earlier. You’re better at this than I am.” My hair looked fantastic—full of body and rounded on the ends. It normally hung in heavy lines unless I curled it with copious amounts of product.

I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and dashed into our room to put on my dress. It was simple, navy blue, but the neckline sold me. The conservative cut was appropriate for church, but the top gave an alluring view of my collarbones and elongated my neck…in a flattering way. I slipped on the killer black heels I’d bought to go with it, and when I stood, Dan was inches from me.

“You look beautiful, Penny.” His lips touched my exposed neckline, and I swooned.

“Not now, lover boy. I made it with like twelve seconds to spare.” I fingered the ring on my left hand, spinning the stone back to the top.

We hurried down the stairs, Dan in front of me. He grabbed the gift bags, and I got the keys.



*

We walked into the sanctuary with two minutes to spare. Brett quickly found Dan, and Annie was in a tizzy. Alissa was nestled into a cradle her dad had created with his arm completely unaffected by her father’s helpless panic.

“Dude, slow down. What’s wrong?”

I held Dan’s hand in front of Brett, but Alissa had my attention. Just as Brett started to answer Dan’s question, Annie came around the corner. Her face was flush, and if I had to bet, I’d say she was roughly two minutes from pulling her hair out.

I hadn’t heard anything Brett said to my fiancé. The moment Annie got close enough, I saw why she was distressed. Grayson had spit up all over his christening gown…and it stunk, even from here.

People started to fill the pews. “What do you need me to do, Annie?”

Brett stepped in, suddenly relieved and in control. “Nothing. We’re good. Dan went to get stuff out of the car.”

My brow scrunched in confusion. I had no idea what was going on or how Dan was helping.

“Seriously, Lissa. I’ve got Annie. You go get your seats in the front row. The priest will call you and Dan up to join us when it’s time.”

“Okay.” I stroked Alissa’s cheek and then kissed the top of Grayson’s head before I did as instructed.

Shortly after I sat down, Dan joined me. He draped his arm over the back of the wooden pew. I leaned into his side and stared at the stained-glass above the altar. Sunshine filtered through the colored window and made the white doves appear three dimensional. It had been years since I’d been in a church, much less to mass. I followed the instructions of the priest, doing my best to stay focused. I struggled in traditional churches, the structure was far too tedious, and I was easily lost in the kneeling and praying and repeating of verses.

The priest came around the altar, and Brett and Annie, both with a child in their arms joined him from a door to the side of the sanctuary. The man spoke to the congregation about the duties of Christian families, not just those related by blood, but those in the church and community. He called upon Brett’s and Annie’s parents who were all in attendance, although I hadn’t seen them, and Dan and myself. When I took my spot next to my best friend, I glanced down at Grayson, and nearly lost my shit.

I had to be mistaken, there was no way. Dan had his arm around my waist and felt my knees buckle. He held tightly to me, not allowing me to fall. Each breath became harder to take than the last, and I struggled not to have a full-blown panic attack standing in front of a room full of people I didn’t know. My heart raced with each detail I took in on Grayson’s gown and every delicate bead on the ornate rosary in Annie’s hand. The minutes ticked on like hours. I was certain I’d have to excuse myself before the priest finished. It wasn’t possible. Joshua’s things were in the porcelain box in my closet.

No. No. No. No. No.