The Wager - Dyken Rachel Van (книги бесплатно без онлайн .txt) 📗

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.”