Doubting Thomas (Tarnished Saints Series) (12 page)

Chapter 12

Angel stood nervously in the police station, pacing back and forth in her heels, never having changed from her Sunday attire. She’d yet to talk with Thomas, as the authorities insisted he be questioned to their content before they went through with the wedding - and only if Thomas agreed. She’d explained to his children the circumstances and that she never meant to hurt their father or take them away from him. She also told them she was marrying their father because it was the only solution to keep them all together and from being placed in foster care.

Daniel, who had been so taken by her was the first to say he didn’t trust her anymore. Jake, of course joined his side, not wanting her near. And Sam seemed to be on the fence with his decision. Little Eli had remained quiet, but also made his decision clear by the way he refused to let go of her, resulting in her finally having to pry his little fingers from the folds of her dress. Josh and Zeke hadn’t said much either, only that they wanted her to do whatever it took to get their father home and keep them from being taken away.

Tillie had tried to talk her out of marrying a man she didn’t know, but after two hours she’d given up trying to change Angel’s mind. She knew better. Angel had always acted spontaneously so why should this be any different?

She thought of how Clarence and Agnes kept begging her to let the children go to homes and not to get involved with a man like Thomas Taylor. They’d said Thunder Lake would be better off without him, but Angel knew they were only acting out of fear. Nat had never returned to the Bed and Breakfast, but if he did, he would have hell to pay with Angel. She would never trust another reporter as long as she lived.

She’d made a mess of things, and now regretted ever taking this unofficial case in the first place. But she would make things right, now. She’d marry Thomas so he could keep his children. Then when the trial time of CPS house calls was up, she’d divorce him and head back home. If her own foster parents were alive today, she’d never hear the end of how stupid this idea was.

Her life had been hard, as the old couple never really treated her like a true daughter. She hadn’t known love. These boys would never know it either if they went to foster homes. She didn’t want them growing up the way she had. Every kid deserved to live with their true parents. She would keep them from being taken away from their father if it was the last thing she ever did.

Thomas was brought into the room, hands still cuffed behind him. His eyes were sunken, his hair mussed, and she was sure the all-day questioning must have been brutal. She felt the sweat on her palms and her heart beating rapidly. She knew this man’s temper, and just how much he hated her right now. He would never agree to the idea of a wedding. She would have to work hard trying to convince him it was for his own good, so he wouldn’t lose his kids.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as they put him next to her. “I never meant for any of this to happen. Were they rough with you, Thomas?”

He raised his chin and looked her in the eye. The spark of life she’d seen yesterday had died. Replacing it was anger and despair.

“I’m used to this treatment,” he told her. “After all, it was nothing compared to what they put me through when Fawn was found murdered. They were just waiting for a reason to haul me back in here.”

“So, did they tell you my plan?”

She saw him biting at the inside of his cheek. “They did.”

She waited, but he didn’t say more.

“Well, do you agree to the marriage?” she asked him with hope in her voice. If he didn’t, she didn’t know what she’d do. He just had to agree.

“It’s a stupid idea, but I don’t really have a choice now, do I?”

“You know it’s only temporary. Once this is all over, I swear I’ll be on my way.”

“I don’t love you,” he ground out, the words cutting her to the bone. “Nor will I ever.”

“I know.” She felt a stab to the heart. “I don’t expect you to.”

How she wished things could be different. How she wished they could be in love and be getting married because they’d both wanted to share the rest of their lives together.  Too bad they never had the time for things to possibly develop.

“You don’t need to love me, but the question is, do you love your children enough to take this risk to keep them?” she asked.

“You had this planned from the beginning, didn’t you? You wanted a husband and went this far just to get one.”

She slapped him then, the sound echoing through the room. “How dare you,” she blurted out.

His head moved to the side with the slap, then he turned back to her slowly, his gaze pinning her in place. “You ever think of hitting a one of my boys like that and you’ll be sorry.”

“You ever think of accusing me of doing something so low-down again and
you’ll
be sorry. If you weren’t so caught up in your anger, you’d realize this is the best offer you’re going to get. No one else cares, Thomas. No one else would marry you to help you save your kids. One more comment like that from you, and I’ll walk. So don’t even think of trying to threaten me again. You may scare half the town, but you don’t frighten me, Thomas Taylor. You’d be smart to remember that.”

They stood staring at each other, gazes interlocked and only broken when Gabby ran into the room followed by Tillie.

“I brought you flowers, Mommy. Can I be the flower girl for your wedding?”

Tears in her eyes, Angel bent down and took the bouquet of wild daisies and larkspur from her daughter. She pulled the little girl to her chest and buried her nose in her hair. A tear dripped down and landed on Gabby’s head. She hadn’t even had the time to talk to her about this wedding. She’d been so concerned with the Taylor kids, that she’d basically ignored her own. Guilt consumed her. She hadn’t considered how this would affect Gabby.

“Gabby, honey, I want you to know I love you very much.”

“I know.”

“I’m going to marry Mr. Taylor so his boys won’t be taken away from him. Do you understand?”

“So is he going to be my new dad?” she asked, looking over at Thomas with a smile.

Angel looked at Thomas also, but when he caught her gaze, he looked the other way.

“Yes, I suppose so,” she said. “And Zeke and the rest of the boys will be your new brothers.”

“All right!” she said, hopping up and down in joy, and Angel knew it was because she had always wanted a sibling. Then she went over to Thomas, looking at his hands cuffed. “How are you going to give mommy a hug with those on?”

Tillie pulled the girl away from Thomas, and backed away, holding Gabby’s hand. Angel smiled sadly, and gave her good friend a hug.

“Oh Tillie, thank you for being witness to the wedding. I hope you understand why I have to do this.”

“Not really,” whispered Tillie. “I still wish you would change your mind. But I am your best friend, and will support you even though I feel you are making the biggest mistake of your life.”

“Thank you. I think.”

Then the town minister, Reverend Black entered the room. Angel had felt relieved when she’d talked to the man earlier and found out he was once a good friend of Thomas’s father. This should help Thomas to carry through with the plan.

“Are all parties present?” he asked, looking around the room.

“Just waiting for the other witness,” said the deputy, standing over Thomas.

Gus Kramer hurried into the room just then, sidling up next to Thomas.

“Thought you weren’t going to show,” mumbled Thomas without even looking at him.

“Truck gave me trouble starting,” he whispered back.

“Well, if everyone’s ready,” said Reverend Black, conducting the ceremony in casual attire, no robe involved, “then let’s uncuff the groom and get this over with.”

The cop uncuffed Thomas who immediately rubbed his wrists. Angel could see the red marks encircling each wrist and she felt her stomach twisting. She’d put him through this humiliation and pain, and now she was going to put him through a marriage he didn’t even want. Would he ever forgive her?

Angel walked to his side, holding tightly to the bouquet of wild flowers. Gabby stood next to her with a smile on her face, and Tillie next to the little girl, looking bewildered and frightened. Gus took his place next to Thomas, looking more nervous than she felt.

“We are gathered here today . . .” started Reverend Black.

“Get on with it,” Thomas growled.

“But I have my ceremony planned,” he protested.

“And I plan on being home in time to join my boys for supper.”

The reverend just nodded, and flipped through a few pages, readjusted his glasses, and started again.

“Do you, Thomas Didymus Taylor -”

“Didymus?” Angel asked aloud, surprised by his middle name.

The reverend looked up, his glasses balanced precariously on his nose. “I believe Webster Taylor gave his first born son that middle name because that’s the Greek version of the name Thomas.”

“Oh.”

“Can we please get on with this?” Thomas didn’t even look at her which made her even more weary.

The reverend cleared his throat and continued. “Do you Thomas Didymus . . .”

“I do.”

Reverend Black looked up with astonishment on his face as well as a frown. “You always were impatient, Thomas.”

“I always liked getting unpleasant tasks over with as quickly as possible.”

Angel writhed inside. Maybe Tillie was right, and she was making a big mistake. How could she put herself in such a situation? How could she be marrying a man who thought of a wedding as an
unpleasant task
?

“Do you Angeline . . . what is your middle name, please?”

“Gertrude,” she said, sneaking a glance toward Thomas. She saw the corner of his mouth raise in a smile and he coughed into his hand. Why hadn’t she just made up a name or told him she didn’t have a middle name rather than to embarrass herself, especially since she’d just questioned his middle name?

“Do you Angeline Gertrude DeMitri take this man, Thomas Didymus Taylor . . . ” That’s all she heard. Her head started spinning, and for a moment she thought she’d pass out on the spot. Was she crazy? How could she be marrying a man she didn’t even know? A man half the town thought murdered his wife? True, she’d been impetuous to marry Brad after only dating for one week, but that was because he was her savior. He was the man who was going to give her a true family, as she had no one.

Now she played Thomas’s savior. Only this time, it was different. Brad had wanted her as a wife. Thomas didn’t want her stepping foot anywhere on his land let alone near his children.

“My dear,” said the reverend. “This is where you say I do.”

“Oh,” she said with a jump and looked over to Thomas. Her hesitance must have bothered him, or enough so that he turned and looked directly at her for the first time since he’d joined her at the mock altar. His eyes were dark and deep, but the anger she’d seen earlier was no longer so dominant. Now she saw something different.

Within his eyes she saw what she’d seen that day in the barn. A man crying out for help, trapped in his own problems and worries, longing to be held. Longing to be loved. There was an inner sadness within his gaze and if she didn’t know better, the fear of rejection. How could a man so harsh and closed be so open with just one gaze? She felt she’d somehow known him her entire life. Her anxiety and uncertainty left her and she stood up straight and answered firmly, “I do.”

“The ring please,” said Reverend Black, and Thomas and Gus looked blankly at each other.

“You got a ring?” Thomas asked nonchalantly to his good friend.

“No,” said Gus with wide eyes. “I didn’t know I was suppose to bring one.”

“Well, got anything we can use as a ring?”

Gus patted his shirt, then dug through his pants pockets, coming up with nothing but a handful of change and a stick of gum.

“We really need a ring of some sort,” explained the reverend hesitant to pronounce them man and wife without one.

Thomas looked over to Angel, checking out her fingers for rings. She hadn’t worn her wedding band for years now. Not that she didn’t still love Brad, but because every time she’d looked at it she’d break down in tears at what had happened. She found out years ago she could continue her love for him without having to wear the ring. She noticed Thomas didn’t wear a ring either, and thought it interesting, wondering his reason why.

Then Thomas raised his hands to his ear, removing the little gold hoop earring that hung there. He broke off the post, blew on it and shined it in his dirty jeans and held it up.

“Okay, I’ve got a ring.”

Angel held out her hand as instructed, and Thomas very carefully and gently placed it on the proper finger. Then with a slight squeeze he brought it together enough so it would stay on her finger.

His hand was warm and slightly sweaty, and she knew he was just as nervous about this wedding as she was. This pleased her. If he truly hadn’t cared in the least for her, she was sure his hand would be stone cold.

“You may kiss the bride,” she heard the words, and looked up quickly, her eyes interlocking with Thomas’s. He cleared his throat and whispered to her.