Phantom Scars (16 page)

Chapter 32 - A Certain Ring to It

I straightened my tie for the fifth time and glanced at the clock. It was only an hour before the wedding, and if I was going to do this, I would have to get my butt to my apartment and do it now. I looked over at my brother and Clark. I hadn't let on what I wanted to do. I think maybe Eli had a hint because of Faye, but he never said a word.

I had talked to Faye four days ago about doing this, but I said I wasn't sure. She, being sweet little Faye, was thrilled at the idea and asked me what made me think of it. My answer was her sister.

Annie was Faye's sister, and she had come in a week early for the wedding. She had been in the restaurant, helping decide how to set the place up, when she saw me. She was on me like white on rice. Faye had to peel her off of me. I insisted I was married, but she thought I was just making it up, because I didn't have a ring. When she was informed Emma was my wife, she promptly found her. "No ring there, either. What's the problem, honey, don't you like me?"

Faye, bless her soul, saved me from her sister and diverted her attention to one of the servers named Brian. He was now the man who would stand opposite of Annie, and I was thankful for that. They had really hit it off.

Annie did get me thinking, though. Emma and I really should have rings. I went out and bought a set the next day, but I wasn't sure if or how I could give them to her. I wanted it to be special. Faye found me deep in thought after another dress fitting in our apartment. "How you holding up?" she asked, looking around my apartment. It had been overrun by wedding stuff, since it was so close to where the wedding itself would happen. I didn't mind, though. Well, that was not true. All this wedding talk seemed to be getting to Clark and Paige, and there was more fighting and making up than I wanted to hear.

Faye plopped on the couch next to me, as my momma made alterations to Emma's gown in our room. She shoved over the stack of wedding crap, since it practically fell on her, and in her struggle to not die by wedding paraphernalia, she bumped my leg.

Now, this wouldn't have been a big deal, except I had the rings in my pocket. She looked down at the odd lump and insisted I pull whatever it was out, before she accused me of something ungentlemanly. I took out the ring box. It was a little larger than the traditional box, because it held my ring in it, as well as both of Emma's.

Faye gasped. "They're beautiful, Devin! When are you going to give them to her?"

I shrugged. "I feel like it should be special. We didn't really get to have a wedding, but I want her to wear my rings. I don't like people not knowing she's mine and I'm hers."

"Aw, Devin, that's so sweet," she said hugging me like a sumo wrestler. "Oh, Devin, I just got the best idea!" she squealed.

I looked at her worried.

"Since the place is going to be decorated already, you should have a ring ceremony after my wedding. I mean, her parents are here already. I think it’d be perfect."

"I don't know, Faye. What if she doesn't want to wear my rings?" I said timidly.

She squeezed me again. "Oh, honey, you're so sweet. She loves you so much. She’d never turn you down. Now, you just leave it to me. I'll take care of everything."

"Faye," I said worried, "Can we not say anything to anyone about this? I don't want anyone to know if she says no, okay. I don't want to be publicly humiliated."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Oh, you’re so silly. Fine, but that's not going to happen. I'll have everything ready, and she's going to love it! I can't wait!" she squealed.

So, here it was, the day of the wedding, just an hour before, and I knew if I was going to do it, I had to do it now. I tucked the little box into my tuxedo pocket and looked over at the guys relaxing and drinking beer. Eli was smiling widely. I was pretty sure he was a little drunk. I hoped Faye didn't kill us for that.

"I'm going to run and check on the girls real quick," I said and slipped out the door before they could protest. I was breathing hard and freaking out a little. God, please let her say yes, I prayed lightly.

I started up the stairs and saw Faye looking out my front window. Her tight glare turned to a smile. She flung the door open. "Took you long enough! For a minute there, I thought you might’ve changed your mind."

I shook my head no.

"Good, she's the last be made up. She's just in her robe. I wouldn't let her put her dress on yet."

I looked at her confused.

"Oh, you'll see why when it's time," she giggled.

Jen, Annie and my momma were in the room, all dressed and touching up their hair and makeup. They had somehow squeezed a dresser and vanity that matched our bed set in here last night. They should have called us. We would have moved it for them, I thought pouting.

"Everyone out, except for Emma," Faye ordered.

I looked at Faye and then Emma nervously.

Emma looked worried and stood up, coming to me. "Is everything alright?" she asked softly.

I forced a smile. "Yeah," I cleared my throat. "I'm just a little nervous."

"Why would you be nervous?"

I looked down at the floor and squeezed the box in my pocket. I cleared my throat again. "Because there's this woman I've fallen in love with, and I want her to marry me, and I want to give her these rings, but I'm scared she won't want me."

Emma looked shocked, crushed and upset. It dawned on me that she didn't know I was talking about her. She stepped back shaking, and I quickly grabbed her in my arms, holding her against me tightly. "It's you," I whispered. "How could you even think otherwise?" I choked up a little. "Emma, it's you." She let out a relieved sob, and I sat on the bed, holding her tightly to me. I pulled the little box out of my pocket and slipped out the engagement ring. "I think it's time we had some rings, showing the world we belong to each other, if that's alright with you?" I asked softly and slipped the ring on her finger.

She grabbed my face, kissing me deeply, while pushing me back on the bed. We had kissed before, but there was so much more to this one. When we broke apart to breathe, I gasped out, "I love you."

She smiled so widely my heart nearly exploded. "I love you, too, so much," she said in return and kissed me again.

There was a loud banging on the door, and then Faye appeared. "Oh, good, you still have your clothes on. I was getting worried," she said, giving me a teasing look. We both blushed, and Faye just burst out laughing. "Oh, my goodness, you two are so cute."

The other women came running in to see us tangled on the bed. "Ladies, we have some work to do," Faye announced. "Devin, get out, and go tell Clark that he'll be needed," she said and winked at me.

I smiled and snapped the ring box up.

"Wait!" Faye called. "We need yours!"

"Right, right," I said, opening it and handing my ring to Faye. Emma looked at us both confused. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I love you," I whispered in her ear. I loved that I could finally say it to her. She smiled at me, as I slipped out the door.

When I got back to Clayton's, where the guys were all hanging out, Clayton commented on my smile. "Dude, you're giving me the creeps, man. Why are you smiling so big? I know Faye didn't let you have a quickie. Besides, that's no way to lose your virginity," he said.

I punched his shoulder and threw what I knew now was his jester newspaper hat at him. He set it down next to Eli's chef hat reverently. "Chill, man, I want to keep my hat," he complained.

I looked over at Clark, who was downing a couple of pills, most likely for his headache. There was a knock on the door, and I was surprised to find my momma there, smiling widely with a garment bag. "Faye wanted me to bring this over for Clark."

Clark perked up when he heard his name and walked over. "What’s this?"

Momma handed it to him proudly. "This is your monkey suit to walk your daughter down the aisle."

He looked at me confused.

"It was a surprise. I didn't know if she’d say yes, but she did," I said.

Eli came over, hearing what I said. "Let me guess, Faye?" he said with a smile.

"Yeah, she saw the rings I bought and wanted to help."

He chuckled. "That's my girl." He patted Clark on the back. "Well, you’d better get dressed. We only have another twenty minutes." He turned to me. "So, how’s this going to work?" he asked.

"Well, you guys will go first like planned, and then Emma and I will have a quick ring ceremony after that," I said rubbing my neck nervously, and then I looked over at Clark, worried he was going to freak out and kill me. He had kept his cool for far too long.

He just smiled and shook his head. "I guess I'd better get ready," he said taking his tuxedo.

We stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for the girls. Eli and I were both bouncing nervously, and Clayton just looked distracted. The music started, and a little girl Faye had gotten from who only knew where came down the aisle dropping flower petals.

Next was Jen, followed by Emma. She looked so beautiful in her blue gown. Her eyes locked with mine, and we smiled so big it hurt. Annie followed after her, then they all lined up across from us, and it was all I could do to stay in place. I wanted to wrap my girl up in my arms.

The music changed, and Faye came down the aisle with her father, who had flown in from Alabama. He gave her over to Eli and took his place beside his wife, who was all-out bawling now. I looked over at Emma, smiling widely. I couldn't wait for our turn.

I must have zoned out, distracted by Emma, because next thing I knew, the crowd was cheering, as the preacher presented Mr. and Mrs. Grover for the very first time. I had to say, that was really cool.

Faye, of course, took control after that. "Everyone, please stay seated." She stepped forward, taking Emma and my hands. "Our dear friends, who married a few months ago, are going to have a ring ceremony now, so we can all share in their happiness." She pulled Emma into a hug. "We'll be right back," she announced and then dragged the girls back down the aisle with her. Eli grabbed my shoulders and shifted me to the appropriate place, smiling widely. "This ought to be fun," he said with a wink.

Momma came out and whispered something to the pianist, and they started playing again. I realized then that Clark was missing from the crowd. The flower girl came down the aisle again with a fresh new basket of petals, and the girls started their procession again, but this time, in place of Emma was Faye, dressed in a blue bridesmaid gown. The music changed, and that was when I held my breath, hoping she hadn't changed her mind, or that Clark hadn't decided to whisk her away from me.

I let out a relieved breath, when I saw them coming towards us. My face was hurting, and I realized it was because I was smiling so big. Emma was dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown. Faye had really outdone herself this time. Clark shook my hand and placed Emma's little one in mine. I looked down at her face; she was smiling through happy tears.

The preacher began the speech, and I swear I tried to listen, but the beauty of my girl was so distracting. I did say I do at the appropriate places and slipped the wedding band onto Emma's finger. I felt a sense of relief that there was finally proof that she was mine. When she put the ring on my finger, I closed my hand in a fist, not wanting that ring to ever come off.

The preacher finally presented us as Mr. and Mrs. Devin Clemens. Hearing Emma's name with mine had a certain ring to it, which made both of us grin. She was mine, I was hers, and we always would be for the rest of our lives.

Chapter 33 - Wedded Miss

My momma slipped out, after a photographer took pictures of us all. It was really great, and I was looking forward to putting those up on the wall. I even overheard my momma asking for a couple of large ones for the restaurant and her home. She was definitely thrilled we'd had the ring ceremony.

I looked over at Emma to see how she was holding up. Her eyes found mine, and I could tell she was struggling being around all these people. I made my way over to her and decided it was time for us to take a break.

I pulled her into the kitchen. I knew she would feel safe there. My momma jumped, when we came through the door. It was then I realized Warren was here with us as well. My eyes narrowed at him, and I was about to say something, but my momma cut me off.

"Now, Devin, settle down, he was just helping me with the cake," she said.

It was then I realized they were both holding icing bags, and behind them was a three-tiered round cake. It was beautiful.

"Your momma wanted you both to have a cake as well and asked for my assistance, since she didn't have much time," Warren explained.

Then something dawned on me. "How do you know how to ice, Warren?"

To my surprise, both my momma and Warren turned red.

"Oh my, no, you know what, I don't want to know," I said firmly. That was when I heard giggling behind me. I turned to find Emma snickering at me. "Yeah, yeah, I see how you are," I complained, teasing her a little and wrapped her in my arms. I didn't want to be around my momma and Warren, but I knew Emma wasn't ready to go out yet. I pulled her into the pantry, where she usually hid on bad days, ignoring my momma's protests, and shut the door. I looked down at her, smiling widely. "Hello, my beautiful wife. How are you doing?" I asked.

"Better," she answered, snuggling into my chest. The little white flowers in her hair tickled my nose. She really was amazingly beautiful today. She was beautiful every day, but today was just beyond words. I felt her lips press into my neck, giving me a soft kiss, and I couldn't resist pulling them up to my lips. I kissed her softly and deeply, enjoying the sweet fruity flavor of her lips. When I traced them with my tongue, she opened her mouth, letting me in, holding me tighter to her. I moaned against her lips, knowing I would have to stop. I had to get myself under control.

There was a knocking on the pantry door, and I knew our time alone was up. "Are you alright?" I asked her, hoping she was feeling well enough to face the crowd a little while longer.

She smiled up at me. "I'll be okay," she whispered. "Just stay by my side."

"Alright, and you squeeze my hand if we need to go, okay? I don't want you to feel like you have to stay. We can leave if it's too much," I promised.

She leaned up and kissed my cheek. "Thank you."

I smiled and shrugged. "What are husbands for?"

At that, she smiled widely. I had to admit I felt a little giddy calling myself her husband and knowing I really meant it. I was really officially her husband now. Not that I hadn't been before, but it was different now. I knew she wanted me just as much as I wanted her, and it wasn't just a marriage of convenience.

We made our way out of the kitchen and stood in the back of the room, watching as Faye and Eli ran through the tradition of throwing the bouquet and garter. We had missed their first dance, but that was fine.

They moved to the cakes, and theirs was much different than ours, but I did like our cake very much. It was beautiful and elegant. My momma had outdone herself again. She really was a miracle worker when it came to baked goods.

Once Faye and Eli had their piece of cake, they called us forward. They had Emma and I take slices of our own cake, and Emma, the little stinker she was, would tease my mouth and then pull the piece away. I ended up effectively chasing her for a piece of cake that she ended up smashing in my face. I would have been upset, but she was laughing so hard I couldn't be upset with her. She was too beautiful to anger me. I ended up laughing, but I quickly shut up, when she started licking and kissing the cake off my face. The crowd cheered, and I remembered we were not alone.

Faye shoved a little bouquet in Emma's hand. Apparently, this was her throw bouquet; the other was her keep one. Faye lined up the single girls, and we all cheered when Jennifer caught it. I was then informed that there was a garter on my wife's leg that needed removing. I was sure to shoot it right at Clayton's head. I thought he would try and duck, but he surprised me by jumping up and catching it in his teeth and sending an eyebrow wiggle to Jen.

We were then shoved to the center of the dance floor, and we had our first dance together, not only as husband and wife, but ever. I was thankful it was slow music, because I wasn't talented on the dance floor. I just prayed silently that I would not step on my wife's toes. I smiled to myself. My wife, Emma was my wife, and I loved thinking it just as much as I loved saying it. I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "You're my wife."

I felt her cheeks rise in a smile.

"I love you, Emma. I have for so long," I said seriously. She had to know this wasn't a spontaneous thing, but something that had been growing in me for a while.

She pulled back with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, for loving me. I've loved you for a very long time as well." I knew what she said was true by the emotion in her eyes, and I wished we were alone so we could talk some more, but the song ended, and Clark came and took her from me for his turn with her.

I watched them in awe, as my beautiful wife moved around the floor with her father, truly the belle of the ball. I felt a hand on my arm and looked down to see my momma smiling at me. "Shall we dance?" she asked, and I nodded yes.

I took my momma around the dance floor as tradition called for, but I was mostly looking forward to getting my girl alone. Then I remembered that Clark and Paige were staying with us, and our apartment was covered in wedding stuff last I knew. I pouted for a moment. "What's the matter, sugar?" my momma asked.

"I wish I had her alone tonight," I confessed.

My momma's face lit up. "Well, honey, of course you're going to have her alone. Clark and Paige rented a room at The Keeper’s Inn. They offered it to Emma, but she declined, saying she just wanted to be at home with you, so they'll be taking the room."

My face must have lit up like Christmas morning, because my momma started laughing. "Oh, Son, you be sure to take it easy on her tonight," my momma said and winked at me, as she slipped out of my arms. I realized the song was over, and I turned to find Emma, my wife, as quickly as possible, only to nearly bump into her and Clark. "Easy, boy, miss your girl now do ya?" he teased, and I blushed and nodded yes.

Emma pushed her way into my arms, and I snuggled into her neck, breathing her in and relaxing a little. I was home when she was in my arms. It didn't matter to me where we were; as long as she was with me, I would be fine.

We waved goodbye, as we showered Faye and Eli with birdseed, and then we were pushed to the backdoor by our apartment and given the same send off. I pulled my bride up the steps to our home and carried her over the threshold. I finally had her alone and all to myself.

I kissed her deeply and then nibbled down her neck. I wanted her so badly, and I think she wanted me, too. I carried her to our bedroom, gently setting her down on my lap so she was straddling me. She kissed me back, as I started to undo the zipper on her gown. I let out a moan and closed my eyes, as I tried to control my breathing. I had to get a grip, or I was going to lose it in my pants. She was just so beautiful, and her skin was so soft I couldn't get enough of her.

I found her lips again, kissing her deeply, as I pulled her gown from her shoulders. I laid her back on the bed, not breaking the kiss, and gently caressed her soft tummy. She was perfect. I looked down at her full perky breasts that had been calling to me for months and moved my hand towards them. That was when I heard it, her sharp intake of breath. I looked up to see her watery eyes. My heart broke. She wasn't ready for me yet, and I felt like such an ass for not asking before I touched her.

I pulled her dress back up in the front, covering the temptation, and pulled her up into my lap, willing my erection to go away. It took a pretty big blow knowing she was not into me, and so it was mostly deflated already.

"Oh, Emma, why didn't you tell me to stop? I don't ever want to hurt you," I said kissing her forehead and pulling her tightly into my arms.

She let out a broken sob and buried her face in my neck. "I want to," she whispered, "but I can't," she stuttered, "If I…I don't, they won’t…I don't, I can't…"

I held her tighter in my arms. "It's alright; you don't have to do anything. You're safe with me. You know that. I love you, honey. I really do, more than anything in the world and heaven above, I love you."

Her sad eyes looked up at me, as she whimpered, "I love you, too."

I kissed her lips and pulled us up to the top of the bed, kicking off my shoes. I took off my shirt, and I was glad when she looked at me and smiled instead of looking scared. I wrapped my shirt around her and helped her pull her dress the rest of the way off. I snuggled under the covers like we did every night and pulled her back against me. "I love you," I whispered into the night, but this time, I wasn't afraid for it to be heard. She turned and smiled up at me, kissing my lips softly. "I love you, too."

She wasn't ready, but she was worth waiting for, that was for sure, and I would wait until the end of time for her.