Read The Wedding: A Faces of Evil Short Story for Free Online
Authors: Debra Webb
be.
At last
...
“I love you, Jess.”
She smiled. “Love you, too.”
“Earlier you said you had something to tell me.”
After the ceremony there hadn’t been a moment of time alone. Though they weren’t alone now, the dance allowed a hint of privacy. “I felt the baby move.”
“You did?” His face lit up. “Did it feel like a butterfly’s wings?”
The books they’d read had described the first movements a mother could feel as a fluttery sensation. “It really did.”
“I can’t wait to feel him move.”
“Her,” Jess reminded her new husband.
Dan laughed. “I guess we’ll know when the time comes.”
They had opted not to be told the baby’s sex. Why spoil the fun? They were planning to decorate the nursery in shades of soft yellow and green with a little blue and pink here and there.
“When I saw you coming toward me, Jess, I couldn’t breathe for a minute. You are so very beautiful. I wouldn’t have thought it possible for you to look even more stunning than you do everyday and somehow you did.”
“I felt the same about you, Mr. Burnett.”
“We’re very lucky.”
Jess nodded. “We surely are.”
The final notes of the song faded and the applause began. Dan leaned down and kissed Jess until she was dizzy.
“Excuse me, son.”
Jess turned to Dan Senior and smiled. “Are you cutting in?”
He gave Jess a nod as Dan stepped aside. “No one can take the place of your father, Jess, but, if you’ll have me as a stand-in, I’d love to share the father-daughter dance with you.”
Battling another wave of tears, Jess hugged him. “I would be honored.”
What a Wonderful World
floated through the air and Jess felt as if she were bursting with happiness. Across the dance floor, Dan danced with his mother. Soon, more couples joined them. Blake and Lil made a lovely couple. Blake Junior twirled Maddie around the floor. His sister Alice carried three-year-old Chester, Chet’s son, around the dance floor.
Jess almost laughed out loud when she saw Buddy with Sylvia cuddled in an intimate embrace. She was reasonably sure Sylvia had indulged in a little extra champagne to allow Buddy Corlew to put his arms around her so tightly. Chet and Lori whispered to each other as they swayed with the music. Chad Cook danced with Gina Coleman and Clint Hayes maintained his wallflower status. Jess was very happy that every member of her team was here, alive and well.
As the official parts of the evening were concluded, Jess lost all track of time. There were so many congratulations and hugs exchanged her head was spinning. Lori was still beaming after having caught Jess’s bouquet.
Ralph Gant, Jess’s former boss at the Bureau, had even traveled all the way from Virginia for the wedding. Jess had spent a few weeks trying to be angry with him, but she’d failed miserably. Gant would always be a sort of father figure in her life. As much as she might deny it, she’d worked with him for two decades and she couldn’t pretend she didn’t care about him.
Deputy Chief Harold Black caught up with her at the bar when she went for another glass of water. No matter that he’d lost his wife last month, he found a way to be here and that meant a great deal to Jess.
“Harris, I have to tell you, with the exception of my wife, I have never seen a more radiant bride.”
Jess smiled. “Thank you, Chief. I’m glad you came.” She wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d wanted to pass on the invitation. The loss of his wife was so recent.
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” He gave her a hug. “You and Dan have a wonderful honeymoon. I’ll check in with your team from time to time to see if they need anything.”
“Thank you, Chief. That’s very thoughtful of you.”
“I suppose it’s time we dropped all the formality. If you’ll call me Harold, I’ll call you Jess.”
“I can do that.”
He gave her another hug. “I’ll have a word with Dan and then be on my way.”
Jess watched as
At last
...
“I love you, Jess.”
She smiled. “Love you, too.”
“Earlier you said you had something to tell me.”
After the ceremony there hadn’t been a moment of time alone. Though they weren’t alone now, the dance allowed a hint of privacy. “I felt the baby move.”
“You did?” His face lit up. “Did it feel like a butterfly’s wings?”
The books they’d read had described the first movements a mother could feel as a fluttery sensation. “It really did.”
“I can’t wait to feel him move.”
“Her,” Jess reminded her new husband.
Dan laughed. “I guess we’ll know when the time comes.”
They had opted not to be told the baby’s sex. Why spoil the fun? They were planning to decorate the nursery in shades of soft yellow and green with a little blue and pink here and there.
“When I saw you coming toward me, Jess, I couldn’t breathe for a minute. You are so very beautiful. I wouldn’t have thought it possible for you to look even more stunning than you do everyday and somehow you did.”
“I felt the same about you, Mr. Burnett.”
“We’re very lucky.”
Jess nodded. “We surely are.”
The final notes of the song faded and the applause began. Dan leaned down and kissed Jess until she was dizzy.
“Excuse me, son.”
Jess turned to Dan Senior and smiled. “Are you cutting in?”
He gave Jess a nod as Dan stepped aside. “No one can take the place of your father, Jess, but, if you’ll have me as a stand-in, I’d love to share the father-daughter dance with you.”
Battling another wave of tears, Jess hugged him. “I would be honored.”
What a Wonderful World
floated through the air and Jess felt as if she were bursting with happiness. Across the dance floor, Dan danced with his mother. Soon, more couples joined them. Blake and Lil made a lovely couple. Blake Junior twirled Maddie around the floor. His sister Alice carried three-year-old Chester, Chet’s son, around the dance floor.
Jess almost laughed out loud when she saw Buddy with Sylvia cuddled in an intimate embrace. She was reasonably sure Sylvia had indulged in a little extra champagne to allow Buddy Corlew to put his arms around her so tightly. Chet and Lori whispered to each other as they swayed with the music. Chad Cook danced with Gina Coleman and Clint Hayes maintained his wallflower status. Jess was very happy that every member of her team was here, alive and well.
As the official parts of the evening were concluded, Jess lost all track of time. There were so many congratulations and hugs exchanged her head was spinning. Lori was still beaming after having caught Jess’s bouquet.
Ralph Gant, Jess’s former boss at the Bureau, had even traveled all the way from Virginia for the wedding. Jess had spent a few weeks trying to be angry with him, but she’d failed miserably. Gant would always be a sort of father figure in her life. As much as she might deny it, she’d worked with him for two decades and she couldn’t pretend she didn’t care about him.
Deputy Chief Harold Black caught up with her at the bar when she went for another glass of water. No matter that he’d lost his wife last month, he found a way to be here and that meant a great deal to Jess.
“Harris, I have to tell you, with the exception of my wife, I have never seen a more radiant bride.”
Jess smiled. “Thank you, Chief. I’m glad you came.” She wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d wanted to pass on the invitation. The loss of his wife was so recent.
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” He gave her a hug. “You and Dan have a wonderful honeymoon. I’ll check in with your team from time to time to see if they need anything.”
“Thank you, Chief. That’s very thoughtful of you.”
“I suppose it’s time we dropped all the formality. If you’ll call me Harold, I’ll call you Jess.”
“I can do that.”
He gave her another hug. “I’ll have a word with Dan and then be on my way.”
Jess watched as