Page 194 of Wicked Fantasies

That feeling of fear and uncertainty disappeared the moment you appeared at the end of the aisle in the pretty white dress your mother made for you. You were standing on your father’s arm and you looked so peaceful, so serene. All my nerves left me and I was overcome by a feeling of rightness. I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Finally, I remember our first dance. We’d selected Billy Joel’s “You’re My Home” as our song and I think the lyrics describe our life together perfectly. I’ve always been a shitty dancer—I’m sure prom proved that to you—and of all the things I worried about in regards to that day, dancing in front of all our friends and family was the thing I dreaded the most. I felt self-conscious and ridiculous walking out in front of everyone. When the deejay started playing our song, you walked toward me and smiled. You knew I was uncomfortable. You stood on tiptoe and kissed me. Just a quick, soft kiss and you whispered, “Just you and me.”

And with those few words, you made the rest of the world disappear. Since that moment, it’s always been just you and me. And, Faith, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Love you,

Troy

Chapter Seven

Troy pulled into the parking lot of the fire hall where they’d celebrated their wedding reception and turned off the truck.

“Here we are. Next stop.”

Faith closed the photo album and bent forward, kissing him softly. “Troy.” Her voice broke as she said his name, the emotions of the weekend catching up to her as she looked into the eyes of the love of her life, tears welling on her lashes.

“Shh.” He placed a finger against her lips. “One last surprise.”

Her light chuckle quickly turned into a happy sob and he tipped her face up with a finger under her chin. “Faith,” he whispered, concern written on his face.

“I’m okay. Just a blubbering mess. I must look like hell. So much for my makeup.”

He rubbed his nose against hers. “You look beautiful. Bit soggy, but beautiful.”

She laughed at his joke.

“Come on,” he said. “We may as well get this over with and let the waterworks really commence.”

She was confused by his comment, but he didn’t give her a chance to question him as he helped her out of the truck and led her into the large banquet hall.

As they walked in, she was assaulted by loud yells of “Surprise!”

She blinked several times, her mind struggling to process everything she was seeing all at once. Unfortunately, her thoughts never made it beyond the fact that her two kids were standing at the front of the crowd dressed in their Sunday finest and smiling broadly.

“Jackson? Jenna?” She took two steps toward them. “Why aren’t you two at school?”

Laughter rocked the room at her question and she heard her cousin, Rodney, yell out, “Uh oh. You kids are in trouble now.”

“Mom.” Jenna rolled her eyes as she spoke. “We’re here to surprise you. Happy anniversary.” Her daughter rushed forward, embracing her, and Faith suddenly understood Troy’s comment about the waterworks.

Tears streamed down her face as Jackson hugged her next. “Happy anniversary, Mom. You and Dad sure do make marriage look easy. I figure the next twenty-five should be a breeze considering you won’t have me and Jenna to deal with anymore. Jenna especially, since I was such a model child.”

She laughed at her son’s comment. As soon as Jackson released her, she found herself receiving hugs and well wishes from her mother, her father-in-law, her aunts, uncles and cousins. As more and more people offered their congratulations, she began to wonder if Troy had invited the entire town.

Throughout it all, Faith laughed and cried and wondered if she’d ever received a more beautiful gift than this weekend. Finally, the crowd dispersed as everyone sat down at the tables surrounding the dance floor and for the first time, Faith could really see the room. It looked exactly as it had the day of her wedding reception. Her mother was standing beside her, beaming.

“How’s your sciatica?”

Deborah gave her a guilty grin. “Needed to find a way for you to open the front door.”

“You had a big hand in all of this, didn’t you, Mom?”

Deborah shrugged and shook her head. “The whole thing was Troy’s idea, but I won’t say I wasn’t pleased to be included in the execution of a few things.”

“I couldn’t have done any of it without her,” Troy said, stepping up to them, placing a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “She’s a peach.”

Her mom swatted Troy on the arm with a pleased look.

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