Page 53 of Until Kendal
Once my hair was combed through, she returned and started pinning as she asked, “So, Kendal, who's going to temper all the talk about love now?”
The old me. My face heated. “I didn’t always do that.”
“Sure.” She giggled. The door opened, and her husband gave her a small package, though she continued to talk to me. “I thought you were long gone when you checked out of the hotel that day.”
I'd considered the Maysons the ideal couple until I met Joel. I relaxed in my chair and said, “Joel took me to New York, and we saw the sights.”
“Yeah? You went up to the Empire State?”
The package seemed small, like jewelry. “Yes though the Statue of Liberty was my favorite.”
“Do you have pictures?” she asked.
Unlike most of my friends, I hated being stuck on my phone, so I never had photos. “No, I wanted to remember the moments forever. If you ever want to go to New York, call me.”
She finished pinning my hair up then moved the chair so she could see my face for the makeup. “Luckily I don’t live far and snuck out when they washed your hair. Now I’ll want these back for Hope but her mother was wearing these the day she died and the police gave me their wedding bands and the simple gold earrings. Would you want to wear them for your wedding with Joel?”
My heart rose right out of my chest, and I wiped my eyes that seemed to cry so easy now. “Just the earrings, I think. That would be amazing.”
I put them on. The simple gold was perfect. Kimberly and her team then helped with my makeup. As we finished, Ellie clapped and said, “I’m just happy you’re our town’s Cinderella.”
I stood to pay as my nose curled. “I’m not…” However, it was possible Joel was more than a prince and my life was like a fairy tale today. My skin buzzed. “Well, I sort of am.”
Refusing to take my money, she pointed me to the door. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said and headed out.
For the first time in my life, I felt purpose and walked with a stride. I was so different now.
At the cafe, I waved for the man I loved to join me. “Joel, I’m ready.”
“Me too.” He jumped out of his seat.
A moment later, his lips met mine, and nothing else mattered. Love overcame everything else.
ChapterForty-Seven
Kendal
There was no real line for seeing a clerk of the court, and we had a choice of the window or the wedding room. Joel sprung for the wedding room and bought me a bouquet of simple sunflowers outside the door.
Life was good, but after we signed for our marriage license, I said, “We can wait if you want your family and a bigger celebration.”
He kissed my hand. “No. I just want you. It’s why I bought some rings as I waited.”
I squeezed his hand as I’d wondered what he’d done when I was gone. “I was longer than I thought.”
We were buzzed into the wedding room, so we walked in. The courthouse facility had no windows, but it had a wedding arch and some fake flowers. We both went to stand near it, though no clerk of the court was there yet.
He stared at me. “The earrings look familiar.”
I showed him. “Ellie lent them to me. They were your sister's.”
He backed up and pressed his hand to his heart. “Bonnie said they were Mom’s. She wore them every day.”
“Then I’m glad I wore them.”
The clerk came in and showed Joel and me a few packages. He picked the most expensive option. A second clerk came in to take pictures.
