Page 1 of The Baxters
1
Outside Kari Baxter’s French bedroom window, storm clouds gathered in the early morning sky over Bloomington, Indiana. Dark and tinged in green. Tornado clouds.
The kind that could destroy a person’s life in a matter of seconds.
Kari’s heart pounded and she sat up in bed. Something was happening today… She thought for a moment and then she gasped.
She was gettingmarriedtoday.
That’s what was happening.
Her feet were instantly on the floor, her lungs grabbing at quick sharp breaths. Like she was running a race. Yes, she was getting married! How could she forget? It was Saturday, after all. Kari ran her fingers through her long dark hair and rushed to the window. At five this evening she would become Tim Jacobs’s wife.
How could that not have been the first thing on her mind?
Even before she opened her eyes?
Kari exhaled.Okay. Calm,she told herself.You didn’t miss it. Everything is fine. Her breathing slowed a littleand she waited for that wonderful wedding-day peace and joy to replace her anxiety. Her heart raced and she kept waiting. And she waited some more. Then she dropped to the cushioned window seat at the base of the tall panes of glass.
Nothing.
Her eyes lifted to the stormy sky. Maybe that was it. What bride wouldn’t feel stressed by such terrible darkness overhead? On her wedding day? Like it was some sort of sign.
This was crazy. The weather couldn’t make or break her big moment. Even still, anxiety ran through her veins. Her breathing remained shaky. She closed her eyes and hugged her arms to her chest.God, help me. Please.
Across the room on the back of her door hung her wedding dress. Satin white with cap sleeves and a simple fitted bodice. Cascading tulle and a modest train. She and her mom and sisters had picked it out a week after Tim proposed. The girl at the shop called it a Cinderella dress.
A few times since then Kari had wondered if her decision had been a bit rushed. Impulsive because of the newness of her engagement. But in the last month she had talked herself into really liking the gown. A lot.
Yes, hers was going to be the perfect wedding.
Thunder rolled through the hills beyond Bloomington. The sound vibrated her window and even her soul. She was doing the right thing, marrying Tim. Right? Yes, she was. For sure. Tim was charming and intelligent andhe made her laugh every time they were together. And he shared her faith.
That’s how they met, after all. At a Bible study on campus.
They would share a beautiful life together. She would support his new position as professor of writing and when she accompanied Tim to his many university events and parties, she could see herself hanging on his every word.
Kari could hardly wait!
She drew a steady breath. There. That was better. Her heart wasn’t racing as fast and she wasn’t panting. She leaned her shoulder against the window and watched the wind move through the trees. What if a tornado hit today?
Would that be a sign?
No. Nothing was a sign. She closed her eyes and exhaled. God had led her to Tim Jacobs and today when she married him she would be the happiest girl in the world. She looked at the sky again. Greens and blacks, swirling low.
Enough of this.She stood and walked to her gown. Everything was going to be okay. She ran her fingers down the length of it. Such a pretty dress. Then it hit her. This strange morning of wild emotions wasn’t because of the weather. There was a perfectly good reason. A troubling one.
His name was Ryan Taylor.
Kari walked back to her bed and lay down again. Hermom had invited Ryan’s mother to the wedding, which made sense. The two were neighbors. The Taylors had moved down the street when Kari was twelve. All through the seasons when Ryan had been the love of Kari’s life.
Right up until two years ago.
Since then, their mothers had stayed close. Another perfectly acceptable detail. Because Kari was over Ryan Taylor.
But with his mother coming to the wedding, Ryan had to know about it. Which meant three doors down he was waking up in his childhood home knowing that later today Kari was going to marry someone else. Despite the fact that for most of his life he had thoughthewould marry her. They had both thought so.
And something about that made Kari sad.
