“You’re scaring me,” she said, searching my eyes.
“He’s got ADHD.”
“Okay,” she said, looking for more than that.
“See, that...that right there is what I thought, too.”
“Are we speaking Japanese here? What am I missing?” She tucked a piece of dark red hair behind my ear and looked at me. “Those beautiful blue eyes your father gave you deserve to be passed down, kid. What’s the issue?”
“With ADHD, it’s hard to maintain a normal relationship. There are things that he does that make it hard.”
“Yes, I know what it is. He has a hard time keeping focus.”
“It’s much more than that,” I said, afraid my own words may be the reason I scared my mother.
“Like what?”
“Temper, sudden uncontrollable outbursts, anxiety...There is a lot he has to deal with going on inside him.”
She gave me a wary eye. “Abuse?”
“Never,” I said quickly. “His comments can be hurtful, but it’s not abuse. But bringing a child into the mix will have to wait until we are really solid.”
“Baby, are you sure about this? I mean, I love Jayden. He seems like a great guy, but is it worth the rest of your life?”
“Absolutely. He’s it, Mom. Just don’t harp on us for grandkids. We need time to adjust.”
“Okay, baby, if you’re sure. But if I hear any different, I’ll be sticking my nose in.”
“His outbursts are few and far between. As for the rest, I’m so used to it, it doesn’t bother me. I love being with him. He’s so damn smart, Mom. And, God, the way he treats me. I can’t get enough. I won’t ever get enough.” She beamed at me and I hugged her tight. “I see everything when I look at him. He’s definitely my planet.”
“That look on your face is the same one your father had the day you were born,” she said tearfully. “I knew he was taken with Alexis. She was the first. But one look at you and he just seemed to sink.” I looked up at my mother, who had tears in her eyes. “I think you were his favorite from the minute you came into this world. That man loved you something fierce. As a parent, you aren’t supposed to be partial, but he always seemed to smile a little bit bigger with you around.” Tears came heavy as I embraced my mother who hugged me back. “So if that man treats you well enough and you love him that much, you have our blessing.”
I nodded as my mother cried in my arms. “I miss him so much.” I held her tightly as I whispered, “I’m so proud of you, Mom.”
That was the first time she had spoken to me about my father since he died and it was only for her to tell me how much he loved me. And that was the way of my parents. They were all about those they loved. And that’s who I was raised to be for Jayden. And I would love him as I was taught.
Opening my eyes from a much-needed sleep, I looked into those of my love. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” I croaked as Jayden brought his hand up to move my hair out of my face. “What time is it?”
“It’s time for us to get married,” he said quickly, leaning in for a kiss.
“Can I brush my teeth first?”
His caressing hand trailed down my negligee to my side to pull me closer to him. “I guess so. It kind of cuts the spontaneity out of the whole deal, but dragon breath may ruin the nuptials.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” I said, kissing his temple.
“I want so much to bury myself inside you right now,” he rasped, pulling my camisole up to stroke my stomach. “God, I’m so hard just thinking about you having my last name.” He moved down my body, soaking it up with his lips before pulling away and clapping his hands together, breaking me out of my stupor.
“Away, wench. Dress in thy wedding robes and meet me at the altar.”
I clamored to sit up on the bed as he pulled his bag over his shoulder and walked toward the bedroom door. “Two hours,” he said wistfully as I sat at the edge of the bed, the rest of the sleepiness draining away from me.
“I love you.” I smiled as he walked over to me.
“I left you something on the table. You kind of have to bring it with you.” One more kiss from him and he disappeared out the door.
I sat at the edge of the bed as realization hit me. I was about to become a wife—Jayden’s wife. I clapped excitedly as I made my way to my closet. Jayden and I had an appointment with the justice of the peace, and though our marriage was anything but traditional, I did get a dress fit for a bride. It wasn’t full on bride gear, but it was a beautiful, white silk gown with beaded trimming on the bodice that flowed to just below my knees. I wore the silver pumps my sister bought me months ago, knowing then those were the shoes I would be wearing on my wedding day.
An hour later, Gerri greeted me at my door, bursting with excitement. She and Drew would be the only witnesses to our small ceremony. My sisters still weren’t speaking to me because of it.
“Oh shit, you look so beautiful,” Gerri said, taking in my dress and pinned hair.
I gave her a quick spin. “A fast food bride, but a bride nonetheless.”
Gerri’s face fell. “You want this, right, Hilary? A small wedding?”
“I want to be Jayden’s wife. I couldn’t care less how it happens. We could have done it at a heavy metal concert while they sacrificed virgin chickens. I want the marriage, not the wedding.”
Gerri perked up. “As long as you are happy with it.” She eyed me over her shoulder. I looked over to see a small bouquet of white roses and lavender and envelope that said Bride. I looked up to Gerri with a smile.
Walking over, I picked up the bouquet and inhaled deeply. Opening the letter, I cursed my stupidity for not grabbing it sooner as my eyes watered, threatening to ruin my makeup.
I looked at Gerri who had started crying as she watched me cry then pulled his wedding band out of the envelope.
“Oh, God, please get me to him.” I headed toward the door as Gerri took out her compact, bringing it up to my face.
“Oh, shit.” I shrieked and ran to the bathroom as Gerri raced behind me.
After a whirlwind wedding that literally lasted three minutes, we made our way to Hilton Head island off the coast of South Carolina. It was a quieter setting for a honeymoon than the party filled Myrtle Beach, or the tourist filled Charleston. Jayden and I went for laid back. Upon our arrival, Jayden insisted we hit a tattoo parlor. So hours after our wedding, I sat watching an artist trace ink on my new husband’s arm.
“Why your last name?”
He gave me a long look and then looked at the inked letters on his forearm as he traced it with his finger and smiled.
“This name meant nothing to me until this morning. It belonged to the bastard who left my mother without a dime and completely on her own to raise me. Now because it’s yours too, it means everything. It’s changed everything.”
His words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. I looked up to see his breathtaking smile. “Oh, God, that’s the best line yet. Promise you’ll always give them to me. Promise me just because you bought the cow you will still work for the milk.”
He chuckled and so did the tattoo artist. “Always, baby.”
“And that you won’t stop lighting candles.”
“That’s more for me than for you, but I promise.”
“And that you won’t stop doing that thing with your tongue.” The artist, who had introduced himself as Phil, stopped and eyed us both with a shit-eating grin. Jayden raised his eyebrow and then chuckled again. “Your verbal vomit is cute, baby, but let’s keep our bedroom tricks to ourselves.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, embarrassed as I grabbed a magazine. I felt the blush creep up my cheeks and sank into the leather couch. I don’t know what came over me. Certainly Phil had his own tongue trick. But if my mother knew I was speaking freely about fellatio at a tattoo parlor, she would have a stroke.