This Winter Night Read online

  Decker just smiled at her. He knew now that he’d never win her heart. What live man could compete with the memory of a lost love?

  * * *

  Colton’s doctor signed his release papers at ten the next morning. He was told to take it easy for a couple of days but there should be no permanent damage from his head injury.

  Lauren told him they could postpone the wedding until he was fully recovered but he insisted he was fine. He could rest after the wedding.

  She’d stared into his eyes as if she could discern his sincerity. He’d grinned at her. “You’re just going to have to take my word for it.”

  She relented but promised to watch him like a hawk.

  They reluctantly separated after she saw him home from the hospital. She would be at her parents’ house where her mother and her sisters, including Petra, who was flying in from West Africa, would help her get ready for the wedding. The next time they would see each other would be at St. Paul AME Church, the same church where they’d had Frank’s memorial service. Colton’s mother had been pleased with their decision to be married there. She said it would almost feel as if Frank would be there.

  Back at the Gaineses’ house, Lauren sat at her mother’s vanity table while Virginia put the finishing touches on her upswept hairstyle. Since their blowout on Thanksgiving Day the two of them had been less reticent with one another. Clearing the air had been a cathartic experience.

  Virginia smiled at her daughter’s reflection in the mirror. For her afternoon wedding Lauren had chosen not a gown but a cocktail-length dress in cream. It was sleeveless and the hem fell just above her knees. V-necked, it revealed only a glimpse of cleavage, and the waist was fitted. The soft folds of the skirt swirled about her hips and thighs. It was like wearing a confection.

  “You make a beautiful bride, sweetheart,” Virginia said, a lump forming in her throat. “I’m so pleased for you. I know you and Colton will be happy together.”

  Lauren rose and hugged her mother. “Thanks, Momma. That means a lot to me.” Tears fell. Virginia took her handkerchief that she kept in her cleavage and patted them away. “None of that now,” she admonished. “Today is for smiling and laughing, not crying.”

  “Yeah,” Petra cried, coming to hug her mother and sister. “The second time is the charm!”

  Lauren laughed at her petite sister. Of the five of them she was the shortest at only five-three. But Petra was still three inches taller than their mother. She had their mother’s natural hair color, too, a deep brown that almost looked black.

  It was wavy and long like Lauren’s but unlike Lauren she’d never cut hers and it fell to her waist.

  Desiree entered the room issuing orders. “Five minutes before we get into the cars and head to the church, so make sure you have everything ready to go.”

  “I’d better go check on your father,” Virginia announced. “That man can’t tie his tie without me.”

  All five sisters were dressed in cocktail-length dresses. Lauren had not chosen the styles and colors for her sisters, just the length. She’d left the styles and colors up to them because they knew best what they looked good in and she wanted them to feel beautiful on her special day, too.

  They huddled together in their parents’ bedroom. “Shall we pray that the honeymoon will be productive and make us aunts?” Petra asked jokingly.

  “Yes,” Meghan said, “because our older sister isn’t getting any younger and Momma and Daddy want grandkids soon. Plus Grandpa Beck’s been waiting for a male child to be born into this family for years and he’s nearly eighty.”

  “Will you selfish creatures leave my uterus alone?” Lauren chimed in. “If you must pray for something, pray for good weather today. God will send me a child when He sees fit.”

  * * *

  The weather was gorgeous. The December air was crisp and cool. The sun shone brightly and there was a light breeze that ruffled the skirts of the ladies’ dresses and caused the gentlemen who wore hats to hang on to them.

  Three hundred guests filled the pews of St. Paul AME church. Organ music resounded off the walls of the magnificent edifice.

  The general wore his dress uniform as he escorted Lauren down the aisle. He looked very handsome.

  Lauren’s maid of honor was Desiree. Colton’s best man, Decker, could not keep his eyes off her.

  Colton, looking resplendent in his tuxedo, felt light-headed with love when he saw his bride walking down the aisle on her father’s arm. She looked innocent, sexy and sophisticated all at once. When she saw him looking at her, she smiled and mouthed, “I love you.” That made him inordinately happy.

  After the minister pronounced them husband and wife, the kiss lasted nearly a full minute. Then Colton bent and picked up his bride and carried her back down the aisle to an enthusiastic applause. Laughing, Lauren gazed into her new husband’s eyes and said, “Don’t hurt yourself. You just got out of the hospital, remember?”

  Colton grinned, “Be quiet, Mrs. Riley, and enjoy the ride. It’s our wedding day!”

  He carried her all the way down the church’s front steps and to the waiting limousine, with friends and family cheering him on.

  Just as he was about to deposit her onto the back seat of the limo, Lauren cried, “Wait, wait, the bouquet!”

  Colton set her down on the sidewalk and she turned her back to the crowd and tossed the bouquet over her head.

  Her sisters were standing directly behind her but they all stepped aside, purposefully ducking out of the way of the flying bouquet, and Veronica wound up catching it. She laughed and held it up triumphantly, crowing, “There’s some life left in the old girl yet!” which elicited laughter as they stood on the sidewalk waving goodbye to Lauren and Colton.

  In the car, Colton pulled Lauren into his arms and kissed her soundly. When they parted he murmured against her cheek, “Dad must be laughing in heaven right about now.”

  “Why?” Lauren asked softly, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

  “Because he and Mom were right. You and I were meant for each other.”

  * * * * *

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  ISBN: 9781460320075

  THIS WINTER NIGHT

  Copyright © 2013 by Janice Sims

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