Page 47 of Another June with You

While she dressed, she thought about all the times she’d sat in exam rooms at this office, all the bad news she had received here. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case on this day, but the fear had been very real. Every time she stepped foot in this place, she assumed the worst. During those times when she had wanted answers, when her periods either wouldn’t come or wouldn’t stop, this was the place she came. And this was the place where she’d been given the news that would change her life forever—it was highly unlikely that she would be able to conceive a child.

Chapter 15

Where have you been?” Jamie asked when Shannon finally arrived at the church thirty minutes into rehearsal.

Her camera bag felt heavier than normal on her shoulder, and she was a little queasy from the procedure and from the nerves leading up to the entire appointment. “Something came up. I’ll tell you about it later, okay?”

Jamie shrugged. “All right.” Her eyes suddenly leapt over Shannon’s shoulder, and her grin widened as she maneuvered around Shannon. “Duncan!”

“Hey, you.”

Shannon turned in time to see Duncan open his arms and Jamie settle in.

“This town has been boring without you,” she told him.

He gave her a tight squeeze before letting go. “You missed me, huh?”

She gave him a hopeful smile. “Didn’t you miss me?”

The way he was looking at Jamie made Shannon’s eyebrows lift. She’d seen them flirt plenty of times, but there was a seriousness behind his eyes this time. The vibe between them at the moment was one she’d never witnessed before. They seemed happy to see each other, but uncomfortable at the same time. She cleared her throat, which drew Duncan’s attention.

He handed Shannon a couple cameras. “Do you have all your stuff?”

She nodded and hugged him. “Thank you. For everything.”

“I love you.” He kissed her cheek.

“I love you too.”

Duncan touched Jamie’s arm and gave her a little smile as he walked past her on his way out.

Jamie looked pensive as she watched him go.

“What did I miss?” Shannon asked.

“They’ve gone over the order of the ceremony and are getting ready to walk through it,” Jamie explained as they headed into the main sanctuary.

“I meant between you and my brother.” She could’ve sworn Jamie blushed.

“I don’t know what you mean.” She tucked a hair behind her ear.

Shannon rolled her eyes. Yeah, right.

The members of the bridal party were moving into their places when she and Jamie entered the room. For the hundredth time since Wednesday, her heart took off when she saw Micah. But after their talk last night and after the morning she’d had, her emotions felt like they’d gone haywire. She felt raw and exposed, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

The music began, and Chase walked across the front of the church behind the pastor and took his place as the bridal party began their processional.

Okay, I can do this.

She willed away the tears. A prayer for renewed strength to get through the weekend was in the forefront of her mind, but she wasn’t sure God would hear her after the way she’d given Him the silent treatment all these years. And that made her want to cry even more.

One step at a time, one minute after another, she’d make it through. And then Micah would go back to Virginia with Autumn, and she would try to focus on work and figure out the next step for her business now that the studio wasn’t going to happen.

Autumn? Hmmm. She scanned the room, wondering if Autumn had shown up yet. There were several young women seated in the pews to the right side of the sanctuary—some she recognized from brunch and the bridal shower as wives or girlfriends of the groomsmen. Maybe one of the others was Autumn.

She went about taking pictures, trying not to dwell on it, and except for a false start because of trouble with the music, the rehearsal was a great success. It was going to be a beautiful wedding.

“Excuse me,” a sweet voice with a touch of a Southern accent spoke from behind her shoulder.

---