Page 123 of Every Which Way

“You planned our wedding?”

“It was supposed to be on Saturday. Since you got the dress and all, I figured everyone shows up at the church, and we just do it.” He hesitated. “It was a good plan, but the week got away from us.”

“I’ll say.” She tipped her head to the side. “When were you going to tell me I’m getting married…whatever day is Saturday?”

“Actually, it’s today.”

“Sorry, I was busy nearly marrying someone else.”

He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers. “There’s nothing to apologize for. You saved lives this week, and you stopped some very bad people. There are corrupt cops, feds, and government officials who aren’t operating now because what you did exposed them.”

Kenna said, “You really planned the whole thing?”

He made a face, looking unhappy. Because the plan didn’t work. “Forrest Crosby flew in from Wisconsin. She’s with Maizie in the cafeteria. Ramon took one look at her and nearly tripped over his feet. Your friend Dixie is in Denver with her husband and their son. The Rysons are at a vacation rental in Aspen that I booked for them.”

Kenna swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”

“You’re not mad?”

“That you thought of everything, and you were going to make it as easy as possible for me? No, I’m not mad.”

Jax let go of some of his tension. “I wondered a few times if it was going to backfire on me.”

He’d had everyone she cared about come to Colorado so they could get married in a simple service with as little fuss as possible. Giving everything so she could have what she needed, as well as what she wanted.

Kenna said, “I love you, you know.”

Jax smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“I still have a dress. But it’s dirty.” The reality of her situation settled on her like a shadow over her heart. “I could be pregnant with someone else’s baby, or a hundred other terrible scenarios. It isn’t exactly the start either of us had planned. You probably don’t want?—”

He touched her cheeks. “I want you.”

More tears trailed down her cheeks. He swiped them away with his thumbs. “It could get worse before there’s any better.”

“We never know what might happen. We have to leave the future in God’s hands.”

Kenna said, “Maybe you could help me figure out how to do that.”

“I’d love to.”

He slid his arms around her and kissed her, lingering in a place where she could be swept away in the promise of what was to come. The reassurance of his strength wrapped around her. She’d found home in the person God had brought to her when she needed him most. The future He had prepared for her.

One with Jax by her side.

No matter what happened.

ChapterThirty-Two

“We should get you another dress.” Maizie stood in front of Kenna, her hands on her hips, in the hallway of the hospital. Nurses sat behind their desk. A TV played some daytime comedy show, and the audience’s laughter drifted down the hall to them.

Talk about spur of the moment. “Everything is set to go. Why waste time getting another dress? This one still has some life in it.”

She looked at Ramon for support, but all his attention was on his phone. Everyone had pitched in helping out, getting things ready, and he’d been tapping away on that thing doing something.

Kenna wasn’t so sure about herself and whether she had much life left in her. But that was defeat talking. There was a whole heap of worry in her heart and mind over what was going to happen next. She and Jax had prayed together about it. She’d prayed while she showered, and he went to do…something, and then she put the dress back on. Trying to find peace and let things go that she couldn’t control. It was time to live the life she had while she had it and let God take care of tomorrow.

The doctor had taken vials and vials of blood and run all kinds of tests looking for antibodies, bacteria, viruses, indications she might be pregnant. They’d done an ultrasound and hadn’t seen anything—it was far too early anyway. She would have to wait at least a week for another blood test to determine if she was pregnant and longer than that for a more definitive answer.

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