Page 1 of Something Stronger
Chapter 1
11 years ago…
Louisiana
“You look beautiful.” Mama smiled as she wiped at her eyes.
“You don’t think it’s too much?” I look down at all the frothy lace and tulle surrounding my feet. I’d wanted simple, but Mama wasn’t having it.
“I think it’s just right.” A watery smile spread across her face. “He’s not going to be able to take his eyes off of you.”
I turned and admired the row of small buttons down the back. Charlie and I had waited four years to get married. We met in high school, and he finally asked me out at the beginning of our senior year. When we graduated, he went away to business school. We made it work, and now that he’s found a job, we can finally get married.
“I wish Codie could have come home for this.” I frowned thinking about my sister in the big city. When she moved away, I thought for sure she’d come back to visit, but she hasn’t. We were the closest out of us sisters, and I feel like part of me is missing without her here.
“She’s coming home for the wedding.” Mama reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“That’s ‘cuz it’s gonna be in Myers, and not at the farm. You know she wouldn’t risk running into Hank.” I turned back and looked at my reflection one last time.
“It’s been two years. I think she’s moved on. You know she met that new guy, Alex. She’s bringing him to the wedding.” Mama fluffed a veil and placed it on the back of my head. “What’d ya think?”
“I think this is it.” I clapped happily. I watched the sales clerk sigh in what looked like relief that I was finally saying yes to one. Mama and I had been here three times in the last month, and I just couldn’t decide.
After I was measured and the dress was ordered, we stepped outside into the sunshine and made our way down the block to a sandwich shop. “I’m starving. I haven’t eaten all day.” My stomach growled, agreeing with me. Mama just laughed.
“You have to eat. Charlie loves you. He wouldn’t be marrying you if he didn’t, so eat and enjoy life. Besides—" she laughed “—you are tiny. Any tinier and you’d disappear.”
“I just wanted the dresses to look nice.” I shrugged. We went inside and walked up to the counter to order. I chose a turkey wrap, and Mama got ham. When our sandwiches were ready, we went back outside and sat at one of the bistro tables along the sidewalk. It was such a nice spring day, and we wanted to enjoy as much of it as we could before the heat of summer settled in.
“So, tell me about this job Charlie got.” Mama sipped her sweet tea, and I couldn’t help the smile that formed. I was so happy for Charlie. He’d been looking for a good job for years. When he graduated college, he bounced around to a lot of places, but he wasn’t happy. He didn’t feel as if he was valued and wanted more for himself before settling down to take care of a wife and hopefully kids in the future.
“He’s working in sales for a company called New Visions. They supply engine parts to the Big Three in automotive. He likes it, but he’s busy all the time. I wish it was closer to home, but Myers can be my new home now.” I finished my wrap and wiped my mouth. “He says that once we start a family, he wants me to stay home with the kids.” I frowned a little.
“What’s wrong?” Mama looked concerned.
“I don’t know if I want that. I worked really hard for my marketing degree. I wanna use it.” I stared off into the distance. I had dreams of starting my own marketing firm and creating these grand advertisements and PR for local businesses. I’m currently working at a furniture store with their PR specialist.
“Make sure that you guys talk about that before you start a family. I mean, I loved staying home with you girls. It was hard work that was paid in hugs and memories, and I wouldn’t change anything about it, but you have to want to do that. You can be a good mom and work too. Lots of moms work, and there’s nothing wrong with that either. It’s what works for you and your family that matters.”
“Charlie and I definitely need to sit down and talk. I think right now we’re just thinking about getting married and everything that has to happen over the next several months. Oh, did I tell you we put in an offer on that house we liked? We’re still waiting to hear back about whether we got it.”
“That’s great. If you don’t get it, don’t worry. It means it wasn’t right for you. You can always rent something here in town and then build what you want if you find land.” Mama patted my hand. “I have to get home. Ginny will be home from school soon, and I have to start supper.”
“Tell Ginny I miss her.” I stood and gathered our trash. After tossing it in the trash can, I followed Mama back to the parking lot by the dress shop. We said our goodbyes, and I promised to come out for supper soon before hugging. We each climbed into our cars, and she headed back to Sunny Brook while I headed to my apartment a few blocks over.
Ooooooooo
Charlie and I were already engaged when I graduated, so I decided to rent a small studio apartment just until we got married. I guess it was kinda dumb. Charlie stays over all the time. He wanted me to just move in with him, but I wanted myown space, and I want our first place together to be special. It’s nice though because when I’m working on a project for work, I can have the place to myself with no distractions.
My apartment is on the top level of this of house that was converted. There are two apartments on the top and two on the bottom. I pulled up and parked under the giant oak tree in the driveway. When I climbed out, a breeze blew, whipping my hair across my face. It was then that I heard the gravel crunching behind me. I turned around to see Charlie pulling up in his pickup. He was grinning from ear to ear when he flung the door open and jumped out. “Guess what!” he exclaimed as he rushed over and stopped in front of me. “We got the house!” He wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the ground, spinning in a circle at the same time. He set me down and placed a kiss to my lips. “Aren’t you excited? We close at the end of the month, then we can move in.”
“Yeah.” I grinned. My smile faltered a little, but I tried to hide it.
“What’s wrong?” He stepped back, releasing me in the process.
“Nothing. Just a lot going on right now. I’m happy…really.”
“Good.” He nodded. “It works out well because we have just enough time to move in before the wedding.” He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I can’t wait to fill it with babies and so much laughter.”
