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Chapter 9

Jimmy – Wives > Sisters

It was only 10:20,and I paced the path in front of the pagoda like a madman. If I had anything but a short haircut, my hair would be standing on end from rubbing my hands over it. I was sure a concerned parkgoer would call in and request someone come eject me if I weren’t dressed like a man facing matrimony instead of a man facing his inner demons. I’d suited up for my wedding with Melena despite the short notice. I’d managed to pick up a fresh dress shirt but had to make do with the one suit I used when I had to testify for the department on arson cases in court.

I spent most of my morning creating a boutonniere for my suit and a bouquet for Melena. I’d scoured Pinterest for ideas and been sure to ask what color her dress was. My flower options in October were limited, but I did the best with the lavender options my local grocery and craft store had to offer. I was proud of my efforts. I hoped it wasn’t weird that I’d taken on that aspect of our wedding planning. She didn’t seem to mind when I asked if I could provide her bouquet. But she hadn’t seen the results yet.

I glanced down at the flowers in my hand. Jasmine was the scent I most associated with Melena. Unfortunately, jasmine was out of season. I wanted something equally fragrant and delicate and had settled on a white lily. A range of ferns and other greenery to make the lilies pop, and I created a smaller version for the boutonnieres. As an afterthought, I also put together a small bouquet for Lisa. I hadn’t met the other woman yet, and flowers couldn’t hurt my chances of making a positive first impression.

Chase pulled up after I’d successfully scared away a few gray-haired women speed walking with my deranged pacing and muttering about flowers.

“Jimmy, ready for your big day?” he asked.

I smiled at Tamra as she exited their car. “Ready as I’ll ever be. I’m glad you could both make it.”

“We wouldn’t miss your wedding, Jimmy,” she reassured. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you to find someone special. I’m looking forward to meeting Melena.”

My smile got bigger. “I’m sure she’s looking forward to it too.” Or she would be. If she knew Tamra existed. I wasn’t sure I’d mentioned Chase’s girlfriend to her. Oops. There were still a lot of gaps in our knowledge of each other. I handed Chase’s boutonniere to Tamra and she helped him fix it to his jacket. I’d pricked myself ten times but managed to successfully pin my own on in the mirror at home that morning.

We’d lucked out with the weather. The sun shone on the water and gleamed off the dew in the Point Defiance gardens. The rose gardens were spent for the year, but the flare of reds and golds from the maples in the Japanese garden and the rolling green lawns leading down toward the water still made a magnificent setting for our wedding. It was chilly, but it could have been worse. Since our wedding was on such short notice, I hadn’t had time to rent the pagoda building. We were making do with the public access gardens. The pagoda was a beautiful red brick historic building, but large for our needs. The graceful arches and dips of the green tile roof at least provided a nice background for our ceremony.

My stomach dropped like I was lifting off in an airplane as a familiar car rounded into the parking lot. Andi was here. I wasn’t sure she’d come. In a perfect world, Gran and our parents would be here too. Our earlier conversation explaining my impending marriage had gone...not great. I was hoping she’d at least be civil to Melena. But it was Andi. All bets were off.

She stepped from her car wearing a black dress. Uh oh. According to our mother, black was restricted to funerals, never weddings. Andi wearing black was a message. I sighed. I loved my sister, but some days it was easier to love her than others. At least she’d shown up, so that was a win, mourning attire aside. I smiled and hugged her as soon as she drew close enough.

“Hi Andi. Thanks for coming today, sis.”

She pushed me away and didn’t smile in return. Even her curls seemed subdued. Maybe she was missing Gran too. It used to be the three of us against the world. “You know I wouldn’t let you do this without me. Plus, I want to meet the woman who got you to the altar in record time.”

“You’ll like her, you’ll see.”

Her expression didn’t change. Great. Open-minded, my sister was not. There were certain topics I’d learned to avoid with her, but I didn’t want my wife to become one. She hated that I was a firefighter.Hated. It.But she loved me. Therefore, to keep the peace, we didn’t talk about my job. I knew it came from a place of love and fear, and I imagined her reaction to my wedding was the same. She wanted the best for me. Andi didn’t want to see me hurt. She’d be watching Melena like a hawk, because my sister was always harping on me to be careful. We’d gone through high school together under the loving eye of our grandmother while our parents were deployed. She’d been my rock through the dark days of our grandmother’s illness and eventual death. We looked out for each other. I needed to remember she ultimately had my best interests at heart—even if her concern was misplaced—if she went off the rails with Melena.

I didn’t recognize the next SUV that pulled up and parked. An Asian woman behind the wheel got out with a wave in a long blue dress. Brown hair framed her face and fell to the nape of her neck. My gaze drifted to the passenger seat, and my shoulders relaxed as Melena stepped out. She’d come. Until that moment, I hadn’t realized how worried I was she’d bail. She didn’t have to do this.Wedidn’t have to do this. I tried to tell myself it would be a relief if she no-showed, but I was lying. The possibility of a home, of a future with her, was alluring.

My steps ate up the distance between us. I looked her over from head to toe, before returning my gaze to hers. “You look beautiful,” I said.