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Chapter Thirty-Two

“W e 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.

But God knew.

It was all in His hands.

“I’m not getting married in scrubs.”

Maizie was about to say something else.

Kenna cut her off. “Love you, Maze.”

She rolled her eyes. “I refuse to believe anything is going to happen to you. Let’s just enjoy the day, all right?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” Kenna didn’t like sitting in a wheelchair for this discussion, being at such a disadvantage. But she was going to walk down the aisle of a little country church, so she was saving her energy.

Jax and his father stepped out of the elevator.

Ramon slipped his phone into his pocket. Jax came over, swinging an arm around Maizie’s shoulders. “Ready, kiddo?”

She smiled up at him. “I’m ready, but Kenna is wearing a dirty, torn dress.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ramon said. “It’ll be fine.”

Maizie frowned at him.

“Don’t we need to go?” Ramon came over and grabbed the handles of the wheelchair, pushing her toward the elevator.

Jax walked with Maizie behind them. His father hit the button for the elevator, and they all got in.

Kenna said, “It’s going to be a long drive to the church, right?”

“Need some coffee?” Jax asked.

She smiled.

Before she could say anything, a hand waved in the door to keep it from sliding shut. Amara stepped on. “I’m coming. Is that okay?” She looked around, but her gaze settled on Kenna.

“That would be nice.” She shared a smile with her mom.

Jax’s dad cleared his throat.

Maizie said, “We aren’t driving!”

Kenna glanced at the collection of guilty faces. How many more things had they planned without telling her? “What? How are we getting there? Dog sleds?”

Maizie giggled.

Jax smiled.

She couldn’t see Ramon behind her.

Jax’s dad said, “There’s a helicopter on the roof for us.” He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. As if he was nervous—or felt guilty. “I wouldn’t want the two of you to be late to your wedding.”

“A helicopter?” Her brows rose.

She knew he’d spoken to the feds at length and given statements about the Dominatus . They weren’t shut down, just a small fraction of the organization here locally had been terminated. But he had told the police everything he knew.

Miller had been tasked with the case against the federal judge, something Maizie had been helping him and Langford with. Maizie had told Kenna that she’d seen the two of them look at each other . Evidently, it was significant enough to imply a relationship—and also, evidently, it was something that Jax and Kenna still did.

She’d liked hearing that.

His dad nodded. “A helicopter. If that’s all right with you.”

She held out her hand to him. When he clasped it, she said, “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Kenna. I know what you did for my Adrielle and Elaine. You saved their lives. It’s the least I can do.”

Amara watched the interplay. Kenna looked at Maizie and Jax, standing close and sharing an inside joke. Even Ramon, back on his phone. Amara tried to see what was on his screen, but he moved it away.

At the top floor, they went up a short flight of stairs and across the rooftop to the chopper. The kind with rows of cushy white seats that her dress was going to get dirty. There was even blood on one part of her dress, but it was what it was, and there wasn’t anything she could do.

She sat in the chopper between Jax and Maizie. Maizie wanted to watch out of the window the entire ride. Kenna leaned her head on Jax’s shoulder and looked at the mountains as they went south from Cheyenne back down to Colorado and the small town where Elizabeth’s uncle pastored.

The pilot set the helicopter down on the lawn behind the church.

She watched the back door open, and a crowd of people came out while Kenna took off her headphones. They all piled out of the chopper onto the grass. Her Converse sank into the soft earth.

Jax interlaced his fingers with hers. “Are you as nervous as I am?”

“At least you’ve done this before.”

“Nothing that happens with you is anything like what I’ve done before.”

Kenna laughed. “I guess that’s probably true.”

She leaned against him and looked around, seeing her RV parked in front of the church. The Rysons came down the steps from the church, their toddler running straight for Maizie, who scooped her up and spun her around.

Stairns walked with his arm around Elizabeth.

Amara headed into the church alone while Forrest Crosby and Dixie—and her family—stopped to speak with Ramon. Bruce was still in critical condition, or no doubt he’d be here as well.

Kenna watched them all. “They’re good people.”

“So are you.”

She looked over. “I know.”

Jax motioned to the church with his chin. “You should go see what that is about.”

Ramon stood on the back steps, hands folded across his chest.

“Think he’ll be my bridesmaid?”

Jax laughed. “I think he’ll stand up with you if you ask. He and Maizie were arguing about it earlier.”

She frowned. Jax walked with her to the back door of the church. As they crossed the lawn, he asked, “Feeling okay?”

“I think so. It’s too early to tell anything, but as far as I know at this moment, it’s all clear. Nothing to worry about. Yet.”

Jax gave her a squeeze. “I’ll be there no matter what.”

“I know.” They climbed the steps. “Why do you look mad, Ramon? It’s a happy occasion.”

He lifted one brow. “You owe me.”

“For what?”

“I have to go on a date with…that woman.” He unfolded his arms. “I’ll show you to the room. Akira had another dress that’s the exact size as that and as close as she could get to the same design. She’s waiting for you.”

“You called her?”

“I’m not going to let you get married with mud on your dress,” Ramon said.

“It’s probably blood, actually.”

“Whatever. Come on.”

Jax scratched his jaw, looking like he wanted to laugh. “Guess I’ll see you in there.”

She grabbed his cheeks and kissed him. “I’ll be quick.”

“I have to change as well.”

She lifted her brows.

“See you in ten.”

Kenna went with Ramon. He led her to a small library where Akira had a huge white garment bag. Amara was there, and Dixie.

Kenna hugged her friend. “Thanks for coming.”

Dixie leaned back, still holding on to Kenna. “Girl, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” She stepped by Kenna and held her elbow out for Ramon. “Let’s go find Forrest.”

The look on Ramon’s face upon hearing that name wasn’t lost on her. Ramon and Forrest Crosby? That could be an interesting combination.

Akira spread her arms. “Let’s get you out of that thing.” She didn’t sound happy about the state of it.

Kenna said, “Sorry. It was a rough week.”

Akira laughed, unzipping the dress so Kenna could step out of it.

Amara produced the replacement. Kenna went over to her, hugging herself so she didn’t freeze while wearing next to nothing. “It’s beautiful.”

Her mother nodded. “You’ll be beautiful in it. But it isn’t the dress; it’s you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Kenna stepped into it, and her mom zipped the dress.

Akira came over with white silk gloves in her hands. “Ready for these?”

Kenna held her hand out. “I think I’m going to go without. I don’t need to cover up my scars.”

“Why not?” Amara said. “You don’t need to be reminded of them every time you look at the photos.”

“Maybe I do. They’re a part of me, aren’t they?” Perhaps her mom was ashamed of them somehow, but Kenna wanted this chance to explain how she felt. “They represent what I’ve lost, sure. They remind me of everything I should’ve had. But they also represent the things I have now. Things God gave me because He wanted to pour His grace into my life. I could be living alone in my RV solving cases by myself.

“But I have Maizie, Ramon, Stairns, and Elizabeth. Friends. Family. There are little kids out there who are a part of my life. Good people who could’ve chosen anyone to be friends with, but they chose to stick with me. And what does that say if they’re the best kind of people. Maybe it means I’m something good, something special, like they are.

“Jesus has scars like I do. He sacrificed. He gave everything for me. So why would me having scars mean something bad? To me, they remind me to look at what I have now.” She swiped a tear from her cheek. “I have so much. More than I ever thought possible. And that includes you, Mom.”

“I love you, Kenna.” Amara gave her a hug.

“I missed you.” When her mom leaned back, Kenna said. “I always missed you because you’re my mother. Even if it’s not biological, you’re the one who was going to raise me. I want you in my life. I know you need to be with Zeyla and help her. She has a long road to recover from everything they did to her. But I’d like to see you.”

Her mom said, “That would be nice.”

It seemed her mom was done fighting the company, the Dominatus . But maybe it was more like passing the torch and allowing someone else to take up the cause while she fought a different fight at home for her family.

“Okay, let’s do this.”

Across the room, Akira wiped a tear away. Kenna went into the hall and found the lobby of the church. A lone man in a suit stood there, waiting for her.

“Ryson.” Kenna picked up her pace, lifting the front of the dress.

He frowned. “Converse?”

“No one will see them under my dress.”

“I just did.”

Kenna waved a hand, dismissing his concern. She gave him a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Free vacation and the chance to see you in a dress? I wouldn’t miss it.”

She leaned back. “Are you walking me down the aisle?”

“If you’ll let me.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Ryson grinned, then surveyed her head. “Sure you don’t want to do something with your hair?”

“What’s wrong with my hair?”

He frowned. “Just…fluff it or something.”

She backed up, tipped her head forward, and ran her fingers through it. Okay, fine, it was pretty tangled. She heard a door open, and when she flicked her hair back and straightened, Valentina Ryson, his wife, stepped out of the sanctuary.

She said, “I have a comb and a hair tie.”

Kenna took both, ran the comb through her hair, and secured it in a high bun. Valentina pulled it out.

Kenna was about to object when Valentina said, “You gave me an idea.”

She stood behind Kenna, twisting and turning pieces of hair and gathering them. She secured it into a bun as Kenna had done, but with loose pieces that hung down by her ears. She ran to a water fountain, wet her fingers, ran back, and curled the pieces so they hung in ringlets.

“Take a look.”

Kenna walked to the mirror on the wall and saw her hair had been twisted back and curled into a bun that seemed easy and natural. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat.

Valentina kissed her cheek, swiped the spot with her thumb, and disappeared into the sanctuary.

“Ready?” Ryson held his elbow out.

Kenna blew out a long breath. “I’ll never be more ready.”

“So we might as well get it over with?”

She laughed. “Now or never.”

If she was going to live her life the way she wanted, it meant not giving in to the fear of what the future might hold. That would lead her into a depression or grief. She’d had enough of those to last a lifetime. Things with Jax wouldn’t be perfect by any means. But they would be good if she kept looking for the good every day.

If she gave of herself every day, the way he would give of himself. Both of them working to make their marriage—and their life—a place the other would always want to stay. A place they would call home. Together.

Wherever that would be.

A piano started to play melodic notes. The tune was familiar, but she couldn’t place where she’d heard it. The handful of people in the church stood. At the altar, Jax stood beside the pastor. Her husband-to-be wore a dark suit, white shirt, and no tie.

She lifted the edge of her skirt and showed everyone her Converse.

Laughter erupted around the church, and Jax grinned.

Kenna looked at her friends, her family, and the life she’d always wanted. No matter what happened, they would be together. Through her health journey or theirs. Through ups and downs. Cases. Investigations. Working to take down Dominatus here and across the world.

Whatever came, this family would face it together.

Ryson asked, “Ready?”

Kenna took the first step down the aisle.

Toward the rest of her life.