Song of the Surf (Pacific Shores Book 3) (13 page)

Justus entered his room and fell back on the bed, clasping his hands behind his head. He’d seen the questions in her eyes. And he’d wanted to tell her. But she needed to be ready to hear. He didn’t want his story to sound like a plea for her sympathy. And that thought alone had kept the words dammed up inside him.

When she was ready she would ask. Cold terror, mixed with anticipation, washed through him at that prospect. Really what did he have to lose? His time-served hung between them already. He knew what he’d been, and it wasn’t pretty. Not even close. He also knew that when she learned the truth about what had put him in jail, she would see him a little differently. That might be good. That thought had tempted him to blurt the whole story tonight. But he didn’t want her thinking he was telling her only to get her commiseration. No pity-dates for him, thank you very much.

He sat up slowly and pulled off his shoes, then headed into the bathroom to brush his teeth. As he brushed, he stared at himself in the mirror. He looked pathetic and miserable. He grunted and propped both hands against the sink with his head bowed and the water still running.

God, help me to put this in Your hands. And help me to know where You want me to go from here. And if there’s to be an “us”, then help me to trust You to work that out too
.
I could also use some direction on what to do about D.R. I’d like to put my head down and just walk away. Do something easier. But I keep feeling a check every time I think that’s what I’ve decided to do.

He scooped water into his mouth and swished.

Not to mention, when Dakota did see things a little differently after he told her about his past, what then? If he went back to eastern Oregon to run Deschutes Rejuvenation again, would she be willing to come with him? Would he even want to take a woman into that kind of ministry with him? No. No way.

He spat into the sink and blew out a frustrated breath as he slapped off the water and the light.
God, I’m a mess down here.

Chapter 10

Dakota woke up the morning of the wedding with a splitting headache and a mouth so dry her tongue felt stiff. Dread pressed in. Not today of all days! She eased her eyes open and tested the sunlight streaming through her window. Burning pin pricks bombarded so painfully that she snapped them shut again.

The doctors had said the malaria might come back in six months to a year. And the doctor at the hospital last week had warned that exhaustion could bring it back on. But she’d been feeling fine yesterday other than the slight headache that had plagued her at the end of the rehearsal dinner and into the evening. She hadn’t expected it to come back now, not on such an important day, for sure. At least it didn’t seem to have come back in full force. Yet.

She groaned and pushed her hands into the mattress, forcing herself to shuffle to her bathroom.

A chill shook her, and she heard her breath stuttering through her lips. Goose bumps popped up all over her arms. Okay, maybe it was a little worse than she first thought.

She fumbled one hand through the medicine cabinet, forcing her eyes to open to slits. Tylenol and Advil would have to get her through the wedding. Because she wouldn’t let Marie down for anything. But she’d put a call in to Doctor Dallas, the local tropical disease specialist, and maybe she could get in to see him tomorrow.

She poured two white pills into her palm and downed them with a chaser of water. Then she crawled back onto her bed and pulled the covers up to her ears. Fifteen minutes. She would hopefully feel a little better in fifteen minutes. After that she’d have to get up and dress or be late for the wedding...

Seemingly only a moment later, knocking on the door jolted her upright. Something had her skull in a vice grip, and she gasped at the force of it. But her eyes felt a little better.

“Dakota, you ready in there? It’s time to go.” Justus’s voice sounded a little worried and still a little dejected.

Her eyes dropped closed as their conversation from the night before invaded.

Then they popped open again! Time to go? A frown puckered her brow. She scooped a hand back through her hair and glanced at her phone on the night stand. Ten fifteen, and five missed calls from Marie and two from Taysia. Alarm shot through her and she leapt off the bed. They were supposed to be at the church in twenty minutes! As fast as her still-tender ankle would allow, she hustled to the door and opened it a crack, peering around it.

Justus’s eyes widened as he took in her T-shirt and shorts and what she felt sure was a hairdo to outshine all hairdos.

“I think my malaria is back. But I feel better now. Give me fifteen minutes?”

“Malaria?” He placed a palm on the door to keep her from shutting it. “You should be in bed resting. Marie will understand.”

“No! I don’t want to let her down. And I don’t want to miss it.” She gave him an apologetic wince. “I meant to get up earlier. Just think, you’ll get to show me what that speedy little red car of yours can actually do. Give me fifteen minutes? I’ll be fine.” She firmly shut the door in his face and rushed to the bathroom.

Advil. She would take some now as a layer on top of the Tylenol she’d taken earlier.

God, please just get me through this day and help it to be wonderful for Marie and Reece.

Justus paced in the dining room, concern for Dakota tightening his chest. But, true to her word, she appeared at the bottom of the stairs fifteen minutes later.

“You sure you’re going to be okay?” Justus studied her carefully.

Her face was a little peaked and there were slight bags under her red eyes, but other than that she looked beautiful. So good, in fact, his concern was momentarily forgotten and he swallowed hard.

Dakota’s navy blue bridesmaid dress was a sleek sheath of velvet with a flare around the ankles. Sapphire blue gems studded one shoulder and swept down to Dakota’s waist.

“I’ll be fine. Just get us to the church.” She hurried towards him.

He stopped her. “You’ll need a coat?”

“Oh.” She put one hand to her forehead. “I forgot. I’ll just run up and—”

“No. Don’t. Here.” He swept off his own leather jacket and settled it around her shoulders. Taking up his suit coat which hung over the back of one of the dining room chairs, he slipped it on. “This will work just fine for me. Let’s go.”

He took the roads as quickly as he could without getting a ticket, and tried not to worry too much as Dakota called to make an appointment with a tropical diseases doctor.

“This afternoon? Oh no, I can’t come in today—”

He settled one hand against her knee. “Yes. Yes, you can. I’ll take you.”

“Oh, well, actually, yes I’ll take it. Four thirty. Yes. I’ll be there. Thank you.” She hung up and tilted her head back against the headrest. Her eyes dropped closed and she didn’t even seem to have the energy to look at him when she said, “You’ve already done so much for me, I hate to ask you to do more. I’m cleared to drive now. But I’ll just need you to give me a ride back to the house to get my car.”

“You may be cleared to drive, but I’m not letting you drive yourself anywhere in your condition. I don’t mind taking you at all.”

“It might take a while. Sometimes it takes a long time to get the blood work back from the lab.”

“It will be fine.” He grinned at her, intent on lightening her mood. “Maybe when you see what a helpful guy I can be you’ll agree to that first date.”

Her lips thinned into what could have been taken for a smile if it wasn't so weary around the edges. “If my picture is by ‘pigheaded’ in the dictionary, yours must be next to persistent.”

He chuckled. “Maybe it is, at that.” He pulled up to a spot directly in front of the church’s double doors. “You get out here, and I'll meet you inside.”

She gave him an appreciative smile. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“If I was any kind of lifesaver you'd be home sound asleep in your bed.”

She pulled herself from the car and cocked one eyebrow at him. “That would be nice, but Marie is worth it.”

He nodded. “Reece is too. Without him and Jalen I don't know if Deschutes Rejuvenation would have even gotten off the ground. If you wait for me inside, I’ll walk you down.”

Dakota leaned one shoulder into the foyer wall, relieved to note that her layering of acetaminophen and ibuprofen seemed to be working. She was bone weary, but she would make it through.

Justus entered only a moment later and Dakota hurried with him to the room where the bridesmaids were to wait. “See you in a few.” He squeezed her elbow and headed across the hall to the groomsmen’s room.

“Oh, you’re here!” When Marie saw her walk in, she looked like a frazzled mother of toddling triplets whose husband had just arrived home from work.

Dakota apologized profusely and explained what had happened.

“I’m so sorry.” Marie pulled her into a quick hug. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? You don’t have to do this.”

Dakota nodded. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Really.” She glanced around. “Where’s Riley?”

“She’s downstairs helping Darlene put the finishing touches on the reception hall.”

Dakota eyed Marie. “How are you doing? Did you eat something?”

Marie nodded. “Darlene made me coffee, eggs and toast before I ever left the house. And she brought me apple slices and cheese a little bit ago.”

Dakota slipped off the comforting cocoon of Justus’s jacket and accepted the bouquet Taysia thrust into her hands with a smile. “Thanks for filling in for me.” A wave of chills gripped her at the loss of warmth, and goose bumps speckled her arms.

Taysia gave her arm a squeeze. “No problem. Sorry you aren’t feeling well.”

Marie stepped forward and took both of their hands. “Would you two mind if we prayed?”

Dakota immediately felt a touch of relief in her spirit. Prayer might be the only thing that would get her through this ceremony. “I’d love that.”

A knock sounded on the door and the pastor’s wife poked her head in. “It’s time, ladies! The photographer is waiting for you all in the sanctuary.”

Marie’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded then spun back to them. “Okay,
quick
prayer. Taysia, maybe you could lead us?” The sparkle turned to a sheen of moisture.

Taysia gave her a side hug. “Of course. I’d love to.” And she launched in. She prayed for Marie to have peace, for her and Reece’s relationship to be built on the solid foundation of God’s Word. She prayed for Riley – that their love for her and for Jesus would lead her to a relationship with Him. And she concluded with a quick prayer for Dakota to feel better and make it through the ceremony.

The photographer obviously knew what she was doing and made the photo session seem like a breeze. And then it was time, and Dakota and Justus were walking down the aisle arm in arm.

Dakota had always loved December weddings. And even though she’d seen it all yesterday, she took it in again with new appreciation. Two large trees stood on each side of the podium. White lights and deep burgundy poinsettias added a comforting splash of color to the room. The aisle was also lined with lights and poinsettia bushes, and the two large bouquets on either side of center were built with red-throated lilies, white roses, and deep green ferns. But the best sight of all was seeing Reece, standing at the head of the aisle, fidgeting like a little boy on Christmas morning. His attention was fixed on the doors behind them, anticipation sparkling in his green eyes as he craned to see around them to the main doors where Marie would appear at any moment.

Justus leaned toward her as they neared the end of the aisle. “You sure you’re going to be okay?”

She kept her smile in place and nodded imperceptibly. “I’ll be fine. Stop worrying.”

“That’s not likely to happen anytime today,” he mumbled as he escorted her to her place on the platform and then took his position on the other side.

Dakota willed away the goose bumps that threatened to return and forced her attention to the back doors as the bridal processional started up and Marie swept in with Alyssa looking proud as punch by her side. It had been Reece’s idea to have Alyssa escort Marie up the aisle because Marie’s father was still serving time for a B&E he’d committed.