Don't Wake Me if I'm Dreaming (33 page)

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

“Always am.” I kiss his cheek.

Annie and Aimee walk in unannounced. “Oh no, you don’t! You’ll get makeup all down your dress,” Aimee says as she takes the hanky and blots around my eyes, handing it back to my dad. “Now clean yourself up and get your acts together, it’s time!” she demands, grabbing the compact trying to correct my smudged makeup. “Now, hurry up before you’re late for your own wedding. She gives me a hug. “And you,” she looks at my dad with a smile. “Very handsome as always.” She hugs him, too.

Annie also hugs me. “Welcome to the family. I always wanted a younger sister.” She smiles.

“Thanks.”

“You ready, gal?” My dad holds out his arm.

I pick up my bouquet and reach for his arm. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

We make our way from the backside of the church down the hall to the entrance where two ushers wait at the huge wooden doors, both of us nervous as we hear the eager voices chatting inside. The music begins playing, prompting us.

“Well, let’s not keep a guy waiting.” My dad gulps.

The doors open and with a deep breaths, we both exhale, and slowly parade down the aisle.

I pay little attention to the attendance, only noticing Erica and Sam as we head to the front of the pews. My soon to be husband stands smiling, placing a hand over his heart for a brief moment taken aback. With each step closer to him, I study his face. Jack, the man I dreamt about, is waiting for me, ready to make me his wife.

His’s lips twist with a grin as my father kisses my cheek then hugs Jack, and whispers something to him that makes him smile.

“God, you look beautiful.” His thumb brushes my cheek.

I kiss his wrist with a gentle look in my eyes.

The minister gives a simple but sweet sermon before offering we share our personal vows.

Jack clears his throat. He eloquently speaks with deep emotion in his voice. “The evening I met you, you were not like a stranger, but an old friend. The connection between us was not of two random people meeting it was greater than that, soul mates beginning their journey. I knew in an instant you were beyond perfection, you were and are all things great. I knew at that moment I would love you, and that you were my forever. Today, I give to you myself freely, and all that I am with a love that has no boundaries or conditions. I loved you then, I love you now, and I vow to love you forever more.” Jack places the ring on my finger. “Wear this ring as token of my love, and let it be a reminder that our love shall have no ending, and whatever the future may bring, I will honor and respect you as my wife.” He kisses my hand, allowing his lips to linger a few seconds.

“Do you, Sasha, accept Jackson at his word to honor and love you unconditionally?” the minister asks.

“I do.” I speak staring into Jack’s eyes. “In you I have found my best friend. You show me unconditional love, hold me close to your heart, and always know how to care for my every need. In you I have found my everything, and until I take my last breath, I promise to give you the best of myself unconditionally.” I slide the ring to his finger. “Wear this ring knowing my heart lies only in your hands, and as long as you wear it, my heart will only beat for you.”

“And do you, Jackson, take this beautiful bride at her word and promise to honor, cherish, and love her from this day forward?” the minister asks.

“I do.”

The minister faces the audience. “If anyone sees a fit reason that these two shall not spend their lives together in marital bliss, speak only now or forever more hold your peace.”

Jack catches my gaze in the moment of silence. Both of us smile.

“No greater gift from God has there ever been, but love, the act of two hearts beating together as one. Share your lives together, forsake each other not, and let no man break the bonds you’ve made on this day, go forth and enjoy your lives together. By the power invested in me, by the great state of North Carolina and God, with all surrounding as witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jackson, you may now kiss your bride.”

Jack steps toward me, lifting the veil away from my face. He whispers, “I love you,” before kissing me.

“I introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Thomas.”

All in attendance stand, clapping as we stride down the aisle toward the doors.

There comes the same familiar change of air and we arrive a few miles from the church in a horse-drawn carriage outside the historical Duke Mansion.

I smile thoughtfully knowing he remembered my love for historical homes.

“This can’t possibly get any better.”

“Oh, just wait. The ladies have worked harder than ever to make this the most perfect evening of your life. Shall we?”                            

“Of our lives.” I kiss him. “Husband.”

He lifts me into his arms, carrying me up the walk and through the threshold.

Just inside the door, the caretaker greets us. “Congratulations, you are a handsome couple. Would you care to look around before the guests arrive?”

I shake my head no. “I’d like to change before they arrive.”

“Very well. I’ll show you to your room.” The lady smiles politely.

Jack carries me with my arms secure around his neck. The door is open, giving the fresh scent of gardenia.

The room is large, manicured beautifully with white flowers. A couple of chairs sit by the double doors leading to a patio, a king size bed with a bench at the foot sits near another set of glass doors. My suitcase rests next to floral embellished Victorian dresser.

Hanging from a hook on the closet door is a white knee-length dress with a thin blue sash matching my wedding jewels.

“Aimee?” I suspect.

“Annie. This is right up her ally.”

“I love her already.” I smile. “I’ll be sure to thank her.”

“Aimee and Annie have been here all day working on the flowers.” Jack begins unbuttoning my dress. “How am I to be expected to greet our guests with you looking this sexy?” he asks, kissing between my shoulders as he opens the back of my dress.

“We have a few minutes.” I smile. We both look to the bedroom door from where we hear the sound of our guests entering in the front doors. “Or not.” I smirk, stepping from my dress.

After changing, we follow the short hall toward the sound of music until we reach what looks like a ballroom full of tables. Every one of our friends is taking their seat as each hostess walks around pouring beverages. 

The room looks as though a royal ball could be held, decorated with candles, and fine crystal and china dishes. Arrangements of all white orchids, freesia, gardenia, and peonies fill the room with a delightful fragrance.

***

“
S
asha, wake up, baby, wake up. It’s raining in here.”

“Jack.” I moaned, opening my eyes.

“Who’s Jack?” Matt asked confused. “It’s raining in our room.”

“I… I was just dreaming. It’s what?” I felt a trickle of water run down my neck. My thoughts of Jack washed away, focusing on the warm sensation touching my skin.

He looked at me with uncertainty then at the ceiling. “You need to hurry and get up. It’s raining in here!”

“It’s what?” I asked, sitting up. “Ouch!” I could feel the blazing heat of my skin.

“Here, take my hand.” Matt helped me to my feet.

I felt a little dizzy from standing too quickly, and then water tapping my head. “It’s raining? Seriously?” I could hear the pouring of rain beating against the hut.

“It’s more like a monsoon out there,” he said, pulling back a curtain. “I guess it’s not uncommon this time of year, it should blow over soon if the roof doesn’t cave first.”

We both looked at the ceiling above the bed hearing a cracking sound.

“Here.” He handed me a sundress. “You’ll need to dress quickly. We need to get out of here.”

“And go where… outside? I think not!” I said, yawning as I stepped into the dress.

“We need a new room before this one floods.”

We both stared at the now wet bed.

“As soon as it passes, we’ll head back to the main building for a new room. Let’s get our stuff packed before it gets wet.”

I hurriedly stuffed my suitcase and the carry-on bag with my belongings as Matt packed his.

We heard a loud cracking sound and glanced at each other, looked up at the now bowing bamboo structure, holding the roof together.

We grabbed our luggage and quickly crossed the room.

A loud crack followed by an enormous gush of water and natural debris came crashing down, covering the bed.

We shared a wide-eyed stare.

“Skylight?” he said, trying to make light of the situation. “We can watch the stars at night.”

I had hardly blinked when reaching in my bag for my cellphone, handing it to Matt. “Call now.”

It only took a few minutes before hearing a heavy knock on the door. A tall skinny man with dark skin and dreadlocks hurried inside, forcing the door closed behind him. His white uniform was soaked, with mud down the bottom of his pants.

“No, mon, we be outta here before dis caves.” The man took my bags. “You just
gonna
stand there?” He laughed, rushing out the door. His little cart was parked on the boardwalk just outside the door.

I hurried to the cart and we quickly drove to the main lodge with Matt driving our cart behind us.

The three of us along with the luggage were drenched when we made it inside the main building.

“Not another hut, please,” I said to the wide-eyed woman at the front desk.

After generously being compensated for our stay and given free laundry service, we were placed in the main lodge that night in a much cozier and dry room. All I wanted was to sleep and to not feel like my skin was in flames.

***

“
W
hat now?” I stand at Jack’s feet. “I’m trying to replace a pipe,” he says with a loud grunt, as he pushes himself out from under the kitchen sink. “It was leaking again.”

“Ah. Would you like some tea?”

He wipes the sweat from his brow shaking his head.

“Please. One more time, why on earth did you buy this place?”

I remove the jug of sweet ice tea from the refrigerator. “It had an irresistible charm.” I pour us each a glass. “Here, this will cool you down.” I look around the kitchen, realizing I’m dreaming, seeing an impending glimpse of what could possibly be our future. I smile satisfied with the surroundings, realizing I’m standing in the same plantation I had been interested in buying for years.

Jack wipes the tea from his lips after drinking half the glass. “That’s the next thing we need to talk about. This place needs a new air unit. It feels like swamp air in here.”

“It’s a bit stagnant,” I admit.

Jack sets his glass on the counter his arms extend to hug me.

“Eww. No!” I squirm away looking at his damp chest.

“Come here.” He laughs, grabbing at my T-shirt embracing me in a huge sticky hug. “I hope you appreciate how much I love you. I’ve had moments in thought of torching this place to the ground.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” I bat at his arm. “It’ll all be worth it someday when we can sit back feeling rewarded at all our hard work.”

“Huh, someday is a ways out. Vance called. They’re coming over tomorrow to help with the back patio. The stones should be delivered before this evening.” He eases his hold, allowing me to walk to the back door. “Just another project.” I look at the dirt and broken wood slats that once formed a patio.

“I think after this bill, you’ve officially invested more into restoration than the purchasing cost of the house.”

“What good is fine wine if it can’t be drunk?”

“As is money should be well spent.” He returns to the sink, clearing the mess of old piping and tools. “I’ll be back. I’m going to run these out to the tool shed and toss the pipes.”

“I’ll be here.” I take a deep breath, wishing for fresh air. I hold up my left hand, seeing a wedding band secured to my engagement ring. I smile, realizing we’re already married, meaning, Jack is living here, with me, that he must have willingly given up his home to live here.

“Sasha, come outside. I want you to see something,” Jack hollers from the front door.

“Coming.” I refill our tea and head outside, taking in my surrounding fortress on the way out.

I find him stooping over something in the yard. “Check this out.”

I approach his side looking to where his finger points.

“What is that?” I lean in for a look, not seeing anything.

He glances at the drinks in my hands and carefully takes them from me and sets them down.

“What am I looking for?” I lean in further seeing only dirt and dry crabgrass.

“The perfect place to lay down.” He playfully takes me with ease to the ground, cradling my head.

I smile accepting his kiss. “I thought you found something you liar.”

“I did.” He laughs. “There was a huge snake in the yard but it headed into the bush.”