I'll Stand by You (32 page)

Johnny had missed the wink and was beginning to shake. It was happening. It was really happening.

“May I have the ring?” Preacher Lawless said.

Johnny turned to Marshall and held out his hand.

Marshall opened his hand over Johnny’s palm, but the ring didn’t fall. There was a moment of panic when Johnny let out an audible groan. He grabbed Marshall’s hand and turned it over, then breathed a sigh of relief. Marshall had been holding the ring so tightly, it had stuck into the flesh of his palm. The congregation giggled at the momentary hitch in the ceremony, which lightened the mood.

The preacher blessed the ring and then gave it to Johnny.

When Dori saw what he was holding, she started to cry.

Johnny held his breath as he aimed the ring at her finger, praying it would fit enough to finish the ceremony. To their surprise, they found it was a perfect fit for her ring finger as it slid all the way down. Then he looked up at Dori, his voice shaking.

“With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”

“Let us pray,” Lawless said, and he did. And when he finished, he looked up. “Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. John Andrew Pine, you may kiss your bride.”

Johnny bent down and cupped Dori’s cheeks.

Their kiss was slow and sweet, and when they stopped, there was an audible sigh from the congregation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Pine.”

Dori turned and whispered to the preacher, then glanced down at the boys.

“Come here,” she said, and moments later, Marshall was standing on her right and Beep was standing between her and Johnny as they all held hands.

Mabel Jean had been watching from the back of the church, and the moment she saw what was happening, she jumped up with the baby in her arms and headed for the pulpit.

“Wait a minute! Wait a minute!” she cried and handed Luther off to Johnny, which elicited another round of giggles from the congregation.

Lawless cleared his throat again. “Ladies and gentleman, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Pine and family. There will be a reception held at Granny’s, and you’re all invited.”

The congregation began to clap, and down in the middle of the aisle, Junior Cooper was taking pictures.

Johnny caught Dori watching him, leaned over Beep’s head, and whispered in her ear, “I love and adore you, Dori Pine.”

“I adore you too, Johnny Pine, and as soon as we get in the car, I have something to tell you,” she whispered back.

Johnny arched an eyebrow questioningly, but she didn’t elaborate. Instead, they were herded back down the aisle toward the exit. Dori walked hand in hand with the boys, and Johnny and Luther brought up the rear.

Lovey corralled them outside the sanctuary and steered them into the classroom to get their things and put the baby in the baby carrier.

“You better put this blanket over Luther’s head,” she said and draped it so the birdseed she knew was coming wouldn’t hit him in the face.

The church was empty as they headed for the front door. Then they saw the people standing on either side of the walk and all of a sudden Dori knew why Lovey had covered the baby’s face.

“Brace yourself, boys, and run for the car,” Dori said.

The moment they exited the church, the birdseed started flying.

“Holy crap! Run for your life,” Beep yelled and bolted for the car with Marshall right behind him.

The crowd roared with laughter and then headed for the parking lot. The wedding had been a blast. They didn’t want to miss a bit of the reception.

As soon as everyone was buckled in, Johnny started the car. “So, we’re off to the reception?”

Dori nodded. “Drive slow. I have something to tell you, and I want you to know I wasn’t purposefully keeping secrets. I only found out part of it the day after the fire, and Butterman told me not to tell until probate was over because I was underage. But then my birthday was on Sunday and—”

Johnny looked stricken. “You didn’t tell me.”

“Johnny. Think about it. The last thing I wanted was a celebration.”

“Oh, right.”

Dori continued. “So, I only found out the rest of the secret yesterday. Remember Butterman called right after that woman from DFCS left, and honestly I was too upset to care.”

“Found out what?” Johnny asked.

“We’re rich.”

Johnny laughed, and when Dori didn’t, he hit the brakes.

“That’s a joke, right?”

Dori threaded her fingers through his.

“You took me and the baby knowing it would be more of a burden, and still you did it without hesitation. You are my hero. Remember when you said one day we’d move to the other side of the tracks?”

He nodded.

“Consider yourself moved. Granddaddy has over fifty-five thousand dollars in his checking account. He had full coverage on his car and money to replace it is coming in. The house was insured for two hundred thousand dollars. I own the deed to the four lots it was on and we can rebuild, and the boys will have room to play forever.”

Johnny gasped. “Holy shit!”

“Johnny cussed!” Beep cried.

“I’m not through,” Dori said. “He had a five-hundred-thousand-dollar life insurance policy. I am the sole recipient.”

Johnny’s face paled. “That’s half a million dollars.”

“I know. And yesterday, when Butterman called, he said there was a stock portfolio in my name in the safety-deposit box that Granddaddy started the month I was born. There is an account in my name in a bank in Savannah with over a million dollars of earnings over the past eighteen years.”

Johnny gasped. “You are not fucking serious?”

Marshall gasped. “Johnny! You can’t say that word, ever! Remember?”

Dori started to cry. “As serious as Granddaddy’s heart attack, and I’d like to think he’s over-the-moon happy for us right now.”

Johnny unbuckled her seat belt and dragged her across the seat and into his arms. He couldn’t talk, and Dori didn’t want to. He smelled too good and looked too fine.

Marshall rolled his eyes at the lovey-dovey stuff and poked Luther’s little belly.

Luther squawked and cackled.

Beep poked him too, and Luther farted.

The boys fell into hysterics.

Johnny looked at Dori. “You know what people are going to say. That I did all this for your money.”

“No, because I’m going to ask Mr. Butterman to release it through the story they are supposed to do about our wedding. It will state the reasons and the details of the secrecy and why you weren’t told until after the ceremony. You’re going to be in the clear on this, Johnny. I promise.”

“I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe this.”

“You’re not mad, are you?” she asked.

“Mad that we will be able to buy extra milk without waiting until payday? Hell no. I’m just in shock.”

“Good. So let’s get to the reception before everyone eats our cake.”

Johnny glanced up in the rearview mirror. The boys were still laughing about the baby’s farts, oblivious to how their fortune had changed. He felt like he was floating, like he’d won the lottery
and
married the princess. He put the car in gear and drove away.

By the time they reached Granny’s, the place was packed. Lovey was standing out front holding a parking place just for them, and when she saw them coming, she waved them in.

“That’s service!” Dori said as she got out.

“Special service for special people,” Lovey said. “Come on in. You’ve got cake to cut.”

As they walked into the café, the customers began to clap, calling out words of congratulations as the little family followed Lovey to the big room reserved for parties. It was packed to capacity.

Peanut Butterman was standing near the door and caught Dori’s arm.

“Does he know?” he asked.

Dori nodded and stopped long enough to whisper, “Would you please release the info to the
Tribune
to go along with the story? Make sure the explanation is clear that Johnny didn’t know until after the ceremony.”

“Ah, yes, good call,” he said and gave Johnny a thumbs-up. “Next time you need me, it’s gonna cost you.”

Johnny grinned.

Ruby pushed her way through the crowd to claim the baby.

“It’s my turn to play with the little one. You two get that cake cut.”

Once again, Dori handed her baby off and let herself be led away. She and Johnny cut the cake together, and Dori fed a bite to Johnny, then one to Marshall, and then one to Beep.

“Hey, don’t I get my own piece?” Beep cried, eyeing the very large, four-tiered cake with an overabundance of thick white icing.

The crowd laughed again. Brooks Pine was becoming a favorite.

“Open wide,” Johnny said and fed Dori her bite, then kissed the icing off the corner of her mouth. “So sweet,” he whispered.

Lovey and two of her waitresses began cutting and serving cake, making sure both boys got their pieces first. Ruby took charge of finding them a place to sit, and Johnny had to trust the boys would hold it together.

Johnny stayed at Dori’s side for over an hour before people began dragging him aside to talk of work-related subjects. As time passed, Dori began to realize she couldn’t see him anywhere and was struck by a sinking sensation of déjà vu. For a few frightening moments, she was back at the school dance, looking across the dance floor, trying to find her friend. She had wanted to tell her friend that she didn’t feel well and was going home, but she hadn’t seen her anywhere. She hadn’t known her cup of punch had been doped or that she was being stalked by a party crasher. All she had known was she wanted to go home.

Then someone called out her name and lifted their glass of punch in a toast, and the memory passed. But it also reminded her that the man was still out there, and she wondered what might happen if he found out about her money. She had never filed charges. She’d never even reported the rape to the police, so he was not in any danger of being arrested. But if he found out she was wealthy and that they shared a baby?

She shuddered. She needed to talk to Johnny. As she looked around for him, she noticed the boys were sitting in a corner, half-asleep. Then she heard the baby fussing and guessed he was sick and tired of the noise and strangers too. She went after the baby and, in the process, spotted Johnny. She quickly gathered up the boys and began moving them toward the back of the room. When she reached the men gathered around him, Dori slipped a hand on his arm.

He turned and smiled. “Hey, honey! Are we done?”

“Yes. I think we need to get the kids home,” Dori said.

One of the men laughed and thumped Johnny on the back. “Not exactly what you normally hear a bride say to her new husband on the day they’re wed.”

Johnny shook his head. “It’s what we signed up for, right, honey?”

Dori nodded.

Johnny took each boy by the hand and led them out, making a path for Dori and the baby as they went. Cheers and best wishes followed them. It was the end to an absolutely crazy week and Dori was mentally exhausted. She’d gone from a state of shock and depression, to utter joy and hope. It was time for the universe to scale back on any more surprises.

* * *

Home was blissfully silent as the new family walked in.

“Change out of your good clothes,” Johnny told the boys as they dragged themselves down the hall to their room.

“I’m going to put the baby down for a nap,” Dori said.

“Do you want me to bring you a bottle?” Johnny asked.

“Yes, please,” she said and went to her room to change the baby.

He came in just as she had finished changing his diaper, and he leaned over and kissed the side of her cheek as he handed her the bottle.

“The boys have already piled down on the bed and are watching television. As soon as you get the baby down, lie down and take a nap too, if you want.”

She looked up. “I want to spend a little time with you, if that’s okay. There’s something I need to ask you.”

His eyes darkened. “That’s very okay,” he said and left, closing the door behind him.

Luther Joe had partied hard. He drank less than half a bottle, and when she lifted him up, he burped in his sleep, saving her the task.

“Poor, tired little man,” Dori whispered.

She kissed his cheek, then laid him down in the playpen and covered him up.

The house’s old air-conditioning system was humming as she changed out of her dress, into work clothes, then tiptoed out of the room.

She still couldn’t get past the thought of Luther’s father crawling out of the woodwork, and she had a feeling she should be prepared.

Johnny heard her coming down the hall and jumped up, opened the front door wide, and then went to meet her. Before she could speak, he swept her up into his arms, carried her outside and then carried her back across the threshold, put her down, and then kissed her senseless.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Pine,” he said as he closed the door.

“I am happy to be here, Mr. Pine,” she said softly. “Come sit by me. Something occurred to me during the reception, and I’m not sure what to do.”

He sat down and then waited for her to settle, but when he saw her shoulders sag, he knew it wasn’t good.

Dori hated to bring it up. Even mentioning it would take away from the joy of this day, but it was not wise to ignore its existence.

“It occurred to me that once the news gets out about my inheritance, people might try to take advantage.”

“Yes, that is entirely possible, but it’s nothing to worry about. All we have to do is send them packing.”

She ducked her head.

He tilted it back up until she was looking into his eyes.

“What?”

She sighed. “What if the person who showed up was Luther’s father? In retrospect, I realize I have left a great big door open for that possibility.”

Johnny reached for her hand and felt her shaking.

“What do you mean?”

She leaned against him and dropped her head, ashamed by what she was about to admit.

“I never reported the rape. There was no rape kit done. There was no police report filed. In the eyes of the law, he
could
try to cash in on the money by making some claim on the baby. I mean, it’s my word against his that anything bad ever happened. He could claim otherwise.”