Taking Chances (12 page)

Chapter sixteen

The next week was a flurry of business meetings for the brothers and wedding prep for the ladies. Jenna was flourishing. After years of trying to deal with her fear and anxiety by herself with only Aunt Emma, Dean and Sara to confide in, she was starting to see that having a larger support system really was a good idea. The Johnsons were so kind to her. They treated her like a member of the family. Like someone they loved and supported and they were learning that yes Jenna needed help and sometimes she needed to be left on her own.

Despite how busy everything was Tyler and Jenna set aside one weekend to be alone and explore the city. Tyler showed Jenna all the things she has ever wanted to. Armed with her sketchpad and camera Jenna explored London hand in hand with Tyler. Tyler gave Jenna the opportunity to sketch or photograph Buckingham palace, the tower of London,
even Westminster abbey and Hyde park
. Tyler even took Jenna to a
resturaunt
owned by one of her favorite chefs and arranged for her to meet the chef. He also arranged a meeting with a chef that both Jenna and Aunt Emma loved.

The day before the wedding the group enjoyed a nice casual meal in Julia and Alfred’s suite. The group shared stories and laughs. Alfred had a wonderful time telling Jenna about the time her future husband was ten and decided he was going to run away because his parents punished him for trying to make a parachute out of the good sheets, thankfully they caught him before he made it all the way to the roof of the family’s country home in Connecticut.

“He decided that he was going to go live with the people at the circus who walk the tightrope.” Julia added that little bit trying not to laugh too hard.

“So he has always been an independent daredevil?” Jenna was leaning on her fiancé and he was actually blushing a little at the stories being told about him.

“You know this isn’t fair, Bryan
was a little trouble maker too. How about the time he used your make up to paint you a
mother’s day
picture on the white walls in the hallway?’ A petulant Tyler added trying to shift some of the attention to his younger sibling.

“Oh dear I never heard that one! Oh my I am going to have my hands full with the next generation of Johnson here aren’t I?” Veronica laid a hand on the slight swell of her stomach smiling at her
in-laws.

Jenna got up and got herself a cup of tea off of the room service cart and offered a refill to her soon to be mother in law.

“Did Jenna ever tell you how she got that little scar on her chin? She wanted to try something she saw in a spy movie.
Grabbing a belt she swung it over the clothes line that went from the laundry room window to the end of the garden.
She climbed out the window and tried to zip line to the other end. I think she got all of two feet before she fell on the
picnic
table and cut her chin.” Jenn
a stuck her tongue out at Bryan for sharing his tale.

“Oh really?
Maybe one day I will take you zip
lining
for real.” Tyler was impressed with his
finace.

“Alright alright enough of embarrassing each other I have something I want to say.” Jenna stood up and went to get the brown paper wrapped picture she had framed soon after arriving in London.

Handing the package to Alfred and Julia she took a deep breathe and let them know how she felt.

“I was only five when my mom and dad died. Then I spent two years in foster care before Aunt Emma was found and I went home with her. Until Aunt Emma died I was so happy even with the anxiety I knew I was a lucky girl. So many kids I saw in foster care were alone, and
I spent two years thinking I would never have a family, that I would be alone. When Emma died something in me reverted back to that scared and insecure little girl.
Even though Dean and Sara have always been there for me and I know they always will be, but they have each other, a special bond that I never had with anyone. They are family.
Something I thought I would never have again.
I knew it would take a strong and patient man to be able to love me and be able to handle my anxiety so far the men I had met were anything but
” Smiling at her friends she went on.

“When I met Tyler there was an instant spark. I felt he was someone special. Then I met all of you, you scared me to death. I was so intimidated and worried you were right about me not being right for your family.” Holding up her hand and smiling at Julia who was set to interrupt her.

“However Tyler was right. You are wonderful people. Yes, at first I found you somewhat shallow and I am so sorry but a bit snobby. But you aren’t. You just want the best for each other. I wanted to give you something special for adding me to your family
, for the fact that you now put me on your list of people for whom you want to be happy. She watched as the couple opened the picture. Julia started to cry. Alfred was speechless.

The picture was a charcoal
portrait Jenna had done from a picture she had covertly snapped with her cell phone the night they all had dinner together at her café. Tyler and Bryan were leaning close as if sharing a secret. The brothers looked happy and care free
the only color in the portrait was the piercing blue eyes the brothers both have and the color of their ties
.

Standing with the aid of his cane Alfred walked over and wrapped his soon to be daughter in his arms. Julia walked over and added herself to the hug.

“You are a Johnson now. You are adding something special to our family that nobody else would ever be able to. Thank you.
I know when we first met I wasn’t as kind to you as I should have been. I had doubts about you. But you are a wonderful woman with a good heart who makes my son happy and I must say on a side note I am extremely happy he spends his time with you instead of scaring the wits out of me with his daredevil antics.
” After her statement Julia walked over and hugged her oldest boy.

Jenna then turned and looked at Veronica and Bryan. “After your baby is born I hope you will let me sketch my future niece or nephew.”

“Are you kidding me? Having a famous artist do a portrait of our baby would be an honor” Veronica could only nod in agreement with her husband.

That evening Jenna laid in bed wide away for over an hour trying to sleep. All the telltale signs that a panic attack was coming were there. She laid there taking calming breathes trying to clear her mind. Jenna closed her eyes and just pictured Tyler. His smile his eyes the way he would just touch her for no reason. Focusing all her attention on her husband to be and found that the anxious feeling was starting to fade. For the first time in a long time she was able to fall asleep the night before a life changing event.

Chapter seventeen

The sound of her cellphone letting her know she had a text message is what woke Jenna. She stretched and smiled to herself. Today was her wedding day. Today she was
marrying a man who was able to challenge her without scaring her, who was able to make her feel safe. She was also getting a family that was amazing. Though the Johnson’s were not fond of their son being involved with her at first
, they
have since embraced her.

Jenna looked at the text message that woke her and a tear actually came to her eyes:

Today starts the best adventure of my life. It is better than any adrenaline rush ever! <3

Sitting up she texted back:

Today I start a new life where I am happy loved and unafraid. <3

“Alright, stop with the typing and let’s
go get you married!” Sara ran in the room and jumped up on the bed.

The girls exited the bedroom and headed to the living room area. Breakfast was waiting for them and Julia was already sitting sipping her coffee. There was a knock on the door. Jenna opened the door to find Veronica.

“Good
morning all. I have arrived with the beauty squad.” Giggling veronica moved aside and a group of people entered with
cases of supplies.

While the group set everything up the women talked and ate their breakfast.

“Jenna do you have your old, new, borrowed and blue?” Julia enquired while she nibbled on her Danish.

“Well I have Aunt Emma’s cameo ring that she told me was my grandmothers, my dress and shoes are new, I don’t have anything borrowed, I was thinking of raiding Sara’s stuff like I usually do when I need something.”
The two girls laughed at the inside joke.

“Oh and my blue is going to be umm…” Jenna looked nervously at her soon to be mother in law.
“I have some blue clip on hair highlights that match the tie Tyler is going to wear.”

To her utter shock and delight Julia and Veronica thought that was the cutest idea and very much Jenna’s style. Julia got up and walked away from the table excusing her for a moment while she headed to the bedroom. She returned from the bedroom carrying a velvet jewelry box.

“I would love for this to be your something borrowed.” Julia handed the box to Jenna.

Jenna opened the box and gasped. It was the breathe-taking necklace she had worn to dinner the first night they were in London. It was a triple strand pearl choker with diamonds making a rose in the center.

“Alfred gave me that to me for our tenth anniversary.” Hugging her Julia told her how he picked it because of her love of roses.

The women one by one had their hair and makeup done and when the time came they all climbed into the back of a chauffeur driven town car and left for the estate for the wedding.

Once they arrived at the estate they were ushered into a beautiful drawing room with four garment bags hanging on hooks.
By the door on a table were two bouquets
for Jenna and Sara and corsages for Julia and Veronica. The women laughed and smiled and enjoyed some champagne while they got ready.

Though Jenna had originally wanted to be married in the gazebo overlooking a snow covered meadow they chose the small lounge with a wall of floor to ceiling windows looking over the meadow. That way they could all wear what they wanted and not have to worry about the cold yet they still had the beauty of her original dream in the background.

Sara was wearing an emerald green silk sleeveless wrap style dress that flowed around her knees her shoes were a matching shade of green and had a platform and peep toe. Veronica wore a beautiful yellow dress with spaghetti straps and a crystal embellished empire waist she really was glowing from her pregnancy
. Julia chose to wear a
gorgeous gray peplum dress that fell just past her knees and had a V-neck
. To finish her look and add a pop of color she wore bright red pumps at the suggestion of her soon to be daughter in law.

Once they were dressed the women helped Jenna into her gown.
Her dress was actually two pieces first was a multi layered tulle skirt with it she wore a simple silk camisole with a jeweled white sash around her waist
and a simple ballet slipper finished her look. Her hair was half up in a ponytail held up by a beautiful pearl barrette and half down with loose
curls;
she had on the necklace Julia had lent her and her Aunt Emma’s cameo ring. Jenna carried a
Sara each had a bouquet of 5 calla lilies tied together with blue satin ribbon.

Tyler straightened his tie for the hundredth time and fidgeted while he waited for the ceremony to start. His father and mother along with, Veronica and their friends (who owned the home and were kind enough to let them use it) were seated waiting for Sara Dean and Jenna to enter.

“Calm down man. I know the waiting is the worst part. But wait until you get your first look of her. That is what makes the wait more than worth it.” Bryan put a reassuring hand on his older brother’s shoulder.

Sara was first she smiled at everyone when she entered the room and took her spot to the right of the gentleman preforming the ceremony.
Tyler gave Sara a nervous smile and turned to look at the door once more. He was actually short of breathe when he saw Jenna enter with her flowers in one hand and the other arm holding onto Dean. She was gorgeous. He couldn’t stop staring at her. Dean kissed Jenna on the cheek and handed her over to his best friend then took his seat next to Veronica. Jenna took Tyler’s arm and they faced the
officiator
. He was a nice older gentleman who they had met with several times to discuss the ceremony.

The ceremony started with a poem the couple had chosen.
He spoke of love, faithfulness and the courage to start a new adventure together. Jenna could barely contain her tears. Tyler just stood and stared into her eyes.

Jenna was first to give her pledge to Tyler: “Tyler I know we have not known each other long, but I know you. You are my safe place, my happiness and my joy. You make me want to be the best person I can be. When you smile at me I see nothing but possibilities. For you I would do anything. Facing my
fears doesn’t seem as daunting with you there holding my hand. I want to be your wife share your life and give myself to you fully.”