The Pages We Forget (30 page)

“You look good,” Keith said and smiled. “Actually, better than good. You're beautiful.”

June exhaled. “Thank you.”

Kathryn turned the chair around to Keith. “I'll be watching,” she told June and kissed her on the forehead. “Let's go, Inez.”

“Ma,” June called. “Do you still want to know why I didn't tell you?”

Kathryn looked at June and coerced a smile. “I know why,” she said, “and I understand. You're like your father, baby. He didn't think I was strong enough either.” She and Inez hurried to take their places outside.

“I'm ready,” June said and reached for Keith's hand.

Leatrice was June's maid of honor. Dressed in a white gazar sheathe dress accented by an organza wrap, she stepped out of the darkness and began the bridal march. As she glided down the aisle, the soft light of the flickering candles highlighted the glistening pearls that Inez had woven into Leatrice's stacked locks.

Leatrice took her place across from Alex and his best men, Bernard and Trevor, who wore white Hugo Boss tuxedos.

June's elegant voice harmoniously joined the song of the redbirds perched in the magnolia trees. The recorded song blended perfectly with the silence of the dawning morning. “Yesterday I was at my end. I didn't know broken hearts could mend. But today you're here and you love me so right. I know tomorrow will come, and it's going to be bright,” she sang. She had written this song, “Because I Love You,” for her
Pages
album, but decided not to use it because it didn't fit the album's overall tone. She felt it was better suited for an occasion like this, a wedding instead of a
quest to find a lost lover. “Because I love you, and my love is true. I love you. No one else will do. Because without you, I cannot see. Who would I love and who would I be?”

June gripped Keith's hand tighter as they waited in the darkness for the cue to start down the aisle. “Keith,” June whispered. “I don't want to go down the aisle in this wheelchair. Will you help me walk?”

“Are you sure about that?”

“No, but at least let me try.”

He helped her to stand, but her feet gave even before they felt the full weight of her ninety-five pounds. “Dammit!”

“That's okay,” Keith consoled her. “I'll be your feet.” He lifted her in his arms and stepped out of the darkness. Everyone stood as Keith, carrying June, started up the aisle. Tears flowed from Keith's eyes as he whispered in June's ear, “I love you, Junie, and I'll always love you.”

June stared into Keith's eyes and silently replied, “And I love you…”

Keith stepped up to the altar. Reverend Diggs stepped forward. “Who gives this woman's hand in marriage?”

“I do,” Keith answered and placed her gently in Alex's arms. “Take care of her,” he told Alex.

“I will,” Alex replied.

The first rays of sunlight crept across the gray sky as June and Alex exchanged vows. They promised to love, honor and cherish each other forever. He was a man of his word.

Alex was sitting with her in the windowsill of her bedroom two hours later when her song faded. She gazed into his eyes, as he cradled her in his arms.

“Take care of our son,” she told him.

“You know I will.”

“And yourself.”

He nodded.

“Thank you for loving me, Alex,” she said and stared into his eyes for the last time. “I thank God for you, Alex,” she said.

When everything that was needed to be conveyed was said, she let go.

“Junie, I love you.” He pulled her closer to him and tearfully said good-bye as the melody in his life ended.

•  •  •

Trevor and Keith were horseback riding in their white tuxedos when the last notes began to play. June, knowing the end was near, had asked Keith to take Trevor riding.

“Well, let me go change,” Keith replied.

“No.” June hesitated before asking, “Why change?”

She paused for a moment before answering her own question. “I bet you've never ridden a horse in a tuxedo. Now have you?”

“And I don't plan to,” he responded.

“Go ahead, Keith.” She urged. “Live a little.”

Keith and Trevor were riding along the pathways of the old hotel when Trevor heard the music end. Frantic, he took off for the house with Keith hurrying behind him. Except for Bernard, everyone else was in the yard or the house. Kathryn and Lucy Kaye were outside saying good-bye to the last three guests. Inez and Leatrice were straightening up the kitchen, while Willie and Joe cleaned the yard.

“Ma!” Trevor screamed and jumped off the horse. “Ma!”

“Trevor!” Keith hurried off his horse and ran behind Trevor.

“Trevor!” Kathryn yelled and ran toward the back yard with Lucy Kaye, Joe, and Willie right behind her.

“Ma!” Trevor called as he ran through the house and up the stairs.

Leatrice and Inez raced out of the kitchen and rushed up the stairway behind him. Trevor pushed his mother's bedroom door open and burst into the room. “Ma?”

There was only silence.

My God…the silence.

(lyrics and arrangement by June)

Yesterday, I was at my end.

I didn't know broken hearts could mend.

But today you're here,

and you love me so right.

Tomorrow will come

and it's gonna be bright.

CHORUS:

Because I love you,

and my love is true.

I love you.

No one else will do.

Because without you

I cannot see.

Who would I love?

And who would I be?

I was dreaming

and found that dreams do come true.

I was praying for someone like you.

To hold me and show me love

I knew you were my answer

from Heaven above.

CHORUS

BRIDGE

Forever,

is what we have.

Together,

we will make this last.

CHORUS

(repeat to fade)

Credit: Wayne Dunwoody

Anthony Lamarr grew up in North Florida, where he still resides. He is a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and Florida Press Association award-winning newspaper columnist.
The Pages We Forget
is his second novel. His first novel,
Our First Love,
was also published by Strebor Books.

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ALSO BY ANTHONY LAMARR

Our First Love

Strebor Books

P.O. Box 6505

Largo, MD 20792

http://www.streborbooks.com

SimonandSchuster.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

© 2014 by Anthony Lamarr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever. For information address Strebor Books, P.O. Box 6505, Largo, MD 20792.

ISBN 978-1-59309-568-0

ISBN 978-1-4767-5884-8 (ebook)

LCCN 2014936769

First Strebor Books trade paperback edition December 2014

Cover design:
www.mariondesigns.com

Cover photograph: © Keith Saunders/Keith Saunders Photos

Interior illustration: © abstract/
Shutterstockimages.com

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