The Perfect Wedding by Arlene James

Author:Arlene James [Arlene James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459271265
Publisher: Harlequin

When the day of the appointment rolled around, Layne was rather uneasy to see that Rod had come along with Sam and Dedrah. He walked into the shop with Heather seated in the fold of one arm, grinned at Layne as if publicly divulging a secret shared only by the two of them and bent to kiss her cheek. Dedrah schooled a quick smile, Heather grabbed a handful of Layne’s sleek chestnut hair and Angie gasped from the window where she was arranging a new display of winter wedding finery.

“Coming with us, aren’t you?” Rod asked in that deep, soft voice of his. “Heather and I are counting on your company.”

She had intended to lead the way for Sam and Dedrah, introduce them to Bolton Charles, then drive her own car back here to work, but she abandoned that idea instantly and gave an affirmative reply to Rod’s question. Within two minutes, she and Rod were driving toward the First Church in her car, Sam, Dedrah and Heather following in Rod’s truck. Ten minutes after that, they were walking up a gently curving concrete path toward the First Church of Duncan.

She loved this church and its stately, traditional architecture. Dark red brick gave the building an air of solidity and permanence, while the tall, white, elaborately molded double doors spoke of welcome and acceptance. A steep, green roof of many peaks and angles rose toward the heavens, the tall white steeple atop the bell tower leading the way, while beneath the eaves and behind gracefully arched porticoes stained-glass Gothic windows glowed richly. The grounds were lovingly maintained, the gardener having managed to coax a pale but verdant green from the thick grass even in these first weeks of winter. Low, sculpted shrubs hugged the ground close to the building. A number of mature pecan trees graced the lawn, though their limbs were bare and spindly against the gray sky. Nestled among them were a few thick, conical cedars, each identical to the others, thanks to meticulous pruning. Upon the ground lay not a single twig, leaf, nut, stone, needle or fragment of bark. The whole of it was as pristine as a painting, and Layne never failed to find a sense of peace here, as if she were walking upon truly hallowed ground.

Rod walked beside her, Heather against his shoulder, looking backward. Sam and Dedrah followed, hands linked. All were quiet, as if moved to silence by the place where they walked. Layne led them past the sanctuary doors, down the covered portico and around the corner to an unprepossessing portal set above a single, broad step. Above it hung a small sign suspended by two lengths of chain. It read simply Office. An even smaller sign bolted to the door just above the knob bade them welcome and listed three telephone numbers to be called in case of an emergency. Layne opened the door and stepped into a small room lined with chairs. An octagon of colored light spilled onto the wood floor from a small window set high in one corner.

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