From Bags to Riches by Sandra D. Bricker

Author:Sandra D. Bricker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2016-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

13

Jessie had glared at them as their tiny wedding party ganged up on her and Danny mere minutes after they’d all eaten large slices of coconut cake and toasted the future with plastic flutes of sparkling apple cider. In a unanimous decision, they’d directed husband and wife out to the parking lot where Danny’s rental sat, the back seat loaded with two bags: A duffle Riggs had packed, and a Louis Vuitton filled by Piper.

“Your honeymoon awaits,” Piper had declared. Handing Danny the envelope Jessie had seen earlier that day, Piper placed her hand on his wrist and looked him squarely in the eyes.

“What is this?” he asked her.

“Inside, there are directions to the hotel. You’re booked in the bridal suite at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter for two nights. Your luggage is already packed and loaded, and you’ll want to get on your way because we didn’t arrange for a late check-in.”

“You know we can’t do that,” he said softly. “Jessie’s granddad is—”

“It’s all arranged,” Grampy piped up. “I got more than enough babysitters, so you don’t have to think nothin’ ’bout me. Just git now, botha ya.”

Jessie rushed to her grandfather’s side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close. “I love you so much, Grampy.”

Maizie caught her eye from the other side of the man and shot her a wink. “You g’on now.”

“Are you sure?” she mouthed, and Maizie glared as she nodded.

“You heard the old coot. Git.”

They’d hardly given them the opportunity to change out of their wedding apparel before spiriting them out to the car.

Jessie hadn’t felt entirely comfortable with the idea of leaving Grampy, but now—as she and Danny dined on a light room service meal out on the balcony of their hotel room, overlooking the beautiful indoor courtyard—she realized she hadn’t given too much more thought to Slidell or the people in it since they’d checked in.

She gazed through the open French doors into the exquisite suite, inviting with creamy tones of gold and beige, a sweet little dining room, wet bar, and whirlpool tub—all there to compliment the spectacular canopy bed that had been poking Jessie in the ribs since she spotted it.

Danny grabbed the linen napkin spread over his knee and wiped his mouth. “That was unbelievable. The food here is amazing.”

Pasting on a smile, she nodded. “It really is.”

He set the napkin on his empty plate and pushed it forward. “Jess. We can talk about it, you know.”

“About what?”

“About the canopy-covered elephant in the honeymoon suite.”

She gulped past a lump of anxiety sitting in her throat. Her eyes grew wide as she looked into his, and his smile soothed her.

“I’m sorry. It’s not that I haven’t thought about it,” she said. “There have been some nights over the last few months where I couldn’t sleep for thinking about it.”

In fact, the mere awkward mention right then sent what felt like warm molasses poured over the top of her head, gliding slowly down the length of her body.

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