Nashville SEAL: Jameson: Nashville SEALs Page 2

  Nothing in the world could take this day away from her. It didn’t matter what was to happen next. Nothing would ever tarnish the perfection of this day.

  Thomas released her arm. As she’d been practicing, Charlotte stood between her mother and father, holding hands with both of them, wearing the same fabric as her mother’s wedding dress.

  They were all getting married today, a family forever connected by the bonds of love.

  Chapter 2

  ‡

  Of the three of them, Jameson Daniels knew Charlotte was shaking the most. The nervous titters in the audience sealed it for him. Glancing down on the golden curls and flowers atop her pretty little head, he knew some day she’d make a beautiful bride, and she’d do it the right way. She’d get married first and then have the baby.

  But that was okay, he thought. Anyway it worked was okay. Just as long as they were together. He wasn’t judging how their family came to be. It just was what it was.

  Charlotte’s little hand was sweaty, and he felt her shortness of breath as she leaned against him, not against her mother. He hoped no one saw it wrong, but in a way she was marrying him. Her mother was forever tied to her because she’d been there since birth, but he, her father, had to earn her love and trust, and right now she was showing him he’d gone a long way toward doing that.

  You love unconditionally, like your mother.

  When he faced Lizzie, he saw tears streaking down her cheeks. Somehow she knew the depth of his love for her, for Charlotte, and how grateful he was for all the wonderful blessings that had befallen him.

  The audience began to chuckle. He turned, thinking he’d see something like a jester or a clown standing behind him, but nothing was there.

  The reverend cleared his throat. Jameson realized that it was for the second time.

  “You have something to share with Lizzie and little Charlotte, Jameson?” His voice was commanding, gentle and urgent all at the same time. A practiced showman, no doubt he liked to conduct his services efficiently and on time.

  And then it hit him. He was supposed to read his statement. And he’d left it in his pants pocket in the bunkhouse. His blank stare into the reverend’s eyes brought a frown to the man in black.

  “Something wrong, Jameson?” Thomas leaned into him, whispering.

  “I left my paper in my jeans.”

  Lizzie’s adoring eyes widened abruptly, and then she too frowned.

  “This is just like Ransom’s. Remember when you forgot your second stanza?”

  He did remember that. He sang the first one over again, until it came to him. The audience loved it. But he had no first stanza to use in this case. Very slowly, he angled his head, raising his eyebrows and stared back at Thomas.

  “Oh, shit.” Thomas wasn’t very careful who heard him. Half the audience did.

  Lizzie covered Charlotte’s ears.

  “You owe me, Jameson.” With that, Thomas passed by Lizzie and out a side pathway that lead to the rear of the property. Before he ducked out of sight, he pointed to the air. “Be back in a flash, folks.”

  The harp player was given the go ahead to begin another song. The golden strings tugged at his own heartstrings. He pulled Lizzie to his side, sandwiching Charlotte between them, and whispered, “Never seen you so beautiful, my love.” He bent down, “And Charlotte, you’re the prettiest girl here.”

  Charlotte beamed, but Lizzie rolled her eyes. “I thought you two were pretty good at performances…I never…”

  The harp music grew louder as the audience began discussing the events they’d seen unfold in front of them. And then Thomas appeared, holding the yellow lined piece of paper high above his head: evidence that what was once lost was now found.

  The chuckles continued as the harpist quieted and then stopped. Jameson let go of Charlotte’s hand as he unfolded the paper, noticing that he too was shaking.

  “Sorry about that, everyone. I’m afraid my nerves got the better of me.” He cleared his throat, swallowed, took in a deep breath and began again.

  “Lizzie, I have loved you since the first time I saw your sweet face in the audience, staring up at me. They say that doesn’t really happen, but for me, it did. Then as I got to know you better, I somehow knew you were exactly right for me, although I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. I didn’t think I had the right to earn your love. My music kept me on the road, but yours was the face I saw on tour. You were the one I kept looking for in the crowds as the months and years went by. It was you I wanted to come home to.”

  He heard sniffling in the crowd. Jameson looked up and saw a bevy of lovelies, probably Lizzie’s friends, looking up at him like he was on stage. There was no mistaking that look. He had radar for it, and there were hundreds of times when he’d needed that adulation.

  But all that was past, way past. This was the day he’d become a real man, take the step he was sure was the right one.

  His eyes fell back to his paper again. “Charlotte’s the one who brought us together again. When you told me I had a daughter,” he stared down at Charlotte and patted the top of her head, being careful with her flowered headband, “It was the happiest day of my life.”

  Charlotte spontaneously hugged his thigh. “I love you too, Daddy!” her ardent little voice sang out.

  The audience melted. Hardened Navy SEALs in the audience wiped their eyes discreetly and didn’t look at each other.

  He touched Lizzie’s cheek. “I don’t deserve you, either of you. No more road trips, dark bars or neon lights. I wasn’t there for you at first, but now I’m here forever.”

  The crowd erupted into sighs or sniffles, depending on the person. Charlotte hadn’t let go of Jameson’s thigh, but she’d buried her face in it. His SEAL buddies from SEAL Team 3 watched this with intensity he could feel. It was never lost on any of them how the ones left behind always hoped for forever, but sometimes it wasn’t possible. He’d signed up to put himself in harm’s way, and now the burden of that decision weighed down as he garnered more and more reasons to live.

  Her Maid of Honor, Kendra, handed Lizzie a light pink index card. “Thank you, sweetie,” she whispered. Standing tall, holding the little card with both hands, she took a deep breath, addressing him, but loud enough for the audience as well.

  “After I met you, Jameson, I knew you were going to be either the one I could never get over, or the one I’d eventually be able to have for my own. My life was never going to be the same.” She smiled down at Charlotte, who had unburied her head to gaze up at her mother. “And then when Charlotte came, well that sealed it, didn’t it?”

  The audience chuckled.

  “I rehearsed my speech to you so many times in the shower, in my car. I recorded it and erased it. I practiced in front of the mirror so many times I must have had fifty versions of it memorized by heart. Like one of your songs, it had lots and lots of stanzas and refrains.”

  “Whoa, darlin’ hold on a minute. Not that many, really?”

  Ripples of laughter broke out. Jameson heard the husky chuckle of Thomas standing behind him. He glanced over to see Thomas eyeing the pretty brunette, Monica, and the lady responding with a very sultry wink.

  He looked at Zak and Nick sitting in the front row. Fredo and Mia sat behind them with their toddler, Ricardo, who was squirming. He felt Lizzie’s kiss on his cheek, and though she had backed away, he pulled her to him with his left arm and kissed her so well her veil nearly toppled.

  Again the audience loved it.

  “Okay, well, then,” she said as she smoothed down the front of her dress with her palms, her cheeks bright pink. “I think we better get this over with quick or we won’t make it,” she quickly addressed the audience, following it up with a pert smile and a flutter of those lovely lashes.

  “Oh, you can trust me on that, Lizzie. We’re gonna make it all right.” He was feeling elated, higher than a kite about to lose its string.

  She cleared her throat and pushed him away slightly as he went i
n for Deep Penetrating Kiss No. 2. Charlotte was confused, but enjoying herself, a silly smirk brightening her little face.

  “In the end, all I could do was unburden my heart with the unspoken words I’d stored for these three years. I decided it was time to just tell you the truth. And so I did.”

  Lizzie glanced down at the pink card, her hands shaking. Then he saw the spots of teardrops on the stiff vellum, her arms trembling, her lower lip quivering. “It was…” But she was struggling to continue.

  Jameson took her in his arms, careful to ease Charlotte out of the way. He held her face, kissing her eyes, her trembling mouth, as he whispered, “It’s all good, sweetheart. It all worked out the way it was supposed to be. Everything is perfect. Perfect now. We’re here, and that’s all that matters now.” He peered down at Charlotte, who was watching the audience, but clinging to Lizzie’s dress. Back at his soon-to-be wife, he whispered again, “Together. We do this together. Never will be apart.”

  His thumbs brushed back her tears as she nodded, did that little giggle thing that drove him nuts.

  “Together, Jameson. Thank you.”

  “My dear, are you finished?” the reverend asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Thomas’ voice carried, though he worked to make it a whisper. His years of performing made it an impossible task. “Jameson, would you get on with it. I’m ready for the party.” He leaned further and winked at Monica.

  Always the same. Thomas’ words stuck in Jameson’s head, ‘Go to bed at two with a ten, wake up at ten with a two.’ Perhaps Thomas’ luck was changing for the better. He hoped so.

  The pastor went through the discussion of marriage and the symbolism of the ring, the unending symbol of eternal love and devotion. He’d heard it a few times before, but this time, he savored the words and locked them deep inside. He knew there would be a time when he’d need those words. His today was filled with joy, but he knew his tomorrow could contain dark, painful times. It was what he signed up for, thought he could endure. But today was a pure celebration of anything in this world, as long as he could have it with Lizzie and Charlotte.

  The rings were exchanged, and then Jameson took out the little pink box he’d remembered to tuck inside his vest pocket. Bending over, he opened the box and presented Charlotte with a gold locket. He’d had it inscribed with the date of her birth, not the date of the wedding. The tiny heart was nearly too small for the inscription and definitely too small for Charlotte’s name.

  Her surprised face was all he needed to see. Her little hand clutched at the heart, pressing it into her lace bodice. Her warm hug was thanks enough.

  They each took her hand and the three of them faced the pastor as he pronounced them a family.

  Chapter 3

  ‡

  Lizzie watched Thomas and Monica enjoying being the center of attention on the dance floor. Kendra was at her side. Jameson was sharing a long-necked beer with some of his single SEAL buddies. Charlotte was with Nick and Devon, occupied by their baby’s antics.

  “He’s not half bad for an old guy,” Kendra smirked.

  This caught Lizzie up short. Following her Maid of Honor’s gaze, she realized Kendra was speaking about Thomas. “Oh come on, you like him a little, didn’t you? I saw the way he sang to you in the Halfway to Heaven in Nashville.”

  “Not my type, not that he cared much.”

  Lizzie stared at her friend. “Did you guys date at all?”

  “Are you kidding? You’d have been the first to know about that. Not a chance. I’m particular, don’t you know that by now?”

  Lizzie couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to lose someone like Kendra had. Rather than dwell in the past, she pushed forward. “You’d fit in with some of Jameson’s SEAL friends, then.”

  “Now that’s more my style, Lizzie. You know I go for camo. Don’t care if it’s green or blue. Maybe I can coax some introductions from you or The Man of the Hour.”

  “Be glad to.”

  Thomas and Monica moved into each other’s arms like old practiced lovers when the slow song came up. Three of Lizzie’s girlfriends from North Carolina descended on the bachelor horde, cornered three SEALs, including Jameson, and dragged them to the floor.

  “We should cut in.” Kendra was in a conspiratorial frame of mind. She was dangerous when she was this way.

  “Let them have their fun,” Lizzie waved to Jameson, who looked like a lamb being led to slaughter. He blew her a kiss. “I got him all night long, and he’s entitled to a few minutes of freedom.”

  “You’re bad.”

  “It’s what’s done on your wedding night, Kendra. You know that.” She nearly slapped herself for forgetting how much her best friend had loved her Iraq veteran who never came home.

  Kendra grabbed her hand. “Some day. No reason to worry about me, Lizzie. I’m holding out for someone special.” She shook her head and shrugged as if brushing off a bad dream. “Maybe he’ll have a race car or two. Own an island. An airplane!” Her eyes sparkled and matched her diamond studs. No trace of past sadness lingered on her pretty face.

  She wondered what would fill the void that Kendra had to endure every day. Maybe the dreams of fame and fortune…until the real thing came along. It was hard for her to look at Charlotte and not think of Jameson. For Kendra it was the same. “I never had dreams like that.” Lizzie wondered why that was so. Perhaps it was because Kendra had grown up dirt poor while Lizzie had everything she wanted until her parents were taken from her in the car accident. Their horse farm was her life for a while, until she realized it wasn’t her calling and sold it. Her parents would be proud, she thought. They’d met that weekend Jameson came to spend with them at the ranch near Charlotte, where Charlotte was actually conceived.

  “Kendra, you want to go outside?”

  “Yes. Let’s.” Kendra took her arm.

  An open doorway led out to the garden terrace where the wedding ceremony had taken place. A large water fountain had been turned on and was bubbling over. Taking Kendra’s hand, the two friends exited the great hall to the sanctuary of the sunny outdoor haven.

  A half dozen children were dancing together inside as Lizzie and Kendra lifted their skirts and gingerly sat on concrete benches facing the hall. The energetic youngsters had joined hands in a circle and were taking turns being in the middle. Lizzie recognized Kyle’s son, Brandon, one of the oldest of the children, at the center with Coop’s tall blonde daughter, Gillian.

  “The kids did great,” Kendra commented.

  “I love watching them. Charlotte tries to keep up with them, but right now she’s fascinated with Nick and Devon’s baby. She wants to make sure she has all her fingers and toes.”

  Kendra’s soft chuckle was soothing.

  One of the caterers extended the bride and her Maid of Honor a tray of champagne flutes. As the cool bubbly hit Lizzie’s system, she appreciated the late summer sun’s golden glow. The day could have been much hotter, but started out with a thick cloud cover, making the early afternoon bearable. The early evening would be warm and inviting. Lilies and colorful snaps and dahlias exploded into a diffusion of color nearly too bright to take in. She looked at the little lemon tree dripping with yellow ribbons, which served as the altar behind the good reverend during the ceremony. Lizzie already had a place picked out for it in Coronado at the tiny home they rented just three blocks from the beach.

  The music paused, and Jameson appeared in the doorway.

  “There you are. Thought perhaps you’d run away on me.”

  “Not a chance,” she said, rising to accept a soft kiss from him.

  “Can I steal her away?” he asked Kendra. “You should come inside too,” he nodded to Kendra. “Thomas wants to sing us a song.”

  Just inside the hall, people had gathered in a semicircle around Thomas, who was adjusting the microphone, then picking at his acoustic guitar, weaving back and forth. As his audience grew, he leaned into the microphone.

  �
�This is for Jameson and Lizzie. This is a nice slow one.” He nodded to the center of the floor, and then began playing a long melodic introduction. Jameson pulled her carefully to the open, his hand at her back, pressing and turning her to the rhythm of the lovely guitar tempo, while Thomas began the melody.

  Lizzie had never heard the song before. Thomas’ voice was more polished than she remembered. The love ballad was smooth and timeless. She watched the faces of their guests, some smiling at the two of them, others watching Thomas intently. Relaxed, dressed in white organza and in the arms of the man she loved more than life itself, time stood still.

  Until Jameson stiffened after hearing Thomas’ first stanza and then the refrain. His hand pressed into her hip, pushing her away from him, which she took as his instruction to turn, but the cue was off and they were disconnected. He laced his arm around the back of her waist again and pulled her to him. She felt something inside him trembling, so arched back and asked him.

  “It’s a song I wrote.”

  “I love it. Really beautiful, Jameson. Did you write it for me?”

  What came from his chest was a low growl. “I think every song I’ve written the past three years has been about you, or for you. But he’s changed it. Added new verses.”

  “I like it. You must sing it for me sometime.”

  He sighed, and she could tell he was trying to ignore the request. Jameson could hardly take his eyes off his Best Man. Lizzie saw tension between his eyebrows.

  “What is it, Jameson?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  Lizzie knew that was the cue not to ask him again, just to trust that he’d tell her later. But something about the song upset him.

  In my dreams I see your face

  My heart racing wild and free