A March Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella) Page 6

  “I used to be a very bad man, Susanna. You’ve not heard my testimony?”

  She squinted. “I thought you went to Bible college out of high school. Never did drugs, smoked, or ran with those who did.”

  “You’re right. I went to Bible college, then seminary. Waited until I was married to Bren to have sex. Never dabbled in pornography. But oh, I was jealous and envious of my fellow scholars, a gossip, judgmental. Selfish.”

  “All right, I get it.” She held up her hand. “None of us are righteous.”

  “No, not one.” He fell silent for a long moment and his confession echoed across her mind. Then, “Susanna, I implore you to keep your ear near His heart. He’ll speak to you. I understand your reserve about giving up your American citizenship. It’s kind of the last thing that is solely yours as you go into this marriage. But may I remind you, you are first the Bride of Christ. You’ve already given up everything of who you are to be married to Him. You are more than an American. You are a citizen in the kingdom of God. A princess in His household. So don’t put limits on yourself based on a natural citizenship when, technically, you’ve already given it up to be a member of a higher world—one that is and is to come. What if you’re called to be a part of ushering in some aspect of God’s kingdom here on earth by being a Brighton royal?”

  Her heart burned with each of his challenges.

  “You still think of yourself as the scared little girl hiding from her parents while they brought the house down on each other.”

  She nodded, her tears unstoppable. Reverend Smith was hitting on all cylinders today.

  “But God sees a redeemed woman bought by His blood. One with a renewed heart and mind. Susanna, it’s extraordinary. He’s entrusting you to be a Christian example to people around the world. For such a time as this. Are you sure you want to give it all up to remain that scared little girl? Because I see a woman who broke out of her past, reached for the brass ring, got it, and is now letting fear rob her of her destiny.”

  “I thought I was over all of that.” Susanna fell against him, her head resting on his shoulder, sobbing.

  “Sometimes pressure brings up the last of the yucky old residue.” He slipped his hand into hers, a soft prayer humming from his chest.

  She wept for all the hours she’d hidden in her closet, pretending it was her magic garden while Mama and Daddy screamed obscenities at one another.

  She wept for all the years she waited for Adam Peters, only to find out he wasn’t her one true love.

  She wept for her soul, her heart, her country, and all she was surrendering for the sake of love.

  “You’re saying good-bye to a life you’ve known up till now.” The reverend shoved a worn, soft handkerchief into her hand. “Press on to what lies ahead, to the upward call of Christ, the apostle Paul told us. And forget what lies behind. Something better awaits you.”

  The reverend’s final words cut through every cloud of confusion and a blip of joy smacked her heart.

  Susanna sat up, mopping her face with his white hankie. “I asked the Lord for an answer and He sent me you.” She smiled, peering at him. “Thank you, Reverend, thank you.”

  “Did I help?”

  “Very much.” Weird, now that the tears had dried up and the confusion had lifted, she felt so much lighter. Free.

  Standing, she dusted the grass and leaves from her jeans. “I know what I need to do. I only hope it’s not too late.”

  Nathaniel tossed his suitcase in the master suite of the St. Simons Island cottage. This had been the royal family’s American getaway since 1902.

  “Liam,” he said, jogging down the stairs. “Let’s head to the Rib Shack, see if we can locate Susanna.” His chief security officer fell in step off of his right shoulder.

  They’d arrived on the island an hour ago, set up the chief and staffers he’d brought along at the Prince and King Hotel before heading for the family cottage.

  Listening to their syncopated footfalls scuff over the gravel drive as they made their way toward the SUV, Nathaniel second-guessed his decision to not ring up Susanna with his plans.

  He thought to surprise her, but now he wished he’d told her he was coming.

  Oh, how he missed her, ached to hear her voice, to see her face. Back in Brighton, he had often met her for luncheons and they dined every evening together, spending weekends touring Brighton’s glorious mountain retreats or walking the winter shores.

  He was addicted to her being in his life. Living without her would be unbearable. Susanna brought him gifts he hadn’t realized he was lacking: ease, courage, and the joy of feeling comfortable in his own skin.

  Liam headed down Frederica toward the Rib Shack as Nathaniel stared out his window, Wednesday’s soft evening light flickering past.

  Being back on the island made him all the more homesick for Susanna.

  He prayed that three days had been enough time for her to think. To perhaps miss him. To decide he was worth her everything.

  Nathaniel’s thoughts came round as Liam turned into the Rib Shack’s sand-and-seashell car park.

  As he stepped out into the evening shade of the guarding oaks, he scented the heady fragrance of grilling meat and sweet barbecue.

  The sight of the Shack, the fragrant aromas, put him in mind of the summer he came here on holiday, met Susanna, and signed on to work for her mama as she enlisted the aid of anyone and everyone to share her daddy’s workload after his heart attack.

  Nathaniel warmed with the memories of his days at the Shack. He’d spent several happy evenings scrubbing grease vats and Cloroxing toilets as an ad hoc employee. No one knew he was a prince.

  He’d do it again to be near Susanna. To be a normal bloke.

  Cutting around to the back of the restaurant, Nathaniel took the deck steps two at a time, the warm sea breeze shoving against his back, and drew open the kitchen’s screen door.

  “Glo?” he called, scanning the kitchen for his future mother-in-law. The place was hopping, with two chefs on the grill and two at the prep table.

  Bristol, a lean, ponytailed Shack employee, stood at the service window calling out orders. “Keri, pick up, table ten.”

  When she turned to garnish a plate of ribs, she caught sight of him standing in the doorway.

  “Well, I’ll be.” She curtsied, smiling. “Welcome, Your Majesty.”

  “Bristol, it’s a pleasure to see you.” He nodded, returning her smile. He checked the urge to tell her that since she was American, protocol dictated that she didn’t need to curtsy. But she looked rather practiced and polished. He’d not deny her the effort. “Tell me, is Glo about?”

  “In the office.” Bristol tipped her head to the kitchen’s back corner. “Y’all hungry? I’ll pull you a plate if you’d like. Liam, you cotton to baby back ribs if I recall.”

  “You remembered.” Liam checked with Nathaniel before passing through to the dining room.

  The big chap was all but licking his chops at the mention of baby backs.

  Nathaniel rapped lightly against the office door frame. “Permission to enter?”

  “You made it.” Glo popped up from her chair, reaching for him, wrapping him up in a hug. “How’s my favorite son-in-law?” Stepping back, she held him at arm’s length, her warmth and down-home goodness embracing the weariest places of his being.

  “Better now that I’ve seen you.” He eased down to the chair adjacent to her desk. A bit younger than his own mum, Glo was a beauty with a bit of brawn in her soul. He could see Susanna in her features, in her actions. And he admired her.

  “Ha! You didn’t fly four thousand miles to see me.”

  “Well, not expressly, no.” He leaned forward. “Have you seen Susanna? I thought to surprise her, but now I wish I’d rung her.”

  “She headed out on her bicycle this morning, just as your assistant called saying you were on your way. I’ve not seen her since.”

  “She doesn’t know, though, about the plan?” The plan he pr
ayed worked. That he’d not set himself up, once again, to be rejected by the woman he loved. Though his “love” for Adel was nothing more than youthful infatuation and lust.

  “She does not. I only told the necessary folks, just like you asked.” Glo shot him a sneaky smirk as she reached down, tugging open a bottom desk drawer. “Got the specifications from your assistant—”

  “Jonathan, my aide.” Of course she knew Jonathan, but he was nervous, filling the void with words.

  Glo passed him the printed checklist. “As you can see, I conquered half of them today. The food has been ordered. Still waiting on some of the bigger ticket items.”

  Nathaniel scanned the checked items, excitement blooming in his chest, clouded only by the realization he had yet to speak to his beloved. He passed the list back to Glo. “Thank you for your help. I know I imposed upon you.”

  “Pshaw, boy, it’s for my Suz. We’ve not been able to do much for the Brighton wedding. It’s my honor to help with this.”

  “Spare no expense. I’ll pay whatever to have the turnaround we need.”

  “Dollars and cents? Now you’re speaking southern Georgian. But Gib and I got most of this. A few folks got so excited about your plan, they offered their services for free.”

  “No, no, Glo, I insist on paying. Otherwise it is meaningless if it cost me nothing.”

  “I could say the same thing.” She slapped her palm against the desk, then slipped the paper back into the bottom drawer. “We should be good to go by Friday evening. We got tonight and all day tomorrow to tidy up this list.”

  “Whatever remains unaccomplished, remains. It is only important that Susanna is there. Speaking of my true love, where should I look for her? Your home? Might she be at the hospital? How is your mum?”

  “Mum is doing just fine. She went home this morning. She’s sitting up, taking food on her own. She’ll live to be a hundred, God willing.” Glo reached for the desk phone. “Let me see if I can’t track her down.”

  While Glo made a few calls, Nathaniel paced the small office stuffed with supplies and old lamps.

  On a whim, he’d put forth this idea, his only idea, to woo back Susanna.

  He could not abdicate his throne over the citizenship debacle, but he could meet Susanna on her side of the world and do his level best to prove he loved her and wanted to marry her no matter what her citizenship.

  Now if only she still wanted him.

  She didn’t seem the kind of woman to run out on her commitments readily. But all bets were off when one was challenged right down to the core of her identity.

  “Nathaniel!” Avery dashed into the office and roped him in a big hug. No pretense. No inhibitions. Just love. “You’re here. I’m sooo excited. Mama, I found the dress in Granny’s things.”

  “Good girl.” Glo dialed another number. “Did you drop it off at Morgan’s? Nathaniel, she’s not answering her phone—let me try her granny’s.”

  “Yep, and they’re putting the bum’s rush on it.” Avery perched on the edge of the desk, her eyes bright. “Is Colin coming?”

  Ah yes, his young cousin. The prince who was stealing another Truitt girl’s heart. “He’s on his way with Mum and Stephen as we speak. We’re running out of royal aeroplanes. Susanna has Royal One. I flew on Royal Two with the accompanying staff. Mum, Stephen, and Colin along with Jonathan had to charter from a private carrier.”

  Avery twisted up her lips, snapping her fingers. “And to think, the rest of us have to fly coach.”

  “All right, missy.” Glo poked her in the back, holding the phone receiver to her ear. “You have homework? If not, I could use an extra hand in here tonight. Sue Ellen called in sick. Hello, Marlee, Glo Truitt here. Susanna’s not around the shop, is she? Getting her hair done?” She listened with a grimace, then hung up. “Well, no one’s seen her since this afternoon. She visited her granny around noon. Then popped by Gracie’s a little after two and left there before three. She’s not at Gracie’s salon nor at the house—”

  “Y’all looking for Suz?” Avery said, popping up from her perch on the edge of the desk. “Mama, I can’t stay. I’ve got a team meeting.” She tugged her phone from her rucksack. “Did y’all try to call her?”

  “Did you just hear me say she’s not answering her phone?”

  “Yeah, Mama, you have a different ring tone—Suz, hey, it’s me. Where are you?” Avery grinned at Nathaniel. “When are you coming home? I want to order a large cheese pizza from Sal’s.” Avery’s eyes widened with surprise. “You’re in Savannah? Waiting to take off for Brighton? You realize you love Nathaniel and want to go back to Brighton? Why am I repeating everything you say?”

  Avery shot Nathaniel a visual plea. What do I do?

  He motioned for her to keep talking as he retrieved his phone and dialed Royal One’s satellite phone.

  “So,” she said, elevating her tone with a bit of merriment. “I bet Nathaniel is excited you’re coming back. What? Right, right, you want to surprise him. Cool, way cool.” She made a face, shrugging at Nathaniel. “Well, I’m sorry you won’t be home for pizza. But hey, the only thing that trumps hot cheese pizza is true love, right?” Ha-ha. “Okay, I’ll tell Mama you’ve left. We’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”

  “Here, let me talk to her.” Glo took the phone from Avery, whispering to Nathaniel, “If she’s fixing to take off . . . you best hurry and do whatever it is you can do to stop that plane. Mercy, I sound like I’m in a movie or something.”

  Nathaniel was on it, his chest buzzing with untethered emotions, aware of the ramifications. Her plan was ruining his.

  But Susanna was returning to Brighton. Of her own accord. He smiled, then stepped out of the office, through the kitchen, and onto the back deck.

  Fabian Rainwater, a former pilot for the RAF before joining the king’s service, answered the sat phone.

  “Fabian?”

  “Your Majesty, is everything all right?”

  “Listen, please don’t react if Susanna is in hearing range. But do not take off.”

  “I’m in the cockpit now. What reason shall I give her? We’re wheels up at eight o’clock.”

  “I’m here. On St. Simons Island to surprise her.”

  “I see. Under the radar, I imagine.”

  “Very much so.”

  “It’s not easy being a king in moments like these, is it?” A soft, humorous lilt bent his words. “What reason shall I give her for the delay?”

  “You’re the pilot, Fabian. Make something up.”

  “Mechanical?”

  “Perfect. But one that cannot be solved easily. No waiting round in Savannah overnight. She must return to the island.”

  “Will do, sir.”

  “Fabian, you must come along as well. And your copilot.”

  “For any special reason?”

  “Indeed. A very special reason.”

  Nathaniel rang off and tucked his phone in his jeans pocket, his stomach rumbling for the tangy taste of barbecue, his heart churning for her love.

  Susanna thumped her suitcase back up the back deck of the Rib Shack, exhausted and disheartened and discombobulated, the ordeal of the past few days weighing on her.

  The citizenship writ in Brighton. Her decision to come home. The lack of communication with Nathaniel. Her morning conversation with Mama. Her encounter with Reverend Smith at Christ Church.

  Her subsequent decision to return to Brighton.

  Visiting with Granny one last time before flying home. She was comforted by the light in Granny’s eyes and the color on her cheeks.

  A final stop by Gracie’s.

  Scurrying home to pack and get down to Savannah, meet up with the pilot, and wait for wheels up.

  The disappointing news that the plane had mechanical problems.

  Hiring a car to return to St. Simons with the pilots, Fabian and Roark.

  She had spent the car ride with her forehead pressed to the dark window, hiding her tears.

  See,
this was exactly why she planned things. She wore spontaneity like a wet sack. Thin and falling apart. She should’ve never left Brighton. Now it seemed as if she’d hit a brick wall on returning.

  Lord, please, tell Nathaniel I love him.

  She’d tried to call—forget surprising him—but his phone went straight to voice mail. So instead she rang Rollins and asked him to arrange for a car to meet her at the Brighton airport.

  Then Susanna instructed her lady’s maid, Ansley, to make sure the emerald green Alexander McQueen party dress was ready to go. She would surprise Nathaniel at dinner.

  But not tomorrow night after all. Darn plane.

  “Well.” Mama stepped onto the deck, a dish towel in her hands. “Just where have you been?”

  “Believe it or not, trying to get back to Brighton.”

  Mama snapped the air with her towel, tipped back her head, and raised her hand toward heaven. “Thank You, Lord. Finally.”

  “I’m not in the mood, Mama.” Susanna kicked her suitcase against the deck rail to let a young family pass.

  Mama hollered toward the kitchen door. “Bristol, you got customers on the deck.” She joined Susanna at a table. “So, you were heading home?”

  Home? Brighton was home, wasn’t it? “I wanted to surprise Nathaniel.”

  “What happened?” Mama ran her strong, soft hand over Susanna’s hair, brushing it away from her neck. Her unexpected tenderness brought Susanna’s tears to the surface. “What made you decide to go back?”

  “I prayed a prayer.” Susanna recapped her conversation with Reverend Smith, leaving out the part where she cried over her childhood. Mama didn’t need piled-on guilt.

  “So why aren’t you winging it toward Brighton?”

  “Mechanical problem. The part won’t arrive until Friday.”

  “It’s going to be all right, Susanna.”

  “You don’t know that, Mama.” She vaulted off the picnic table bench. “The more I think about it . . . the longer I’m away from Nathaniel, he’s not going to want me back. What kind of woman slips off her engagement ring because the life of her intended comes with certain requirements? I mean, if he was the head of Apple and I was a peon at Microsoft, I wouldn’t think twice about resigning.”