a mother for her.
Searching the small crowd who’d gathered for his wedding reception, he found Tory talking with her parents and his brother, the only member of his immediate family able to make his wedding since his mother was unable to travel due to poor health. Like flames of a fire, her long, straight auburn hair fell about her shoulders, catching the rays of the sun. The soft folds of her white dress swirled about her knees as she moved with her parents toward her sister and brother-in-law. The tailored bodice and delicate beadwork along the scooped neckline emphasized Tory’s petite frame.
She caught him looking at her and smiled. Even across the lawn he saw the sparkle in her gaze as though golden honey mingled with the chocolate of her eyes. Behind that smile there lay a vulnerability that he suspected went deep. It was that very vulnerability that spoke to him and touched his own wounded soul. For a fleeting moment he wondered if it was possible to heal each other’s hurts.
He looked away, his gaze dropping to his left hand again. The wedding ring felt heavy and tight. He twisted the band around, a momentary sense of panic attacking. What had he done? He wasn’t a whole man. All he could offer Tory was loyalty and friendship. There wasn’t anything else left inside.
“It’s a little late to be having second thoughts,” Paul, his friend, said.
“I’m not. This was a good decision. Tory is right for Mindy and me.”
“I have to admit I was surprised by this sudden move. Frankly, I wasn’t even aware you were dating.” Paul peered toward Tory. “Sandy and I want to have you all over for dinner sometime soon. Maybe after the honeymoon.”
“We aren’t going on a honeymoon.”
“Don’t let work keep you from going away.”
“You know I’m in the middle of my plant’s expansion. I’m putting in a new assembly line to make plastic containers for Wellco. Besides that, I’ve got several new contracts starting that I need to oversee.” Slade wouldn’t even tell his friend that the real reason he wasn’t going on a honeymoon was his marriage wasn’t a normal one. Maybe one day, but not now. Paul had already worried enough about him.
“And how does your new wife feel about all this work?”
“She understands.”
“Then you have a special woman because Sandy certainly wouldn’t.”
“We’ll have a honeymoon later.”
“When that happens, we’d love for Mindy to stay with us. Laurie misses her and all she talks about is that picnic at the pond you all invited her to. She thinks Mindy is one lucky girl to live on a horse ranch.”
“Laurie is welcome to visit anytime,” Slade said, realizing he was already beginning to feel the ranch was his home.
That took him by surprise, but as he let his gaze travel over the backyard, the feeling of having come home grew. Already Mindy’s toys were evident with a new swing set near the freshly painted white fence separating the yard from the horse pasture. On the deck sat his grill from his house and several blue-and-green pieces of his patio furniture, including a round glass table shaded by an umbrella with big blue flowers on it.
He was selling his house in town even though it was bigger. He had made a commitment to Tory and that involved making her riding stable a success. His home was here now.
“Mom, you should sit down. You’ve been on your feet too long.” Tory took a hold of her mother’s arm to guide her to the nearest chair. The pale cast to her mother’s features worried her. Eleanor Alexander’s weak heart had curtailed her activities in the past few years, and today she had overdone it. “Are you taking your medicine?”
“Yes, dear. I’m just fine.” Eleanor patted her daughter’s arm. “You worry too much.” She eased onto the folding chair and indicated Tory sit next to her. “We haven’t had much time to talk these past few days. I never thought you’d be able to put together a wedding so fast, but you did. I wish I could have helped more.”
“You being here is all I need.”
“Well, of course, I’d come to my daughter’s wedding, dear.” A tiny frown furrowed her brow. “Are you sure, Tory?”
“Now look who’s worrying. I’m sure. Slade Donaldson is a good man. I’m lucky to have found him.” As she said those words to her mother, Tory felt the rightness in every one of them. Slade was an excellent choice for a husband. They were friends. Wasn’t that a good reason to marry someone? Much better than passion and love. Ever since her rape, she didn’t see her life filled with either of those emotions. When the man she had been dating had forced himself on her, he had taken not only her virginity but her trust in her judgment in men. Slade made her realize not all men were like Brandon Clayton.
Her mother sighed. “I won’t lie to you. I’ve been worried about you ever since—” Her mother couldn’t voice aloud what had happened to Tory. She never had. Eleanor pinched her lips together, her frown deepening.
Tory laid her hand over her mother’s. “I know. But I’m getting better with each day.” Some days I don’t even think about what happened four years ago. For all her declarations to Slade and Judy about putting the past behind her, she knew in her heart it was always there, just waiting for when she let down her guard. It would have been so much easier if she had lost her memory of the rape. Then she wouldn’t wonder if her life would ever be normal again.
“I’m glad, dear. I think this marriage is a good step in the right direction. I like your young man and Mindy is adorable. A ready-made family. I know how important a family is to you.”
And her time for starting her own was running out. Tory had never told her mother that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis. Her mother had been upset enough about the rape. Tory hadn’t wanted to add to her mother’s worries. She knew how much her mother wanted lots of grandchildren. She’d gotten her love for a large family from her mother.
“Mindy is fitting right in with Ashley and Jamie.”
Tory looked toward Mindy playing with her new cousins. “Yes, they hit it off right away. It’s nice they are all about the same age.”
“Has Judy told you the good news yet?”
“No.”
“Oh, dear. I thought she would have told you the first night.”
“Told me what, Mom?”
“She’s going to have another baby in seven months. But don’t say anything. She hasn’t told the kids yet. She just found out the day she came up here.”
Tory knew the reason her big sister hadn’t said anything. She hadn’t wanted to put a damper on the festivities. She was happy for Judy and she would let her know as soon as possible. Her sister needed to stop trying to protect her. She’d learned to deal with disappointments, and never having her own children was a very real possibility. “That’s great, Mom. Judy probably didn’t want to take away from my day.”
“Knowing your sister, you’re probably right.” Her mother peered over Tory’s shoulder. “I think Maude is trying to get your attention.”
Tory shifted in the chair and found her aunt standing by the long table laden with food. Aunt Maude waved to Tory to come cut the cake she’d baked the happy couple.
Her mother’s color still hadn’t returned. Her eyes dull, she attempted a smile. “I think it’s time to cut the cake, dear. I’ll watch from here.”
“Mom, maybe you should go into the house and lie down.”
“No—” she fluttered her hand in the air “—I’m fine, dear.”
“Mother?”
“Go. I see your young man has already been roped by Maude into participating. The groom has to have a bride by his side when he’s cutting the cake.”