Page 97 of The Hero
“Yeah,” Marlowe agreed. She was still racking her brain, trying to figure out a way to help JJ and April’s relationship along, when Kendric exited the house with a huge smile on his face.
“All done,” he said as he got close. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him. “Well, I mean, everything’s in, not unpacked. I’ll start on that later. You want to see?”
“Duh,” Marlowe told him with a small laugh.
“I’m gonna take June home, she’s been on her feet long enough today,” Cal said as he claimed his wife by wrapping an arm around her waist.
June gave the other women a look as if to say, “See?”
“Yeah, Car and I were going to head up to the cabin for the weekend. If anything comes up and you need me, let me know,” Chappy said, taking Carlise’s hand in his.
Marlowe waved to her friends and promised to text them pictures later when the house was more settled.
“And I guess I’ll just get out of your hair,” JJ said with a grin. “Head to the office. I know when I’m a third wheel.” He slapped Kendric on the back and headed for his Bronco.
“You look happy,” Kendric told her as his friends walked toward their various cars, all parked on the road.
“That’s because I am,” she said with a smile.
“Good. Me too.”
Gazing at her new home, Marlowe had the thought that everything she’d been through, all the terror, the uncertainty, the flight through Thailand, almost being killed ... every single thing had been worth it. She was married to the man of her dreams, would be having their child, and now was moving into her dream house. She’d go through it all again if it meant she’d end up right here.
“Let’s go see our house,” she said. “Maybe even christen some of the rooms.”
Kendric grinned huge. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”
He swept her up bride-style and strode toward the front porch. He carried her over the threshold and stopped, leaning down to kiss her. “Are you sure you aren’t upset that you never had a real wedding ceremony?”
They’d decided to go to the justice of the peace and get married here in the States, just to make sure their marriage was legit. It had just been the two of them, and the two witnesses, employees who worked in the building. Neither had wanted to make a big deal out of it, because as far as they were both concerned, they were already married. That was just a formality.
“Ididhave a real wedding ceremony,” Marlowe insisted. “I wore a cream dress, we said our vows, and we have the certificate to prove it.”
The piece of paper was a little worse for wear, wrinkled and torn at the corners, and the ink was smudged from his fall into the canal, but it would always hold a special place in Marlowe’s heart. Kendric had gotten it framed, and she had no doubt he’d already hung it in their bedroom, where it had been in their apartment for the last five and a half months.
“I love you,” Kendric said.
“I love you more.”
“Not possible.” Kendric kissed her again.
He was about to close the door when he heard a sharp whistle coming from behind them. He turned and looked around—and immediately put Marlowe on her feet when he saw his friends gathering. Something was up, and it didn’t look good.
Kendric and Marlowe turned their backs on their new house, putting their christening plans on hold to go see what was happening.
April sighed as she hung up the phone. She was at the office instead of hanging out with her friends. She wanted to be there, but lately, being around Jack was excruciating. Despite her protests to the other women ... she loved the man. And being nothing but his friend for years was slowly killing her.
She wasn’t even sure when it happened, precisely. She supposed it was a gradual thing, seeing how dedicated Jack was to the business, how much he loved his friends. He’d drop everything to help the ones he loved if they needed it. She’d seen it firsthand over and over. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a partner.
She hadn’t come first in her own marriage. Her ex-husband wasn’t a bad person, he was simply ... self-absorbed. He’d felt as if his work was more important than hers. If she had a doctor’s appointment, and wanted him to go with her, he’d always insisted he couldn’t because of a meeting at work or something. She couldn’t rely on him foranything.
They’d loved each other at the beginning of their marriage, but as the years passed, they grew apart. By the time she’d finally asked for a divorce, they’d been nothing more than roommates.
April had a feeling Jack would be an amazing husband. Attentive, protective, and he’d never blow her off if she asked him to come with her to an appointment, or a party, or simply to sit with her at home and have a meal together.
Sighing, she shook her head. She and Jack weren’t meant to be, that much was clear. They’d worked together for years. If he had any feelings toward her other than those of a boss toward his employee, he’d had plenty of time to act on them.
Since he was currently with everyone else, helping Marlowe and Bob move into their new house, she’d gone to Jack’s Lumber. It was the weekend, and she didn’t need to be there. The phone service would alert her to any emergency calls. But she couldn’t be near him any more than she was already, even if she wanted to be, so coming into the quiet office was her best option.
