Page 68 of Texas Made
A day afterthe wedding and before everyone scattered again, Marshall called a meeting of the family. He and Jaclyn decided to go on and let everyone know in person. Chase and Ella would find out once they returned from their honeymoon.
“What’s going on?” Gabe asked irritably. “I was working. I have a new idea and wanted to get it sketched out.”
“You’re always working,” Marshall said.
“He’s got you there,” Chantel commented with a chuckle.
Everyone had gathered in the big den. Marshall and Jaclyn stood in front of the fireplace, holding hands. Jaclyn raised her left hand to push back her hair.
“Wait a minute.” Damaris jumped up and grabbed her hand. “This is Grandma’s ring. Did you two get engaged?”
“No,” Marshall said. “We got married.”
“You did what?” Cole asked.
“Got married,” Marshall repeated.
“This is a surprise,” Josie, Marshall’s mom, said. “When did this happen?”
“Last weekend. We flew to Aruba and got married.”
“And you’re just telling us now?” Jedidiah asked.
“We didn’t want to take away from Chase and Ella’s wedding. They’ve been planning it forever. But we didn’t want to wait either, so we took the wedding and honeymoon package to Aruba. It was amazing. Just the two of us in one of the most romantic places there is. We had a beautiful hotel room and a very short, sweet ceremony right on the beach.”
“I think it’s wonderfully romantic,” Chantel said. “Congratulations, you two.”
Damaris hugged Jaclyn tight, saying, “I’m so glad you’re my sister-in-law now that I guess I’ll have to forgive you for running off.” She passed Jaclyn to her parents and hugged her brother. After that it was a blur of congratulations and much hugging and backslapping.
“There’s food and drink in the dining room,” Ruthie announced once the hubbub died down.
“You’re a miracle worker,” Marshall’s mom said. “How did you do all this so quickly?”
“Jaclyn told me last night after the reception so I’d have time to put something together.”
“And we’re so grateful you did, Ruthie,” Jaclyn said. “Thank you.”
“I had to do something to welcome you into the family.” She hugged Marshall. “You did good.”
He smiled. “Thanks. I think so.”
Later that night Jaclyn and Marshall talked about the reception and some of the things that had gone on. “Your brother Cole is a heartbreaker, isn’t he?”
“Careful, I might get jealous.”
“No need to worry. My heart belongs to you.” But she had to admit the Walker men were a study in gorgeous males.
Jaclyn changed into her pajamas: an old T-shirt and cotton pants. “Damaris looked beautiful. She spent nearly the whole night with Nate. I wonder what that’s about?”
“Don’t know. Damaris has always said they’re just friends but I think he has the hots for her. But she’s so skittish he can’t act on it, even if it’s true.”
“Maybe things are about to change.”
“Maybe we should quit talking about everyone else,” Marshall said, tumbling her into bed. “Maybe I should make love to my very sexy wife.” He rolled on top of her and kissed her, balancing on his forearms so he didn’t smush her.
She put her arms around his neck and laughed. “I’m wearing my sexiest nightie too.”
“Jaclyn, you’d look sexy in a potato sack. Or better yet, wearing nothing at all.”
