Another woman jumps to her feet. Her face is bright red as she screams, “What is wrong with you people?” She points a shaky finger at me. She’s wearing a green hoodie, but it’s slipping off, and I’m pretty sure she’s my blackmailer. “That woman is an abomination. She writes nothing but filth. Foul language on every page of her books. Sex outside of wedlock. Filthy descriptions. Homosexual abominations. She has no moral compass, and the devil will meet her at the gates of hell with his burning pitchfork.”
Because the blackmailer is sitting in the middle of a long row, it takes the sheriff and his deputies a while to get to her.
Stunned citizens try to get out of the way, allowing room for law enforcement to arrest her. She’s still shouting vile nonsense as she is cuffed and read her rights. Still kicking and screaming, she’s led from the room.
There’s a collective hush in the room for several seconds before I find my legs and join Brody on the stage.
He wraps an arm around me and pulls me into his side.
Everyone slowly returns to their seats, but they’re grumbling. An older woman I’ve only seen in passing stands in the middle of the crowd and looks at me. “Melody, you dear child. You don’t deserve what has happened. I don’t think you should feel obligated to reveal yourself to us. It’s possible that bitch might out you anyway, but I think any judge will slap a gag order on her mouth by tomorrow morning. If your name gets out someday, we all have your back, but until then, sleep easy knowing that you’re a valued member of the community.” She sits down all prim and proper. Several people are chuckling, probably because she used the word bitch so casually as she delivered her speech so eloquently.
The entire town applauds. I can’t see a single dissenter in the group. In fact, they begin to file out of the gymnasium as if the meeting is over. And I guess it is. They’ve made their decision.
I’m so exhausted that I slouch against my man. He’s got me. He will always hold me up. I’m the luckiest woman alive.
Chapter 23
Four days later…
* * *
Melody
* * *
“This is crazy.” I can’t stop giggling. I’m in Arianna’s bedroom, holding my shoulders back so she and Reagan can zip up my dress. “Nobody gets married a week after going on their first date.”
“Some people do,” Reagan responds. “Well, I mean some people wait like two weeks, but hey, you’re an overachiever.”
Arianna’s laughing. “Leave it to Melody to outdo us. She just has to show off,” she teases.
Reagan adjusts my veil where it’s clipped on top of my fancy updo. I never get my hair done. And I guess I didn’t really today either. These four women, who are about to become my sisters, fixed it for me. It’s so beautiful with long ringlets, all tamed to perfection. “She’ll probably get pregnant tonight and then deliver before any of us just to beat us at that, too.”
I keep grinning. “Let’s not get carried away. I’d rather not deliver a baby two months early just to win that race. Besides, I don’t know the first thing about babies. Maybe I’ll wait a few months to get pregnant so I have some time to watch all of you in action.”
“Ha.” Arianna shakes her head. “Have you suggested that idea to Brody?”
“No, but he loves me, right? He’ll let me wait a while if I ask nicely, right?” I’m half kidding, but I wonder what he would say if I suggested we use condoms tonight.
“Not a chance,” Reagan replies. “But record that conversation because I want to hear it later.”
The door opens, and we all turn around to see Emilia and Claire joining us. Claire is looking kind of pale. She really does suffer from morning sickness all day. I hate that for her.
The women surround me, touching up my makeup, moving my curls around, straightening out my dress, pampering me like no one ever has in my life. My own mother would have thought all this pomp and circumstance was frivolous and wasteful.
She’s not here, of course. She doesn’t even know I’m getting married today because I haven’t told her. Or my dad. I talked to Brody about this a few days ago, explained to him the odd relationship I have with my parents and how their lives revolve around serving others. Someday soon, I’ll tell them, but it will be easier to wait until it’s a done deal. That way, they won’t have to come up with excuses or make up some reason why they simply couldn’t be here today. They’ll be relieved to find out it’s done.
It’s okay. I love them. They love me in the best way they know how. But they love serving humanity more. I made peace with that years ago. I have my own life here in the States. And now I have more family than I ever dreamed of having.
The truth is, Brody fully understands. His father is abroad with his wife. Brody knew they wouldn’t come. They didn’t come to Dallas’s wedding either. Brody did call them last night to let them know, though. After he and I talked about my parents, he liked the idea of waiting until it was too late for them to even consider coming. It alleviated some of the guilt.
We have everyone we need right here in the house.
Gretchen has been working for days preparing food for after the ceremony. Isabel has been here, too, helping her. I really like Isabel. She’s so full of life. I hope she sticks around, especially since she loves babies and children so much.
“Ready?” Emilia asks.
I take a deep breath. “I guess.”
