Epilogue to My Protector
In Doveport news, organized crime figure Sean Hannity and his mother, Margarette Hannity, pled guilty today in federal court on a slew of tax evasion and money laundering charges. This follows guilty pleas last week to state charges of arson, extortion and insurance fraud. Prosecutors in both cases were quick to credit an unnamed Doveport business owner for the successful conclusion, saying that his or her participation in a months-long sting operation was instrumental in securing the evidence that convinced the Hannitys to drop their initial Not Guilty pleas and cut a deal. The exact terms of that deal haven’t been announced yet, but are expected to include at least 20 years’ imprisonment to be followed by deportation to the Hannitys’ native Ireland. It’s always a good day when justice is served, and a special thanks goes out to the anonymous community member who helped bring this criminal enterprise down. Doveport is in your debt, sir or madam!
“Dad! Shut that TV off and let’s go! We’re going to be late! Besides, haven’t you gloated enough by now?” Jenna shouted as she rushed out of the back office into the bar with Hannah carrying the train of her wedding gown behind her.
“No, I have not! It’s not every day I get to be a town hero,” Paul laughed. “I always told you to trust me about the Hannity situation, and now you know why, even if nobody else does. Besides, the place is right down the street, and Tanner’s waited this long for you, an extra few minutes won’t kill him.”
“No, but I don’t want to be even a few minutes more pregnant when I’m standing at the altar,” Jenna snickered, taking a look around the bar. The exposed wood beams and rafters were restored, good as new. The flooring and walls had been replaced. Everything that the last fire had touched had been taken out. The memory of those charred pieces of material would never vanish, but The Wheel’s renovated glory more than made up for the loss.
And it was especially glorious today. Jenna was in awe at how Lucky Llana had transformed the place for her. The room was decorated with blue, white and gold. There were tall bouquets on the tables, white flowers sprinkled with gold flecks and sitting in small gold vases with navy blue ribbons tied around them. The bar itself had been transformed, hiding the copper behind several sheets of chiffon and lace. The place had turned out spectacularly. Llana was rushing to and fro bossing the caterers around, and Mr. Donner was just coming out of the kitchen area, showing a pair of servers where to place the wedding cake. Everything seemed to be under control. It was going to be a beautiful reception.
But first things first. Jenna had to walk—or more likely waddle—down the aisle. The only reason she’d stopped was to admire the setup and check in on the progress. Seeing it, she had no doubt that it was going to be ready on time. A soft smile spread across her face as worry fled from her mind and she thought of nothing but Tanner waiting at the altar for her. They needed to go!
“Okay, I’m ready. I’m happy this turned out the way it did, but now we need to go or I’m going to go crazy!”
“Then let’s get this show on the road!” Hannah shouted with delight as she picked up Jenna’s train once again. It was attached to a beautifully lace-embroidered wedding gown. The bodice accentuated her full breasts, while the skirt opened up into flowery layers of ethereal elegance. Between them was nearly eight months’ worth of pregnant tummy, and Jenna would be eternally grateful to the skilled seamstress who’d made it all work. She didn’t wear a veil. A simple crystal hairpiece held her brown hair in place and out of her face.
Paul let a tear fall, one he suspected would be the first of many that day. “You are far too beautiful to marry that guy.”
Jenna laughed. “Tanner’s not even here, Daddy and you’re still taking shots at him.”
“He’s lucky those are the only shots I’ve taken,” Paul grinned through the moisture in his eyes. “Listen, I know I gave Tanner a hard time and all, but when it comes down to it, I’m sure he’s going to be an excellent husband. And father. And if he ever isn’t, well, just remind him that I’ve still got that rifle in the basement.”
“Dad!”
“Okay Mr. F, that’s enough joking around at the groom’s expense. Let’s go!” Hannah practically pushed them out the door.
They finally arrived and lined up outside the church doors waiting for their signal to come inside. Jenna caught a glimpse of the guests as Hannah stepped inside to meet the rest of the wedding party, and then it was only Jenna and her dad standing there.
This day might have come quickly, but it hadn’t come easily. She’d had a scant six weeks to plan the wedding, and even with all of Lucky Llana’s help it had been a photo finish. It was an amazing day, though, warm for Valentine’s Day in Doveport, with the sun shining bright and high above the clouds. Her wedding day was shaping up to be everything she wanted and more. And she couldn’t wait for the honeymoon.
Taking a deep breath, Jenna heard the music start. She looked over to her dad. Another tear was falling down his cheek as he smiled down at her. “You look stunningly beautiful today, Jenna Marie Ferris.”
“Thanks, Daddy… for everything,” she whispered, lacing her fingers in between his as an usher opened the doors wide. She gasped in wonderment. There white satin streamers, wide set, hanging from around the room, all meeting at the chandelier just above the altar. There was a long white rug with flower petals sprinkled along the entire length. Everyone was on their feet looking at her, but her eyes were focused on Tanner. He stood up there in a navy blue tux with half the fire department on one side of the aisle and Hannah front and center among the bridesmaids on the other.
When it came time to say their vows, Jenna was up first. As she held his hands, she spoke to him as if there were no one else in the room.
“Tanner Devlin, you were the first boy to tell me you loved me. You were the first to propose to me, twice. You were the first person to make my heart feel what love was supposed to feel like. So today on this day, I share yet another first with you. My first day as your wife is my most joyous day ever. I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life, creating more firsts, with anyone else. I’ll love you always and forever, Tanner Devlin.”
Tanner cleared his throat. “Jenna Marie Ferris, you are by far the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met, and I mean that as a compliment. With everything you’ve been through, you’ve made room to love me even when I’m being a bit stubborn myself. I can’t imagine being with anyone else. Our love is knowing. There aren’t too many things that I have to guess when it comes to how you’re feeling. I guess that’s part of the beauty of sharing so many firsts together. So on this day, my first day as your husband, I take on this role with honor and respect to protect our family and our first love with all of me. I’ll love you always and forever, Jenna Ferris.”
The reception was every bit as perfect as the ceremony, but the train ride to South Carolina the next day was exhausting. By the time they arrived at their hotel in Myrtle Beach, it was the middle of the night. Somehow, though, none of that mattered as they finally walked into their room to begin their honeymoon.
“Mrs. Devlin,” Tanner practically glowed as he bent over to kiss her tenderly on the forehead, “how does it feel to be right on the beach with a view as spectacular as this?”
He whipped open the chiffon curtains to reveal a bright moon reflecting off the water. Palm trees swayed in silhouette, but it was still pitch black outside. Jenna giggled as she slid out of her clothes and under the sheets behind him.
“Come on, Mr. Devlin,” she beckoned, “I have something better for you to look at.”
Undressed and newlywed was certainly the best way to enjoy a luxuriously soft mattress. With tender kisses, they worked their passion into a frenzy of urges that needed to be satiated. Their bodies pressed together with a familiar feeling but an all-new vigor as their union was made official. Every stroke into her tight walls made Tanner wish they’d stayed together since high school. But what was life without a few obstacles, tragedies, heartaches, and—most importantly—lessons?
Jenna’s moans travelled around the room as Tanner filled her with every inch of himself. It was so much like her dream that she glanced toward the door just to make sure there was no Brandy barging in. Tanner moved her chin slightly with his finger, bringing her eyes to his. “You seem distracted.”
She shook her head no, trying to avoid his gaze. But Tanner wasn’t upset. “I know it’s been a long day, especially in your condition, so let me remind you of how much I love to please my wife.”
Jenna felt him pull out of her as he moved off of the bed. He grabbed her by the ankles and slid her toward the edge. His tongue tasted her folds and his fingers slipped inside of her, and with every flicking motion she thought less and less about the dream and more and more about the erogenous bliss she was sinking into. Her body squirmed as she closed in on her climax, but Tanner just kept licking away at her furiously until she screamed out in ecstasy.
Her thighs trembled as he came up, leaving a trail of kisses from her waist up to her nipples. He squeezed, pinched and suckled on them while his hand continued to play between her legs, keeping her moist and ready for him to enter her once again.
“Are you ready for something special, Mrs. Devlin?”
“Always, Mr. Devlin,” she replied with a salacious grin.
Tanner stood up and pulled her off the bed and out to the balcony. Urging her to the railing, he bent her over it and pushed into her from behind under the brightness of the moon.
“What if someone sees us?” she whispered.
“So what!” he exclaimed, leaning forward for a kiss that drew all of her attention and anxiety into him. Their mouths moved along with their bodies. Rolling his hips, Tanner gripped Jenna around her belly and sent his other hand searching between her legs as he continued to drive in and out of her. His movements became more deliberate and intense as he pleasured her with his hand and with himself. As she began to orgasm around him he made one last, slow thrust to release himself, and they came together under the moon and stars.
Hurrying back inside, they plopped down on the bed, barely able to move as they panted and settled into each other’s arms.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you, Jenna?” Tanner asked with a wide smile and sweat dripping down his temple.
“Of course I do. You love me enough not to drop me while making love to me on a seventh-floor balcony, and I love you just enough to do that outside, as long as it’s dark enough,” she chuckled.
He pulled her in close to him with a soft kiss to her cheek. “I have something to give you.”
Tanner began rummaging through the bag he’d left by the side of the bed. Jenna was curious to see what he was retrieving, but the envelope he brought out was a familiar one. The handwriting was on stationery she thought she’d read through a hundred times already. Her heart sank. It wasn’t ready to break on the first night of her honeymoon.
“Here, your dad said it’s the last letter. He told me to give it to you only after we’ve enjoyed our day and are ready to rest.”
She tore open the envelope, which had obviously been resealed, to see a folded piece of paper inside.
March 2016
Dearest Jenna Marie,
Your father and I are beyond proud of you. The strong and beautiful woman you’re becoming is a testament to what you’ve been through. Being sick is the easy part; watching me be sick and still having hope takes an amount of strength I hadn’t any idea you possessed in that twenty-something-year-old body. With a heart of gold, and a stubbornness to rival Black Jack Pershing, you’re sure to make a lasting contribution to this life and the Ferris legacy.
My sweet Jenna Marie, be kind to your father. He’s going to be lost without me for a while, but he’ll get over it. He always does if you just give him time and listen. As for you, you will be okay. I just know you will. And when you feel like you’re not, call that handsome Tanner kid. He knows exactly who you are, and I wish for you to hold onto that particular friendship tight. The compassion in that young man’s heart is as big as your stubborn ego, and you two bring balance to each other.
When you’re ready to find a husband, remember that word, compassion. For it complements love better than any other trait. You want him to be as honest as your dad, and as generous with his money as Gram. I wish I could be there when Daddy walks you down that aisle, and I wish I could be there for the birth of your first child. I’m going to miss so much while I’m gone, but nothing will make me prouder than who you are right now. Look out for each other. Protect each other. Let the love of your hearts burn bright. I will love you always and forever.
Goodbye,
Mom
~The End~