CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Phoebe knew she was lingering in the restroom. Water flowed from the faucet while her hands gripped the ceramic sink. Her heart drummed loudly in her ears as her eyes focused on the rose-gold wedding band on her ring finger.
She opened her clutch purse and removed a tube of lipstick. "You can do this. You got this." She was repeating these words when the restroom door swung open and two younger women walked inside. Phoebe angled her gaze in the mirror to see out into the hallway as the door closed; she caught sight of Ash standing right outside, his head swiveling to peer inside.
For the smallest moment, their eyes connected just before the door closed. She inhaled deeply, and held her breath for several moments before releasing it through her frozen lips. She pulled the top of the lipstick off and brought the tip to her lips.
She was applying the rich mauve color when the other two women walked out of their stalls. Phoebe stepped to the side to give them access to the sink. Hovering in the background, she could plainly hear their conversation.
"Dear Jesus," said the tall, blond woman to her right. Her pretty gray eyes were focused on her friend's reflection. "Did you see that guy in the uniform?"
Her auburn-haired friend quickly washed her hands before running her long fingers through her bouncy curls. "Are you fucking kidding me? Of course I did. We practically collided when I rounded the corner." She lowered her voice and leaned towards her friend. "I almost fell, and he reached out to grab me."
"You're lying," her friend said, turning on the water. "I didn't see that happen at all."
"You were already walking into the bathroom." The redhead turned and smiled in Phoebe's direction before pushing open the door.
The blonde shoved her glasses further up her nose, then grabbed a handful of towels. As she dried her hands, she looked at Phoebe, who was now standing in the corner opposite of the door.
"Wedding day?" asked the blonde.
Phoebe nodded, smoothing the wrinkles of her blouse. "My first." She shook her head when she realized how strange her comment was. "I meant to say, the ceremony is already over." She lifted her hand to flash the ring. "We're married."
The blonde squinted towards the doorway, then looked back at Phoebe. There was a hint of admiration in her eyes. "Is the airman with you?"
Phoebe nodded. "Yes. That's my lucky groom. My husband." The words felt foreign on her tongue. Phoebe tried to convince herself that it seemed so strange because there had been no formal engagement and now there was a very real marriage.
The blonde winked and grabbed the door handle. "Lucky girl," she said before exiting the bathroom.
"Lucky girl," Phoebe repeated, returning to the mirror. She looked at the door again before tucking a wayward strand back into her coronet-braid. Drawing in another deep breath, she walked to the door and opened it.
Ash looked handsome in his service dress uniform as he sat on a wooden bench across from the restroom and clutched his cover between his fingers. His brow was furrowed as he stared down at the hat. To his right Reggie sat quietly in her transport wheelchair. Her lips were puckered in outrage, and her eyes were focused on the doors of the courthouse.
"I'm ready," Phoebe said when Ash leapt from the bench. She walked to Reggie and grabbed onto the handles of the wheelchair. Reggie twisted in her chair, pinning Phoebe with a scathing look.
"I better take her," Ash said, sliding his hands onto the wheelchair handles. He waited until Phoebe stepped aside, then he began to guide them to the courthouse's exit.
For most of the short distance, they walked in silence. It wasn't until they stood near the exit to the courthouse that Ash turned in Phoebe's direction. A crooked smile curled his lips as his gaze traveled the length of her. "You hungry?"
She nodded, then pulled open the courthouse door and stepped aside so Ash and Reggie could walk into the warm sunshine. "What happened to Bobby?"
Ash looked down at his aunt, who swiveled in her chair to pin her nephew with a glare. He turned a crooked smile in Phoebe's direction. "He had to go."
Phoebe placed a hand on Ash's upper arm and felt his muscles contract beneath her touch. Her breath caught in her chest. "I was hoping he would join us. I was thinking about making lasagna."
Ash's face twisted in a grimace. "No way. We're going out to eat today."
Phoebe halted beside him. "Are you sure? I don't mind cooking."
"It's our wedding day," he said, reaching into his pocket to remove his keys. He pressed the button to unlock the doors, then he pushed Reggie to the passenger side of his truck. He opened the door and stepped away. "Do you need my help getting inside?"
Reggie didn't answer him. She simply stared at him and gripped the wheels of her chair. She propelled herself forward, forcing him to move away or risk having her roll over his foot.
Phoebe hooked her head towards the driver's side. She mouthed, "I got her."
Ash puckered his lips but nodded. He walked around the front of the truck, then slid into the driver's seat.
Phoebe locked the wheels of the chair before walking to the truck's door and holding it open. She watched as Reggie grasped the sides of the chair, slid from its seat, and transferred into the passenger seat. Phoebe bent down to tuck Reggie's dress inside the door, then she shut the door. She collapsed the wheelchair, hoisted it into the air, and slid it into the back seat.
When she finished, she slid into her own seat just as Ash turned on the ignition. He switched on the radio and pulled out of the parking space. With the exception of the classic rock that played in the background, the cab was eerily silent. Absorbing the lush, green scenery of the Northwest, Phoebe couldn't help thinking how anticlimactic her wedding was.
She wasn't much of a romantic. She hadn't spent her youth dreaming of a massive wedding. It just wasn't her nature to do extravagant things.
But she had imagined a happier occasion.
She studied Ash's profile as he navigated the streets of Lakewood. There was an unusual tightness in his features, causing frown lines around his mouth. He looked older than his thirty-three years, and it seemed so uncharacteristic of him.
She knew him to be light-hearted, choosing to find humor in just about every situation. But now he looked to be caught in the middle of an internal struggle. A part of her wanted to soothe him. To take on some of the burden he carried.
However, another part of her acknowledged that she was the burden he carried. Was he already regretting their marriage? As if sensing her watching him, he looked into the rearview mirror and made eye contact with her.
Her pulse accelerated, and she fidgeted in her seat. The corner of his lips quirked in a ghost of a smile. His amber eyes darkened, but he dragged his gaze away to focus on his driving.
She brought the bouquet to her nose. As the sweet floral aroma filled her nose, Phoebe closed her eyes and imagined a happier occasion.