CHAPTER 23
“Virginia, I don’t want to upset you, but is it possible he got cold feet?”
Shaking as her heart pounded, Ginny drew in a breath. “No, Mother. He didn’t get cold feet.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I just can.”
God, what if he got cold feet? The words swirled in her mind until her knees started to feel wobbly.
“I don’t know how you’re so certain—”
“Mother—” At the breaking point, and now full of doubt thanks to her mother, Ginny was about to lose it when her outburst was waylaid by Molly.
“Ginny, come with me to the bridal room so I can fix your hair.” Molly didn’t give Ginny a chance to respond as she dragged her off.
Molly pulled Ginny into the small room in the back of the church the preacher had given them to use. Kind of part dressing room, part staging area.
She’d spent the morning in this room waiting for Thom to arrive, which he hadn’t. She’d fixed her makeup in this mirror for the photos—which she’d faked a smile for. She wasn’t sure she had anything left in her to fake anything else.
“What’s wrong with my hair?” Ginny asked, knowing if one more thing went wrong she was going to end up in tears.
“Nothing, except I know you would have started to pull it out if I didn’t get you away from that conversation.”
“You’re right.” Ginny let out a sigh. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” Molly smiled.
“I mean she just has no faith. You know?” Ginny looked up at her maid of honor for agreement.
“I know.”
“We still have a whole half an hour.”
Her friend nodded. “Mm, hm.”
“That’s plenty of time for him to get here,” Ginny continued, trying to believe her own words. Somehow maintaining faith amid the complete lack of proof, of any reassurance that Thom was even on his way.
A knock on the door had her turning, eyes wide.
“That could be him.” Ginny grasped the handle and yanked the door open.
She searched the faces of the men in uniform there, looking for her man in uniform. She hadn’t found him yet as one guy stepped forward, his hand extended.
“Ginny. Good to see you again.” As she struggled to come up with a name for the slightly familiar man, he continued, “We met when you were visiting Thom. I’m Grant Milton.”
“Of course. Sorry. It’s just been one hell of a day already. Nice to see you again.” Ginny shook the man’s warm hand.
When he released his hold on her, he took a step back to include the rest of the group. “Some of these guys you might know, and some you might not. This is Craig Dawson and James MacIntyre and back there are Will, Clyde, and Fitz. A couple of the guys couldn’t make it up from Virginia but they send their best wishes.”
His kindness and that all these guys had traveled so far to be here, when she was very aware of how much pulling of military strings that had taken, nearly broke Ginny’s tentative hold on her composure. “Thank you all for coming. Um, Thom’s not here yet.”
Grant’s brow furrowed. “Oh. Well, I guess it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding so he’ll probably get here right before the ceremony.”
“That’s probably it. We can use all the good luck we can get, right?” She forced a laugh and realized it came out sounding more like a manic giggle. “Thanks again for coming.”
“Sure. No problem. I’ll let you get back to getting ready now.” He smiled.
“Thanks.” Ginny held on to her composure until she closed the door, then she sagged against it, holding in the tears pricking behind her eyes. She refused to show anyone, even Molly, how worried she truly was.
“Oh. My. God. Tell me some of those guys are single. And that you’re going to let me visit you down in Virginia.”
Luckily for Ginny, Molly’s attention had been elsewhere. She’d been too busy ogling the SEALs.
“Of course. You can visit me anytime you want.” Ginny only hoped she’d actually be living in Virginia. As the minutes passed, she was beginning to have doubts, in spite of herself.
Molly eyed her closely. “You doing all right?”
“Yeah.”
“Can I get you something?”
Some peace and quiet where no one asked her how she was doing. The groom. All things Ginny would love right about now.
“Some water?” Ginny asked instead.
“Sure. Right away. There’s a water cooler out in the vestibule. I’ll be right back.”
Molly rushed out to get the water and Ginny braced her hands against the table in front of the mirror concentrating on breathing when it felt like her chest was too tight to fit her lungs.
Efficient as ever, Molly returned in no time bearing not one but two cups of water and Ginny’s peace and quiet came to an end.
“Here you go. I brought two. They’re small.” Molly put both down on the table next to Ginny’s bouquet.
“Thanks.” Ginny lifted one little cup and watched the water slosh as her hand trembled.
She took a quick swallow and then put the cup down, reaching instead for her cell phone to check the time.
T-minus-twenty and counting. The vise squeezing her chest got a little bit tighter.
Thom, where are you?