The Wedding: A Faces of Evil Short Story Read Online Free PDF Page B

Frank Teller escorted Gina along that same path.
    Dan’s father left a kiss on Jess’s cheek before taking Lori’s arm and heading down the aisle.
    “Ready, sis?” Lil asked, her face beaming with the same happiness filling Jess so completely.
    Jess nodded.
    The wedding coordinator gave the signal.
    With Maddie leading the way, Jess and Lil moved into the main aisle. The guests rose and turned to watch as Jess and Lil started forward. Sweet little Maddie wandered along just as she’d been instructed, leaving a trail of red and cream colored rose petals.
    Jess’s gaze settled on Dan who looked so very handsome in his black tuxedo. Despite how much time had passed, they had never stopped loving each other. No force on earth had been able to keep them apart.
    When it came time to take their vows, Dan and Jess stood facing each other. It was as if they were the only two people in the cathedral. All other thought vanished and there was only the man Jess loved with all her heart standing before her.
    “I Daniel Thomas take thee Jessie Lee...”
    The sweet words he spoke wrapped her heart with such love and tenderness, filling her with a sense of being honored and treasured.
    “I Jessie Lee take thee Daniel Thomas...”
    She pledged her endless love and devotion to him, her voice catching ever so slightly at the incredible happiness shining in his blue eyes.
    “You may kiss your bride...”
    Dan smiled down at her for a moment before taking her into his arms and kissing her breath away.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Thomas Burnett.”

6
    Tutwiler Hotel
    The Burnett Wedding Reception
    2021 Park Place, 7:00 p.m.
    The photographer didn’t need to tell Jess to smile. She couldn’t stop. The formal photos had been taken. The toasts had been made and the gorgeous cake had been cut. Jess wasn’t sure she’d ever seen a cake so beautiful or so enormous. Five luscious layers of decadent red velvet cake covered in sweet cream cheese frosting generously embellished with sweet fondant jewels. The middle layer was monogrammed with the letter B and crowned with silver and crystal columns that supported the top two layers. It looked as extravagant as it tasted.
    “Are you enjoying yourself, Mrs. Burnett?”
    Jess peered up into Dan’s eyes and her smile widened. “I am, Mr. Burnett. The wedding was everything I’d dreamed it would be.” Jess laughed. “Once I got used to the idea of a
big
wedding anyway.” She gave her head a little shake. “Really, Dan, it was perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
    “The Tutwiler was a good choice for the reception.” He surveyed the hundred fifty or so guests still celebrating, some swaying to the soft notes of the music drifting from the band, others simply mingling.
    Dan’s mother had personally overseen the decorating of the ballroom. The lights, the classic holiday ornaments, and the flowers, all of it was simply magnificent.
    “All right, ladies and gentleman,” the bandleader announced, “let’s clear the dance floor for the bride and groom’s first dance.”
    Dan leaned close. “You finally get to hear the song I selected for our first dance as husband and wife.”
    “I can’t wait to hear it.” He smiled and Jess’s heart skipped a beat. His smile had always had that effect on her.
    Dan led her to the middle of the dance floor accompanied by a round of applause. She wished she’d held onto Sylvia’s great-grandmother’s handkerchief now. She’d been afraid it would be lost so she’d given it back to Sylvia once all the formal photos had been taken.
    The slow easy notes of the song began as Dan took her into his arms. The female member of the band stepped to the microphone and started to sing.
    At last...
    My love has come along
...
    Jess’s eyes filled with emotion as Dan guided her smoothly to the easy, gentle rhythm of the music. She looked up at him and whispered, “Good choice.”
    Their life together was finally exactly where it should