Chapter 27 Wedding Bells?
“Greg, how can we thank you?” Mark said, nearly in tears of joy.
“Just take good care of this special girl here Mark. You have a very genuine love for her, so make sure you always cherish Tina as you do today.”
“You’ve got it, boss,” Mark replied. “I’ve known she was the one from the moment I saw her.”
“Tina,” Greg said as she moved closer to him. “Make sure he always puts your needs in priority so you know how much he loves you.”
“I will Mr. Garrelson,” she said and kissed his forehead. “Thank you for signing off for us.”
“Nonsense. I just wish I could attend this wedding,” he replied.
“If you can wait a couple of minutes, Greg, there’s a pastor on duty here.” Cassie said. “I know where he is.”
Mark turned to Tina. “We’ve got the license, but your parents aren’t here. What do you think.”
“Mom and dad want to host us, but I don’t mind a ceremony here if you will go through it again there?”
“Whatever makes you happy, dear. I just want to know that we are together forever.” Mark held Tina close then kissed her. “It’s funny,” he said as they separated. “No woman ever even seemed interesting to me before. Now, she’s all I ever wanted.”
“Kinda hit you like a sledge hammer?” Billy asked as he wheeled Veronica into the room.
“Yeah, Billy. She hit me like the missile you never see coming in fighter command three,” he laughed. Billy joined him.
“I still can’t believe you dropped the game the first time you saw Tina,” Billy laughed a bit harder. “The blank stare and shock on your face was priceless.”
“You never told me that, Mark,” Tina insisted harshly.
“Would you have believed me if I’d told you?” He paused. “I told you that the day you walked into my life everything else just disappeared from view. You were right there like a radiant sunrise.”
“That was the photo shoot lights behind her, dude,” Billy said.
“NO!” Mark fired back. “It was just Tina.” There was a collective ‘aww’ from the girls. “She was the only thing there, and her beauty was splendorous.”
“You really thought that?” Tina asked, overcome with emotion, tears starting to come up in her eyes.
“And it’s still that way,” Mark admitted lowering his head. “It’s always going to be that way. No matter what happens, you will always be that girl that takes over my entire world.”
“Tina, I wouldn’t hesitate to snap that man up,” Veronica said. “Don’t waste time. He’s at your beck and call, girl.”
“I’ve got Pastor Jenkins,” Cassie said as she brought the pastor in tow into the room.
“I understand there’s a couple here that wants to be married?” he asked.
“Yes,” Tina said and spun Mark so fast his shoes squeaked on the floor. “We do.”
“Do you have the marriage license?” Pastor Jenkins asked as his graying hair flopped down over his eyes and he immediately pushed it back up.
“Uh,” Mark stammered until Tina punched his shoulder. “Yea, I’ve got it in my briefcase,” he said.
“Where is it?” Pastor Jenkins asked as he spun his five-foot seven-inch frame around looking for it.
“There,” Mark said pointing to just inside the door. Cassie picked it up and brought it to Mark. “Thanks, Cassie,” he softly replied.
“Can I be maid of honor?” Cassie asked Tina.
“Would you mind if I ask Katie to be my maid of honor? She welcomed me first.”
“Me” Katie stammered out in disbelief. “You want me?” she managed to get out before she fainted to the floor. Carry tried to catch her on the way down, ending up on the floor beside her.
“Katie,” she said gently, but Katie didn’t respond. Carry nudged her gently. “Katie.” Her eyes flittered then opened slowly. “Come on, Katie.”
“Ow,” she said bringing her right hand up to the back of her head. “I think I hit my head.”
“Let’s get you up and we’ll check it out,” Carry encouraged her. The two got up off the floor. “Let me see here,” she said as she gently parted her hair. “Do we have an ice pack?”
“Here,” Greg said, tossing one to Carry. “Erin just gave me that one, so I can always get another,” he said as he pressed the call button on his bed rail.
“Thanks,” Katie said as Carry gently put the ice pack in place. “Mr. Garrelson,” she started and slowly moved over to him. “Why are you so nice to me?”
“Why shouldn’t I be?” he asked as if it were obvious. “You’re a sweet girl, and you’ve shown hard work ethic in everything I’ve ever seen you attempt. You have everything a PA at Pimico would need, and you’ve always been kind to me.”
“Not really, Mr. Garrelson,,” but Greg cut her off before she could continue.
“It’s Greg! All my friends call me Greg,” and that cut her like a knife.
“But I’m your enemy,” she suddenly blubbered out. “I didn’t do anything to stop Wendy from giving the security plans to her daddy.” Gregs eyes went wide, and gasps were heard throughout the room. Then Greg looked at her with the gentlest eyes she’d ever seen.
“You are Jacob Sutton’s daughter are you not?
” She just nodded. “I knew your dad. I considered him a friend, and I miss him. He was going to work with us at Pimico before his flight went down in the middle east. He always spoke highly of you, and I can see every quality he mentioned still in you to this day. You’ve not had the easiest life, and I understand that better than you might know.
” He paused then pulled her to him in a light hug.
“I’m sorry I am not strong enough to give you a proper hug, Katie.
But you are definitely not my enemy, just trapped by life. ”
“How can you not hate me after everything I’ve done to you,” she whispered in his ear.
“Because I was you,” he whispered back. “I lost my dad at the same age. And I still remember the day he died. It’s still with me to this day and I miss him fiercely, but I had family to rally around me.
You didn’t.” He ran a hand down her back, then continued to whisper.
“Your mom was working at Pimico at that time, but she refused to accept help when we offered it because it nearly shattered her. We didn’t want her to leave, but she felt like she couldn’t keep up and turned in her resignation. ”
“Mom worked for you?” she asked quietly. “I thought that was just a story she told me to give me hope of a way out.” Greg found the strength and pulled her tight to him.
“If you want out, Katie, just say the word. You and your mom are welcome to live with me,” he said softly and she burst into tears.
Carry and Cassie had no idea what was being said, but they could tell that Greg was again changing another life by being the man who protects everyone.
They moved over and joined Katie, gently running their hands over her back until they heard Katie squeak out.
“Both of us? For real?” she softly sobbed.
“Absolutely. Just say the word and Keith will get your mom,” Greg answered just loud enough that the girls heard him.
Cassie leaned down and whispered, “Greg, are you sure?”
“Without a doubt. I owe this girl because her father saved me on the streets of New York,” he somberly replied.
“Then say the word,” Katie said. “I want my mom safe.”
“Done,” he said. Greg looked at Carry. “You know what to do, right?”
“I’ll text from your phone,” she said as she reached over and grabbed it. She formatted the message then pressed the button. “Sent.”
“Your mom will be extracted in less than fifteen minutes,” Greg said assuringly.
“What?” Katie stammered. “How?”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll have her here within an hour,” Greg said softly. “And then we can get her back to work at Pimico where she belongs.”
“How can you be so kind?” Katie nearly blubbered. “I love you like an uncle.”
“Then you can call me Uncle Greg, or just Greg, Katie.” They hugged tightly one last time and then Greg kissed her forehead softly but long. “As of today, Katie Sutton, you are my own niece.”
“I like that,” she said with a sniff as they released the hug and she slowly stood up. Her eyes were red and puffy, but Tina was still standing there smiling at her. “Do you really want me to be your maid of honor?”
“Just fix your makeup first,” Tina said softly as she brought a pack of tissues over.
“I can do that,” she said and gave Tina a tight hug.
“Greg,” Cassie whispered. “Is there anyone you can’t love?”
“Just those who actually tried to kill me,” he said with a shrug. “Why?”
“Because I wish my dad had been like that,” she said softly. “But you have to hate my mom.”
“I don’t hate her Cassie. I just wish she’d change. She’s too smart to keep doing the evil things that she does. Maybe if Billy were around her, things would change for Jenny.”
“What?” Cassie said and realized suddenly how Greg had become much more forgiving than she’d ever considered. “You can forgive my mom?”
“It’s not all her fault. And if I want to be forgiven for my own mistakes, I have to be willing to forgive others for their mistakes with me.
Billy’s taught me that, and it was a hard lesson to learn.
” He sighed. “But he is right about how forgiveness isn’t about the person who hurt you as much as it is about you finding peace in letting their control over you go by releasing the fear, anger and pain. It’s helped me while I’ve been here.”
“I never thought about it that way,” she said as she noticed that Katie’s makeup had been reapplied. “So,” she said as she straightened up. “Are we doing a wedding here or what?” She moved over and grabbed Pastor Jenkins. “Let’s do this!”
“Would the happy couple please stand here,” Pastor Jenkins asked, then Mark and Tina took there places in front of the pastor. “Now, Best Man and Maid of Honor?”
“Umm, who’s the best man?” Tina asked.
“Billy!” Mark declared. “Would you please?”
“Absolutely,” he said beaming wide. “I hope my Stetson is good enough.” He moved over. “Oh, Mark? Isn’t the Best Man supposed to have the rings?”
“Oh, Yeah!” Mark said and reached into his left pocket. “Here,” he said thrusting them towards Billy.”
“Now, we need a bouquet,” Katie said as she quickly grabbed a set of flowers from the counter. “Do you mind Greg?”
“Not at all Katie,” he said with a soft laugh. “Help yourself to a set too.”