He tucked his forefinger under her chin and lifted her face up to his. His lips descended slowly, kissing her softly. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. I can’t believe that we’re going to be married at this time tomorrow.”
He picked up her suitcase and started toward the truck. She carried her garment bag and her overnight. When they reached the truck, he stowed them behind the seat and they climbed in. He immediately caught her hand and pulled her close, kissing her passionately this time. They were both panting by the time he broke off the kiss. “I’m looking forward to not stopping at a kiss,” he whispered.
She blushed. “I’m really nervous about that.”
He smiled, stroking her cheek. “Don’t be. It’s going to be beautiful.” He kissed her one more time before putting the truck in gear. “You hungry?”
“I’m not sure I could eat. Too nervous,” she admitted.
“We’ll wait ‘til we’re closer to home then. Stephanie is expecting you for dinner anyway. She has a few last minute details about the wedding she wants to go over.”
The drive went quickly with them talking about the last couple of months, and the preparations each had made for the wedding. “I meant to get the house cleaned top to bottom, but well, that hasn’t happened,” he said. “I’m sorry, but it’s a mess.”
She shrugged. “I’m not worried about that. I know the spring is a really busy time for you.” She’d done a lot of research on dairy farming. She knew that he grew his own feed, so in addition to the calves being born in the spring, he was planting crops. She couldn’t expect him to keep an immaculate house at the same time.
By the time they pulled into Stephanie’s driveway, she was more relaxed than she’d been in weeks. Seeing him again had reminded her why she’d agreed to marry him in the first place. She wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t be nervous again in the morning, but for now, she was okay.
He carried in her bags for her, and put them in the boys’ room again. Stephanie hugged her tightly and looked at her eyes, trying to determine whether or not she was okay now. She must have been satisfied by what she saw, because she didn’t say anything about it.
Jason kissed her softly before leaving. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered.
“I’ll be the one in white.”
He smiled and left. He had a lot to do. Taking the time to drive that far wasn’t something he should have done, but she’d obviously needed it. She seemed a lot calmer now, and that was what was important.
Amanda enjoyed spending the evening with the kids. Little Avery showed off her flower girl outfit, and showed her just how she was going to drop petals with some torn up paper. Having been an only child, Amanda hadn’t been around small children a lot and was thoroughly charmed by the sweet little girl.
They would be doing a reception after the wedding in the fellowship hall at the church. Jason’s parents wouldn’t be able to make it, but two of his sisters would be there. The wedding had been planned so quickly that people from far away just weren’t coming.
As Amanda sat watching Bob with his family, she sincerely hoped that Jason would be as good of a father as Bob was.
They had decided on an eleven am wedding, because she wanted to have some time alone with Jason after the wedding, but before she’d be expected to crawl into bed with him.
When she went to bed at nine that night, she knew that this was the last night she’d be sleeping alone. Tomorrow, she’d be giving her virginity to a man she barely knew. She lay in bed for a long time that night, staring at the wall, trying to imagine what tomorrow would bring. Her degree in home economics prepared her to be a wife in every way but the physical way.
*****
At five minutes after eleven the following morning, Amanda left the bride’s room. She wished her father could be there to walk her down the aisle. She had never missed him quite as much as she did facing that long walk down the aisle by herself to a man she barely knew.
She received a cue from Stephanie’s friend and slowly walked toward the front of the church. She felt all the eyes on her. She knew she wasn’t a raging beauty. She had nice strong features, and wasn’t plain, but wasn’t really someone who could be called pretty either. She was still nice and slender, with curves in all the right places.
There hadn’t been a wedding dress long enough, but she thought now that had been to her advantage. She was able to make this one to show off her figure perfectly. She’d combined two different patterns to get just the right look for her body. The neckline was modest and just hinted at the swell of her breasts. She’d made the skirt full to make up for what she was lacking in the hips department. The waistline was tight and fit her beautifully.