The Unexpected Wedding

The Unexpected Wedding


Kay Correll




CHAPTER ONE





Becky Lee Tesson tucked a pencil behind her ear and glanced at the tall man walking into the Magnolia Cafe. His gaze roamed the restaurant, looking it over, or looking for someone, she wasn’t sure. The stranger moved to one side of the doorway and a small boy, about seven or so, stood by his side.

Keely, the owner of the cafe, led the duo to a table by the window. The boy trudged behind the man and slipped into a chair without the bounce and energy she’d come to expect from being around her friend Bella’s seven-year-old son. The sunlight streamed through the window and highlighted the little boy’s curly blonde hair. Both the man and the boy wore jeans and t-shirts. The boy’s t-shirt said Tigers Baseball, but Becky Lee had no idea who the Tigers were, not a team from around here.

Becky Lee dropped off a check at a customer’s table and headed over to get the man and boy’s order. She threaded her way through the tables to the front of the cafe and smiled at the pair as she approached. The little boy looked up at her with bright blue eyes that looked red and swollen from tears. Her heart tugged with an instinct to try to make it better for him. Something nagged at her, too, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. The boy looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him. It was like she knew him, but she didn’t.

Still trying to figure it out, she turned back to her job. “Afternoon. I’m Becky Lee. What can I get for you two?”

The man stared at her name tag, lingered a bit too long looking at her face, then pulled his gaze away. “We’ll take two burgers, fries, and vanilla shakes. Does that sound good to you, kiddo?”

The boy bobbed his head.

“Coming right up.” Becky Lee took their menus and headed to the kitchen. She would swear she could feel the man’s eyes watching her as she walked away.

Don’t be crazy.

She waited on a few more tables while the man’s order was being cooked. Each time she glanced his direction it seemed like he was watching her. It’s not like she was immune to a good-looking guy’s attention, but an uneasy feeling swept over her, and she always listened to her gut.

“Keely, do you know that guy and little boy by the front window?” Becky Lee walked behind the counter and leaned closer to Keely.

“Nope. Never seen them before. Why?”

“Not sure. Just wondering.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, I’m just being silly.” Becky Lee headed to the kitchen to pick up their order.

~ * ~

Cal couldn’t help staring at Becky Lee. She did look familiar, but then he’d assumed she would. She was pretty and efficient and had a quick smile. A smile that he knew and remembered so well.

The heaviness descended on him again, but he did his best to push it away. He looked over at Scotty. The boy was staring silently out the window, poor kid. Cal was clueless on how to help him. He’d tried, but nothing he’d done had helped. He’d heard the boy cry himself to sleep last night… not that he blamed him. Cal was dangerously close to tears himself, but he refused to give in to them. He had too much to do, too many responsibilities. As much as he felt he was sinking in quicksand, he had to find his footing, had to sort things out.

Becky Lee came over, arms laden with their delicious looking, albeit not quite healthy meal.

“Here you go. Ketchup’s on the table. Do you like ketchup on your fries?” Becky Lee smiled at Scotty.

Scotty looked up at her with his wide blue eyes and nodded.

“You guys going to be around for a bit? We’re having a big picnic and fundraiser in the city park this weekend. Should be fun. Lots of activities for the kids. We had a tornado come through here a bit ago. We’re trying to raise some money to help out some of the businesses that got hit the hardest.”

“We’ll be here for a while. Scotty, what do you say? Does that sound like fun?” Not that he expected something different, but Scotty just nodded.

“There’s going to be pony rides and they’re going to do rides down Main Street on the fire truck. Bet you’d like that.” Becky Lee stood beside the table. If she was hoping for more than a nod, she was disappointed. “Hopefully, we’ll see you there.”

“I was wondering if you could recommend a place for us to stay for a few days.”

“Sure can. Sweet Tea Bed and Breakfast. Right up Main. Run by my friend Rebecca and her husband, Larry. Good folks.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the suggestion.”

“No problem. Tell them I sent you.” Becky Lee walked away from the table to go help another customer.

Cal leaned across the table and cut Scotty’s hamburger in half. “That’s how you like it, right?”