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  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  Kari forgot about her heartache…

  His dark hair ruffled in the billowing wind with a single lock falling forward on his forehead. For the first time in a long time, Kari forgot about her heartache. A sudden shiver skittered down her back. She wasn’t sure if it was caused by her soaked condition or the man who somehow sent her senses spinning.

  She pushed her wet tawny hair back from her face before accepting her waterlogged book from him. “I’m so sorry,” she finally said after releasing the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. “It’s just this rain…and I’m late.” Her voice wavered. “I can’t seem to find the place I’m supposed to be. I’m in a wedding this afternoon.” She tried to hide how awkward and strange she felt standing a few inches away from a stranger.

  He smiled teasingly as he looked over her outfit of Capri pants and tennis shoes. She’d never seen such an authentic smile. It was as if it started in his eyes and traveled down to his genial mouth. “And that’s what you’re wearing?” he asked as his eyes returned to her own.

  “No, of course not. I…” She shivered again.

  “Well, maybe I can help you out with directions.”

  She replied with the name of the church and he provided her with yet another devastating smile. “Sure I know the place. You passed it at the beginning of this block. Just turn down the street and you’ll see it. If you don’t mind, I could come along with you. It’s on my way.”

  “No need and I’m really in a hurry. Thanks.” She started to head off when he stopped her, causing her to jump at the gentle touch of his hand on her arm.

  “Here take my umbrella,” he offered.

  She faced him again, taking the handle of the umbrella. “Are you sure? You’ll get soaked. I don’t want to impose and I won’t even know where to return it.”

  “Consider it a gift then. And who knows, we just might bump into each other again sometime.”

  “Yes, but hopefully it will be less jarring in the future,” she said with the hint of a smile on her lips, trying to be just as witty.

  He tipped his head close to hers. “I doubt that.”

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  by

  Cindy K. Green

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  COPYRIGHT © 2007 by Cindy K. Green

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Tamra Westberry

  The Wild Rose Press

  PO Box 706

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First White Rose Edition, May 2007

  Print ISBN 1-60154-072-8

  Published in the United States of America

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my sister Kari who was the inspiration for this story. Thank you for being there when I need to prattle on about my stories and being just as excited as I at the news that “Funny Thing” was going to be published. Remember that God always has a plan for our lives, and He will lead us to all that He has in store for us.

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Your Wedding

  Chapter One

  Black, ominous clouds littered the afternoon sky as Kari Montgomery emerged from the train station with her suitcase in one hand and a book in the other. As she stood waiting beside a low, rounded curb, a few startling drops of rain fell onto her nose. Shaking her head, she realized here was yet another reason why she shouldn’t have agreed to be in this wedding. Though she loved her cousin and would never take away one bit of her happiness, she still felt her stomach clench inside at the mere thought of attending any wedding. It only reminded her of her own failed engagement.

  Lightning flashed up in the sky and a minute later the low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. Kari glanced up at the summer storm brewing overhead. Why would anyone want to get married in August ? If only I hadn’t had that unscheduled staff meeting last night, I could have missed all this. Lord, help me make it through this day.

  After jumping into the next available taxi, she gave the address of the church. Driving through mid-town traffic, anxiety seized her again. When her cousin Emily announced her engagement, Kari was as happy as could be for her. But as the wedding date neared, she began to shrink away from being involved in the wedding plans, citing work as her main excuse. It was just too painful. Closing her eyes, she moved a hand through her drooping bangs as another pain knotted deep down inside her stomach.

  Horns honked around her as they neared her destination. Glancing out the window, she noticed they were stopped in a gridlock of traffic. With the ceremony scheduled to begin in one hour, she had to act quickly.

  “How far away are we from the church?” she asked the driver.

  “Three blocks up. You can’t miss it,” he replied in a thick accent.

  “Thanks,” she said as she paid the man and closed the door.

  The rainstorm had begun as she jogged to the nearest storefront overhang to avoid the deluge. Colorful lightning crackled almost on top of her as the thunder crashed overhead again. Entering into the mess of rain, she pulled her light jacket tightly around herself, walking in quick determined strides. Several minutes later and only a few feet further down the street, she had become completely drenched. Even though it was a hot summer day, chills still coursed through her, making her miserable. There was nothing worse than being wet. This was the reason she avoided water rides at amusement parks.

  Walking through the pouring rain with her head tilted toward the sidewalk, she wasn’t looking beyond her own two feet when she smacked hard into something and started to fall backwards. With her arms flailing out hoping to grasp onto something, her belongings flew into the storm. Her heart jolted inside her chest as she moved closer and closer to the ground.

  Before hitting the pavement, a hand came out of nowhere, wrapping around her left wrist and pulling her into an upright position. Before she knew what was happening, her savior hoisted her closer to him, shielding her from the rain under his umbrella. She was so close to him, she could feel his heat. Her eyes clung to his humorous, kindly mouth as he gave her an irresistible grin she found impossible not to return. Her mind clouded over as her heart continued to beat rapidly. It was almost as if she was moving in slow motion and for the moment had forgotten where she was or what she was doing.

  This was hardly the time to stop and stare with a torrent of rain storming around them and time ticking away until she was to walk down the aisle as maid of honor.

  “In a hurry, aren’t you,” he said with a trace of laughter. The timbre of his voice was friendly and soothing. It reminded her of how she felt on rainy afternoons while curled up in her mother’s afghan, reading a book in front of a fire.

  She withdrew her hand quick
ly as a new and unexpected warmth rushed through her. He bent down to pick up her suitcase and book from a puddle on the ground. After handing the suitcase back to her, he glanced down at the cover of the book, Pride and Prejudice , her favorite novel.

  A moment later intelligent yet humorous blue eyes focused back on her. His dark hair ruffled in the billowing wind with a single lock falling forward on his forehead. For the first time in a long time, Kari forgot about her heartache. A sudden shiver skittered down her back. She wasn’t sure if it was caused by her soaked condition or the man who somehow sent her senses spinning.

  She pushed her wet tawny hair back from her face before accepting her waterlogged book from him. “I’m so sorry,” she finally said after releasing the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. “It’s just this rain…and I’m late.” Her voice wavered. “I can’t seem to find the place I’m supposed to be. I’m in a wedding this afternoon.” She tried to hide how awkward and strange she felt standing a few inches away from a stranger.

  He smiled teasingly as he looked over her outfit of Capri pants and tennis shoes. She’d never seen such an authentic smile. It was as if it started in his eyes and traveled down to his genial mouth. “And that’s what you’re wearing?” he asked as his eyes returned to her own.

  “No, of course not. I…” She shivered again.

  “Well, maybe I can help you out with directions.”

  She replied with the name of the church and he provided her with yet another devastating smile. “Sure I know the place. You passed it at the beginning of this block. Just turn down the street and you’ll see it. If you don’t mind, I could come along with you. It’s on my way.”

  “No need and I’m really in a hurry. Thanks.” She started to head off when he stopped her, causing her to jump at the gentle touch of his hand on her arm.

  “Here take my umbrella,” he offered.

  She faced him again, taking the handle of the umbrella. “Are you sure? You’ll get soaked. I don’t want to impose and I won’t even know where to return it.”

  “Consider it a gift then. And who knows, we just might bump into each other again sometime.”

  “Yes, but hopefully it will be less jarring in the future,” she said with the hint of a smile on her lips, trying to be just as witty.

  He tipped his head close to hers. “I doubt that.” This time he replied in a smooth, deep tone, the playfulness gone from his eyes.

  Though feeling a tingly sensation at the back of her neck, Kari turned from him, wondering what he had meant exactly. Not having the time to truly think about it, she headed swiftly down the street and turned the corner just as instructed. There she saw the quaint almost picturesque white-steepled church nestled in the heart of the city. The sign read, “Grace Community Church.”

  Facing the building, Kari realized when she stepped inside its dry halls, the bride, her cousin, would be all over her with worry and wondering where she had been. She seriously considered running back to the train station and just forgetting it all. But she knew she couldn’t. Emily was her dearest friend even if she was a relative. Mounting the stairs, she knew she wanted to see her get married and be a part of this day.

  “Kari, where have you been,” called Emily from a seated position. She looked back at Kari through a mirror in the choir room, her golden hair falling in long curls around her head.

  “I’m so sorry, Em. Something came up at work so I missed my train and then I got caught in the rain on the way here.”

  “You’re soaked.”

  “Don’t I know it.” She did her best to smile at her.

  “But you have an umbrella.” Emily stared at the dripping umbrella still in Kari’s hand.

  Kari stared at the umbrella, too. She wanted to laugh and tell Emily about the whole embarrassing encounter, but now wasn’t the time. “It’s nothing to be worrying about right now. I’m going to get dressed and then you are going to have the best wedding ever.” She walked behind her cousin, admiring how beautiful she looked in her pristine gown of white. She felt a quiver of pride in her heart, remembering all the times she and Emily had shared visions of their future weddings when they were girls.

  “Oh, Kari, I’ve been on tenterhooks all day and wishing you were here.” Rising from her chair, Emily turned and faced her disheveled friend. “How do I look?” she asked as she tilted her left brow with uncertainty.

  Kari’s heart filled with pride again as she stared at her cousin. She really was happy for her. “You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. John is just going to want to scoop you up and run away with you.”

  “Do you think I’ll be a good wife?” Her petite, gloved hands lay clenched at her sides while her eyes grew large and bright.

  “The very best and John will be the perfect husband.” Her words were calm and even as she hoped her sentiment was the comfort her nervous cousin needed.

  Emily took a step closer and grabbed onto Kari’s hand. “Thanks.” She sighed deeply. “I think I might be able to make it through this now that you’re here.”

  “I’m glad, and now I better get ready.”

  Thirty minutes later, the momentous moment arrived. After dressing and trying to do something with her sopping wet hair, Kari stood lined up in the church vestibule with the other bridesmaids, dressed in their matching lilac gowns.

  When the doors opened, Kari walked serenely down the aisle to her place on the platform. But just as she neared the end of the aisle, she turned her eyes forward to see the pastor who was to perform the ceremony standing behind the altar in front of her. His eyes veered over in her direction while an easy smile played at the corners of his mouth. Nervously, she moistened her dry lips before she could manage a small, uncertain smile, feeling her cheeks beginning to burn with color because the pastor in question had been the one who had rescued her in the rain only moments before.

  ****

  Accompanied by her groomsman, Kari stepped into the church’s overflowing reception hall, heading for her seat among a glittering arrangement of lights and flowers. The room echoed with laughter and she was inundated by the clinking of crystal and china. Standing at the door behind her, she observed the newly married and blissfully happy Mr. and Mrs. John Richards.

  Kari took in a quick breath as she crossed the room and put on the pretense of being happy. All it did was remind her that another wedding, which should have taken place around this time, would never take place. Over the past months, she’d been able to keep those feelings in check, but this wedding seemed to drudge up all the past hurt. Trying to put that aside, she made an effort to enjoy her cousin’s wedding. It was Emily’s day today.

  Throughout the introduction of the bride and groom and the toast, Kari grew restless. Observing everyone actively indulging in dinner and conversation, she deserted her escort who sat busily enjoying his meal. She needed some peace and quiet. She just might explode if she couldn’t find some silence. The chatter around the room was like nails on a chalkboard to her nerves. Upon departing her seat, she spotted her aunt, Patty Burke, mother of the perfect bride. As she reached the back of the room, it became clear there was no recourse. She had to speak with her aunt.

  “Kari, where are you headed off to? Hasn’t this evening just been wonderful,” began Patty. “The flowers were perfect, the music, the food, everything.” Her aunt contained a joyfulness that was usually infectious, but Kari was unable to respond in turn. Patty didn’t even seem to detect her troubled demeanor.

  “Yes, Aunt Patty, it has been a terrific wedding. I’m sure Emily and John are as pleased as can be by the results,” Kari answered evenly, ending with a closed mouth smile.

  “Everyone here at the church has been so supportive of Emily, even though we’ve only been attending here for the past four months.”

  “You’ve definitely been blessed with a wonderful church family since moving into the city.”

  “And where is your escort, Kari?” asked Patty, finally taking in a real view o
f her.

  “Brian?” She glanced in the direction of her table. “Oh, I’m sure he’s too busy eating to even notice I’ve left.”

  As Patty started to speak again, her eyes picked up on something behind Kari. “Pastor,” Patty called. “I really wanted to say thank you for retrieving the rings before the ceremony. I can’t believe the best man left them at home.”

  Kari’s heart jumped once inside her chest and then settled down to its regular pace as the man who she’d met in the rain came into view. He stopped and then situated himself between her and her aunt.

  “It was no trouble,” the young pastor said in his warm, smooth voice. “It was only a couple blocks from the church which turned out to be an unexpectedly pleasant walk.”

  His eyes moved over and settled on Kari. She looked back, but under his gaze her cheeks began warming into another blush. She could only imagine what he thought of her after their brief encounter before the wedding.

  His dark hair was cut short yet the ends still struggled to curl around his forehead. She gazed at his hands, observing the strong, slim fingers. It made her relive how he had grabbed onto her in the rain. Her heart reverberated in her chest again at the memory.

  “Oh, yes, the rain,” said Patty. “Well, it really was so good of you.” She glanced over at Kari and then back to the pastor. “Let me introduce you to my niece, Kari Montgomery.”

  The pastor eyed Kari intently with a small smile on his lips and a twinkle in his blue eyes.

  “And Kari this is Randolph Steele, the youth pastor here at the church. He also went to college with Emily and John.”

  With that same smile still on his face, Randolph Steele put out his hand to Kari. “Well, now, Mrs. Burke, it is nice to finally meet your famous Kari Montgomery.”

  Kari met the smile and the offered hand with a courtesy smile of her own. With his stunning eyes staring at her and that impeccable smile on his lips, she felt her embarrassment welling up again. If only she could close her eyes and find herself safe at home.

  Swallowing hard she tried to move past her humiliation. “I’m famous, am I?”