Hidden Scars by Amanda King Read Free Book Online Page A

her. I don’t.”
    Chuck’s arm was around me as we walked to the passenger side of the car. He pulled me to him. Feeling safe and loved, I relaxed in his arms and no longer worried about the what-ifs.
    #
    We drove a short distance to the restaurant Chuck had chosen. Outside it had the look of an old colonial home. The inside was grand. The antique chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings and the rustic fireplace gave it a romantic touch. The hardwood floors, linen-covered tables, and the silver pieces added to the charm.
    Chuck requested a table close to the fireplace and told the hostess he’d let her know when we were ready to order. “We’d like some time alone.”
    “Wow. When you plan a surprise, you go all out.”
    “I want you to remember this night when we’re old and gray.”
    “Why? What are you up to?”
    He took my hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “Because the night someone asks you to marry him should be special and always remembered.”
    “Are you… did you… ask me to marry you?” My stomach fluttered.
    A broad smile spread across his face, and an extra twinkle lit his eyes. “Why do you act so surprised? I love you. We’ve talked about marriage several times. Tonight I want to make it official. Morgan Selby, will you marry me?”
    I sucked in a breath as tears ran down my face. “Yes!”
    Chuck bounced out of his chair and moved to my side of the table. He cradled my face in his hands and kissed both cheeks before pressing his lips gently against mine. And it didn’t matter that others might be watching.
    He rested his forehead on mine. “I want us to get married as soon as possible.”
    I pulled back. “I’m not even eighteen. There’s no way we can legally get married without my parents’ signature, and we both know that’ll never happen.”
    “What if there is a way?”
    “How?”
    He cupped my hands with his. “In the State of Alabama, you can marry when you’re eighteen.”
    “You can? How do you know?”
    “My older sister works at the courthouse in Yalobusha County. She did the research and gave me the details.”
    “And it would be legal? Even the State of Mississippi would see us as married?”
    He smiled and nodded. “What do you say?”

Chapter 8
    The following Sunday, Chuck and I walked down the church aisle hand in hand. He leaned in and asked in a soft voice, “Do you think you’ll look back someday and have regrets?”
    The pastor greeted us before I had a chance to answer, then we chose a pew and sat.
    People next to us smiled and welcomed us. When things began to quiet down, I nudged him. “Regrets about what?”
    “Not having a big church wedding.”
    I shook my head. “No. Marsha had a well-planned ceremony with all the trimmings: friends, family, beautiful dress, catered reception. What a disaster. The problem was, the plans were all Mom’s, from the choice of bridesmaids, to the music. By the time Marsha and Bob took their vows, I didn’t think either one of them were happy.”
    He placed an arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze as the service began.
    Later, over lunch, Chuck convinced me we could work out all the details and marry two days after my birthday. I needed a copy of my birth certificate. The original was in a metal box in Mom’s closet. I had no intentions of retrieving it.
    Chuck took a pen from his shirt pocket and wrote on a clean napkin. “I’ll check in Jackson about a form for a replacement, see how long it’ll take to get here, and call you tomorrow night.”
    I brushed a fingernail across my lower lip and stared out the restaurant window.
    “What’s wrong, Morgan?”
    “We’ve got to be careful with every detail and make sure my parents don’t get wind of our plans. They’ll do everything in their power to stop us, and don’t ever forget about Dad’s threat.”
    Chuck gathered my hands in his. “Your father doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison. He’s not going to kill me. He