Married for Christmas (Willow Park) by Noelle Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

with never
having it?”
    For some reason, the words sliced through her chest.
    She was happy about this marriage. Genuinely happy.
    But she didn’t need the reminder that he wasn’t going
to—couldn’t ever—love her.
    They cared about each other, though, and they got along well.
Most marriages throughout history had been built on far less of a foundation.
    “This is what I want,” she said at last. “To keep nagging me
about it is to assume that I’m not capable of making an informed, reasoned
decision about my own life. I am capable. I am making this
decision. So you need to stop asking me about it.”
    He looked like he was going argue, but then his face visibly
relaxed. “Right. You’re right. Sorry. I’m just used to taking care of people.”
    “I know you are,” she replied, softening despite herself.
“But you don’t have to take care of me. We’re in this together.”
    “Got it.”
    “So we’re good?”
    “We’re good.”
    “All right then. So get out of here before Martha has
hysterics and stages an assault on the room.”
    He laughed and left, and Jessica felt better about things.
They understood each other, and there was no reason they had to do things like
everyone else.
    It didn’t matter that he didn’t love her.
    At least he’d thought she looked pretty.
    ***
    When she went out to have the
pre-ceremony pictures taken, Jessica suddenly realized this was real. It was
happening.
    Her nervousness transformed into intense anxiety, which
transformed the world into a vague blur.
    So she was in a blur as she posed for pictures.
    And she was in a blur when they hustled her away as guests
started to arrive, filling the big, old sanctuary she loved.
    And she was in a blur when she heard the music begin and got
into position in the narthex.
    And she was in a blur as she started down the aisle behind
Kim, her fingers shaking as she gripped her bouquet of deep red amaryllis
blossoms and even more as everyone stood in response to her entrance.
    And she was in a blur as the Scripture was read, and the
hymn was sung, and the homily was given by Daniel’s mentor and favorite professor
from seminary.
    And she was in a blur as she repeated the traditional vows
back to Daniel and slid the ring onto his finger.
    Even when he leaned forward to kiss her, she was in a blur.
    She could barely even process how it felt.
    Except it was slightly scratchy from his beard.
    Slightly scratchy—and not at all unpleasant.

Three
     
    Forgetting about the possibility of
wrinkling her wedding dress, Jessica collapsed into a chair in the Sunday
School room and tried to suck down enough air to breathe.
    “You okay?” Daniel asked, closing the door behind them and
shutting out the rest of the wedding party.
    They’d been left alone for a few minutes before the
remainder of the pictures and reception.
    “Yeah. It’s just all so surreal.” The world had finally
unblurred, but now she was exhausted and strangely shaky. She was having
trouble getting her mind to process what had just happened.
    She’d gotten married. To Daniel. It had actually happened.
    He walked over until he stood beside her, and his expression
reflected concern. “Are you sure you wanted to—”
    He broke off mid-sentence, evidently remembering he wasn’t
supposed to keep asking her that.
    She found the energy to almost smile. “Thanks for stopping
yourself. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”
    “Honestly, I feel pretty hot and overwhelmed myself.”
    “Really?” He looked as composed and attractive as ever,
although not as slick as he had earlier. “How did you feel after your first
wedding?”
    When his face closed off immediately, she knew she shouldn’t
have asked. His marriage to Lila was still a sensitive subject—was still
inviolate—and she knew better than to ask him to spill. Especially at a time
like this.
    She sighed and hunched her shoulders slightly, feeling more
exhausted than ever.
    “Not like this,” he said at