The Wedding: A Faces of Evil Short Story Read Online Free Page B

as one of his groomsmen.
    The door opened and Mary waved her arm. “This way, gentlemen.”
    His father placed a hand on Dan’s arm. “Just a minute, son.”
    “We need a moment,” Dan said to Mary.
    “We’ll be waiting for you.” Mary ushered Corlew and Frank into the corridor and closed the door.
    His father took him by the arms and smiled. Dan didn’t miss the sheen of tears in his eyes.
    “You’re a good man, Dan. Your mother and I are immensely proud of you, not only for the way you’ve served this city but also for the outstanding human being you’ve always been. From the time you were old enough to have a paper route you were kind and helpful to others. It makes our hearts glad to know that we had a little something to do with making you the man you are today.”
    Dan blinked back some tears of his own. “Thank you, Dad. I wish I could take the credit, but I have an excellent role model to follow.”
    His father smiled. “We’ve always respected your decisions, and never once have we doubted the plans you’ve made.” His father squeezed his arms. “I just want you to know that we are especially thankful you’re marrying Jess.”
    Dan couldn’t speak for a moment.
    “You and I both know your mother wasn’t so keen on Jess back when the two of you were kids, but she realizes now how wrong she was. Jess is a wonderful woman. We’re very pleased to be welcoming her to the family not only as your wife but as our daughter.”
    “That means more than you can know, to both of us.”
    “We’re going to spoil your children every single day.” His father laughed. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be here for this day. Your mother and I are looking forward to many, many more wondrous events with you and your new family.”
    Dan hugged his father hard. “I love you, Dad.”
    “I love you, son.” His father drew back. “Today you’ll watch your bride walk down the aisle toward you the way I watched your mother walk toward me all those decades ago.”
    “I can’t wait.”
    “Right now,” his father laughed, “if we keep Mary waiting any longer, she’ll be calling your mother to come and light a fire under us.”
    Dan laughed. “We should go then.”
    He’d been waiting for this moment a very long time.

 
5
    Cathedral of St. Paul
    3:40 p.m.
    While Lily helped Maddie pick up the rose petals she’d decided to spread around a little early, Jess took a moment alone before the call to take their positions. She stood in the room that had been designated as the dressing room for the bride. When Katherine had first suggested having the wedding at St. Paul’s, Jess hadn’t been very happy. She hadn’t wanted a big formal wedding. She’d wanted a private ceremony with only close family and friends. Sometime during the past couple of months, Jess had changed her mind.
    This cathedral had graced downtown Birmingham for more than one hundred twenty years. It’s neo-gothic architecture and incredible stained glass windows made it awe inspiring. Jess had never been inside until the wedding planning began. If she’d thought the exterior was beautiful, the interior was breathtaking. The granite columns, vaulted ceiling, and arches soared high overhead to the ornate domed ceiling. Rich hand hewn wood floors filled the space with warmth. Something about the sacred beauty and history had changed her feelings about a big wedding. Knowing that Katherine and Dan Senior had taken their vows here had sealed the deal for Jess. This was another of the traditions she and Dan wanted to have in their lives.
    She pressed her hand to her belly. A few months from now, they would be baptizing their child here. Perhaps their son or daughter would one day take his or her vows in this cathedral.
    Jess moved to the full-length mirror and checked her reflection one last time. The gorgeous earrings Dan had given her twinkled from her earlobes. Her wedding gown was only the third one she’d tried on and both Lily and