1: Pilar's Wedding
Kade Blackwell sat in the second pew in the Methodist Church off Main Street in the small desert town of Oasis. Except for a couple of years living in Phoenix to attend Arizona State University, he'd spent his entire life in Oasis. Sitting next to him, his seventy-eight year old paternal grandmother, Shiloh Blackwell, slipped her hand into his. She leaned toward him and whispered, "I just love weddings. And I can't believe Max's mother couldn't make it to her own son's wedding. I don't think any charity event is more important."
Kade patted her hand and replied, "Pilar said the woman is out of the country, in South America somewhere, I believe. From the way she talked, I guess Max isn't surprised by her absence."
"Well, it's sinful if you ask me," Shiloh retorted.
The preacher began the ceremony and Kade returned his attention to the bride and groom. He was happy for his cousin Pilar. A few years earlier she'd gone through an unpleasant divorce and after a visit to Oasis, made the decision to move there. As a child and teenager, she'd spent a week or two every summer with him and his grandmother. Those visits had ceased after Pilar's mother died of heart failure. After that, Kade had lost contact with her for several years, but since her return, they'd become close again.
Standing beside Max was Willie, Pilar's son from her former marriage. The boy grinned as he watched the ceremony. Over the past few months, he and his soon-to-be stepfather had become close, especially after Max saved the boy from almost drowning in a flash flood.
At nine years old, Willie already knew what he wanted to do with his life and often expressed it. More than anything, he wanted to become a major league baseball player, and he was good at the sport even at his young age.
The bride and groom exchanged rings that Willie proudly handed them. A few minutes later, Pastor Peabody said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Max, you may kiss your bride."
Everyone in the church sighed audibly when Max tenderly kissed Pilar. The newlyweds turned to face the congregation and the pastor said, "I now introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Maximilian Rutherford III."
There were so many guests crammed into the small church that extra chairs had been brought in, and even then, some people stood along the back wall. Everyone clapped, hollered, or whistled as the couple walked down the aisle, followed by Willie and Max's sister, Skylar Rutherford, who had been Pilar's Maid of Honor.
For the briefest moment Kade locked eyes with Skylar, and then quickly glanced away. He'd been avoiding her since her return to Oasis a week earlier. The woman's forthright personality grated on his nerves, not to mention the fact that he was still pissed about her plowing into the Harley he'd been test driving a few months earlier. He'd taken the bike out for a final spin before the owner arrived and Skylar, running a stop sign, had hit the back of the bike. The only real damage had been scuffing to several chrome pieces, but it was enough for him to verbally roast her.
At first, she'd been shaky and apologetic, but after his verbal lashing she'd transitioned from defensive mode to offensive. She'd insisted the reason for the accident was because the stop sign was hidden by tree branches, and not her driving ability. Her brother had shown up and sided with her and promised they'd pay whatever the damages.
Kade might have let the matter drop except for the fact that he knew she was richer than Croesus after having met Max. She had "rich girl" practically stamped on her forehead, and if there was one thing Kade couldn't stand, it was rich girls who never took responsibility for their own actions. He'd insisted on reporting the accident to her insurance company, and followed through with that threat.
After that, things had escalated from bad to worse between him and Skylar—Skye to her family and friends. He found out that she was a professional photographer and during a party hosted by Desert Princess Trailer and RV Park, the park Pilar and Max called home, she'd snapped photos of him on the sly. He'd almost grabbed her camera away from her. Not only was she blatantly obnoxious and outspoken, but she was disrespectful of his privacy.
Kade's attention was returned to the present when an usher moved to the front and motioned for the first row on the bride's side to exit. Pilar's father and stepmother stepped into the aisle, followed by Pinky, Desi, Goody, Vera, and Lilac, close friends and neighbors of Pilar and Max.
The attendees for the groom's side, in the opposite row, moved into the aisle next. First was Max's grandfather, Maximilian Rutherford I, holding the hand of Princess, the owner of the trailer park and local diner. The impressive man bent to say something in Princess's ear and the lady giggled like a teenager. Following them was a portly, but distinguished looking older gentleman and his lady. The couple had been introduced before the ceremony as Ben and Elizabeth Albright, close friends of the Rutherfords. Kade had heard Mr. Albright's name mentioned before by Max and knew he was the family's attorney.
Kade and his grandmother were in the next row on the bride's side to be dismissed. Shiloh held tightly to Kade's arm as they left the church. Outside, the bride and groom had lined up to greet guests on a beautiful, cloudless, spring morning.