“Can we talk?” Jack looked at Cassie.
“Sure.”
Jack’s phone rang. “Once I deal with this, excuse me.” He moved into the garden and answered the phone. “Hello.”
“Jack, its Bruce. I just wanted to update you. Have you spoken to Nate, yet?”
“He said something about having arrested Miss Wickham, but nothing more.”
“Yes. Pippa tried something similar at her previous church. Nate questioned her and she owned up. She also admitted sending threatening texts and letters to Cassie. And of course they have her for taking Lara from school and abandoning her in the park.”
“So it’s over.”
“Yes. So there’s no need for you to remain on leave.”
“No…the damage is done. I can’t stay.”
“Rubbish. No one knows apart from those involved, and they won’t say anything. Nate and I both agree on this. The charges were groundless. If you want, we can tell the rest of the elders, but there’s no need. Resume your pastorate. We need you.”
“Bruce, I—”
“Jack, you can’t let Satan win. He wants you out of Headley Baptist and used this as a means to do it. Now are you going to take a stand for Christ here, or run and hide?”
“Put like that, I don’t have a choice, do I? I take a stand. This is one battle I’m not going to lose. I’ll start work again tomorrow.” He hung up and went back inside.
Cassie was waiting.
“Can we talk now?”
“Cue phone or missing child or—”
“Oh, ye of little faith.” He grabbed her hand and led her into the garden. He sat on the wall and patted the space beside him.
Cassie sat. “I don’t understand why you broke things off. I thought—thought you liked me.”
“Before we go any further, I need to explain something. I was charged with conduct unbecoming a pastor, assault…you name it. I didn’t want to bring disrespect to the church or to the Lord, so I offered to resign. I didn’t want you involved or hurt, so in order to keep you out of it, I had to break things off with you.”
“And are you?”
“Am I what? Protecting you—I was trying to.”
“Resigning the pastorate.”
“Oh—no. Bruce refused to accept it. He said to take some leave instead, while he and Nate investigated.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I’d believe her rather than you?”
“I was ashamed…hurt…”
“I see.”
“But I was wrong. I hurt you by not telling you. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah…” Cassie paused. “Thing is, I was involved anyway. She left me notes in church, sent me photos and texts, warned me to stay away from you. She said if she couldn’t have you, then no one would. You’d broken things off anyway, so I didn’t see point in saying anything.”
“Oh, Cassie…”
“The notes came in church on Sunday. Pastor Bruce saw Danny get one of them out of the pigeon hole and hand it to me. He asked if he could have it. I gave it to him, and he involved Nate. Nate told me this morning they arrested her and are charging her.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry I broke things off. It was probably the second stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Only the second?” One finely trimmed brow raised a little and her head tilted to one side. “I dread to think what the first was.”
It was now or never. His heart leapt up his throat, threatening to choke him before he ever got a word out. “The first was letting you go. I don’t regret any of the years I spent with Elisa, but letting you walk out of my life was by far the stupidest thing I have ever done.”
Color touched her cheeks.
Jack’s fingers moved gently over the back of her hand.
“I understand if you don’t want to give us another try, but would you please think about it? Pray about it?”
“I’ll do that.”
“Thank you. No rush on an answer. Take as much time as you need.”
“I’ll think about it.” She took a deep breath. “I can’t believe what happened today…is my dress really going to be the royal wedding one?”
“Looks that way.”
“Wow,” she whispered.
Jack squeezed her hand. “Yeah…wow.”
****
Midafternoon, Dorrie’s voice echoed from the hallway.
“Cassie—mail. It came by courier. It looks official.”
Cassie took it into the kitchen and slit it open with a knife. She pulled out a gold rimmed invitation for her and two guests to attend the wedding at the Abbey. She showed her parents.
“Who do I take?” she whispered.
“You take Jack and Lara, of course. We’re content with watching it on the television.”
“Don’t look at me.” Danny raised his hands. “Lara wants to go, and if you take her you need to take Jack.”
“But we’re not dating anymore.”
“Cass…just ring him. Ask him.”
Cassie pulled out her phone and rang the manse. “Hey, Jack. It’s me. I need to see you.”
“Now?” Concern filled Jack’s voice. “What’s wrong?”
“I…just need to speak with you. Please, come now.”
“I’ll be right over.”
“Thanks.” She hung up.
“Now you’ve scared the poor man half to death,” Dorrie said, getting up from the table. “I’ll make some coffee while you go wait for him.”
****
Jack pulled up outside the house three hours after he’d left. His mind whirled with possibilities. What have I done wrong? It can’t be good if she’s made a decision in a few short hours?
Lara rang the bell.
Danny opened the door. “Hey, Jack. She’s in the lounge.” He smiled at Lara. “I’ve got something for you in the kitchen.”
“Cookies?”
“Chocolate chip ones.”
“Yay.” She ran off, leaving Jack standing there.
“Don’t look so worried, Jack. She’s just winding you up with her ‘come now, it’s an emergency’ line.”
Jack headed to the lounge, his steps slow. Danny’s words hadn’t made him feel any better. Pushing the door open, he took in Cassie sitting there, a letter in her hand. He loved her so much. He’d been a fool to let her go. Was she now doing the same to him? “Hey, I came as fast as I could.”
Panic etched into Cassie’s eyes. Her hands—her whole body was shaking. Something was definitely wrong.
“Cassie, what is it?”
“This came.” Her voice was no more than a whisper.
Jack took the card and read it. Wow.
“I can’t do it.”
“Sure you can. You told her you could this morning.”
“But it’s so real now. I mean, they’ll have TV cameras, and it’ll be live all over the world, and everyone will see me. They’ll rehash the accident over and over, and it’ll be Cassie Hinton, the jockey, instead of their wedding day. And what if I fall or this stupid leg breaks? I can’t wear a posh short dress or a trouser suit or jeans or—”
“That’s enough. Cassie, forget your leg and what you’re going to wear. And so what if the commentators say who you are. Being a jockey is part of who you are, but you’re so much more than that. No one is going to care what you wear or anything else about you—besides the royal dressmaker always gets a mention, but that’s all it is. A passing mention. All eyes are going to be on Lady Rebekah. She’s marrying our prince. When he becomes King, she’ll be Queen. Thousands of brides the world over are going to want a dress like hers.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybes. They are. Wear what you want.” Jack winked at her. “You asked why you survived the accident. This is why God saved you, so you can save the royal wedding.”
“Now you’re being silly.”
“I’m being serious. If you died…there’d be no dress. It’s as simple as that.”
“They’d have found a dress somewhere else. An off-the-peg one. You know that as well as I do, but I’m not going to argue. Jack…I know, strictly speaking, we’re not going out anymore, but would you come with me? You and Lara—the invite is for me and two guests. You and Lara could save me a seat if she decides she wants me to do this last stitch tradition.”
“Don’t you want to take your parents?”
“They don’t want to go, but that’s not the reason I’m asking you. Do you want to come to the wedding or not?”
“Is this a plot device to ask me out?” Jack feigned shock, putting his hand over his heart
“No, of course not. None of this would have happened without you or Lara, and I can’t take her without you. She can wear the yellow dress from the window display. It’s not much good on its own, and she’ll need a posh frock for a wedding in the Abbey.”
“We’d love to come, thank you.” Jack wrapped his arms around her. A spark of hope lit within him. She’d not given him an answer as such, but of all the people in Headley Cross she could have asked to the royal wedding, she’d chosen him and Lara.