Chapter Twenty-six

CHANCE AND JAX SAT around a small table in Pastor Rhebekka Deklan’s kitchen. Karmen served them a savory beef stew, swimming with carrots and potatoes. Thick slices of warm, homemade bread lay slathered with Amish butter at the side of each crusty bread bowl filled with stew.

“I’m going to need to move a slot on this gun belt. Holy smokes this looks good. Thank you, Karmen.” Chance’s mouth was watering. The urge to gorge herself was nearly overwhelming, but she politely waited for Rhebekka to say a short blessing.

Jax picked up a spoon and blew across the hot stew. “As long as you still fit into that long, leather duster for our wedding, eat as much as you want, my love.”

“Karmen, if I devour the entire pot, do you have anything for the rest of you to eat?” Chance bit into the buttery bread. She couldn’t stop the groan that escaped.

“I’m sure I can find something.” Karmen shook her head. “But if you eat that much, Jax is going to have to roll you down Rhebekka’s stairs to your vehicle. While we’re eating, let’s go over the menu again.”

For the next fifteen minutes, Chance and Jax talked about the food that would be served at their reception that was to be held at the Confluence, inside Redemption’s Road. They had changed venues on Rhebekka’s suggestion.

“Christmas Day was a good choice for your wedding because the bar is normally closed anyway. Your friends and family, along with Tank, are serving as bartenders. According to Karmen, the food will be buffet style. Since the service is just before sunset, everyone will have had their Christmas festivities over and be ready to party.” Rhebekka sipped her beer.

“I know it likely wasn’t the most convenient, but we wanted to be able to celebrate this with a few family and friends who are coming back to Tucker County for the holidays. Most everyone has Christmas off, so no one needed to take any extra time. We want this ceremony to be meaningful but short and sweet.”

Rhebekka nodded. “Short, sweet, and meaningful are my three middle names. Now is there anything specific you want? I know you’re writing your own vows.”

Jax set down her mug of hot coffee. “The vows are the easy part.”

“Easy for you,” Chance quipped while she shoved another piece of brownie in her mouth.

Jax lightly smacked her on the arm. “Come on, you’ve spoken in public hundreds of times.”

Rhebekka laughed as the two bantered back and forth. “Look, Karmen, already arguing like an old married couple, and I haven’t even pronounced them yet. Oh, that brings up another question. How do you want to handle that, Mrs. and Mrs.…Wedded Spouses?”

Jax looked to Chance who shrugged. “Well, I like Mrs. and Mrs. Chance Fitzsimmons.”

Chance leaned over and kissed Jax lightly. “Whatever you want.”

Rhebekka wrote in a leather-bound book. “Okay, that’s settled. Any particular reading or scripture you’d like to have?”

Chance turned to Rhebekka. “We’ll leave the scripture to you. My job is to enforce the law, hers is to care for animals, Karmen’s is to cook amazing food, and yours, Pastor, is to find the scripture that ties it all together.”

Rhebekka smiled. “I can do that.”

They finished dessert and finalized the elements of the ceremony. The wedding would begin at four thirty and come to a close right around sunset. While Karmen and Jax continued to talk food, Chance took the opportunity to speak to Rhebekka.

“I just wanted to say thank you for coming to visit Jax at the hospital and at home. It meant a great deal to her. She’s even more comfortable with you preforming our ceremony.”

Rhebekka put a hand on Chance’s shoulder. “That’s all part of being a pastor, caring for those who need comfort and reassurance. I’m glad I could provide that and ease her mind. I know I’m an unconventional pastor. Sometimes that puts people off.”

Chance noticed when Rhebekka dropped her eyes a bit. “I want you to know something. Jax has never been comfortable with any kind of organized religion. The few services we’ve been able to attend and the times we’ve listened to you play have shown us both a different side of what we know as grace. That’s all because of you. I know you didn’t conventionally come by this calling, but you’re very good at it. My father used to say part of being a law enforcement officer was being able to have empathy. He told me that it was actually the most difficult part of the job. You, Rhebekka, for who you were and the life experiences you’ve had, bring a unique ability to show not only sympathy but deep, true empathy. You can put yourself in the shoes of others, because you’ve walked that path. Few pastors can boast of gold and platinum records on the walls or a career that was as successful as yours. One that you left while you were on top, I might add.”

Rhebekka grinned at her. “I forgot what a fangirl you are.”

“Look, Regal Crimson has and always will be in my top five bands. Your sister is killing it, but I’ll be honest; I miss you wailing on that Strat.”

Rhebekka lifted her head and laughed outright. “Thanks, you’re good for my ego.”

Chance patted Rhebekka on the back. “And you’re good for my wedded bliss. Now let’s go see what those two have cooked up for this shindig.”

 

***

 

Christmas Eve, Jax and Chance sat in front of the fire at the Fitzsimmons’ homeplace. Kendra and Brandi were toasting marshmallows in the fireplace and passing around smores. They’d decided to do their Christmas celebration on the twenty-fourth, knowing that Christmas Day would be jam packed with all the last-minute things related to the ceremony.

Jax snuggled in close, wrapping Chance’s arms around her. “I’m so comfortable. I could go to sleep right here.”

Chance kissed the top of Jax’s head. “We could stay. I fed the horses before we came, and Zeus is with us. I’m sure Brandi wouldn’t mind giving up her guest room and bunking in with Kendra.”

Kendra turned around and grinned at Chance, which sent Jax into a fit of giggles. Maggie threw a pillow and hit Chance in the head.

The room smelled of pine and cherry wood. The lights on the Christmas tree danced with the shadows the firelight threw off, creating the perfect Christmas Eve. Maggie stood up and walked toward the tree.

“Okay, girls, last present of the night before Santa comes.”

Kendra groaned. “Mom, you’re not going to make me wear them, are you?”

“Bullseye, it’s a tradition. You have to wear them.” Chance completely lost it.

Dee pointed a finger. “Don’t be so smug, Chance, you know your mother bought a set for each and every one of us. It’s time for the annual Fitzsimmons family Christmas photo.”

“What’s going on?” Jax furrowed her brow.

Chance shook her head. “You’ll see.”

Maggie returned and handed each of them a flat box wrapped in colorful foil paper. She smacked Kendra on the head with hers. “Someday, when you have kids of your own, this will matter. Now quit griping.”

“Should I be afraid?” Jax looked at Chance again.

“Depends.”

“Depends on what?”

Chance tugged her ear. “On a lot.”

“What she means,” Dee explained, “is that it depends on how many Maggie could find in the correct size and matching pattern.”

“Oh, this is going to be good.” Jax put her finger under the ribbon and waited for further instructions.

“You have no idea how bad this can be.” Kendra scoffed.

Maggie stood with her hands on her hips. “Now look, Scrooge, this is a Fitzsimmons tradition started by my great-grandmother, who made them by hand back then. You want to talk about bad, I can tell you about bad. We said thank you just the same. Be very careful, or your stocking will be empty tomorrow morning. Okay everyone, open them.”

Kendra rolled her eyes, as she slid her finger under the wrapping paper. “Get ready to die, Brandi.”

Brandi raised her eyebrows and opened her eyes wide in mock fear.

Chance pulled off her paper and shook off the box top. “Just open it, Bullseye. Make our mother happy.”

Jax did the same and started laughing so hard she snorted. She put a hand over her face. “Oh my God, where did you find these?” She pulled out the blue pajama top and displayed the Star Wars characters stacked up on top of each other to form a Christmas tree. There was even a matching shirt for Zeus in her box. She called him over and pulled it on over his head. He licked her face, and then turned in a circle.

“There you go, Zeus approves.”

Dee held up her matching fleece pants that displayed the heads of Darth Vader, Yoda, and Princess Leia. “Oh, your mom’s got your number, Five Points. This year is all about you. I remember taking you to see the original when you were little. You were Star Wars nuts for the next two years.”

Jax felt tears forming when she saw her pants had been slightly altered to accommodate her walking cast. Maggie sat down beside Jax and wrapped her in a hug. “I’m so glad to be buying two extra pair this year.” She looked over to Brandi who was holding her shirt up to her chest. “Having both of you with us makes me feel like we now have six times the love.” Zeus barked. “Sorry Zeus, seven times the love. Now everyone go change, time for pictures.”

Chance helped Jax get up off the couch. They made their way to Chance’s old room that Brandi was occupying, while the other two changed in Kendra’s room.

“Need help?” Chance pulled off her shirt and slipped on the Star Wars top.

“You’re just trying to get me naked.” Jax grinned.

“Would I be trying to do that before making an honest woman of you?”

“I certainly hope so.” Jax worked her way into the pajama shirt and unbuttoned her track pants. Chance helped Jax into her pajama bottoms and snapped the pants leg over her cast.

“Just wait until we get home.”

They rejoined the family and saw that Dee had the camera set up on a tripod. She looked through the lens. “Okay everyone, in front of the tree. Closer together. I’ve got the remote in my hand. That’s good, now stand still.” Dee moved into her place by Maggie’s side.

Zeus sat in front of Chance and Jax, who stood in an embrace. Kendra wrapped her arm around Brandi’s shoulder and her girlfriend returned the hug by snuggling into Kendra’s side.

“Okay everyone, say Merry Christmas!” Dee gave them the key phrase.

As the flash went off, Jax thought how grateful she was to become part of this amazing family.