Chapter 1: The Bar

The bar remained alive with laughter, dance, and drink. For most of its inhabitants the initial excitement had worn off, but not for Melanie. She sat on a chair in the room that she and her husband, Jake Perry, had officially moved together for their first dance as husband and wife. The smile that adorned her face since melding her lips to Jake's in the storm on the beach after her almost wedding would not leave her face. Truthfully, she didn't want it to. Jake had gone over to talk to his mother, Stella, who was standing by the jukebox. Melanie's cheeks began to ache from the strain of how big her smile continued to grow. She had started this day with many doubts and concerns and had walked down the aisle with acceptance, but had ended the day absolutely sure of her position in life and even though she still had doubts, they weren't about if this is where she was meant to be, but were about how she wouldn't be able to meld herself back into her life with Jake fast enough.

"I told you darlin, that everything would work out." Stella said in a matter of fact manner.

"I believe what you said was one way or another, mother. But I can't believe that it has worked out this way. After all this time. Mother, I don't know how to feel." Jake admitted. He also had many doubts about Melanie's decision. Personally, his heart swelled with the choice she had made for them. He loved her, had always loved her and had filed away the hope for the day in the depths of his heart waiting for the right sign that would tell him it was time to let it come forth once more.

He knew that since she came back to Alabama she had been conflicted with what, or who she wanted most, but Jake knew nothing of what drove her to her final decision and change of heart. Would she regret not marrying that Andrew guy a few days, weeks, or even years from now when she would be reminded that life would him wouldn't be perfect as it had never been for the two of them? The kiss on the beach had awoken feelings and truths he had been long since trying to hide, especially that day when he knew that she would be saying her vows to another man. He had spent the whole day trying to ignore the bile that rose in him every time he thought about how it was his choice that they had been allowed to get married that day. He was the one that had signed the divorce papers, after seven years of ignoring them, he should have fought harder for her, made her see somehow that they were meant for each other.

"Feel loved, darlin. Anybody who saw her now would know that's the first thing she feels for you. She chose you today. I was at that wedding, Jake, you should have seen her. She seemed so scared, uncertain and only seemed to smile because her father kept saying something to her as he lead her down the isle. She loves you, now you need to show her that her choice will never be in vain." Stella rubbed her son's arm as she talked to him. She knew Jake is happy, happier than he has been since Melanie left all those years ago. It would do him on good to question the reasoning behind every detail of today. He and Melanie still has a long road ahead of them, but right now she also knows that they are both on the same battlefield, working together.

"Quite a day! But we'll have to be going soon. You know, with the kids and all." Lurlynn said plopping down in a seat next to Melanie.

"I never would have been able to dream up this day if I wanted to. It's beyond anything I deserve." Melanie said shrugging.

"Oh don't say that. You and Jake both have been through a lot. And who knows what would have happened if you had stayed. Personally, I think everything worked out the way it was meant to for both of you to become the people you needed in order to be together."

"Wow, Lurlynn that's actually the best confidence booster I've heard all day. I'm just afraid I'll wake up tomorrow back in New York with a show looming over my head."

"Do you know what you're going to do about that? I mean you've had to have thought about it since we all know you've been thinking of your life with Jake since coming home?"

"No, but I do know it's not something that needs to be decided upon tonight, or tomorrow or at all this week, in fact." Melanie said slapping her hand lightly upon her soaked dress covered leg.

"You also might want to think about getting into some warmer clothes soon. You're going to catch a cold in that thing."

"Yea. I know. It's not my favorite dress in the world."

"You're two for two with that now I guess." Lurlynn joked. Melanie snorted with the memory of her first wedding dress that remained un-salvageable from Jake's evidence of his activities the night before their wedding.

"This one is also quite heavy." Melanie joked while moving the wet material as much as she could on her body trying to get comfortable. Luckily Jake took his spot at her side in that moment.

"Well, we'd better be getting home. I'm so happy for you two." Lurlynn smiled at them both before heading off into the crowd to find Clinton.

Melanie shifted enough in the chair to where she was able to look up at Jake without twisting her neck. "What were you ladies talking about?"

Melanie shrugged, not just yet wanting to discuss the more weighted topics that had surfaced while talking to Lurlynn, at least, not just yet. "My dress mostly." and on cue she shivered from a sudden draft that permeated through the room.

"I'd give you my jacket but I think it's holding more water than your dress at the moment." Jake grinned his charming boy smile. Melanie took in the state of his clothes and noticed that his clothes indeed seemed to still be dripping healthy amounts of water.

"Maybe it's time we... leave?" Melanie asked catching herself for some reason not wanting to say "home" just yet. For now, she'd call Jake her home and not step on any toes while throwing herself back into every aspect of his life. Jake swallowed thickly not missing what she didn't say. Melanie stood and Jake only moved back far enough to allow her room to get to her feet. The result left them with no space between them. Jake smiled his boyish smile again and leaned in to give Melanie a kiss, quick, but satisfying their tongues only brushing for a beat.

Before Melanie could regain her composure Jake stood by his mother saying goodbye. They spoke for a few minutes, Jake nodding vigorously at something his mother was saying to him and then walked back over to Melanie holding out his hand in invitation. As they made their way towards the door the music suddenly lowered and the voices cut away wondering where the music had gone. Everybody looked about wildly and soon landed on Stella who stood in the middle of the floor.

"Everybody give one last round of applause to Mr. and Mrs. Jake Perry as they take their leave!" The crowd in the bar went wild. Screams, hollers, cat calls, and congratulations were belted at the newly reformed couple as they waved heartily at everybody while making their escape out the door and into Jake's truck. Both slumped against the back of the seat sighing in happiness and relief. Melanie shivered again and Jake made quick work of starting the engine and cranking the heat. He carefully backed away from the small building and before driving home with his wife he reached over and grabbed her hand in his, lacing their cold fingers together.