Chapter FOUR - Not going back…wanna go forward
Flashback to Jennifer's Rehearsal Dinner
Jennifer Stetson ran the brush through her chocolate brown hair and she sighed. She was thinking about her wedding and she smiled. She had waited for this day to finally arrive and it was here. She stood up from her little vanity and went to the full length mirror. She smoothed out her dress and sighed. She heard a voice behind her.
"It's no use Sweetheart."
Jennifer turned around and saw her mother standing there with her arms crossed. Jennifer smiled at her mother.
"What's no use Mum?"
Amanda Stetson walked over to her daughter and gave her a hug. Jennifer sighed as she felt her mother giving her a tight squeeze. "It's no use thinking that you're not pretty enough. You, young lady, are beautiful, inside and out! Matthew is darn lucky to have you. Remember, you are meant to be together. Just like your father and I are and your grandparents were." Amanda lifted Jennifer's chin and looked into her bright hazel green eyes. She smiled at her daughter. "You, Jennifer Doretha Stetson, are beautiful and you will be absolutely stunning tomorrow. I can't tell you how proud I am of you. We both are. Your father isn't very good at expressing how he feels but he's so proud of you and Matthew. He loves you so much sweetie. We want you both to be happy."
"Oh Mum…we are. I never thought that I could find my soul mate just by walking into him! But here we are and nothing is going to stop me from marrying the man of my dreams!"
"I know sweetie. We have been through too much and we always come out of it stronger. But today isn't about the past. It's about moving forward. So what do you say we head downstairs to your rehearsal?"
Jennifer twirled around and the cream colored skirt she wore lifted into the air. Jennifer reached over her mother and grabbed her jacket. She slipped it on and asked her mother "So whatcha think?"
Amanda smiled at her daughter. " Like I said, you are beautiful." Jennifer shook her head "It's the suit. It makes me feel pretty. Knowing that you wore this when you and Daddy were married just makes it so much more special and I am so honored to wear it. Thank you Mum. For letting me wear it. It means so much to me." Amanda patted her hand and sighed. "It's hard to believe that I wore that when I married your father" Amanda rolled her eyes and continued "…the mystery marriage." Jennifer giggled and kissed her mothers cheek. "Well, if you hadn't had that mystery wedding then I wouldn't be able to wear this beautiful suit for MY rehearsal dinner!" She smiled and her dimples came peaking out. "Um, Mum….can I ask you a question?"
"Of course sweetheart! What's up?"
Jennifer led her mother to the bed and they sat down. Jennifer took her mothers hands and took a quick breath. "Okay. I know that Jamie didn't leave to do something for my honeymoon. He went to Lewisburg, didn't he?"
Amanda opened her mouth a little in surprise but quickly closed it. She made a face at her daughter and said "How did you figure that out? You weren't supposed to know about any of it. Jamie doesn't want anything to mess up your wedding plans!"
Jennifer smiled at her mother. "Um...Mum. I am a spy after all. Some secrets are made to be heard. Besides I saw Jamie and Sam talking at my bridal shower and then I saw Daddy and Aunt Francine talking. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they were sending Jamie somewhere without me. It's okay. Really. I understand he needs to do things without me. There will be moments that he can do an assignment and I can't. I just don't like not being there to watch his back.``
Amanda chuckled. "I know what you mean. I hated when your father would go on no contact missions. Especially when we were in our mystery marriage phase. If we had just come clean with it then, Billy would have never sent him." She squeezed Jennifer's hands. "But I trusted Lee to be careful and as Jamie's partner you should do the same. Jamie is a very good agent. I always knew he would be. He'll be fine."
Jennifer nodded. "I just hate the thought of him seeing Beamon. I still have some nightmares from that whole experience."
"Oh sweetheart. I know. I did as well. But we aren't going to let that ruin our weekend! This is all about you and Matthew. I am so excited for the two of you. It's going to be a beautiful wedding."
Jennifer nodded. " I know. And then we have two weeks of sand and sun! I am looking forward to that. I have been dragging lately and I need some R & R…"
"You have been working too hard Jennifer."
"Well, once I get back you have some work ahead of you too you know?" Amanda looked at her daughter and scrunched her face. "What are you talking about sweetheart?"
Jennifer took a deep breath. "Well, I didn't want to say anything but when Matthew and I get back from our honeymoon I won't be on the active duty roster for a while. Which is one reason that I am okay with Jamie doing things on his own. You are going to have to help me get our house all ready….well when we finally buy a house…" Jennifer stopped her ramble and held her mothers hands '' I wanted to tell you and Daddy when you are together…but you're never in the same place at the same time.`` Jennifer took another deep breath. "I am pregnant!"
Amanda's eyes filled with happy tears as she hugged her daughter. "Oh Jennifer! This is wonderful news! Oh My Gosh! A baby! Are you sure?" Jennifer nodded. "I got the ultrasound yesterday and it's confirmed. Mum…its twins. I haven't even told Matthew about the twin part. I have been such a mess with work and the wedding and buying a new house. I am gonna have TWINS Mum! I don't even know how I am going to be able to handle all of this! I am going to need some major help!"
Amanda put her finger on Jennifer's lips to stop her ramble. "Shh...Jenny, we don't have to figure everything out today. Okay. Now. Take a deep breath and let's get through the rehearsal dinner. First tell Matthew when you are on your honeymoon about the twins. Once you get back you can tell your father! "
Jennifer laughed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I am trying to avoid that conversation."
The two women hugged and laughed. Lee Stetson walked into the room and saw his wife and daughter laughing. He beamed at them, his dimples coming out in full force.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
Jennifer stood up and walked over to her father. She gave him a big hug and twirled around. "So Daddy, what do you think? Like my dress?"
Lee smiled at his daughter and took notice of the dress she was wearing. It took a minute to catch his breath and he looked over at Amanda. "Manda, is that?" Amanda nodded and walked over to them. She put her arms around Lee and said "Yeah Scarecrow….that's my suit. I think Jennifer looks beautiful."
Lee kissed his wife on her forehead. And then his daughter. He took a deep breath and said "It's like looking at your mother all over again when she first wore it. Wow. Jennifer you are beautiful." Jennifer blushed and said "Thanks Daddy." Lee's eyes twinkled with happy tears and "So you aren't gonna tell me what you were laughing about huh?"
Jennifer beamed at him and winked at her mother "Sorry Daddy, this one is a need to know and you don't have the clearance. She jumped up and kissed his cheek and rushed out the door. Amanda laughed as she took Lee's hand and they followed Jennifer out of the bedroom. Lee knew something was up but he knew that neither his wife or daughter would tell him.
**************Jamie rushed into the house and dropped his bags down. He walked out to the gazebo and straightened his tie. The family was all surrounding the gazebo chatting among themselves. Phillip was running around chasing his youngest who managed to rip one of the flowers out of the centerpiece that was at the bottom of the stairs. Jennifer and Matthew were laughing. Jamie caught his dad's eye and Lee made his way over to his son. He gave him a quick hug and asked "So what the hell did Beamon want?"
Jamie walked over to the railing of the gazebo. "Dad, he had the audacity to ask me to help get him out of prison! He said that if I helped him he would tell me his next move. This isn't over. He still has something cooking."
" You have got to be kidding me? What the hell? Where is Francine?" Lee looked around the gazebo and started to walk towards the family. Jamie stopped him. "Dad, come on. It's Jenny's wedding. Let me handle this. If I need anyone I will call you, okay. I am off the active duty roster until Monday and I am gonna enjoy this time with my family. Then on Monday we will get to the bottom of this. Beamon needs to be stopped BUT it's not gonna be this weekend. He's in prison under heavy guard. He's not going to do anything to hurt us this weekend. Let it go until Monday. Come on, you know I am right?" Jamie pleaded with his father to not run off. Lee took a deep breath and nodded. He ran his hands through his hair and chuckled. "You know, you are getting really good at that?"
Jamie gave his dad a questioning look. "Getting good at what?"
Lee smiled at his son. "Your mother told me for years that you are more like me….but when you do that" Lee motioned between himself and Jamie "You remind me of your mother. She can just calm me down by placing her hand on my arm sometimes. It got us out of a lot of sticky situations….you seem to have the same effect. Thanks Sport. I appreciate it. Now….we are going to have a beautiful wedding for your sister and then we will go after Beamon. Agreed?"
Jamie nodded and he looked around. "So did Katlyn drop off Madison?" Lee nodded. "Yes. She said she would be back on Sunday to pick her up. How long has it been, Jamie? I mean since you have seen your daughter?" Lee could see his son tensing up and reached over to put his hand on Jamie's shoulder.
"I know it's hard, son. Having your daughter live on the other side of the world has got to be stressful."
Jamie laughed "You know Dad, some days it feels like karma coming back to haunt me. Joe literally lived overseas and left Mom to raise Phillip and I. And here I am, my ex wife took our daughter overseas to raise her. Sometimes I just don't know." He looked over towards the gazebo and saw his daughter chatting with Jennifer and Abby King. Madison King was now eighteen years old. Jamie couldn't believe how much she had grown up. She looked like a grown woman. She had long strawberry blonde hair like her mother and deep brown eyes like Jamie. She was tall and slender. Jamie ran his fingers through his goatee and hair and walked over to where the girls were. Madison King looked at her father and smiled. She excused herself and ran over to Jamie. She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.
"Dad! It's been so long! It's so good to see you! I have missed you!'
Jamie relaxed in his daughter's embrace. It was good hearing her say that she missed him. "Oh Maddy, it's good to see you too kiddo. You look all grown up. It's like my little girl isn't there anymore. Now I know what Dad feels like with Jenny."
Madison smiled and kissed his cheek again. "Oh Dad. I know. I am sorry I wanted to stay with Mom. But I hope you will get used to me being around here more often."
"What do you mean?' Jamie looked at his daughter questionably.
Madison laughed. "Oh Dad! Don't you ever listen to your messages or read your emails? I am going to college…here in the states. I am actually going to UVA in the fall! I will be home!"
Jamie beamed at his daughter and picked her up. He spun her around and they both started laughing. "Oh kiddo! That's the best news I have heard in a while. I am sorry I haven't been home much lately. I ….well…I got a new job and haven't been around."
Madison nodded "I understand. Aunt Jenny has filled me in on everything. Nice going, Sport!" Her brown eyes were dancing and she had a smirk on her face.
Jamie rolled his eyes "Oh please for the love of God tell me that Princess did not tell you everything!"
Madison nodded again. "Oh Dad. I was…how do you spies say it…briefed… on everything that has been happening here in the Stetson/King family. I apparently missed out on a lot!"
Jamie shrugged "You don't even know the half of it, Maddy. Come on…let's get this rehearsal started. I am gonna need a drink!"
They laughed as they walked over towards Jennifer and the rest of their family. The minister and the wedding planner that Francine insisted they hire for Jennifer's wedding, arrived and they got started with the evening's events.