Chapter 22

The two weeks flew by with her folks in the house with her. It also helped that Jonathan was able to wrap up work enough to take the week of the wedding off as well. With all hands on deck, the group was able to coss most of their to-do list off.

Together, they had moved most of Jonathan's and Max's things over from the condo to the house. They had completed much of packing for the honeymoon. In the morning, they would tie up a few loose ends, and Friday, they would have the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, then Saturday would be the big day.

Jennifer Hart.

Jennifer Edwards Hart.

Mrs. Jonathan Hart.

No matter how she put it together, the words thrilled her heart.

Tonight, however, she was having trouble sleeping. Too excited? Maybe. She kind of hoped not, as she was pretty sure she would be even more excited the next few nights.

Thoughts of Elliot Manning scurried through her mind, and she absentmindedly rubbed her wrists. The invitations had been mailed a couple of weeks before her weekend in New York, so she knew he had one, and she was a bit concerned about him showing up.

She was also concerned about the fact she had not told Jonathan anything about that weekend yet. She and Suzanne had told him highlights about spending time together, girl talk and all, without details. Even down to where they were. To reveal Elliot, would be to expose New York, to admit to cold feet, however temporary. However unfounded.

She was unsure she wanted to do either.

Sitting in the window behind the newly placed piano, Jennifer was looking past the trees and out over the pool. She wasn't sure it could call it looking, as she did not see much. The site was relaxing. Freeway even seemed to think so, curled up at her feet, lightly snoring. She looked at the snoozing puppy, reached down, and rubbed his head. "At least one of us can sleep," Jennifer whispered. She heard the sound of footsteps on the landing, coming down the front stairs, and moving her direction. Turning her head toward the sound, Jennifer said, "Bonjour, Momma. What are you doing awake so early?"

"Bonjour, chérie. Trouble sleeping, I guess. I could ask you the same question."

Jennifer laughed, "And you would receive the same answer."

"Come." Suzanne motioned to her daughter to follow her. "I fix us tea; you can tell me about it."

Jonathan sat at the breakfast bar in his near-empty condo, with the odd card in his hand. "I don't fully know what to make of it, Max."

"Let me see it again," he suggested.

Jonathan handed it over. The note read:

Jonathan,

Your explosive personality won this round. The trophy is yours, for now. I am sorry to miss the wedding. I will be in Australia buying some land. Best of luck.

Elliot.

"What does he mean the trophy is mine?"

"Beats me, Mr. H. I always thought the guy kinda had a screw loose."

Jonathan chuckled at the notion. "Yeah, you're probably right." He tossed the card into the box on the counter, making a mental note to show it to Jennifer, as he had a suspicion she was the trophy Elliot had in mind. His thoughts were so loud in his head; he hardly heard the knock on the door.

"You want I should answer it?" Max asked him. Getting no real response, he walked around the counter Jonathan sat at, and down the hall to the front door. As Max began to open it, someone from the other side pushed hard on the door, hitting Max in the head just enough to stun him. A hand with a cloth covered in chloroform found its mark in Max's nose and mouth, and he dropped to the floor before Jonathan could react, and the second man made his way into the condo, and from behind also covered his face. Jonathan's world went black.

The phone ringing beside her bed awakened Jennifer. She rolled over and looked at the clock. 8:30 am. "Damn." She had hoped to be out of bed no later than 7:30 this morning. "Hello?"

"Jennifer, you've gotta help him."

"What?" She was seriously groggy. "I'm sorry, who is this?"

"It's Kimberly, from Mr. Hart's office."

"Ah. Yes, good morning. Who do I need to help?"

"Me. You've gotta help me find him."

"Find who?" Jennifer sat up, straighter in bed.

"Jonathan. I can not reach him. I have tried the condo for the last 30 minutes. I know he's not in the office, and the lady from the tux shop said he and Max didn't come in for their 8 am fitting."

"Seriously? All right. I'm taking my father there at 9, so I'll pick up their tuxedos then, and run them by the condo. He probably got the times backward and is sitting in traffic trying to get there. From the condo coming this way is murder this time of day. I'll let you know when I find him. Thank you, Kimberly." She jumped out of bed and headed for a quick shower.

As soon as Jennifer and Stephen stepped off the elevator, they knew something was very wrong. A body was on the ground in the doorway, slumped up against the door, head hanging.

"Max!" Jennifer yelled, running towards the door, Stephen right behind her.

The sound of her voice startled him, and he jerked his head up. Immediately, he regretted this move. "Ugh, my head," he moaned.

"Don't move, Max. It's alright. I'm here."

"Ms. Edwards?" He tried to think, but it hurt. "What...?"

"It's ok; we'll figure it out. Where's Jonathan, Max?"

"Uh… he was sitting at the breakfast bar, thinking…"

Jennifer got up and went to look; however, she found nothing. Jonathan was not there.

Jonathan's head was swimming. He felt like his whole world was rocking, and nothing was coming into clear focus. He needed to figure out a couple of things and was having a hard time doing so…