She cowered on the church steps. Her ivory satin, wedding gown was rumpled and dirty, a white-on-pearl rosebud veil tumbled off her straggling hair. A bouquet of wilting pink roses and baby's breath lay upside down beside her scuffed, silken slippers.
"C'mon honey," a woman, wearing a blush-pink, bridesmaid dress, whispered while tugging at a non-responsive arm. "You can't stay here all night, you've got to find a place to stay."
She was numb to the woman's concerns. She felt as though every living organism in her body had been violently ripped out. Her worst nightmare became a reality just a few short hours ago when her lover and husband-to-be failed to show up at the church. The impatience of the reverend and the pitying glances from the meagre congregation were too much to bear. She begged her friend to send her husband to her apartment to see if her groom was all right.
The apartment was empty. All the furniture, clothes, and wedding presents were gone. The man who promised to love her until forever had even stolen her car and emptied her bank account. She was wearing everything she owned in the world.
* * * * *
Trembling on the concrete steps she cast her mind back to the times they spent together. They had met at a conference in a local hotel eight months ago and it was love at first sight. Men didn't usually give her a second glance but he couldn't take his eyes from her. They had a drink in the hotel bar where he said he was new in town and didn't know many people. He was so attentive to her and for the first time in her life she felt the power of her femininity. She told him she was meeting some friends for dinner and, taking a deep breath, asked if he would like to join them. She watched his face light up when he agreed.
Her friends were stunned when she introduced the 6'4", broad shouldered man whose arm was firmly entwined with hers. She knew they wondered how she ever managed to get the attention of such a beautiful looking man. Men just weren't interested in her. Until this one.
During dinner the girls, obviously enthralled by his snapping black eyes and how he tossed his shoulder-length salt and pepper hair, batted their eyelashes, flirted outrageously, and didn't hesitate to toss out blatant sexual innuendoes. But he only had eyes for her. He entertained them throughout dinner with lively stories about his past and some of the people he had met.
He had grown up in the American southern states where strong religious ties were routine and throughout dinner held the women captive while he regaled them with stories. He told them about the time he had been hired as a roady by a gospel circuit preacher who taught him all the tricks of the trade. They laughed at how gullible people were and how obvious the preacher was.
All too soon dinner was over and reluctantly her friends left her alone with the handsome man. Bringing her hand to his lips his eyes danced over her face when he asked if he could see her again the next night.
Her breath caught in her throat. How could this dynamic, attractive man have any interest in her? She heard her mother's haranguing voice in her mind telling her how ugly she was and how no man in his right mind would ever give her a second glance. She blinked quickly trying to halt the hateful voice crawling through her head, the screeching, persistent racket that was now stilled for eternity. Taking a deep breath, her lips quivered when she agreed.
That was the beginning of a whirlwind romance. They were together nearly every night afterwards. When they had dated for a month or so she suggested he give up his tiny, rented room and move into her spacious apartment. After all, he said he loved her.
"How much do you love me," he asked her continually. "Would you do anything in the world for me?"
