Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [114]
“Well, today is my wedding day, and I don’t find anything funny about not being able to see Syneda. And I’m not going to stand for it a minute longer.”
Justin chuckled. “What are you going to do? Force your way inside that room where Syneda and all the ladies are being held hostage by Gramma?”
A devilish gleam appeared in Clayton’s eyes. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Jonathan Madaris straightened his stance, recognizing immediately the look of defiance in his youngest son’s eyes. He could just see Clayton going head to head with his mother. “All right, Clayton, don’t do anything foolish. Your grandmother—”
“Means well, Dad, but this time I can’t abide by her wishes.”
Before anyone could say anything further, Clayton stalked out of the room and headed down the church’s long hall, which was adjacent to the corridor where Syneda was. Without knocking, he walked right into the room.
Ignoring the gasps and surprised expressions of the numerous women in the room, his gaze collided with Lorren’s. “Where is she?”
“Clayton! You know you can’t come in here. Your grandmother will have a fit if she finds you here.”
“Where is Syneda, Lorren?” His patience was beginning to wear thin.
Lorren glared at him. “Clayton Madaris, you just march right back out that door—”
“Where is she, Lorren?” he asked again.
Seeing the determined expression etched on his face, Lorren pointed to another room. “She’s in there with your mother getting dressed.”
Clayton turned to the other women in the room who were staring at him like he’d gone crazy. “Please make yourselves scarce for a few minutes.”
Felicia was the only one brave enough to speak up. “You can’t run us out of here, Clayton. This is where we belong. You’re the one out of place.”
“Out!” Clayton shouted like a madman to the women staring at him. “Out! Now!”
The room quickly emptied.
“What on earth is going on out here?”
Clayton turned when his mother came into the room. A frown covered her face when she saw him. Leave it to her youngest son to be difficult on his wedding day. “Clayton, what are you doing here?”
“I want to see Syneda, Mom.”
“That’s impossible, Clayton. You know how your grandmother likes traditions. She will have your hide when she returns, and she’ll be back any minute. She and Mama Nora left to give last-minute instructions to the florist.”
Clayton looked deeply into his mother’s eyes, pleading understanding. “I don’t mean to cause problems, Mom. Really I don’t. But I need to see her. These past few months have been hell. I’ve barely spent any time with her at all. First it was Syntel demanding most of her time, and then it was you, Mama Nora, and Gramma spending all that time with her planning this wedding. And let’s not forget all those bridal showers she had to attend. I feel like an outcast.”
Marilyn Madaris was startled by her son’s admission. Insecurity was something he rarely had to deal with. Even as a child growing up, he’d always been totally sure of himself. Too sure of himself at times.
She took a deep breath. “All right, Clayton. I’ll give you five minutes. Syneda is in there.”
Clayton gazed at the closed door. “Does she know I’m out here?”
Marilyn Madaris grinned. “With all that racket you were making, how could she not know.” A firm expression covered her face. “Five minutes, Clayton, that’s all you got. Besides,” she said, chuckling. “I have a feeling someone has alerted your grandmother to your behavior and she’s on her way to toss you out on your rear end.” She turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Clayton walked over to the other door and opened it. His breath caught in his throat.
Standing in the middle of the room wearing her bath-robe was his soon-to-be wife. The essence of her radiant beauty almost brought tears to his eyes. Her hair was arranged on top of her head in a bevy of soft curls. It was a very exquisite-looking