Logan slipped an arm around Darcy’s waist and leaned over to kiss her cheek, then picked up Emma as the bridal party gathered under the trees. “You two look beautiful tonight, ladies.”
Darcy grinned up at him. “Mighty good-looking yourself, cowboy. You clean up exceptionally well.”
The old phrase was certainly appropriate—not two hours ago, they’d been performing an operation on a severe colic case, and they’d made it out here to the county park with minutes to spare. Now, Logan was wearing a dark sports jacket and gray slacks, while Emma wore a flouncy, fluffy dress with matching pink socks and shoes.
Darcy had resisted buying a dress for herself, then found a silver sheath dress with matching shoes at the last minute.
They slipped into the back row of chairs, where Emma wouldn’t be a distraction if she got restless. “Can I stay up for fireworks, Mommy?”
Darcy doubted she’d last that long, but smiled. “You can sure give it a try.”
The small crowd was settling into the white chairs facing a simple altar set up along the shore of Aspen Creek. Off to one side, the harpist finished playing the beautifully haunting strains of “Somewhere in Time.” Then the violinist seated next to her joined in a duet of “Ave Maria.” The sweet, achingly emotional violin sent shivers through Darcy, and she closed her eyes to savor every note.
“This couldn’t be a more perfect evening or a more beautiful wedding,” she whispered. “I’m just so happy for Hannah and Ethan.”
The harpist began a solo of Canon in D by Pachelbel. Everyone rose and turned as the wedding party came down the aisle—Molly and Cole, the niece and nephew whom Hannah had adopted, and their two dogs, each sporting a big white bow.
“I hear Ethan’s paperwork is completed, so he will be adopting the kids, as well,” Darcy whispered. “Hannah says he’s thrilled about making it official.”
Hannah and Ethan walked down the grassy aisle next, arm in arm, to join the children. Hannah’s radiant expression and Ethan’s adoration of her touched Darcy’s heart.
Throughout the open-air chapel, she saw other friends and neighbors and people from church, and her heart warmed. Coming to this town after closing a painful chapter in her life had been one of the best decisions she’d ever made and had led her to the most wonderful man she could have imagined.
She smiled to herself, remembering that first day when she found an unexpected stranger in the clinic and thought he spelled disaster for her future in Aspen Creek. And later, when she’d gone to auction and ended up losing Edgar but gaining the best prize of all. Surely God’s hand had been guiding her, because otherwise she might never have ended up so blessed.
After the wedding buffet, some of the guests left, but the rest settled on a hill in the park to watch the fireworks display. Emma curled up in Logan’s lap, her eyes already closing as the dazzling explosions of diamonds filled the sky.
Logan looked down at her with chagrin. “I hope you’ll both remember this as a really special day, so I got each of you something. But I’m afraid she won’t be awake to see hers until tomorrow.”
“What is it? Can you tell me?”
He took another look at Emma’s sleeping face, then lowered his voice to a whisper. “I hope she’ll be happy to find that her preschool pal isn’t the only little girl with a playhouse.”
“She will love it! Thank you so much!”
He grinned. “That’s not all. Remember Pepper?”
“Anna’s pony. Oh, no—did her dad make her give him up?”
“He stopped by this morning.” He looked down at Emma to see if she was still asleep, then continued in a lower voice. “Anna’s riding instructor found them a pony a little better suited for her. He said he wanted a good home for Pepper and has given him to Emma as a gift.”
“That’s wonderful,” Darcy breathed. “Emma will be so thrilled.”
Logan slipped something from his pocket and handed it to her, then draped an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “And here is something for you. Not quite as big as a pony, unfortunately.”
Her heart stilled as she stared at the small box in his hand.
“You can open it later if you want, but this just seemed like the perfect place to give it to you.”
She turned the small box over, savoring the moment. Wondering if she was holding the key to her entire future in the palm of her hand. Slowly, very slowly, she lifted the lid, barely able to breathe.
Inside lay a platinum engagement band strewn with diamonds, with a glittering solitaire at its center. “Oh, it’s…it’s stunning!”
He gave he shoulders a little squeeze. “Try it on and see if it fits.”
She slid it on her ring finger, feeling utterly dazzled. So happy she could barely contain her emotions.
His eyes twinkled. “So what do you say, Darcy Leighton? Same date next year?”
Mindful of her sleeping daughter, she turned to cradle his beloved face with her hands and leaned closer to draw him into a kiss.
The biggest and brightest of the fireworks were now filling the sky, but they didn’t begin to match what she felt, with Logan in her arms.
* * * * *
If you loved this story,
pick up the other ASPEN CREEK CROSSROADS books by fan-favorite author
Roxanne Rustand
WINTER REUNION
SECOND CHANCE DAD
A SINGLE DAD’S
REDEMPTION
AN ASPEN CREEK CHRISTMAS
Available now from Love Inspired!
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