Rory and Abby married in a quiet ceremony at home two days before Christmas, giving Regina her wish. Regina had gone to town with the Christmas theme, and the living room was filled with a huge decorated tree, sparkling white lights and big red velvet bows. Dozens of poinsettias lined the room. The scent of pine perfumed the air.
Their parents attended as did some of their friends, but it wasn’t a large gathering. Regina had written another song for the occasion, this time with Rory’s help, and unsurprisingly it held the words, “The sun rises and sets in your eyes.”
Stella had dropped her custody battle quickly and attempted to play the martyred mother, but that story didn’t sell well, so she began to say that she had chosen to give her daughter a more stable life with her father, who had given up touring.
He had, too. For at least eight years. He promised both Abby and Regina that he would always be here with them.
He’d also done some remarkable things for Abby’s parents. Her mom no longer needed to work, and they now lived in Abby’s old apartment in the back of the house, once again among family and their old life-long friends. Rory’s parents were returning to their home in Jamaica after New Year’s, and promises of many future visits had flown in both directions.
But all of that faded into the background as Abby, in a simple white dress adorned with a big red bow, eased around a Great Dane and crossed the living room to stand in front of the minister with Rory. One look in his smiling blue eyes, and nothing else existed.
She was where she had always belonged, with the man she had waited her whole life for, and as Regina’s flute-like voice faded along with the piano on the last notes of the song, she felt her heart take wing.
The journey had begun.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from HIS TEXAS CHRISTMAS BRIDE by Nancy Robards Thompson.