Four days later, every man, woman and child within a five-mile radius of Seattle was crowded in the yard of the Brown Church. Ribbons fluttered from the trees, and yellow bunting draped the tables, which groaned under rolls and cakes that were rapidly disappearing with cries of delight. James and Rina Wallin sat at the head table and smiled and thanked everyone who had come to wish them happiness.
Standing beside Michael near the church, Maddie heaved a satisfied sigh. One of her former travelling companions closer to her own size had loaned her a green gown with white cuffs and collar, another a paisley shawl. She fancied that, with her hair curled up at the nape of her neck, she looked rather festive.
Michael had also managed to cobble together clothing for the day—brown trousers, tan wool waistcoat and a tweed coat. The narrow brim of his hat allowed the sunlight to sparkle in his blue eyes. His smile now was all pride in what they had accomplished.
Mr. Terry strolled past with his lovely wife on his arm.
“Well done, Miss O’Rourke,” he said. “You and your army waged quite a campaign.”
“And how would we have won without your command post?” Maddie said with a smile. She and the rival businessman had come to an agreement. She would bake for the wedding in his ovens, and the Eureka Bakery would get some of the credit for catering the wedding. James had made sure to mention both businesses in his welcome speech to the guests.
Of course, if it hadn’t been for James and his brothers, she might still have failed. The logging family had dropped everything at her call for help. Under Michael’s direction, they’d carried in supplies, helped mix and knead the dough, and shuffled products from worktable to oven and back. She’d never forget the sight of massive Drew Wallin swathed in an apron, powdered sugar speckling his chin, as he broke a wooden spoon attempting to beat the icing.
All the Wallin men were beaming now at the marriage of their brother. Even Simon, the only one to match Drew in height if not brawn, looked happy for a change as he tucked his fiddle under his chin to play the bride and groom a song in celebration. The soft melody floated on the air, bringing a smile to every face.
Ciara and Aiden came running up just then, eyes bright over the finery Nora had sewn for them in time for the wedding. Now that Patrick had been taken into custody and the extent of his dark deeds revealed, Maddie’s sister had shed much of her animosity. She and Maddie had finally come to an understanding, and there had been few outbursts.
Oh, Ciara still had her queenly ways. That was evident as she eyed a passing youth with her nose in the air. But Maddie felt as if she finally knew what her brother and sister needed, and she had hopes she and Ciara would have a much easier time of it in the future.
Michael cleared his throat. “I can think of no finer time than a celebration of marriage to ask you an important question.” He reached into the pocket of his wool waistcoat.
Maddie stared at him. The smile on his face, the hope shining in his eyes, told her what he was about to do. She caught his hand, closed his fingers over the ring that glittered in the sunlight. She wanted no doubts for either of them as to her answer.
“After all we’ve been through, Michael Haggerty, it is I who should be going down on my knees.” She suited word to action, tears coming to her eyes as she gazed up at him. “I was afraid to love you, afraid to watch that love die in the trials and tribulations of life. But you never wavered. You made me see that love doesn’t have to die in adversity. It can grow stronger.”
“Maddie,” he murmured, fingers caressing her cheek.
She put her free hand over his, holding the warmth close. “I hope someday to be a lady of means, but right now, I’m poor as a church mouse. So all I can offer you is a dream—of a life and a family held together by love. Will you marry me?”
Michael laughed, but she could see the answer in his eyes as he lifted her to her feet. “Always have to be the one in charge, don’t you, my girl?” he teased. “Nothing would make me happier than to marry you and make us a family. I love you, Maddie, with all I am and all I will be. I know together we can make something beautiful of this world.”
He bent his head and kissed her, and she was certain an entire orchestra had joined Simon in a song of celebration.
As Michael drew back with a smile, Aiden stared at them. “Does this mean we all get to live together forever?” he asked.
“Yes, silly,” Ciara said. “It means we’ll be a family for real now.”
Michael put his arms around them all. “I like that. A forever family.”
A forever family. The ingredients had been there all along, but it had taken mixing and kneading and even heating to bring them all together, Maddie realized.
And the love between her and Michael was the most important ingredient of all.
* * * * *