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Sam hadn’t been this nervous since ....
He didn’t want to think about his nerves right now. All he had to do was walk up the short aisle to the altar and stand there for a few minutes.
And then the reception. The toast. The people staring at him and expecting him to say something sappy and touching.
“Have a good life?” he asked his reflection in the old mirror across from the bed in the cabin.
Could he get away with that one statement and then just leave.
Remembering his near-brush with getting married, Sam adjusted the tie that seemed determined to choke off the very air he needed to breathe. He’d tried to block those memories but being here brought it all tumbling back.
The rehearsal dinner in some fancy hotel restaurant in Orlando. His bride smiling at him with such sweetness. And then the best man, standing and slightly drunk. Making a toast that would change Sam’s life forever.
Lies. All lies.
He’d walked away that night. And never looked back.
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath.
You have to do this for Brodie and Michelle.
And he had to do this for Madeline.
He couldn’t blame her for how she’d handled her marriage. It was none of his business. People protected other people for all kinds of reasons. For all the wrong reasons.
He’d done the same, thinking it was love.
But it had only been a façade. A sham.
He and Maddie had a lot in common.
He had to go. Time for the wedding. He’d find Madeline at the reception and have that one dance with her.
And then she’d go on with her life and he’d do the same. They might run into each other if she came to visit Michelle in Florida, but Sam had ways of avoiding people.
Even when he was standing right in front of them.
“The sanctuary looks so beautiful,” Madeline told Michelle.
They were putting the finishing touches on her makeup, but Michelle hadn’t wanted too much fuss. She preferred a more natural approach to being a bride.
“The dress is perfect,” Madeline said, smiling at Michelle in the mirror.
Michelle’s eyes misted over. “Do you think Brodie will like it?”
Madeline eyed the lacy, elbow-length ivory sleeves and the full skirt flowing over the buttery-soft beige boots. “You’re his favorite cowgirl, so why wouldn’t he?”
Michelle closed her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m getting married again. Brodie is so different from ... Adam.”
“Yes. He’s a keeper.”
Michelle’s first husband had walked away after the tragic death of their only son.
“Adam had good in him,” Michelle said. “He was grieving and we all handle that kind of pain differently. I can’t blame him. I ran away to Florida.”
“But you found Brodie and now your life is good. Have you healed? Are you ready for this?”
“You never heal from that kind of grief,” Michelle said. “But you go on and try to make the most of life. Brodie taught me that.” She turned from the mirror, her upswept hair curling in a pretty, trailing ponytail. “I hope you can do the same, Maddie. Don’t give up on Sam, okay?”
Madeline looked down at the burgundy sleeveless chiffon dress she was wearing. Touching her hand to one of the dainty white flowers embroidered along the waistline, she said, “Sam and I don’t even know each other. We had a moment, being forced together here. It’s over now.”
“But why does it have to be over?” Michelle asked, her eyes bright with I’m-about-to-be-married hope. “You two seem to like each other.”
Madeline couldn’t divulge what Sam had told her or what they’d been through together. It wouldn’t be right. “I don’t think it’s meant to be, Michelle. Stop worrying about me. It’s time for you to walk down the aisle. Finally.”
Michelle turned impish. “And ... we have the surprise all lined up for later, right?”
“You mean the getaway horses?”
Michelle grinned. “Yes. Brodie doesn’t know.”
“Got it covered,” Madeline said. “I just hope he won’t get thrown and break his neck.”
“He knows how to ride a horse,” Michelle said.
Melissa came into the small room where they’d set up quarters near the Sunday School rooms. “The church is full and the minister is ready. You know how he frowns on tardiness.”
“No, you’re the one who knows all about that,” Madeline quipped. “But ... we’re ready, right, Michelle?”
“Ready.” Michelle laughed, her eyes tearing up again. “I hope I can make it through without the water works.”
“You’ll be fine,” Melissa said. “You look so beautiful.”
Together, Madeline and Melissa escorted their sister out to the hallway. The sound of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” echoed toward them.
Madeline took a deep breath and willed the nerves away. She shouldn’t be nervous. She wasn’t the one getting married. She had no reason to be nervous.
Except that one reason. The one with the amazing biceps and the stormy green eyes and that hair that curled around his ears and hung over his collar. He was the one reason her nerves were trembling like broken bramble.
She had to go out there and stand across from Sam, knowing that he didn’t want any part of being near her.
The music changed and everyone sitting on the worn wooden pews in the old country church with the pretty stained-glass windows turned to watch.
Including Sam. He at least had a good view from where he was standing.
Brodie winked at him in that way that covered everything from “This is fun” to “You’re in way over your head.”
Sam nodded, prayed he didn’t pass out. Then he looked up and saw Madeline walking toward him, a single white lily in her hand. Her hair was caught up in some kind of sparkling clamp, caught up in a way that looked like she’d rolled out of bed and grabbed it up and let it fall where it wanted to fall.
The dress was a dark kind of red, rich and flowing and ethereal, the sheer layers of material floating around her like roses floating down a stream. The tiny white flowers surrounding her waist emphasized her curves and recognized her bohemian spirit.
He should have left that first night, when he’d heard her crying by the river.
Now he was trapped with a whole church full of people and no escape. But Sam accepted that no matter how far he went, he’d never get this image out of his mind.
He’d never get this woman out of his mind.
Her eyes met his and she smiled.
Playing the role. She was playing her part. Just a smile, a reminder that they had to get through this.
She moved across from him and turned to watch her younger sister. Melissa looked angelic with her long blonde curls caught up with the same kind of hair do-dad clip that Maddie wore. Must be a girl thing.
But as cute as Melissa was, she didn’t hold a candle to Maddie. His Maddie.
Sam felt the sweat moving like hot, scalding liquid down his spine. He hated ties. He hated this suit. He hadn’t been in a church since he was a kid. A slow-rising panic set in, making him feel lightheaded.
He would not faint!
He heard the bridal march and everyone in the church stood.
Swallowing, he worked on getting control, his gaze sweeping the church in the same way he used to sweep a burned-out, gutted village while he treaded slowly and carefully so he wouldn’t get blown to smithereens.
Then he looked over to the other side of the aisle, to Maddie. She stared back at him, her gaze holding him, steadying him. She knew. She could see his fear, his doubts. She didn’t watch her sister Melissa taking her place. She didn’t watch Uncle Jaybo moving up the aisle to round out Brodie’s side of the attendants. She didn’t watch Michelle and their father coming up the aisle.
She kept her eyes on Sam.
And kept him from going into a full-blown panic attack.
Madeline’s heart almost exploded inside her chest.
Sam needed her. Needed someone. He wasn’t the kind of man to show off or stand up or give a speech.
He was the other kind. The quiet kind that stayed in the background and went about doing what was right. Without reward, without acknowledgement. Without anyone waiting for him when he came home a hero. The kind of man who’d do anything for someone he loved. Except the wrong thing.
He’d been hurt, used and forgotten. He was wounded. Shattered. And he’d been hiding in plain sight.
She held his gaze, praying that by doing so she’d given him the one strength he didn’t have. The strength to stand up in front of the world and be accepted.
She accepted him. Right there while the lilies and roses smelled so sweet and while the music echoed that age-old song of celebration and hope. And after her daddy had escorted Michelle to the altar and she and Brodie were standing together in front of the preacher, she watched to make sure Sam’s panic calmed into a knowing realization.
Madeline Sonnier Parker had fallen in love.