As it turned out, the photographer was already waiting when they came out of the door. And just as David had predicted, most of the ceremony guests were still milling around, munching on the light snacks and waiting for news.
David grinned at his new fiancée’s shocked expression. He supposed he could have told her that the Destiny Post photographer was just late showing up for his swearing-in ceremony, but he enjoyed seeing her surprise.
He hoped his announcement would shock her just as much and please her a whole lot more. No doubt the Post photographer, who’d been at the paper since Lyndon Johnson was president, would be happy he’d been tardy, too, since he would get to break the story that would eventually make statewide news.
“May I have everyone’s attention please,” David said needlessly, since the room was already becoming quiet as he crossed to the lectern where defense and prosecution usually made their cases.
He gestured for Sondra to come nearer, and her shoulders tightened at the repeat of the earlier fiasco, but she came to him and took the hand he offered. “I wanted to announce to you all that the population of Destiny, Indiana, is about to become seven hundred and one. I have asked Sondra Stevens, the love of my life, to marry me—again—and she has agreed.”
A whoop that could only have been from Brock Chandler rose up from the crowd.
“You sure she said yes this time?” Judge Douglas called out from the chair where he was resting.
“I’m sure.” He lifted the hand he held, which happened to be the one on which she wore his ring.
“What’d ya have to promise her?” Hal Douglas prodded.
“That I’d be an incredible husband.” In effect, he had said that, and he was determined to keep that promise. “I even offered to sweeten the deal to convince her to stay here with me in Destiny, but Sondra wouldn’t hear of it. I’m thanking God for my blessings because she agreed to marry me without any perks.
“That makes my gift to her and to the community that much more special.” Unable to resist, David pulled Sondra to him and kissed her, right there in front of his parents and everyone.
Sondra waved her hand in front of her face, clearly embarrassed, but she was smiling, too. He watched her until she drew her eyebrows together in a questioning expression.
“Spill it, Wright, or we’ll be here until next Christmas,” Brock called out.
He waved at the deputy, who held little Joy in his arms. “I didn’t think it was fair to make my wife-to-be give up her life to come to Destiny, but I also couldn’t move Cox County Courts across the state line. A compromise was to bring at least part of Sondra’s work with her.”
David glanced once more at Sondra’s perplexed expression before his big announcement.
“With a little help from that trust fund from my grandparents that was languishing at First National, I have purchased the site of the now-defunct Clear View Motel and surrounding properties. On that site, if my fiancée agrees to it anyway, I hope to build the largest recreational vehicle dealership and parts and service center in east-central Indiana.”
Because Sondra appeared more shell-shocked than thrilled as she stared into the crowd, David rushed on anxiously. Why did he insist on continuing to surprise her in public? He was still a member of the group that never learned from its mistakes—just him and that three-legged dog. But he was ready to burn his membership card.
He spoke to the crowd but watched her in his peripheral vision, hoping to see her eyes light up, or a smile or anything to suggest that his idea wasn’t a big mistake.
“A combination facility like this could provide job opportunities for Destiny residents as well as bring tourism dollars to Cox County. There might even be a possibility for an RV park near Clemens Reservoir….”
His words trailed off as he caught sight of Sondra staring at him now, her expression incredulous. “Are you kidding?” Her words were just above a whisper.
He continued, this time meeting her gaze. “But all of that would be up to the dealership’s owner and operator: Sondra Stevens—soon to be Wright.”
She shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.” But her comment made him second-guess whether he should be.
Whatever she’d been about to say after that was drowned out by applause that flooded the room. Everyone around them recognized that the idea would benefit Destiny. The court was still out on whether it would be a good thing for the woman he loved.
“If you get the approvals, do you have a name in mind for the place?” the photographer called from the rear of the room.
He shook his head. “Not at all. That and the rest of the decisions would be up to the owner/operator.”
“How about Clear Rolling?” Judge Douglas supplied.
“I know,” Allison called out. “Clear Roads Ahead.”
Soon names were being bandied about over a business that was still no more than a pipe dream. Only Sondra hadn’t contributed, hadn’t said anything more.
David backpedaled as quickly as he could. “All of this is very preliminary. We won’t go forward with it at all if it’s not what’s best for Sondra.”
“We’ll call it the Road to Destiny RV Center.”
He turned at the sound of her voice, and she was smiling back at him. “You did this for me?” she whispered.
Then she turned back to the crowd of people who had supported him and would accept and support her just the same. “Does anybody here wonder why I’m in love with this guy?”
After several few minutes and a lot more excited ramblings about the proposed dealership, the crowd began to dissipate. As soon as they were alone in the courtroom, David led Sondra back to his chambers. He removed the judge’s robe from over his shirt and tie and hung it on the coat tree.
He was only halfway into his suit jacket before Sondra threw herself into his arms. She pressed her lips to his and pulled back, still resting her hands on his shoulders.
“I still can’t believe you did all of this for me. Where did you even get the idea?”
“It started with Allison giving a lecture about what real love was. God put His two cents in, as well, and I listened.”
“Looks like you mastered the skill.”
Tilting his head, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her with all the hopes, dreams and promises in his heart. So this was what it felt like to have everything he’d ever wanted in life—even the parts he’d never realized he could ask for.
When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. “Loving you is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m determined to do it well for the rest of our lives.”
She smiled back at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here to see that you do.”
On a snowy Sunday afternoon in early March, Sondra processed down the aisle of New Hope Church toward the man who had earned her heart. His eyes were shining with tears as she approached him in her simple white gown. She had to blink back tears of her own when he smiled at her.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, not bothering to whisper.
“You’re pretty handsome yourself.”
Until she heard the chuckles behind her, Sondra had almost forgotten they weren’t alone in the sanctuary. Still, the ceremony was private, just the way she wanted it. She insisted that it had been enough that they’d met in a stable stage, and he’d proposed during an acceptance speech.
As she glanced back at their few guests—the Chandlers, her mother and his parents—she was convinced she’d made the right decision.
When she turned back to him, David held out his hand. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his, just as she was entrusting him with her heart and her future. Thank You, Father, for sending David to me.
“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Reverend Jeff Reed asked.
“I will.”
The words she’d never expected to say came so easily. She wasn’t afraid, and she knew she never needed to fear while in the security of David’s arms. His love was steadfast and sure.
“David, will you love, honor and keep her, forsaking all others, keep you only to her, as long as you both shall live?”
“You bet I will,” David answered to laughter from their audience.
Soon the formalities were over, and David drew her into his arms.
“This is for forever,” he whispered as he lowered his head for their first kiss as husband and wife.
Bliss. That was the only way she could describe feelings welling inside her as he took her hand and led her up the aisle.
They’d come so far to reach this point, these vows, and a faith they could share in a life together. It felt as if they’d run a marathon coming from opposite directions to the same finish line. Only the race didn’t end here. It was only the beginning. From this point on, they would run side by side.