“Make a wish.” Lucy held Carina’s hair out of the way as she blew out her candles. “And don’t tell anyone your wish or else it won’t come true.”
“That’s a cute cake,” Lane said to Nicolino. It was two tiers of bubblegum pink with silver horseshoes and other tack around the sides. A giant American paint horse closely resembling Jigsaw sat lounging on top.
“Ella had Maggie Dalton custom-make it for Carina, but after the accident, she was a little nervous about picking it up.”
“Did you ever think we would be standing around a nine-year-old girl’s birthday party discussing cake?”
“Especially pink cake,” Nicolino added. “I hear Jigsaw is doing really well.”
“Funny thing... Lexi told me all the vet bills had been paid in advance. Would you happen to know something about that?”
“Me?” Nicolino feigned surprise. “I have no idea what you are talking about. I think I hear Ella calling me.”
Lane laughed. He knew enough not to push the issue. Some people’s actions spoke louder than words.
For a kid who had taken the ride of her life less than a week ago, Carina looked remarkably well. He’d sat up thinking about her and Lucy almost every night since then. Two months ago, he hadn’t even known Carina existed; now his life wouldn’t be complete without her in it. And as much as he had tried to convince himself Lucy had been nothing more than a teenage infatuation, it didn’t explain how he felt this time around. He’d asked her for space and she’d given it to him. After searching his heart, he felt strong enough to give their relationship another chance. That is, if Lucy was still open to the idea.
“I have a little something for you.” He sat next to Carina on the couch and handed her a pink-and-silver gift bag.
Carina removed the tissue paper and peered into it. “Mamma, look!” She pulled out a turquoise T-shirt and held it up in front of her.
“What does it say on the front?” Lucy leaned in for a closer look. “‘World’s Bravest Cowgirl.’”
“Thank you.” Carina wrapped her good arm around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I love it.”
Lane had never picked out clothing for anyone other than himself before. He’d been nervous about the color and size. He guessed it had been good practice for when he had kids someday. Hopefully, that day would come sooner rather than later.
“You look deep in thought.” Lucy handed him a glass of wine.
“Thank you. I was just thinking about you.” Lane gestured to the front door.
Lucy nodded and followed him onto the porch. “Do I dare ask what you were thinking about me?
“I know we haven’t been around each other much as adults.” Lane sat in the same rocking chair he had that first night. “But I think we’re mature enough to know who we like and what we like. I feel different when I’m around you.”
Lucy sat next to him in the other chair. “How do you feel?”
“Complete.” Lane couldn’t believe he was about to put his heart on the line. “You know my history. My parents never formed the perfect family unit. I don’t have one picture of my mom, my dad and me together, so believe me when I say the concept is very foreign to me. But when I’m with you and Carina, it feels natural. It feels right, like this is what it’s all about.”
“Do you still feel that way?” Lucy asked. “Can you look at me and honestly say you feel more love than hurt where I’m concerned?”
“I’ve always loved you, Lucy.” Lane reached for her hand. “Even when I was mad at you. Even when you married somebody else, I still loved you. I may have hated what happened between us, but I never stopped loving you.”
“Is it enough?” Lucy asked. “Is your love enough to overcome the past? Because admittedly, I’ve been the offender. Is there enough love to forgive the things I’ve done?”
Lane knew in his heart that he’d been partially to blame. “I’m the one who asked you to leave your family and everything you knew in Italy and in Texas to move to a state you had never seen, never even really heard of...and then I had the nerve to be surprised when you never showed. Honestly, who could blame you?” He hadn’t realized how presumptuous he’d been until he’d said the words aloud. “I think the question you should be asking is if you can forgive yourself. You’ve carried all this guilt for things that were out of your control. You can speculate about our baby all you want, and you’re never going to have an answer. But I am glad you told me. And yes, I’ve thought—a lot. I think we not only have enough love, we have a love strong enough to survive.”
“Where do we go from here?” Lucy asked.
“I know where I would like to go.” Lane stood, holding her hand in his. Then he knelt before her on one knee. “I’d like to take this to the next level and share a life with you, the life we—”
“The life we missed out on?”
Lane shook his head. “We didn’t miss out on anything. We were a little sidetracked. That doesn’t mean it’s too late.”
“What are you asking me?”
“I don’t have some big speech prepared and I don’t have a diamond ring. I can buy you a diamond ring and I can write you a speech someday, but all I can offer you right now is a promise. A promise to love you, a promise to always be by your side and a promise to make you my wife, if you’ll have me.”
“Yes! I would love to be your wife.”
“That was it! My wish!” Carina shouted from inside the cottage. The front door flew open and she ran onto the porch. “My wish came true!”
Lane straightened and pulled Lucy to her feet. Somehow he had the feeling many more intimate moments like this would be interrupted in their future together. But he didn’t care.
“How long have you been listening at the window?” Lucy asked.
“I wasn’t listening. I was watching.” Carina giggled. “I wanted to put my presents on the table by the window and that’s when I saw you kneeling in front of Mamma.” Carina turned to Lane. “You did ask her, right?”
“Yes.” Lane couldn’t believe she’d wished her mother would marry him. Lane sat in the rocking chair so he’d be eye level with her. “Carina, are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Carina nodded eagerly. “I’ve never been more ready. You love Mamma and she loves you. What more is there?”
* * *
“YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL, MAMMA.”
“You’re the most gorgeous bride I’ve ever seen.” Ella finished fastening the back of Lucy’s vintage-inspired ivory-lace-and-organza wedding gown. She hadn’t had one when she’d married Antonio and still couldn’t believe she was wearing one now. She needed someone to pinch her so she’d finally believe her wedding day to Lane was here.
Lucy braved a look in the mirror. The dress was stunning. It was the first one she’d seen and she’d fallen in love with its lace straps, sweetheart neckline and lace racer back instantly. Having been married and divorced, she hadn’t even planned on a wedding gown, but Ella had insisted. And she was glad she’d listened.
“Are you ready for me to walk you down the aisle?” Nicolino peeked his head in the door. “Che bellissima!” Tears formed in his eyes.
“Grazie.” Lucy promised herself she wouldn’t cry and ruin her makeup. “Don’t you start, because once you start, then I will.”
It was Christmas Eve. Lucy and Lane stood in the middle of Ella and Nicolino’s living room as their closest friends and family formed a circle around them. The groom had never looked more charming in his jet-black tuxedo.
“I hope to heavens this is legal.” Rusty cleared his throat and joined the couple’s hands together. Lucy and Lane had both agreed he was the perfect person to officiate their wedding. Now that he was ordained, he wanted everyone to call him Preacher Rusty. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to join this lovesick cowboy with his Italian cowgirl once and for all.”
The room erupted in laughter. “In all seriousness... I’ve been on this earth for seventy-five years and I’ve never seen a couple more made for each other than these two. Although my sweetheart, Barbara, and I come in a close second. Most of the people in this room watched these two kids fall in love with each other way back when they were teenagers. It’s about time they tied the knot.”
“Lucille Giovanna Travisonno, do you take this man to be your beloved husband, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, in horse hair and mud, forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” Lucy wanted to laugh. She wanted to cry. But smiling won out when she looked into Lane’s eyes. They were doing this... They were really getting married.
“And do you, Lane Foster Morgan, take this magnificent woman to be your beloved wife, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, in Italian or English, forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Little miss.” Rusty nodded to Carina. “Come on up here, sweetie.”
Her daughter was beautiful in her tea-length pale ivory dress. Carina placed her left hand on top of Lane’s and Lucy’s.
“Do you, Miss Carina, bless this marriage between your mother and Lane?”
“I do.” Carina smiled at both of them. Tears began to well in her eyes.
“Rusty, you better marry us before I start to cry,” Lucy warned.
“Miss Carina, do you have the rings?”
Carina removed two gold bands from the satin drawstring bag tied around her wrist and handed them to Rusty.
“These rings are a symbol of your love and commitment to each another, forming an unbroken circle. Lane, place this ring on Lucy’s finger and repeat after me.”
Lane’s steady hands clasped hers. “I got this part.” She gazed into his eyes as he slid the ring on her finger, her heart finally calm after ten years. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Lucy didn’t think she could smile any bigger without bursting.
Lucy slid Lane’s ring on his finger, her voice caught in her throat. This was it. This was their moment. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“By the power granted to me, I now pronounce these two hitched! You may kiss the bride.”
Lane placed his hands on both sides of her face and kissed her mouth sweetly. “I love you, Lucy, for all eternity.”
Everyone in the room began to clap.
“We have one more ceremony to perform,” Rusty said.
Lane removed a red velvet box from his jacket pocket and knelt on one knee in front of Carina. He opened the box and removed a silver bangle bracelet.
“Carina, this bracelet symbolizes my love for you. Never ending, never broken. I will always be there for you, whether it’s today, tomorrow or on your wedding day.”
Lucy’s hand flew to her chest. She hadn’t known Lane had planned such a touching gesture to include Carina in the ceremony.
He slipped the bangle onto her wrist and took her hand in his. “I love you, munchkin.”
Carina threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”
“Now, if you three will join hands in the middle, everyone will join hands around you.” Rusty looked around the room, satisfied. “On this day, in front of family and friends and the Almighty above, I now pronounce you a family.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from HAVING THE RANCHER’S BABY by Cathy McDavid.
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