The sun was shining and Cassie was dressed in white, ready to marry the man she should have married years ago. Then again, maybe it was good she hadn’t. God had done so many things in her heart and taught her so much that she never would have learned otherwise. It was time, Cassie thought, to stop thinking about what she wished she could change about her past and start being thankful for the future.
At her side, Will tugged on the skirt of her dress. “Do I really have to wear a tie?” He made a face. His bowtie was lopsided, but he looked adorable in his suit. When she and Jake had gone home a month ago and told him that they were going to get married, he’d done a loud war whoop and run around the house like a crazy person. He’d come out of his shell so much in Raven Pass, partly from being around other boys his age outside of the school environment, and partly from the confidence that came from having his dad in his life, Cassie thought.
“You have to wear a tie.” Cassie pulled him close and kissed his hair.
“Mom.” He rubbed at the spot where she’d kissed him, creating an even messier appearance than he’d had a minute ago. “No more kissing.”
“I’m going to kiss your dad in just a few minutes, during the wedding,” she reminded him, having done her best to explain how weddings worked the night before, since he’d had questions and had never been to one.
He wrinkled his face. “Kissing is gross.”
She smiled. “Hey, buddy?”
He looked up at her.
“Thanks for being excited about our move. You’re going to love it up here and I know your dad is so happy we will all be a family.”
He nodded. “Uhh, me too, Mom. Can I go play now?”
That was what she got for expecting seriousness out of a six-year-old. Cassie laughed. “Not now, the ceremony is starting.”
She heard the music that was their cue. Will was walking her down the aisle, toward his dad and their future. It had seemed appropriate, especially since he was the only family she had left.
They walked down the aisle and Cassie’s eyes met Jake’s. The way he looked at her, all love and warmth and faithfulness, was more than she could have dreamed or hoped for, but she’d learned in the past month of being a Christian that sometimes God works that way.
Thank you. Thank you so much, she prayed as she walked, one foot in front of the other.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate...” the pastor started, a nice man she’d met during hers and Jake’s premarital counseling sessions the last few weeks, but all Cassie saw was Jake.
And in his face she saw forgiveness. She saw a future instead of a past. And she saw hope.
They repeated their vows and he held her hands and then finally, finally, it was official.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Their lips met and inside Cassie’s heart she knew she’d never felt as loved as she did right now. They kissed and kissed until there was laughter from the guests and then Cassie felt pulling on her dress again.
“That’s about enough kissing,” Will said dryly. “Come on, someone told me we get cake now!”
Cassie and Jake laughed, and he took her arm in his, then they walked together, as a family, out of the church and into their new life.
Together.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Hostage Rescue by Lisa Harris.