“I’ve always wanted a Christmas wedding.” Kayla slipped into her satin pumps and smoothed her hand over the beaded bodice of her dress. It had once belonged to her mother, then her mother before her, modified and tailored slightly for each bride. And Noah wore cuff links that had once belonged to her father.
Somehow those two items made her feel closer to the both of them, almost as if they were here with her on this special day.
The door to the choir room opened, and Grandma swept in wearing the dress she and Kayla had picked out together. The fabric was blush-colored, belted, with a sequined bodice and shrug. The skirt extended to her ankles.
“You look beautiful, honey.” She took Kayla’s hands, lifted her arms, then let them drop.
“So do you. Has Grandpa caught a glimpse of you in that yet?”
Her grandmother blushed and patted the top of her hair, which Trista had curled and sprayed. “The real question is, what is that tall, handsome man of yours going to do when he sees such a vision walking down that aisle?” She patted her cheek then picked up the veil, draped over a nearby armchair.
Kayla’s insides fluttered. “I still can’t believe this day is here. That I’m actually getting married. Then the adoption.” That was something Noah had been diligently pursuing ever since Christy relinquished her rights. After their wedding, she could do the same.
“It’s crazy how God worked everything out.” Her face fell, and Kayla wondered if she was thinking of Christy.
“She’ll be okay. I know this is hard, but it’ll give her time to kick her addictions for good.” Especially if she had to serve the full fifteen years stated in her plea agreement.
Grandma nodded, grabbed Kayla’s phone off a filing cabinet and snapped some photos. “Now, help me do a selfie so we can get the two of us together.”
She laughed and, taking the cell, ushered her grandmother closer. “You ready?”
The door opened once again. “Hey, now.” Trista came closer, waving a legitimate camera. “That there is my job, remember? The bridesmaid gets first dibs on all the candid shots. Got to show off both of your hair with all my social-media fans, after all.”
Kayla smiled and circled an arm around her grandmother’s waist.
Her phone rang. She recognized the number and, with a slow breath, answered. “Hello?”
“Hey, big sis. I’m so glad I was able to catch you on your big day.” Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, Christy could make calls using a prepaid debit account. “Wish I was there to hug you. I bet you look amazing.”
“Thanks.” A lump lodged in her throat. “I wish you were here, too. You should see little Sophia in her dress. And Timber’s in a tux. Though he’s not exactly thrilled about that.”
“He always had a thing with textures.” She paused. “Listen, I wanted to thank you. Both you and Noah, for stepping in and taking care of those two. Timber and Sophia are fortunate to have you. I thank God for that every day.”
Kayla fanned her hand in front of her face to keep tears from falling. “Thanks for saying that.”
“Love you, big sister.”
“Love you.” She hung up and stood there, phone in hand.
Grandma came to her side and placed an arm around her shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She pressed a finger in the corner of her eye to catch a tear before it dropped and smeared her mascara. “Better than okay.” And ready to commit her life—the good, the bad, the uncertain and the hard—to the man who knew everything about her and her crazy, messed-up family, and loved her anyway.
The man who promised to hold her tight and never let her go.
Watching how fiercely he’d loved both her and the kids this past year, she had no doubt he’d do precisely that.
The harp started, and Noah straightened. Shifted. Cleared his throat and shifted again. He tugged on the bottom of his tuxedo jacket, then caught a glimpse of Drake, laughing at him. As if that guy hadn’t been a bundle of nerves at his own wedding.
But all his jitters left the moment he saw his beautiful bride gliding down the aisle. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked at him with that same shy smile that had captured his heart just over six months prior. Her slender gown accentuated her curves, and her veil, held in place by a glimmering headband, framed the soft contours of her face.
In ten, maybe fifteen minutes, that elegant vision would be his, forever. Every morning, he’d wake to her sweet smile and soft laugh. Together, they’d enjoy walks in the park and family picnics, evening story times and living-room campouts. And at night, she’d lie beside him in the gentle glow of his bedside lamp, and together they’d talk about their day and dream about what was still to come.
Pastor Roger began with normal wedding introductions, asking all gathered to support and encourage Noah and Kayla. He knew they would. In this sanctuary, they were surrounded by family—some by blood, but most by faith. They’d walked beside the two of them this far, and Noah was certain they would for years to come.
“And now the bride and groom would like to read their vows. Noah, you’re up, man.”
He nodded and pulled his folded paper from his pocket and smoothed it out with sweaty hands. “I’ve never claimed to be good with words.” Though he’d been working on what he’d say to her when the time came, for going on three months. “So I’m just going to tell it like it is. I never knew I could love a person so much. That someone could bring such joy, such light into my life. Into our lives.” He motioned toward Timber, who’d become distracted from his role as ring bearer and was sitting on the carpet near the front pew instead.
“I love the sound of your laughter, and how easily it comes. The way you love Timber and Sophia, whether that means chasing after little man with a wet rag to wash strawberry juice from his face, or wearing bare patches in the carpet as you walk back and forth, trying to soothe Sophia when she’s fussy. How you’re so quick to see the good in others, even those who’ve hurt you.
“But most of all—” his voice turned husky “—I simply love you. All of you. And now I get to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much. That makes me a happy man.”
“Oh, Noah.” A tear slid down her cheek, and he thumbed it away. “I love you, too. Your strength, your patience and perseverance. I love that you refused to let me go and, even more, that you welcomed me into your life in the first place. There’s nowhere I’d rather be at this moment, and no one I’d rather be standing here with than you. I promise to honor, respect and support you. To always be your biggest cheerleader.”
“And I you.”
“I promise to see the best in you and to do all I can to help bring out the best.”
“I promise you the same. I’ll hold tight to you, through sickness and struggle. I’ll celebrate the good times with you and draw you close through the bad.”
“I bind my heart to you, Noah Williams.” Another tear fell and her voice quivered. “From this day forward, and only by death will we part.”
“I’m not letting you go, no way, no how.”
Someone near the back of the church laughed, and someone else yelled, “Yeah!”
Pastor Roger tucked his Bible under his arm. “Then by the powers vested in me by the state of Texas and this fine church body, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. Noah, you may now kiss your bride.”
He grinned so wide, he felt his cheeks stretch. Then he kissed her softly. With the joy of a man who’d finally gotten his bride.
If you enjoyed Building a Family, look for Jennifer Slattery’s earlier books
Restoring Her Faith
Hometown Healing
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from Her Amish Suitor’s Secret by Carrie Lighte.