Boardwalk Brides
Page 48
EPILOGUE
Ten Years Later
Tangie tucked her daughter, Guinevere, into bed and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
“So, is that the whole story, Mommy?” Gwen asked with an exaggerated sigh. “You met Daddy doing a play at the church?”
“That’s right. We met doing a play, and we’ve done dozens of them since. . .at the church and the community theater.”
“I love it when you and Daddy sing together. You sound bee-you-tee-ful! And your plays are so much fun. But”—the youngster’s angelic face contorted into a pout—”when can I be in one of them?”
“Hmm, let’s see.” Tangie thought for a moment. “You’re nearly seven now. I guess that’s old enough to start acting. But only if you want to. Mommy and Daddy want you to be whatever you feel God is calling you to be.”
The youngster’s face lit up, and her brown eyes sparkled as she made her announcement. “I’m going to be an actress and a singer, just like Margaret Sanderson!”
Tangie had to laugh at that one. Her daughter had fallen head over heels for the community theater’s newest drama director. Then again, Margaret had come a long way from that stubborn little girl who’d insisted upon getting the lead in the shows. These days, she was happier to see others promoted while she worked behind the scenes. Funny how life turned out.
“Honey, just promise me this.” Tangie looked her daughter in the eye. “Promise you’ll use whatever gifts God gives you to tell others about Him.”
“Oh, I promise, Mommy. I’ll sing about Him. . .and I’ll act for Him, too.” Gwen giggled.
“And if you decide you want to be a softball player or something like that. . .well, that’s okay, too.”
“Softball?” Gwen wrinkled her nose. “But I don’t know anything about sports.”
“You are your mother’s daughter, for sure.” Tangie laughed.
“And her father’s daughter,” Gregg called out as he entered the room.
Tangie looked up as her husband drew near. Her heart still did that crazy flip-flop thing, even after all these years. Oh, how she loved this man! He sat on the edge of the bed and kissed their daughter on the forehead.
“So, your mom’s been telling you a bedtime story?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm.” Gwen yawned. “It was the best ever, about a singing rabbit and a dancing chicken.”
“I know that story well.” Gregg laughed. “Did she tell you that they lived happily ever after?”
Gwen shook her head and yawned once more. “No, I think she left that part out.”
Tangie smiled as she watched her daughter doze off.
Gregg rose from the bed and swept his wife into his arms. Brushing a loose hair from her face, he whispered, “You left out the happily ever after part?”
Tangie chuckled. “Well, the show’s not over yet, silly. How can I give away the ending?”
“This one’s a given.” He kissed the end of her nose, then held her close.
As she melted into his embrace, Tangie reflected back on that day when Gregg had come to the theater in New York to tell her he loved her. On that magnificent Broadway stage—with the lights shining in their eyes—they’d tossed all scripts aside and created lines of their own, lines better than any playwright could manufacture. They were straight from the heart, words that set the rest of her life in motion. They’d sent her reeling. . .all the way back to Harmony.
And now, as she gazed into her husband’s loving eyes, Tangie had to admit the truth. She knew exactly how this story would end. The singing rabbit and the dancing chicken. . .well, they would live happily ever after. Of course.
MORE FROM JANICE THOMPSON
THE CLUB WED SERIES:
Fools Rush In
Swinging on a Star
It Had to be You
THE BACKSTAGE PASS SERIES:
Stars Collide
Hello Hollywood
The Director’s Cut
THE WEDDINGS BY DESIGN SERIES
Picture Perfect
The Icing on the Cake
The Dream Dress
A Bouquet of Love
THE BELLA NOVELLA SERIES
Once Upon a Moonlight Night (A Winter Wonderland Wedding)
Tea for Two (A Victorian Valentine’s Day Ceremony)
Pennies from Heaven (A Springtime Garden Ceremony)
That Lucky Old Sun (A Galveston Beach Ceremony): COMING July 15th 2016
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author Janice Thompson got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over 100 books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. She particularly enjoys writing light-hearted, comedic tales because she enjoys making readers laugh. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. Her tagline, “Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters!” sums up her take on life.
Janice lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. When she’s not busy writing or playing with her eight grandchildren, she can be found in the kitchen, baking specialty cakes and cookies for friends and loved ones. No matter what Janice is cooking up—books, cakes, cookies or mischief—she does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about this wacky author at www.janiceathompson.com. Sign up for Janice’s Newsletter for all of her writing-related updates.