Brody grinned. “I love you, Madison.”
“Even though the journey to bring us to this point has been crazy, I’m so glad we’re where we are.” She tenderly cupped his face. “I love you, too, Brody Philips.”
EPILOGUE
Eight months later
April in Seaford was beautiful. The trees and foliage gently morphed from brown to green. The birds returned to the area, squawking their God-given songs. The breeze from the bay began to bring warmth instead of chills.
This Saturday in April was no different. The sky shone bright and blue. The temperature felt mild and inviting. Life seemed full of possibilities.
Madison smiled as Brody reached over and clutched her hand as they stood at the end of the pier outside her home. Brody had helped enlarge the space, adding a deck at the end complete with railing where they could lounge on lazy, warm days. Ten people could easily fit into the space now.
And they did.
“Madison?”
Madison squeezed the flowers in her hands as she turned to Brody, who stared down at her with eyes full of warmth. “Yes?”
“I love you.”
A grin broke across her face, an occurrence that had been happening a lot over the past several months. “I love you, too, Brody Philips.”
“Are you ever going to pronounce them husband and wife, Pastor Dan?” Sheriff Carl asked from the plastic chair a few feet away.
Pastor Ray smiled. “Hold your horses, Carl. I’m getting to it.”
“I’m going to have to turn on my sirens in order to get you to hurry things along here.” Sheriff Carl shook his head, still grinning.
“Oh, Carl,” Bonnie elbowed him. “Leave them alone and stop interrupting things.”
Madison laughed, grateful to be surrounded by the people closest to her today. Her parents had flown up from Florida. Brody’s dad had come down from Pennsylvania. Kayla had come, of course, with a new beau at her side. Everyone was here who needed to be here.
Pastor Ray cleared his throat. “Marriage is a serious commitment. I have a poem here—”
“Pastor Ray, no offense, but could you move it along a bit?” Brody said.
“Getting cold feet?” Madison asked, watching as her fiancé’s expression sparkled with a touch of mischief.
“Never. I’m just ready for you to become Mrs. Brody Philips.”
With an expression of suppressed humor, Pastor Ray threw his small black notebook behind him. “Okay, forget all of the beautiful things I had planned to say about marriage. Brody, do you take this woman to be your wife?”
“I do.”
“Madison, do you take this man to be your husband?”
“I do.”
“Lincoln, do you support Brody becoming your father?”
“Yes!” Lincoln said with enough excitement to send chuckles through the crowd.
“In that case and, without further ado, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Brody stepped forward and his lips met Madison’s. As Lincoln made a noise to show his disgust, Madison and Brody pulled away with a chuckle. Brody pulled her into a warm hug, their foreheads touching.
Brody’s eyes seemed to glimmer as he looked down at her. “Eight months and no regrets. I feel lucky each day to have you in my life.”
Madison couldn’t resist another grin. “I’d say God’s blessed both of us.”
Lincoln tugged on her white dress. “Mom?”
Madison rubbed her son’s already tousled hair. “I’m sorry—I mean God’s blessed all three of us.”
And he certainly had, Madison thought. She’d found happiness again and her family was complete. What more could she ask for? She smiled at Brody and Lincoln. Nothing, she decided. Absolutely nothing.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
I live close to both the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. There’s just something about sitting on the shore and watching the waves roll in that calms my soul. One of my favorite beaches is on the Chesapeake Bay. The water is gentler there and the shores less crowded. I have a favorite spot there that happens to be nestled beside a military base. Oftentimes you can work on your tan all while watching Special Operations perform training exercises on the shore. You can find horseshoe crabs and shells. You can listen to children laughing and fishermen shooting the breeze. And there on the shores, stories are born. Characters come to life. In this I’m reminded of God’s creativity and His love for me. If there’s something in your life that you need to forgive yourself for, remember how much God loves his creatures—especially you.
Christy Barritt
Questions for Discussion
Brody acknowledges that in his past, he didn’t give enough thought to how he treated people. He regrets that today. How do you treat people? Any regrets?
Brody feels guilt over his past. Is there anything you still feel guilty about? What actions can you take to relieve that guilt?
Is guilt always caused by sin or is it sometimes caused by the enemy, as well? Are there times when our guilt isn’t justified? How can you know the difference?
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. What are some simple steps we can take to make this happen?
Why is forgiving ourselves important? If we don’t forgive ourselves, how does that effect us emotionally, spiritually and even physically?
Read Matthew 6:15. Even more than forgiving ourselves, we desperately need God’s forgiveness in our lives. How can we obtain that?
Madison and her husband dreamed dreams together that were unrealized after his death. What’s the hardest part of realizing your dreams are out of reach? How can we find hope in knowing that God can change our dreams into something even more beautiful when we trust Him?
Madison has already lost one man that she loved. She fears losing someone else in her life and the pain that inevitably comes with that. How can we rise above our fears? Why is this important?
Read Philippians 4:6. Fear and anxiety often go hand in hand. How does the Bible say to get rid of anxiety?
If we never did anything we feared, we’d be stuck in a self-made comfort zone. Growth happens when we aren’t afraid to risk. Is there a fear you need to conquer in order that you might grow stronger?
ISBN: 9781459226623
Copyright © 2012 by Christy Barritt
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Race Against Time Page 19
