Grand Hotel
Page 15
She would have to get used to plans and schedules as a matter of course. How could she live that way? She could always have him plan to leave time open to be impulsive or at least follow her impulse. . .if he planned it. “Am I in all three plans?”
“Intricately.”
“Then that is all I need to know. Don’t tell me the details. Surprise me. That way, you can have your plan, and it won’t seem like I’m locked into a schedule for the next ten years. It will seem unplanned to me.”
A smile spread across his face, and his dimples pulled in. “I wasn’t sure how our strong differences were going to mesh together and was leaving that one up to the Lord, but you have just worked it out.” He picked her up around the waist and spun around. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He kissed her again for a very long time.
Epilogue
Two days after Labor Day
Aimee stood in the Grand Hotel lobby with her dad. “Thanks for being here and bringing Nonie to Mackinac Island.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t miss my little girl’s wedding. . .even if you did rush it.”
“Dad, the only reason I wanted to get married so soon was so Nonie would be able to be here. She’s doing well now, but things turn bad so quickly for old people. She’s ninety-three!” Nonie’s hip was nearly healed, far better and faster than the doctors anticipated for her age.
Her dad visibly relaxed.
She had thought Dillon was going to run as far from her as possible when she first brought up having an outdoor wedding by the end of the summer. He looked scared to death, like she’d just asked him to donate his heart and lungs to a needy person. He’d stayed up all night to create a plan. And she realized that his panic was because there was no plan for a wedding that soon. He made their wedding possible.
A hotel staff member came up to them. “They are ready for you down in the Wedding Garden.”
Her dad turned to her. “You’re sure he’s the right one?”
“Positive.”
He pulled the veil down over her face. “Then let’s go.”
She hooked her arm through her dad’s. They walked out of the hotel, across the street to the top of the stairs that led to the hotel grounds. She picked up the skirt of Nonie’s antique satin and bead dress to descend the stairs. The hanging beads tinkled as she walked. Nonie had guffawed at her calling the dress antique. Nonie said she wasn’t an antique.
At the bottom of the stairs, Nonie in her wheelchair, Justin, Steve, and Constance waited. They went to the back of the gathering and lined up. The music changed, and Steve took Constance by the arm and led her up the aisle. At the front, Constance went one way, and Steve stood next to Dillon and his dad.
Nonie took Aimee’s hand. “Don’t be nervous, Muffin.”
“I’m not, Nonie.”
Nonie settled one hand on the side of the basket in her lap and the other into the pink rose petals inside it. Justin wheeled her down the aisle as she tossed the petals out in front of her. Nonie hadn’t wanted to just be pushed down the aisle. She wanted something to do, so Dillon had come up with the idea of her being a sort of flower girl–matron of honor. Nonie loved the idea.
Finding the treasure had been the best thing to happen to Nonie and the rest of the family. Members who had ignored or avoided Nonie for years were suddenly visiting her. And now everyone lit around Nonie like fireflies. It had been too painful for the family to be around her and not believe. Now that the truth was out, the family had miraculously healed and come together. Well, most of them. There were still a few holdouts. God can do the impossible and lavish you with treasure greater than you ever imagined. Constance’s words came back to her. She had never imagined the healing the Lord would do with that treasure. And so many of them had come. And during the middle of the week!
Justin parked Nonie next to Constance and took his seat.
The music changed, and everyone stood and turned to-ward her.
Her dad patted her hand hooked around his arm. “Ready?”
“I’m so ready I’d like to run up the aisle and throw myself into Dillon’s arms.” Walking just seemed so demure and sedate for the way she felt today.
Her dad chuckled. “I’ll hold you back.”
It took forever to reach Dillon at the front of the gathering. His eyes shone with the love he had for her. The ceremony seemed to drag. She just wanted to be Mrs. Dillon Thurough. She didn’t need any of the fluffy stuff. Finally the pastor pronounced them husband and wife, and Dillon gave her the sweetest kiss.
The pastor introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Dillon Thur-ough. That was their cue to walk back down the aisle together.
She squeezed her husband’s hand. “Let’s run,” she whispered.
He smiled and whispered back. “On three?”
“Three!” She took off running, leading Dillon, but soon he was pulling her.
About the Author
MARY DAVIS is a full-time writer whose first published novel was Newlywed Games from Multnomah. She enjoys going into schools and talking to kids about writing. Mary lives near Colorado’s Rocky Mountains with her husband, three children, and six pets.
Dedication
Dedicated to my mom, Zola. Let’s plan a trip.
And to the men and women who work at the Grand and make it grand indeed.
And a special thanks to Ken Hayward and Stacie Ellison at the Grand.
And thanks to Jan for the riddle help.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Mary Davis
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683