Christa swung around from where Tillie and Janet from the bridal salon were fussing with her veil. “Dad?”
Joe smiled and walked through the door. “Is this okay with you, Christa?”
“Oh, it’s more than okay.” Quick tears filled her eyes, then slipped in rapid-fire fashion down her cheeks. “It’s perfect!”
“Don’t cry, you’ll muss your makeup!”
“Oh, let her cry, Tillie, it’s nothin’ we can’t fix!”
“Oh, Dad!”
Joe hugged her, and when Emily put her hand on Grant’s arm, he laid his own over hers. “You did this.”
He shrugged. “It’s what I should have done from the beginning.”
“God doesn’t care that we make mistakes. He cares that we fix them. This is wonderful, Grant.” The joyous bridal scene deepened her smile. “Just wonderful.”
“I blame you.”
“Me?” She wrinkled her forehead and held his gaze.
“You make me want to be a better person, Emily Gallagher.”
His words made her smile. She put her second hand on top of his. “Do I?”
“Yes. And I’ll have you know it’s been a somewhat painful process.” He tipped a wry glance down, then indicated the happy reunion. “You inspired this. I hope you’re happy.”
She looked happy. And proud. Proud of him.
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead, a whisper of a kiss. A promise. “I’m a work in progress, but I think there’s hope for me yet.”
“There’s always hope.” Kimberly appeared behind him and tapped her wrist. “Five-minute warning. Are we ready?”
“Yes.” Christa smiled up at her dad as Janet fixed her smudged makeup. “We’re ready.”
“Can I sit in back with you?” Grant asked.
Emily shook her head. “No, you belong up front, but since Kimberly is here to take the rear post, I would be honored to sit up front with you, Grant. If that’s all right.”
All right?
The month before he’d put pain in her eyes through thoughtless actions. She’d walked away, and Grant had been pretty sure she wouldn’t be walking back anytime soon. Her strength showed his weakness and set the bar high. She was right—forgiveness was the key to peace of mind, peace of heart. He laid his hand over hers and moved toward the door. “It’s not all right, Em. It’s perfect.”
He held her hand through the heartfelt service, and when it was over, Grant had made another decision, one that meant everything to him. He didn’t want Emily to leave Grace Haven. He didn’t want her to dash off to some big city, impressing big-league buyers with her snappy style and savvy decisions.
Was it selfish to want her here, with him? With the kids?
No. It was just plain right. She fit here. She belonged here. And one way or another, he aimed to convince her of that.
He caught her hand later, when the bride and groom finished cutting their cake. She turned, and the smile she gave him made him feel ten feet high. “Are you free in the morning?”
She made a face. “After church, possibly.”
“I meant for church.”
She paused and studied him, as if assessing his sincerity. “I’d like to take Timmy and Dolly,” he went on, “but I don’t want to do it alone. Would you—”
She didn’t wait for him to ask the question. She nodded and clapped her hand over his. “I’d be happy to go to church with you, Grant McCarthy.”
“Yeah?” She was looking up at him, purposefully, and the light in her eyes made him feel bigger. Stronger. “It might be a total disaster.”
“Possibly, but when they get used to going regularly, they’ll be fine. And with both of us there, the odds are with us. Two against two.” She smiled at him, and that simple gesture made a good day that much better. “Can we bundle them up and take them to the Winterfest in the park afterward?”
He hadn’t been to the town’s winter celebration in over a decade. His bad, for keeping himself outside the hustle and bustle of the sweet town he called home. “I’ll bring their things.”
“Excellent.”
He held her gaze. His grip on her hand tightened. More than anything, he longed to dip his head. Touch his lips to hers. Kiss her senseless.
“Oops, there’s my cue to organize the dances.” She slipped her hand out from under his, but touched his fingers one last, quick time, then stood on tiptoe and whispered, “We’ll revisit that idea tomorrow, okay?”
Christa’s wedding came first. He smiled and nodded, because she was right. Today was Christa’s day, as it should be. But tomorrow, and every day thereafter, he intended to see about winning Emily Gallagher’s heart. Starting with a church service and a winter afternoon in the park.
Chapter Sixteen
“Aren’t you nervous?” Grant asked when Emily climbed into the front seat of his SUV the next morning.
“Not when you’re nervous enough for both of us,” she told him. She turned and smiled at the twins. “Good morning, gingersnaps!”
“Mo mo!” Dolly waved two hands in excitement.
“Mornin’.” Timmy giggled the word, then wriggled in his seat. “I get out now.”
“Soon,” she promised. They pulled into the church parking lot a few minutes later and parked next to Corinne’s car. Emily climbed out and unbuckled Dolly. Grant did the same with Timmy. And when they met at the front of the SUV, he paused. “If they get disruptive...”
“We’ll handle it.” She patted his cheek and started forward. “Let go and let God, Grant. Remember?”
He was learning to do that, but he wasn’t sure if his growing faith had a whole lot of influence on toddler behaviors. And then they walked into the old stone church.
“Grant, hello! Good morning. Oh look here, you brought the babies!” Bertie Engle seemed delighted to see them. Hi clapped him on the back with a smile of approval.
“Emily, look how Dolly has grown.” Gabby Gallagher grinned when she spotted them. “Sit in front of me. That way if you need help, Rachel and I are here.”
“Thank you, Aunt Gabby.” Emily slid in, set the diaper bag down and unfastened Dolly’s coat. When she slid the toddler’s coat off, Rachel sighed out loud.
“Emily, that is like the cutest dress in the world, isn’t it?”
“Aunt Tillie got it for her. Super adorable, right?”
“Precious.” Gabby whispered the word as she eyed the twins. “So very precious.”
They made it through the service with only a couple of minor squabbles, and then they stopped by the Gallagher house to bundle the twins into Winterfest-friendly clothing. Rory had unearthed two plastic sleds from the rafters of the carriage house, and they had to re-strategize toddler seating to fit the sleds into the SUV, but they succeeded eventually. As they pulled into a parking spot off Upper Park Road, Joe McCarthy and his family waved from the sidewalk beyond.
Emily turned toward Grant, surprised. “You invited them to come.”
“It’s a grandfather’s prerogative to take little kids sledding, isn’t it? They’re here for five days, and I want the kids to enjoy every minute of it.”
They slid, they sledded, they drank hot chocolate and gobbled roasted hot dogs and hot, buttered popcorn. When nap time rolled around, Joe offered to take the kids back home. “If I take your car, there’s plenty of room for all of us, and we can angle the sleds into the rental.”
A few weeks ago, Grant wouldn’t have considered handing over the reins to anyone else. This time he agreed happily. Serenity was at the house with her mother, and she’d be happy to tuck the kids in for their naps. “It sounds perfect. That way I get some time alone with my girl.”
* * *
His girl?
Emily turned and looked up at him as his fath
er waved and pulled away. “Grant, I—”
“Hush.” He smiled down at her, put one finger beneath her chin and bent to kiss her. The kiss should have been brief. There were people around, sledding, ice-skating, walking to and from the parking lot.
But she didn’t want it to be brief. She wanted it to be at least forever, and possibly more if she could get it. When Grant finally ended the kiss, he pulled her close. So close. And he held her that way, in his embrace, his chin to her hair. “This is how I want things to be, Em.”
“Hmm?”
“Just like this,” he whispered. “You here, with me. In my arms. Every day, every night. So I’m going to do everything I can to convince you to stay. That’s my goal, Emily Gallagher. To convince you to stay in Grace Haven.” He leaned down and kissed her again, slow and sweet. “And become my wife. No matter how long it takes. Just so you know.”
She leaned back against his arms. “What happens if I’m already committed to staying in Grace Haven?”
His mouth dropped open. His eyebrows shot up. “Do you mean it?”
“Meet Emily Gallagher, the new almost-owner of Caroline’s Bridal Salon.”
“You’re buying the bridal store?” He sounded surprised and delighted.
“I am. That way Kimberly and I can work together as needed, I get to immerse myself in the side of bridal I love, Janet gets to keep a job she loves and I get to live in the sweetest, most wonderful town ever.”
He cradled her face in his hands, and Emily was pretty sure she’d never seen a happier man. He kissed her, then hugged her again. “Which means I get to go straight to the proposal.”
She laughed, then sighed when Grant went down on one knee, creating quite a stir with the people around them. “Emily Gallagher, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and being a mother to my two adorable if somewhat naughty children?”
People paused.
Some whispered.
Excited looks went back and forth, and when Emily put her hand on his cheek and nodded yes, the small crowd cheered.
Grant stood, grabbed her up in a hug and whirled her around, then he fist-pumped the air. And when he finally set her down, he sealed the deal with one more long, sweet kiss.
“But Grant.” She faced him seriously as they strolled through the forest paths for one last afternoon walk before going home. “Despite the fact that we want to move fast, I think we need to take this slow. Kind of.”
“Because of Serenity’s situation.”
“Yes.” She nodded, relieved. “Her time is short. God willing, ours isn’t. So can we keep this on the down low for a little bit?”
He put one arm around her shoulders and tugged her in. “Yes. It’s a small enough sacrifice.”
It was, and his words made her smile.
A few months ago, Grant wouldn’t have said those words, or thought twice about the timing. Now he not only considered others, he cared about the consequences, and that only made her love him more. “But let’s agree on one thing, okay?”
“What’s that, darlin’?”
She faced him, grabbed his leather bomber jacket and pulled him close. “I want a small wedding, and by small I mean so small our budgets don’t even know it happened. Family, kids, Uncle Steve, done. Agreed?”
He laughed out loud. “Since we’re going to be surrounded by weddings for the forseeable future, I’m absolutely fine with that. I love you, Em.”
A light snow started falling just then. Nothing major, just tiny flakes, floating straight down, without a breath of wind. She looked up at Grant, with the snow sifting around him, and said, “I love you, too.”
They stood just like that for long seconds, smiling at each other, the snow falling gently, and then Grant took her hand and led her toward the SUV. “Let’s go home, darlin’.”
Epilogue
Grant looked up, surprised and really happy to see his bride-to-be three short hours before their wedding. He crossed the lawn, reached out his arms and drew her in once she climbed out of her SUV. “I thought the groom wasn’t allowed to see the bride before the wedding?”
“I’ve got my own set of rules,” she assured him, and he laughed, because he knew the truth in that. “I had to show you something. I couldn’t wait. It just arrived in the mail.”
He waited as she slipped a glossy book from a small box. She handed it to him and watched as he stared at the cover. “Mommy and Me.” He whispered the words, gazing at the cover pic of the twins’ mother, holding them the past winter, all three faces filled with joy. “They look so happy.”
“Yes.” She nodded eagerly as he went through the book, page by page. “This is my wedding present to the kids. This is Timmy’s version. I created a book for each of them through an online site, so they’ll both have books of them with Serenity.”
“This is amazing, Em.” But then, she was amazing, so why was he surprised? “They’ll treasure these forever.”
“Well, the good thing is that if they ruin them somehow, I ordered double. One to cherish and see, and one to have tucked away.” She reached out and put her hand on his arm. “I wanted today to be a new and wonderful beginning for all four of us. But I also want the kids to grow up knowing how much their mother loved them before she died.”
“She did, didn’t she?” Grant stared at the book. He had to blink hard, twice, but then he put his arms around Emily and drew her into his heart, his chest. “You make a difference, Em, everywhere you go, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life thanking God for putting you in my path last fall.”
“When you’re not being stubborn,” she added cheerfully.
He laughed, because that was true. “I love you, Em.” He kissed her, long and slow, and then sighed. “And I’m glad you don’t mind an at-home honeymoon.”
“Best kind of all,” she told him. “Because I’ll be with you and the kids.” She pressed the books into his hands. “Tuck those away for now and I will see you—” she glanced at her phone and winced. “In two hours and fifteen minutes, which means I really should go home and get ready.”
“You can show up looking just like that.” He swept her jeans and T-shirt a quick smile. “As long as you say I do at the proper time, it’s all good.” He followed her to the SUV, leaned in and kissed her one last time. “See you soon. And then you’re stuck with me, Em.”
“I know.” She laughed softly, reached out and hugged him. “Isn’t it the most marvelous feeling ever?”
It was, he realized as she pulled away. He’d been so sure he was right, in so many ways...
And then God put Emily in front of him, filled with thoughts and ideas and kindness. She blessed him in ways he’d have never thought possible. But God did.
“No, Dowwy! Nooo!” Timmy’s shriek sent Grant running.
“Wheeeeee!” Dolly’s peal of delight made him laugh as he raced to the backyard for whatever was going on.
“Grant, we might have a little problem here,” Percy called. He ambled forward, followed by two soaking-wet kids. “But on the plus side, Dolly’s learned how to turn on the hose.”
He bent and scooped up Dolly, congratulating her, and then took both kids inside to get cleaned up.
He’d faced raising them alone, and now God had given him a helpmate, a kind, funny, strong wife and mother to his children, and judging from their antics today?
God sent her at the perfect time.
He showed up at the church with the kids at the appointed time, but only because Aunt Tillie was right there, helping.
“I’ve got dibs on Dolly!” Rory scooped Dolly up and twirled her around. “Hi, sweet cheeks!”
Dolly giggled and patted Rory’s face. “Wo! Wuv ooo!”
“Oh, how amazingly darling is that?” Rory laughed and hugged the little girl. “And I love your prett
y dress, Doll-face.”
“Grant, we need you up front.” Kimberly hailed him from the broad steps of the abbey.
“Of course.” He took his place at the sanctuary. Rory settled Dolly in the pew with her parents. Joe and Linda were reading a story to Timmy. The small gathering of family and friends all sat toward the front of the abbey’s chapel. The flutist began playing fun, dancing notes, welcoming the bride.
The guests stood.
Timmy spotted Emily right off. “Em!” he yelled, waving to get her attention. Oh, he got it, all right. “I got wet! Dowwy spwayed me!” He scrambled off Joe’s lap and dashed down the aisle to tell Emily all about their morning adventure.
She bent low, flashed Grant a smile—a smile that said she was absolutely ready to sign on for life—and took Tim’s hand to make him part of the procession with her father.
“Me, too!” Dolly hung out into the aisle, arms out, begging, once she spotted her brother.
Emily didn’t hesitate. She handed Rory the small bouquet of flowers, settled Dolly on her hip and walked the last few steps with a toddler in her arms and one by her side. “We’re here.”
Grant laughed, picked Timmy up and faced her uncle Steve, the abbey’s pastor. “It looks like we’re ready.”
The congregation laughed, Steve Gallagher grinned and when Emily slanted a smile up to Grant, his heart went soft with love.
He’d stopped counting his blessings when he was a little kid. He’d started again, once Emily charged into his life. And now—
He kissed Tim’s sweet cheek as he nodded and said “I do” at the appropriate time.
Now he had it all, and he’d never take that for granted again.
* * * * *
If you loved this story,
pick up the first GRACE HAVEN book,
AN UNEXPECTED GROOM.
And check out these other stories of small-town life
from author Ruth Logan Herne’s previous miniseries, KIRKWOOD LAKE:
THE LAWMAN’S HOLIDAY WISH
LOVING THE LAWMAN
HER HOLIDAY FAMILY
HEALING THE LAWMAN’S HEART
Her Unexpected Family Page 18
