Made for Each Other

by Irene Brand

  “Have you talked this over with Samantha?” he whispered into her hair.

  She shook her head. “This is between you and me. I want Samantha to be pleased about it, and from something she said a few days ago, I think she will accept it, but whatever she says, I won’t change my mind.”

  “I’ll do everything I can to win Samantha over, but as you say, it will be the two of us.” He smiled and quoted a line from the marriage service, “‘And these two shall be one.’ But I won’t marry you with secrets. Let’s go into the lounge.”

  Seated close together, with Aimee’s head on his shoulder, Jacob told her everything he had heard from Megan about David Harwood. When he finished, he said, “If I make this public, it will hurt numerous people, but it doesn’t seem right for this town to honor a man who’s lived a lie for years. What is the right thing for me to do with what I’ve heard?”

  “Do you think she’s lying?”

  “No. She had a picture of her daughter who could be a twin of the girl with Mrs. Harwood today.”

  Aimee chose her words carefully. “David Harwood is in the hands of a merciful God who will judge him. You and I can’t do it. And we certainly shouldn’t add any more pain to Mrs. Harwood, who has held her head up in Benton all of these years and stayed with him in spite of his infidelity.”

  “Then you think I shouldn’t repeat it.”

  “No, you should not,” she said confidently. “Actually, I don’t think it’s your secret to tell. You also need to consider the effect this would have on the residents of Benton, those who’ve looked up to Mr. Harwood. And on his innocent daughters. For all we know, this may have been the only mark on his character.”

  “That’s sound advice, Aimee, and I’m going to follow it. I need to consider Mrs. Harwood and her children. If this news should be made public, they would be hurt very much.”

  “Exactly! Although you were hurt by all of this, you’ve survived the ridicule and become a respected man in Benton. It’s time to move on and put the past behind you.”

  Jacob pulled her close into his arms. “That’s exactly what I wanted to do, but I wrestled with my conscience for hours, trying to make the right decision.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “So I’m moving on. Tell me when you’ll marry me.”

  “Let’s give our families a few weeks to get used to the idea and get married before fall.”

  Jacob’s eyes brimmed with tenderness. “It can’t be too soon for me.”

  It was time for them to leave, but Aimee was too content to break this magical moment when she knew with certainty that she and Jacob had been made for each other. They had both lived through the storms of their separate lives before they’d finally found a safe harbor in each other.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Looks like a postcard scene, doesn’t it?” Jacob whispered in Aimee’s ear as he leaned across her to peer out the small window. The huge jet lowered its wheels and, slowly losing altitude, cruised toward Honolulu International Airport.

  “Pinch me. I think I’m still dreaming,” Aimee said.

  Playfully, Jacob pressed her wrist between his thumb and forefinger. “I feel the same way. Everything happened so fast that I can’t believe that after several months of turmoil, we’re really getting married.”

  “And in Hawaii, too,” Aimee said. “I’ve always thought that Hawaii would be a great place for a honeymoon, but that we’re actually being married here, too, is hard to believe.”

  “And to think that after Samantha balked so long at our relationship, she would be the one who suggested this.”

  Lowering her voice, Aimee said, “I’m still not sure she didn’t just see this as a good way to get a trip to Hawaii—something that neither Jennifer nor Madison has ever done.”

  “Well, whatever brought it on,” Jacob said, “I couldn’t be happier.”

  As she fastened her seat belt for the landing, Aimee glanced around the cabin. Gran and Samantha sat across the aisle to their left. Seated directly behind Aimee and Jacob were her parents and Erica, and Andrew and Elizabeth Mallory were seated in front of them.

  It had all started when Samantha was surfing the Net and saw advertisements about package-deal Hawaiian weddings. She had downloaded a brochure with all the details.

  Aimee smiled at Jacob, and knew that he, too, was recalling the evening they were sitting in the family room watching television when Samantha had strolled in. She said, “If you two guys ever get around to getting married, you might want this.”

  She handed them the brochure and left as quietly as she’d walked in. They spent the rest of the evening looking over the printout until Aimee had said, “This sounds like a good idea.” Jacob thought so, too, and now here they were.

  “I just about backed out,” Jacob said, “when I found out so many people wanted to go with us. I was looking forward to being alone with you for a few days.”

  “But I knew it would mean a lot to us and disappoint our loved ones if they didn’t get to see us get married.”

  “At least we held our ground,” Jacob said, “and wouldn’t agree to having them go with us until they agreed to give us some time alone. They’ll have to entertain themselves for three days while we’re honeymooning in a secluded cottage.”

  While they taxied to the airport and waited for the skyway to be attached to the plane, Jacob commented, “It’s amazing how quickly Gran and my other grandparents have bonded.”

  “And my parents fit right in, too,” Aimee agreed.

  “And it does mean a lot to have my father’s parents with me,” Jacob said with tenderness in his voice. “I still want to visit his grave, so we’ll take a few days and go to New York before my grandparents return to Florida for the winter. I would have gone sooner, but I wanted you to be with me.”

  They filed through the crowded airport on their way to the baggage claim to the sounds of Hawaiian music. And while they were waiting for their luggage, a Hawaiian couple, carrying a large placard with Blake-Mallory on it approached them.

  “Are you Jacob Mallory?” the man asked, approaching Jacob with a wide grin.

  “Yes, and this is my fiancée, Aimee.” The other six family members and Erica crowded close, and Jacob introduced them.

  “My name is Kaio, your on-site coordinator.” He put his arm around the woman beside him. “This is my wife, Nateli. She will take you to the van. Give me your luggage checks,” the man said, “and I’ll join you as soon as I collect your luggage.”

  “Come this way,” Nateli said, and when they reached the van, she put a lei around each of their necks, and said, “Welcome to Hawaii.”

  From her window seat in the van, Aimee watched as Kaio hurried toward the bus, followed by a man with their luggage on a carrier. As soon as the luggage was stored underneath the bus, Kaio joined them in the small van. The driver closed the door and drove out of the parking lot.

  “As we travel into the city, I’ll give you information about the next two days,” Kaio said. “For today, you can check into your hotel and have the remainder of this day and tomorrow morning free as you requested.”

  Aimee took a small notebook from her purse and made notes on what he was saying. “All of the arrangements have been made according to our agreement earlier. The wedding will take place on Waikiki Beach tomorrow evening at sunset. After the ceremony and a dinner at the hotel, the bridal couple will go by limousine to a wedding cottage reserved for them on the far side of the island. We have arranged bus tours for the rest of you until they return at the end of the third day.”

  He mentioned that after the honeymoon, when Jacob and Aimee had rejoined them, arrangements had been made for all of them to have a three-day tour to the islands of Kauai and Maui before they returned home.

  Looking directly at Jacob, Kaio said, “Is all of this satisfactory?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jacob assured him, smiling at his bride-to-be. “Exactly as we planned it.”

  Contrary to tradition that the groom wasn’t to se
e the bride on the day of the wedding, Jacob and Aimee ate breakfast with the rest of the family. As soon as Aimee had asked Samantha to be her only attendant, Samantha had said, “That will be pretty fun, Mom. Let’s buy both of our dresses after we get to Hawaii.”

  As soon as breakfast was over on their first morning in Hawaii, Aimee and Samantha started shopping. Since Aimee had a formal wedding dress when she married Steve, she decided to wear a Hawaiian dress this time.

  After shopping for most of the morning, they found a dress that Samantha liked, a floral print that flowed gracefully to her ankles.

  Pirouetting before the mirror, she said, “I like it, Mom. Let’s choose something for you.”

  Aimee had already decided, but she wanted Samantha to choose first. “I want this dress with blue and white flowers.”

  “That’s the one,” Samantha agreed. “That blue is the same color as your eyes. What about a veil?”

  “No. I don’t want one. I’m going to the beauty shop in the hotel this afternoon. As part of our ceremony, I’m going to wear a yellow hibiscus in my hair. Before we’re married, I’ll put it over my right ear, and after the ceremony, Jacob will put it on the left side, to symbolize that we’re married.”

  “Cool,” Samantha approved.

  Walking slowly along the streets, window-shopping, they made their way back to their multistoried hotel. Before they joined the others, Aimee stopped and turned Samantha to face her. Looking deeply into her daughter’s eyes, Aimee said, “And you’re sure you’re all right with this?”

  With a sneaky grin on her face, Samantha said, “And if I say no does that mean you won’t go through with the wedding?”

  Aimee’s spirits ebbed a little at the question, but she was encouraged by Samantha’s grin. She shook her head. “No, I love Jacob and I’m going to marry him, but I hope you’re okay with it.”

  “Mom, it’s all right. I like him. I’m sorry I was such a jerk before, but I’ve grown up a lot since then. I know it’s important for you to have a life, because when I go to college, you’re not coming with me.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed Aimee, and with a sigh of relief, Aimee laughed and hugged her close.

  Prenuptial ukulele music played by two women greeted the wedding party as they sat in the chairs provided for them in a secluded area of the beach. The setting sun shed a kaleidoscope of bright colors around them, as Aimee and Jacob stood beneath a floral bridal arch and faced Diamond-head, Honolulu’s famous landmark, to take their vows.

  Andrew Mallory was Jacob’s attendant, and Samantha stood at Aimee’s side. The woman who married them wore a traditional Hawaiian dress, and Aimee was glad that she and Samantha had chosen to dress informally, too. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the musicians played and sang “The Lord’s Prayer.”

  Because their wedding party was small, they had dispensed with a reception, but the family gathered around them as soon as they took their vows. With a sidelong glance, Aimee noted that Samantha accepted Jacob’s embrace and kiss on the forehead.

  Thank you, God, she prayed silently. I know that Samantha and I are in safe with Jacob. But it will take a lot of guidance from You to make the three of us into a family.

  When Jacob and Aimee reached the limousine that would take them to their cottage, Aimee threw her bridal bouquet. To the delight of everyone, Erica caught it, and Jacob said, “Serves you right. It’s about time we matched you up!”

  Aimee wakened the next morning with her head on Jacob’s shoulder. She had slept so soundly that for a moment she wondered if she was dreaming. But their wedding, the dinner and a quick trip to the wedding cottage by limousine hadn’t been a dream. Before they arrived at the cottage, her old fears about the intimacies of marriage had surfaced, but this morning her worries were gone. No longer would she be concerned about being the kind of wife she wanted to be.

  Through the open window, Aimee heard the constant rhythm of the incoming waves on the sandy beach. It was not yet daylight, but she slipped out of bed and went to the balcony. Through a grove of coconut trees, a quarter moon hovered over the Pacific. As daylight neared she saw whitecaps slapping on the sandy beach.

  She sensed Jacob’s presence behind her, and he put his arms around her and led her to the metal bench on the balcony. She leaned against his chest.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said, “but I’m glad we can share this beautiful scene.”

  “Let’s dress and go wade in the surf,” Jacob suggested. “We have a private beach, so we won’t disturb anyone else.”

  A short time later as they strolled along the small beach, the breeze ruffling their hair, and the cool water splashing around their feel, the large orb of the sun popped into view over a haze-filled horizon.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Mallory,” Jacob said. “Is it too early to tell you I love you?”

  “It’s never too early to hear that,” Aimee answered. “In fact, I’m expecting to hear it every morning for the rest of our lives.”

  “And God willing,” Jacob said reverently, “I pray that will be for many, many years.”

  His lips brushed against hers as he spoke, and the closing words of the minister echoed in Aimee’s heart as she returned Jacob’s kiss.

  “And I declare that they shall be husband and wife together, till death parts them.”

  Dear Reader:

  Thanks for reading my twentieth Love Inspired book. I always appreciate your letters of encouragement. It makes my day when someone writes that one of my books has brought them into a closer relationship with our Lord.

  During my lifetime, I’ve baked a lot of pies, cookies, cakes and other pastries. In another book, I included a pie recipe in my letter, which seemed to be a hit with readers. Below is a recipe for some cookies mentioned in this book, which I’ve often made—the cookies are not only tasty, but pretty as well.

  PEANUT BLOSSOMS

  1 cup granulated sugar

  1 cup packed brown sugar

  1 cup margarine

  1 cup creamy peanut butter

  2 eggs

  ¼ cup milk

  2 tsp. vanilla

  3½ cups sifted flour

  2 tsp. baking soda

  1 tsp. salt

  20 oz. Hershey’s KISSES

  Cream sugars, butter, shortening and peanut butter. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Sift flour, soda and salt together; stir into egg mixture. Shape into balls; roll in granulated sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Top each cookie with a chocolate kiss, pressing down until cookie cracks around edge. Bake 3 to 5 minutes more. Yields 6 dozen.

  Enjoy!

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  This book has much to say about forgiveness. Jacob found it difficult to forgive his father who had abandoned him. Do you believe that his attitude about this situation was a normal reaction? Do you know children who have been abandoned by their parents who have also carried their unforgiving attitude into adulthood? What scriptures do you think would be applicable to their situation?

  Aimee found it difficult to forgive herself because she believed that she hadn’t met her husband’s needs. Have you or anyone whom you know reacted to post-pregnancy in much the same way? How did you handle it?

  Another issue in this book is the heroine’s daughter’s rebellion. Do you agree with Aimee’s methods of tough love to curb Samantha’s spirit? What would you have done in Aimee’s situation?

  Aimee blamed herself for Samantha’s defiance. Is it the parents’ fault if a child rebels, after the parents have done their best to teach her right from wrong? Discuss Proverbs 22:6.

  Aimee believed that her failure as a mother could be attributed to her neglect of her Christian faith—for example, she had taught Samantha that school and social activities are more important than going to church. Is this a trend in modern society? How can parents change this trend as they rear their children?

  Aimee found a closer relationship to God when she attended the
Spiritual Growth Conference. Share with others an experience when you’ve grown closer to God in such a setting. Discuss Psalm 46:10a.

  Erica was Aimee’s best friend. What characteristics of friendship did Erica exhibit that you have found, or would like to find, in a friend?

  The title of the book indicates that Aimee and Jacob were made for each other. What does “made for each other” suggest to you? Have you ever known a couple about whom you could say, “They were meant for each other”? If so, why did you think that?

  Of all the issues that kept Aimee and Jacob separated, which do you believe was the hardest for them to overcome? Which was the easiest?

  Were you surprised to find out the identity of the father of Megan’s child? Why?

  What character was your favorite and why?

  What is the main message in Jesus’s words in Matthew 6:14-15? Close your session by praying together the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, Matthew 6:9-13.

  Considering the personalities of Jacob, Aimee and Samantha, what difficulties might have to be overcome before they can truly become a family?

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-1851-6

  MADE FOR EACH OTHER

  Copyright © 2008 by Irene Brand

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  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.