“He said it was available that day, but we didn’t reserve it.”
“Why not?” His mom held the pen in the air above the pad.
Megan laid a hand on her stomach. “I don’t think I should have a church wedding, uh, given my situation.”
His mom waved a hand in dismissal. “God’s grace is sufficient to cover any situation. If anyone has a problem with it, then they don’t have to come.” She looked at her list. “The ceremony at four with a catered meal afterward. I assume you aren’t going very far away on your honeymoon?”
“We’re going to postpone it for a while. The wedding will be only three weeks before Megan’s due date, so we want to stay close to home.”
When Megan released his hand, he put his arm around her and leaned down close to her ear. “If you’re not okay with this, just say so.”
“It’s sinking in.” She looked up at him, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “It will be all right.”
“Good.” That was a big relief. Will knew his mother wasn’t about to let her firstborn son get married anywhere other than the church with all the falderal and packed house that came with it.
“We’ll call the florist this afternoon. Do you want any particular kind of flowers, Megan?”
“I like everything, though I’m especially fond of daisies. It would be nice if they were part of the decorations.”
Will smiled and rubbed his hand lightly on her shoulder. She had gotten his message the day he plucked the petals from the flower.
“Then we’ll make sure they’re included. And Emily will call her mother in Dallas and have her find someone to do the cakes.”
“Her mom is a high-society mover and shaker,” Will said quietly. “She has a lot of contacts.”
“And a lot of bakeries that want to stay on her good list,” added Emily.
Sue tapped the pen on the pad and focused on Megan. “I know you’d love to make your own wedding cake, but you’ll be too busy.”
Megan sighed. “It would be too difficult anyway. Lindsey’s cake about did me in.”
His mother checked her notes again. “You’ll need to decide on attendants right away, so the ladies can find dresses, and the men can take care of getting tuxedos.”
“That’s easy. Mine are right here.” Megan pointed to Jenna and Emily. “Only you’ll both have to be matrons of honor because I could never choose between you.”
“Mine are here too, ornery cusses that they are.” Will nodded to Chance and Nate. “My two best men.”
“Excellent. Ramona just waved at me, so dinner’s ready.” Sue laid the pad and pen on the coffee table. “This afternoon, we’ll get things rolling while you go get your license. Save all day tomorrow, Megan, so we can go shopping for a wedding gown.”
“I don’t need anything elaborate.” Will helped her up off the couch. “Do they even make wedding dresses for pregnant women?”
“An empire waistline will work perfectly.” Emily scooted in and hooked her arm through Megan’s. “Of course you need something beautiful and elaborate.” She winked at her husband. “You’re marrying a Callahan.”
30
It turned out that the dress Megan fell in love with was beautiful but not particularly elaborate. Sleeveless, with a shallow scooped neckline, the only decoration on the champagne silk gown was intricate, exquisite flowered beadwork around the empire waistline. Though simply made, she looked at the price, choked, and put it back on the rack.
Jenna promptly took it off again and marched her into the dressing room. The floor-length gown was a good fit, except for being too long. The shop seamstress assured her it was no problem. She had the shortened dress to them by Wednesday of the following week.
The Callahan whirlwind—Sue, Jenna, and Emily—along with some help from Lindsey, had taken care of every detail for the wedding, always consulting her but making sure that she didn’t have to do much of the work.
They had also taken an inventory of what she had for the baby and either ordered or bought everything else she could possibly need. And then some.
Now, she sat in a room at the church, waiting to go down the aisle. The photographer had already taken a gazillion pictures. She’d shed a few tears, and so had Sue. They’d laughed together as they came back in here and touched up their makeup.
Sue had been escorted into the sanctuary. Behind her, the first four rows on one side of the church were filled with Will’s extended family on his mother’s side.
Megan felt a twinge of regret that there were no relatives on the bride’s side. Perhaps someday she would see Uncle Riley and Josh again, maybe even her mother. But not today.
Lindsey, who was acting as the wedding coordinator, handed Megan her cascading bouquet of coral roses. She checked the wide, pearl, fan-shaped clips nestled in Megan’s soft brown curls in lieu of a veil. Sue’s mother had worn them at her wedding, thus they fulfilled something old and something borrowed. Her gown took care of something new, and a blue ribbon and lace garter hidden beneath it completed the old tradition.
“You’re radiant.” Lindsey gave her a careful hug. “And happy.”
“I am.” Happier than she’d ever dreamed she could be. “Two months ago if someone told me I’d be standing here in this beautiful wedding gown, about to marry a handsome, wonderful man, I’d have asked them what they’d been smoking.”
Lindsey laughed and opened the door. “God had it planned all along.”
“So it seems.” Megan walked down the hallway to the back of the church.
Emily and Chance, with Jenna and Nate standing behind them, were lined up to go inside the sanctuary. Emily and Jenna wore coral floor-length silk dresses made with spaghetti straps, a fitted waist, and gently flared skirt. Chance and Nate were handsome in their black tuxedos, despite Chance complaining about having to drag his out of the closet again.
Peg monitored Zach and Sarah Jane, the four-year-old daughter of one of Will’s cousins. Both of the children were adorable, with Zach in his tux and Sarah Jane in a bright yellow dress with a big bow in the back. The kids were having an animated conversation.
“Don’t get scared and stop before we get there,” Zach said to Sarah. “The last time I had to run back and get the flower girl.”
“I know what to do. I’ve been in a wedding too.”
Megan laughed. Another bossy Callahan man. But the little girl was enamored with him and didn’t mind a bit.
Dub walked over to meet her. He had gotten all misty-eyed when she asked him to walk her down the aisle. “You’re a beautiful bride, Megan.”
“Thank you. You’re quite handsome yourself.” He always was, but like his sons, he looked as good and at home in fancy duds, as he called them, as he did in his everyday western wear.
He held out his arm. “You ready to commit matrimony?”
“Yes, sir. I am.” She slipped her hand around his arm, thankful for his solid strength.
“Nervous?” He rested his hand over hers.
“A little.”
“You’ll do fine.”
The music changed and Lindsey motioned for Chance and Emily to start down the aisle. When they were in position on the stage, she prompted Nate and Jenna. Zach and Sarah Jane were next. They made it without mishap, with Sarah Jane tossing the rose petals perfectly.
There was a pause, then the organist hit the opening chords of the “Wedding March,” and Dub winked at Megan. “That’s our cue, honey.”
The church was packed with Will’s relatives, church members, and folks from Callahan Crossing. There were also cattlemen from other counties as well as Texas oil bigwigs, including Emily’s grandparents, all longtime friends of the Callahans. She heard some whispers and wondered if they were commenting on her very obvious baby bump. A jab of self-consciousness shot through her.
Then she met Will’s gaze, and no one else, nothing else, mattered. Could the dear, sweet man’s smile get any bigger? His expression any happier?
When Dub placed her hand in Will’s, the
love of her life whispered, “You doin’ okay, sugar?”
She nodded. “Couldn’t be better.”
She was certain it was a beautiful ceremony, but it seemed she was destined to spend weddings in a daze. She’d missed most of Lindsey’s worrying about Mike. She spent most of this one soaking up the love shining in Will’s eyes.
Everything went smoothly, as far as she noticed. The soloist sang perfectly. The unity candle lit on the first try. Pastor Brad shared about the love of Christ, and how God had used a tornado to bring them together. They said their vows, neither of them blowing it, and promised to love each other forever. And Zach and Sarah Jane made it through the whole wedding up on the stage without fidgeting too much.
“Will, you may kiss your bride,” said Pastor Brad.
Her husband, her love, gently put his arms around her and kissed her tenderly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Will Callahan.”
The audience stood and applauded loudly. “It’s about time you found your woman,” hollered someone. A few others whistled their approval as Will escorted her down the aisle and out the door of the sanctuary.
He took her to the side of the foyer and held her close. “I love you, Mrs. Callahan.”
“I love you, Mr. Callahan.”
He kissed her again, and when he straightened, he tugged at his tie and grinned. “Man, I’m glad that’s over.”
“You didn’t look nervous.” She rested her head against his chest.
“Scared silly.”
“Why? You’ve been in a dozen weddings.”
“Yeah, but this is the first time I’ve been the groom.”
“Better be the last time too.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They made their way to the fellowship hall. Bouquets of coral roses, white daisies, and trailing ivy in tall clear glass vases served as centerpieces on all of the round tables, which were covered in white linen tablecloths.
A large multicolored floral arrangement centered one long table with a silver punch bowl on each end. Since there were almost four hundred people at the wedding, they had decided to put water pitchers and coffee carafes on each table instead of using the silver tea and coffee services.
Megan figured only the Callahans, with their wealth, connections, and organizational skills, could have pulled it off in such a short time.
Megan loved the cakes, delivered that morning by a prestigious Dallas bakery. The wedding cake consisted of six square tiers covered in smooth white fondant icing, with each layer having a different added design. She knew they were all simple patterns, but put together, they made an intricate and beautiful cake. Two large locking sterling silver hearts decorated the top.
A marvelous three-dimensional, chocolate cake replica of an armadillo centered the groom’s table. The CR brand had been nicely painted in white on the critter’s shoulder.
Everyone else would simply think they’d gone with the popular armadillo theme and added the brand for a bit of whimsy. To Megan and Will, it was a reminder of a special, fun moment they’d shared the first time he took her riding around the ranch.
Because it was tiring for Megan to be on her feet too long at a time, they chose to sit and let their guests come to them.
Three hours later, all their guests had stopped by to wish them well. Everyone had eaten their supper and cake. The toasts and speeches had been made, and people slowly began to leave.
Lindsey came over to them. “Time to throw the bouquet and make your escape.”
“I like the sound of that.” Will stood and helped Megan up.
Lindsey picked up the microphone. “It’s garter and bouquet throwing time. Single men over here. Single ladies over there. Will, Megan, front and center.”
Lindsey handed Megan the toss bouquet, a smaller replica of her real one. She’d wanted to keep the tradition but had also wanted to save her bouquet and dry it. The florist had suggested the replica, saying it was commonly done these days.
Will knelt on one knee. Holding onto his shoulder, Megan rested her foot on his leg, and he slipped his hand beneath her gown, pulling off the garter. Giving her a kiss, he stood, turned his back to the surprisingly large group of single guys who jovially teased each other. He held up the garter over his head and flipped it like a rubber band into the crowd.
A tall, skinny cowboy who appeared to be a few years older than Will elbowed everybody out of the way to catch it. He nodded decisively and muttered, “If I catch enough of these blasted things, maybe it will work.”
Trying not to giggle, Megan faced away from the single ladies and heaved the toss bouquet in the air. Will helped her turn around in time to see Kim make a flying leap to catch the bouquet, then do a little victory dance.
Megan glanced at Mike Craig. He watched Kim with an indulgent smile. After she ran back to his side, he gave her a lingering kiss that drew some whistles and cheers. He looked up and caught Megan watching them and winked.
“Shall we go home?” Will asked softly.
Megan nodded. Home. Not simply a house to live in, but a place where she belonged, where they would raise a family and grow old together.
“Good night, everybody. Thank you for being here,” Will called as they waved at the remaining crowd and headed toward the door.
Silent praise welled up in her heart. Thanks to a loving God, all her dreams were coming true.
They spent the next two and a half weeks on their at-home honeymoon, opening all the presents, setting up the nursery, and loving being together. It was pure bliss.
Three days before her official due date, they were finishing a big shared bowl of ice cream after supper when Megan gasped.
Will dropped his spoon in the bowl, quickly set it on the coffee table, and took her hand. “Braxton Hicks?”
“I think it felt different.” She handed him her spoon, and he put it in the empty bowl. “It’s gone now.”
But not for long. When the second one hit, Will ran to get his watch. Ten minutes after that, he pulled on his boots and found her sandals.
An hour later, the contractions were coming every five minutes. Will called his mother, who told him to call Dr. Cindy. Dr. Cindy told them to go on to the hospital, and she’d meet them there.
He helped Megan into the Caddie and sprinted around to the other side. Another labor pain hit as he slid into the seat. “Breathe, sugar. Like we practiced. That’s my girl.” His hands trembling, he fastened the seat belt and started the car. I’d better follow some of these breathing techniques too.
“Okay, it’s easing up, so breathe deep and let it out slowly. That’s it. Relax.” He tried to do the same as he threw the car into gear and roared down the road. Thankfully, he’d had Buster grade it two days earlier to give his sweetheart a nice smooth ride to the highway.
A glance in the mirror told him the rest of the family was following them, all except Emily and Zach. They’d decided that Jenna should be available to help during labor if he needed her. Will wanted backup if he messed up somehow.
After they reached the hospital, Dr. Cindy examined her and smiled. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Uh, Cindy, we already figured that out.” Will kissed Megan’s hand.
“But it will be a while. Y’all keep handling those contractions just the way you are. You make a great team.” She patted Megan’s shoulder and looked at Will. “I knew that the first time I saw you together. I’ll go tell your folks what’s happening. Carry on.”
And they did—for ten wonderful, scary, tiring, exhilarating, loving hours until Marie Elizabeth Callahan made her grand entrance into the world.
A couple of hours later, Will felt Megan looking at him. “Hi, little mama. What do you need?”
“To hold my baby. You’ve been hogging her.” Megan smiled and patted the bed.
“Tough job, but somebody has to do it. You’ve been napping.” He placed Mari Beth in her mother’s arms and picked up the camera. “Smile purty.”
Will pulled a chair over next to the bed. The rest of the family had gone home to catch some rest since they had stayed at the hospital all night. He figured they’d be back before too long. Zach was itching to see his new cousin.
“Beautiful like her mama. And healthy and whole. A man couldn’t ask for a more perfect child.” He leaned his head against the back of the chair and watched Megan gazing upon her daughter in adoration. “But I’m already worrying about when she hits high school. We’ll have to keep the boys away with a willow switch.”
Megan laughed. “You wouldn’t.”
“Well, no, I reckon I wouldn’t actually hit anybody. I am, however, realizing the merit of my daddy’s tactic when Jenna was dating.”
She lightly brushed her fingertip over Mari Beth’s face. “What was that?”
“He waited on the front porch until she got home.”
“Oh no. Every date?”
“Every single one, even in the wintertime. He tried to pull that stunt the first time Nate brought Jenna home, but Mom wouldn’t let him. I thought for a while she was going to make us hog-tie him.”
“That would have gone over well.” She sighed and closed her eyes for a minute.
When she opened them again, he asked, “How are you, sugar?”
She held out her hand, and he curled his fingers around hers. “Saved by God’s mercy and grace, blessed by his love. And yours.”
“Amen to that.”
A thousand times over.
Epilogue
On a pleasant summer evening three years later, Dub and Sue sat on the porch admiring their growing family. The boys were engaged in a semi-rousing game of baseball. Zach hit the ball, and it zipped right between Will and Chance. They almost collided trying to get it and missed it.
Zach tossed the bat aside and raced for the dirt clearing they’d designated as first base. Nate, who was playing catcher, stood and cheered him on.
Megan's Hero (The Callahans of Texas Book #3): A Novel Page 27
