Jason shook his head slowly. "No. You can't ask me to do this."
Gloria stepped forward and put a hand on his arm. "Jason, think about it, please. It wouldn't be like what you told me--a tomb for them. But it would be a way to put something new and beautiful where something so tragic and awful happened. What happened here changed your life forever. Isn't it time to make something good out of this place, to cleanse it of the stain, for your sake as well as theirs."
Holly watched him look at Gloria, staring deep into her steady eyes. "You had nothing to do with this?"
"Nothing. I swear."
Jason looked over to Holly, a look that held some confusion and yes, a touch of fear.
She said, "Jason, it's like with me and commitment. We each have had our fears, things tying us to our pasts, instead of moving forward. Maybe this is how you finally become totally free. I know you can do it."
His eyes met hers for a moment and then he slowly began to walk across the front of the site, turning from time to time to look at the nearby buildings. Holly watched with some trepidation. She wondered just how he'd feel if he turned this down.
She walked over to Rob and whispered angrily, "I can't believe you are bringing this up on our wedding day!"
He raised an eyebrow at her and said, "Just wait. I know I'm right about this. I can feel it."
"Whatever that means," Holly said, folding her arms.
After several more minutes, Jason walked up to them. He pointed to the east. "That's going to be too bright on the upper floors, the sun in the morning. We'll need to use special glass. It won't look like all its neighbors, I'll tell you that right now. So if you wanted that look--"
"Jason! You're going to do it!" Gloria cried out, and then burst into tears.
Rob turned a beaming smile on Holly, and then reached out and shook Jason's hand. "I want a unique building, something special. Whatever feels right to you. I trust your judgment."
Holly hugged Jason from the side even while he was shaking Rob's hand. His other arm was around Gloria's shoulder as she snuffled into a handkerchief provided by Marla.
"The main thing I know right now is that it will have soaring lines. It will be a place that reaches for the sky. You were right, Gloria. I'll change it, from a place of despair to one of hope. The people who live in this building, the people who see it, will feel better for having done so. I want them to feel uplifted, and inspired. And I think I can do that here, I really do."
Holly looked into his shining eyes and fell in love all over again.
* * * *
The piano and string quartet provided classical music in the background as the guests appeared in the atrium. Flowers were everywhere, and Anna found herself getting more excited. She had always wondered if Holly would ever slow down enough to get married, and now here she was doing it in grand style. The cake she'd made for the reception should look terrific with all the yellow flowers and greenery. Holly had asked her to make a rich chocolate cake with a creamy yellow icing. The cake had roses and lilies with ivy all over it.
Cody walked up beside Anna and asked, "Is that the band we're going to have for the dancing? Because I seriously doubt this stuff is danceable."
Anna laughed. "No, they'll have different music later for dancing. Where's Julia?"
"Calling the babysitter one more time. She's never been away from the kid for this long."
"Ah, and you're not worried at all, are you?"
"Nope, not me--Julia--is everything okay there?"
Julia walked up to them and gave her husband a smile. "Everything is fine."
"Is it true, Anna, that Holly asked for your son to be the ring bearer?" Cody asked.
"Yes, but I turned her down. I know she was just doing it because we're sisters. My little monster would tear this place apart in minutes if he were here. He's very into destruction these days. There's no way he could make it down the aisle with a ring on a pillow."
She felt Sam come up behind her, as he said, "Is calling our kid a monster good parenting?"
"I said it with love, darling. That makes it okay."
They all laughed and headed to the back of the room to a door that opened into a hallway with other rooms. The wedding party was assembling there and they were all a part of it, with Julia and Anna as Holly's attendants, and Sam and Cody serving as groomsmen for Jason.
"I'm glad she chose green accents or we would have too much golden yellow out there with our dresses," Julia said, twitching her long skirt in place.
Marla came hustling up and passed out bouquets and boutonnieres. The women had bouquets of yellow lilies with trailing ivy hanging down. "Everyone all set? It's just about time. Oops, there's the signal. Gloria is being seated now, so we need to move."
When they lined up, Anna saw Holly in her white dress and veil and almost started crying. Holly shook her finger at her. "No tears! Not yet anyway. I have tears planned for afterward," she said with a smile.
Frank was standing next to his daughter in his new black suit, looking stunned by how Holly looked. "You've always been pretty honey, but this! You're a beautiful bride."
"Thanks, Dad."
Once down the aisle, Anna watched Jason's face. His smile covered his face as he saw Holly in her dress. Holly had told her that he had not been allowed to see the dress at all before this. She'd even gotten dressed here so that he wouldn't get a peek. Anna supposed that any man seeing that vision walking toward him was allowed to look a bit pole-axed and have a goofy grin.
Right as Holly made it down the aisle and turned to face Jason, the setting sun threw golden rays into the large room, setting it aglow. Candles placed throughout the room came on magically, and the wedding began.
* * * *
Holly blinked in surprise when the flameless candles with timers came on, right on schedule. She'd been sure they wouldn't. Then she decided she'd better stop thinking of those kinds of details, when she heard 'We're gathered here today.'
She and Jason had decided to go with the basic vows, but they would add a couple of sentences spoken to each other. Neither had reviewed their comments with the other, and she was nervous now that it came to it. What if it sounded too corny, what she had memorized?
But now it was time. Into the expectant silence, she said, "Jason, you are the love of my life, one I never expected to find. I had thought my life was absolutely the way I wanted it, until I ran into you, and watched my life change forever. Now I know all that time I was missing a piece of my heart, and you've given it back to me. I'll love you forever."
She saw Jason's eyes glistening suspiciously, and heard a sniffle coming from Anna. And suddenly she was overwhelmed by the truth of what she'd just said, and felt her own tears begin.
Jason squeezed her hand that he'd been holding. "Holly, I never thought I wanted to fall in love. I'd decided I had no room for such a messy emotion in my life. Then you walked through the door and my world turned upside-down in a heartbeat. And it's been wonderful. I love you with all my heart, and I'll love you forever."
Holly took a deep breath, and thought she had to be the luckiest woman in the world. As they exchanged rings, her hands trembled. Was this really happening to her? Could she be this happy?
Jason took her in his arms and kissed her, and she knew then that it was all real. Yes, she could be this happy. As the kiss lingered, she felt at home, at last.
Applause from the audience broke them apart, and grinning at each other, they walked down the aisle. She felt how Jason's hand seemed a bit shaky in hers.
"We did it!" she said to him.
"I can't quite believe it," he said. "We're really married?"
"Yes, we really are, so get used to it. You've got me beside you forever now."
He turned to her at the back of the large room, as people got up and the servers began passing out champagne. "You beside me forever--that sounds perfect."
She threw her arms around his neck and felt him hold her close. Their kiss said what words could n
ot, as happiness filled them both.
# # #
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Love Captures the Heart (Sully Point, Book 3) Page 16
