by Lisa Heaton
That thought brought memories of the night before to mind, how he had lifted her and held her against the wall. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like loving another man besides Kevin. Those last years, they had made love infrequently and when they did, it was almost mechanical on her part. In all the years since he had begun having affairs, nothing was ever the same with them. A part of her had withdrawn and eventually withheld the most intimate part of herself. Until loving Josh so deeply, she hadn’t realized how little she had actually loved Kevin at the end.
Sophie’s phone rang, so she sat down on her new bed. “Hey Karen.”
“I’m sending you pics. I’ve already ordered these flowers. The cake photos are what I want you to see. Pick what you like and leave the rest to me.”
“I’ll take a look, but I trust your judgement.”
“Of course you do. I have excellent taste. Still, I want to get this right. It’s not easy to pull this off from so far away.”
“You’ll be here next week. We’ll get it all done.”
“Are you still thinking fifty people?”
“That’s about right.”
“And you’re sure you can get enough tables in the yard?”
“Yes. You’ll see when you get here. Seriously, calm down. It’s a small-scale wedding, not some elaborate church wedding.”
“It’s your wedding; that means everything to me. It has to be perfect.”
Tears sprang to Sophie’s eyes. “I’m so glad you’re coming home.”
“It won’t be long. While I’m there I’ll begin looking at houses. Louis says just find what I want. He will be fine anywhere.”
“You have a good man, Karen.”
“I know I do. What man would give up such a good opportunity here just to take me home?”
“A man who knows how blessed he is to have you.”
“I tried here. I really did. I rarely complain to him.” Karen chuckled. “You, on the other hand, I complain to often.”
“As if I’ve not cried on your shoulder these past years.”
“That’s what friends are for. That, and planning weddings.”
When she hung up, Sophie went across the hallway from her bedroom, to the room she hoped to use as a nursery soon. That was her goal and had been since they had returned from visiting Josh’s parents. Though she never mentioned it to Josh, it was her reason for moving the wedding up. She wanted to start trying to conceive right away. There was something about the number forty that terrified her. An April wedding would give her nearly five months to try before her birthday.
There was absolutely no guarantee that she would get pregnant within five months or even at all, but she was going to do everything she could to make it happen. She had lived, breathed, and slept all things fertility since they had gotten back into town. This was all new for her since Chloe was conceived so easily. Within days of Chloe’s birth, they had agreed they didn’t want any more children. Now, Sophie needed to learn all the tricks of ensuring conception, especially at her age, and especially with the fact that she wasn’t regular in her cycle. Whatever it took, though, she would do it.
She scanned the small room trying to imagine a crib and rocker. That thought brought a smile to her lips. Nothing would please her more than to be able to give Josh a child.
Chapter Twenty-Six
All the plans had come together perfectly. Karen’s arrival in town had assured it. Not only had she stepped in to coordinate the food and flowers, she had been a big help with shopping and all the other little details that came along with planning a wedding.
More than anything Sophie was just glad to have her best friend home, someone her own age to relate to. Chloe had been home each weekend, and her mother had come to town to be with her when she picked out a dress. Justine and Dena had gone too. The day was an adventure with so many opinions, but ultimately, they had all fallen in love with the same dress.
Sophie stood on the back deck and looked out over the yard. Everything was picture perfect. At some point Josh had gotten ahold of her phone and texted Karen that Sophie’s favorite color was purple. In truth, Sophie would have never considered using purple as an accent color since purple could go either way when decorating. The color Karen had chosen was a soft purple, the shade of a pale wisteria, a color that blended well with the medium gray of the sash on her dress. There were small ribbons of the wisteria color tied around bouquets of white and purple flowers on each of the tables. Together, it was all breathtaking.
Josh’s arbor had been painted a stark white, and all the seating and table linens were white. Soft and romantic where the words that came to mind to describe the absolute vision before her.
“So?” Karen said when she stepped out onto the deck.
Tears sprang to Sophie’s eyes. “This couldn’t be more beautiful. I’m so grateful for all you’ve done.”
“This has been my pleasure, sweet friend.”
Karen reached for Sophie, and they stood in that embrace for a long moment.
“I don’t know anyone who deserves this perfect day any more than you do.”
“I don’t know how to even describe the happiness that’s swimming around inside of me.”
“Josh is a lucky man.” Karen grinned. “He knows that. A day hasn’t passed that he hasn’t texted or called to see how things are going and if I needed any help.”
“I’m the lucky one.” Sophie eyes grew wider at the sound of her own words.
“What?”
She began to cry. “He said that to me the day we ran into each other, that he was the lucky one.”
“I guess you’re going to do this all day, cry and ruin your make-up?”
“I guess I am.”
Karen stepped inside to meet with the catering staff, leaving Sophie alone. She looked out again at the place where she would stand and exchange vows with Josh. Her stomach fluttered. All those years with Kevin she had been prepared to settle for what she thought was good. How could she have known what would await her someday?
“Thank You for the better, Lord. Thank You for bringing him back into my life. Thank You for the way he loves me.”
As much as she tried, she couldn’t stop the wave of emotion that overtook her in that moment.
“It’s time, Sophie.” Karen said from the doorway. “Chloe is upstairs dressed and ready to help you.”
Sophie smiled at her friend in her chic satin dress, the color nearly a perfect match to the gray they were using. Her porcelain skin and mahogany hair made Karen one of the most arresting women she knew.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” Sophie said.
“You haven’t yet, but I’ll take it.” She grinned at her.
“This is absolutely crazy!” Chloe said when Sophie entered the room.
“What is?”
“All of this. It’s such a spectacular day.” Chloe moved in to hug her mom. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m so happy that I can’t stop crying. Makes no sense, right?”
“It makes sense, Mom. I can only imagine how you must feel today.” She paused and sighed. “After all that happened with Daddy, I’m sure you never thought you would feel like this again.”
“Never.” She laughed through her tears. “Now, here I am.”
Sophie stepped into her gown, and Chloe helped to snap it at the neck. Since she was having a casual wedding, she had chosen a dress more fitting for the setting, one not so long and with a slim-fit shape. The halter top and soft white lace gave it a springtime-in-the-garden feel. That was what had made her choose it, the feeling it gave her the moment she tried it on.
“You are a vision,” her mother said as she stepped into the bedroom.
Sophie held out her arms. “You made it. I was getting worried.”
“Traffic in Nashville is bad no matter the time of day,” Jean said as she took Sophie into her arms. “Your dad would have grown wings and flown to be here if he had to.”
“I k
now he would.”
“This is our first real wedding.” Jean teared up. “Walking you down the aisle is the highlight of his life.”
Sophie started to cry with her mom.
“’Would you two cut it out?” Chloe said. “I’ll have to fix her make-up again.”
Chloe dabbed under Sophie’s eyes to repair her mascara and then pressed on concealer. “Seriously, you’ve got to get a grip here, Mom.”
Her phone rang; it was Josh, so she stepped away from the others. “Hi.”
When Josh didn’t say anything, she said, “Are you there?”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m here. Can you talk a minute; I mean, like, alone?”
Sophie whispered to Chloe and her Mom, “Will you give me a minute?”
“I’m alone, but I can’t talk long. I have an appointment I can’t miss.”
“I’m guessing they won’t begin without you.”
“You’re probably right. They need us both to get started. Are you here already?” she said.
“I’m sitting out in my truck. I needed a minute alone. I just came from the back.” He paused and sighed. “It’s so beautiful, the wedding you deserve.”
“It’s like a dream, isn’t it?”
“That made this all so real,” he said.
“It’s real alright.”
For a few seconds he didn’t speak, so she said, “Are you nervous?”
“Not in the least. Are you?”
“I have butterflies in my tummy, but in a good way.”
He was quiet again. That’s when she realized he was crying. That left her speechless. In all the time she had known him, he had never cried in front of her. Even in their worst moments he hadn’t.
“I needed to say this without everyone else around. It’s what I would tell you at the altar if we were alone.”
“What?”
“It was never right. I knew it even then, but I’ve prayed for you to be mine since I first met you. Even years later when my mind had given up, my heart never did. The day I had our names tattooed on my arms, with every jab of the needle, it’s like you only became more engraved on my heart. I still kept praying those silent, secret prayers. It was ridiculous, but I just kept praying for…” He trailed off and cried for a few seconds.
Tears were pouring down Sophie’s cheeks, and she didn’t even attempt damage control.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “But I can’t seem to stop.”
“I’ve been the same all day.”
“Soph, from the day I left your house to go to school, I’ve felt like a part of me was missing. Until I found you again, I felt that way. Now that you’re mine, I’m whole for the first time in my life. It’s like I always knew I was looking for something, then when I met you it made sense. I just knew it was you.”
When he became quiet again, Sophie said, “That you would see us all that time ago is remarkable. I know it’s taken me much longer, but I see it now too. I see us and nothing else.”
He began to speak but then stopped. After a second more, he said, “I vow to love you tomorrow even more than I do today. I promise to grow that love every day and to never take you for granted.” He paused and let out a long breath. “I have no idea why God answered my prayer, but I have promised Him every day since I’ve had you back in my life that He can trust me with you. Babe, you can always trust me. You can trust this no matter what lies you hear. Will you promise to always believe that?”
“I promise.” She wiped her cheeks and sniffled.
Josh chuckled. “Drake is here banging on my window. I guess they are all in the mood for a wedding.”
“Me too,” she said.
“Meet you around back?”
“Yeah, I can’t get there fast enough.”
Music played low in the background until Sophie stepped out onto the deck. Then the wedding march began. People were standing and looking in her direction, but Sophie never made eye contact with any of them. All she could do was watch Josh’s expression when he first saw her and the way he cried and kept wiping his eyes.
That man had held out hope for a dozen years that she would marry him someday. Still, she couldn’t understand it. God surely never intended for Kevin to do what he did, but He always had a plan in place to pick up the pieces.
At that thought she began to cry again too, so her dad gave her a little squeeze just as they reached the arbor.
Josh shook her dad’s hand and wiped his face with his free hand. Her dad smiled and wiped his own cheek. The moment was sweet and so utterly perfect; she felt twenty again, like life was brand new and Josh was her first love. The purity of a love so long prayed for and hoped for was one she wasn’t sure she could ever deserve. Her intention was to spend the rest of their lives finding a way to deserve a man who loved her so faithfully.
They exchanged their vows with Chloe and Drake standing there near the arbor with them. It all went so fast that Sophie hardly remembered the words she had repeated. What changed her life were the words: “I now pronounce you man and wife. Josh, you may kiss your bride.”
Cheers erupted when Josh pulled Sophie to him and kissed her for a long moment. That was that. She belonged to this magnificent man.
Dinner was served buffet style, but Sophie couldn’t eat a bite. She watched Josh fill his plate but like her, he hardly touched his food. Their guests were seated and quiet chatter filled the backyard.
Seated at their table alone, they had their first moments of privacy. Josh moved in close. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight than you tonight.”
She kissed his cheek. “And I’ve never seen a more handsome man.”
His eyes narrowed and he trailed his fingers along her shoulder blade. “This dress…” He shook his head and closed his eyes.
“Do you like it?”
When he looked back at her, he nodded. His words were barely a whisper. “It’s been a long time for me, and you show up looking like this.” He lowered his head and kissed her bare shoulder. “I’m about to come unraveled here.”
He raised his head and stared into her eyes. More than his words, it was the look in his eyes that captivated her. Her heart began to pound.
“Feel this.” He took her hand in his.
“You’re trembling.”
Drake stood and made a toast, and from then on there were no stolen moments, only well-wishers and happy conversation. Sophie watched Josh as he talked and laughed. To look at him, you would never know he was so shaken, but on occasion he would catch her eye and blink a slow and lazy blink. She knew.
They made a mess of the cake and each smeared a little on the other’s face, they danced and whispered into one another’s ears, and they both longed for the moment when they could finally be alone. He had whispered in her ear how much he loved and needed her.
A moment came when Josh took her hand and dragged her along behind him when he went to stand on the bottom step of the deck.
“I want to thank you all for sharing this day with us. Thanks to Karen for your hard work and making this such a special night for us. Thanks to Drake and Dena for all you’ve done to help.” With a short pause and a broad grin, he turned to Chloe. “And to my new baby girl, Chloe.”
Everyone broke into laughter while Chloe just rolled her eyes.
“Thanks for sharing your mom with me. I will always be good to her, and I will always be here for you. We’re family now.”
He turned to Sophie. “I can honestly say that in the entirety of my life, no moment can compare to this one. I look at you,” he placed his hand on his chest. “and my breath catches in my chest. Every happiest moment of my life has you in it. Now, because you were crazy enough to say I do to a man like me, I know that my life will be filled with the one thing I’ve wanted most – you, Sophie. All I want is you.”
She cried at his words, and he took her into his arms. “All I am is wrapped up in you.”
With one arm around her still, he turned back to their guests. “We inv
ite you to stay as long as you’d like. Enjoy the music and food. But I plan to whisk my bride off to the Union Station Hotel where we will spend a few days doing things around Nashville that we don’t ever make time to do.”
He looked down at her and grinned. His voice was low. “That sounded much better than admitting what I’m really about to do to you.”
***
The drive to the hotel was filled with conversation, recounting the evening and all that had happened. Josh never let go of his bride’s hand. At every red light he reached over the console to kiss her, hardly able to believe he was beginning forever with this woman.
They dropped her car with the valet and entered the elegant hotel lobby. He watched her face. “Well?” he said.
“This is spectacular.” She stopped and spun slowly around, her face lit up with excitement. “The turrets and towers and soaring architecture, I just can’t take it all in. I’ve lived in Nashville all of my life but have never been here.”
“I hadn’t been here until today when I brought our luggage,” Josh said.
“You did a great job. Glad I let you pick.”
“This summer we’ll get away for a real honeymoon.”
“This is a real honeymoon.”
Josh pressed the up button on the elevator. “You better believe it.” He grinned and pulled her into the elevator. “I’ve got big plans for you, Sophie Taylor.”
They reached the door to the room, and Josh handed her the key card. “You’ll need to handle this,” he said as he bent down to scoop her into his arms.
Once in the room, he walked with her to the side of the bed and lowered her to her feet.
“This,” he said, “has been on my mind all day long.”
“Just all day?”
“Maybe a little longer than that.”
Sophie turned her back to him. “Unhook me.”
He let out a long, steady breath and reached for the clasp of her dress. Next thing he knew she was disappearing into the bathroom.
