Louisa turned and went up the stairs, so angry she couldn’t see straight, but feeling the weight of a lifetime lift from her shoulders.
This was going to be a very, very good day.
Chapter Twelve
Tobias looked around the main room at Hearth and Home, amazed at everything that had been pulled together with just twenty-four hours’ notice. He would owe Millie and Celeste and the McRae sisters his gratitude forever.
Louisa stood at his side, greeting the guests as they approached. She had looked so incredibly radiant as she came down the aisle at the church an hour before, he had fallen in love with her all over again. How was he so very blessed?
Reverend Theodore approached and shook his hand. “I understand your poetry class is quite the success. Do you have room for one more?”
“We have room for as many as would like to come,” Tobias replied.
“I believe I’ll join you, then.” He gave a nod to the bride and moved away.
“Oh, what a lovely day this has been,” Miss Chapel said, stealing Tobias’s crisp handkerchief from his pocket and wiping her eyes. “The very sort of day I’ve always wanted for you. What a wonderful way to end our journey together.”
He turned to her in surprise. “Our journey is ending? Wait—can anyone see me talking to you?”
“They won’t notice,” she said dismissively. “Yes, Tobias, I’m moving on now. You don’t need me anymore—you have an angel of your own, and a very sweet one she is, too.” She nodded toward Louisa. “And you’re now an angel for her. Just as I’ve watched over you, now you’ll watch over each other. That’s what love is deep down. You become angels in each other’s lives, comforting and protecting each other, being there when times are difficult. Remember that when you’re feeling frustrated or at odds with each other.”
It was hard for Tobias to picture feeling frustrated with his new wife, but he knew it was likely to happen at some point because they were both flawed human beings. “She is an angel, and I’ll be grateful for her every day.”
“Good for you.” Miss Chapel smiled, but that smile turned into a smirk. “Look at that,” she said, nodding toward the refreshment table.
Paulie stood near the cake, talking to Catherine, the waitress from the restaurant. “I read poetry,” he was saying. “Would you like to hear some?”
“Yes, I’d enjoy that,” she replied.
He cleared his throat. “This is by Shakespeare. It goes, ‘If you had a chicken and it ran away, would you think about me, or would you just want to wring its neck?’ That one’s my favorite.”
Catherine looked startled. “Um, it’s very nice.”
Miss Chapel laughed and turned back to Tobias. “You may not realize it, but you’re doing wonderful things here. Keep it up. Keep bringing beauty and light and joy into people’s lives. Bless your wife and bless your home by continuing to be the good man that you are.” She touched his cheek. “I won’t be too far away. You’ll always be special to me.”
She faded away, and Tobias felt the loss of her in the center of his chest.
“Are you all right?” Louisa asked, taking his hand in hers.
“I’m more than all right. I’ve just been given my own personal angel.” He bent over and kissed her.
When he pulled back, she was giggling. “Look who showed up for the party,” she said, nodding toward the door.
Bob the rooster had just come strutting into Hearth and Home, looking for all the world like the owner of the place. Then he looked Tobias straight in the eye and winked.
THE END
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About Amelia C. Adams
Amelia C. Adams is a wife, a mother, an eater of tacos, and a taker of naps. She spends her days thinking up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you just might see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels.
You can reach her at [email protected].
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The Kansas Crossroads Series:
A New Beginning (free!)
A Free Heart
The Dark and the Dawn
A Clean Slate
A Clear Hope
The Whisper of Morning
A Careless Wind
A Narrow Road
The Bitter and the Sweet
The Calm of Night
A Begrudging Bride
A Broken Wing (A Kansas Crossroads novella)
A Twisted Fate
An Unspoken Dream
A Joyful Noise
The Echo of Music (A Kansas Crossroads novella)
The Risk and the Reward (A Kansas Crossroads novella)
A Passing Glance
The Nurses of New York series:
Sea of Strangers (free!)
Cause of Conflict
Touch of Tenderness
Heart of Hearts
Test of Time
The American Mail-Order Brides series:
Hope: Bride of New Jersey
Tabitha: Bride of Missouri
The Hearts of Nashville series:
Whiskey and Women
Records and Rebels
As part of the Brides of Beckham series by Kirsten Osbourne:
Mail Order Molly
As part of the River’s End Ranch series:
Accidental Agent
Rugged Rockclimber
Welcome Wagon
Santa’s Shopkeeper
Delivering Destiny
Lucky Lifeguard
Poinsettia Promises
Christmas Catch-Up III
Candy Crush
Paislee’s Path
Pet Peeves
Karaoke Kisses
As part of the Grandma’s Wedding Quilts series:
Meredith’s Mistake
As part of the Magnolias and Moonshine series:
Sweet Georgia Peach
As part of the Burnt River series:
Ashley’s Hope
Phoebe’s Fate
As part of the Rocky Mountain Romances series:
Utah Sunrise
As part of the Mail Order Mounties series:
Bride for Joel
Bride for Jonathan
Bride for Samuel
Bride for Calvin
Bride for Peter
Bride for Michael
Bride for Richard
As part of the Seven Sons series:
Benjamin
Daniel
Frank
As part of the Cowboys and Angels series:
Bribing the Blacksmith
Tea for Two
Loving the Landlord
Defying the Darkness
As part of the Main Street Merchants series:
And Something Blue
For Love or Money
Five Golden Rings
Just Desserts
In the Stars
Sugar and Spice
As part of the Brody Hotel series:
Generations
Heartstrings
Connections
As part of the Pinkerton Matchmaker series:
An Agent for Lucy
Short Fiction:
The Ghost of Dunlow Manor
The Best of Me
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