by Lilah Rivers
When he looked at her, there was a ballooning hope in his chest that their future was going to be wonderful. He trusted that everything God had brought them through thus far was going to lead them to a future that was full of good things.
“Well, I hope you have a good evening,” Gemma said, shyly.
“Y-yes, and you as well,” Amos said.
He wanted to embrace her in a hug, but also knew that he had to respect the newness of their love. The rest would come in time.
Gemma departed from the room and he watched her go, glad that she was safe and glad that she was now believed by her parents.
But Amos sat on the sofa a little bit longer, wanting to say a prayer of thanks.
“Dear Lord, I thank you for all that you have done for us this evening. I thank you for your grace and mercy and the fact that you have given me this wonderful wife and the approval of her mother and father, after all this time.
“I thank you for your goodness, for the gift of this beautiful woman. I thank you for your protection and your favor.
“And Lord, whatever the future holds, help us to trust you more and more. Amen.”
Epilogue
The previous weeks had been a whirlwind, but they were finally getting ready for the event they had all been waiting for.
Justine and Daniel were getting married.
Gemma was extremely excited to have her parents present, a part of the family now, more than ever. They had gotten to know Justine in that short amount of time and Gemma was happy because it had provided her an opportunity to get to know her husband’s dearest friend in that time as well.
They went around, trying to get ready for the wedding and Gemma did all that she could to help prepare for things. But in the afternoon, it was finally time to make their way to the church and watch as Justine made her way down the aisle in her simple, beautiful, white dress.
Gemma saw the way that her mother looked at the dress with interest, as if she could not imagine being married in something so lacking in style.
But Gemma knew better by now. She understood that there was no reason to dress like a noblewoman when she was a lady so beautiful inside. She was royalty of a different sort.
Amos sat beside her with tears in his eyes. She understood how much it meant to him to see his sister and best friend marrying one another, having the beauty of this union and getting to spend their lives together.
For the two of them, an unlikely marriage had become the most amazing gift from the Lord. She had no doubt that Justine and Daniel’s marriage would be nothing less than that very same gift.
Gemma tried to relax, thinking about what a wonderful life she had been given. But she also wished that her wedding had been more like this one. She wished that she had been given the opportunity for a wedding with Amos in which she had already loved him. She wished that their vows had meant more than just the expected words that they both knew they had to say.
But it was too late for that and Gemma was content to know that, at the very least, they were married. And she could make those commitments to Amos every day of their lives, no matter what. He was her husband and she was his wife and nobody could keep them from one another.
Nobody could ever tear them apart. Those who had tried had already failed.
Gemma reached over and grabbed Amos’s hand, squeezing it in the way that she so often did. He squeezed back and nodded to her, an understanding that they may not have had a wedding like this, but the marriage they had was one of the same love, respect, and commitment.
“Thank you for being such a wonderful husband,” Gemma whispered, leaning over to Amos.
“And thank you for being such an incredible wife,” he replied.
Gemma was smitten. Her husband was so much more than she had ever imagined. His kindness, goodness, and sweetness never ceased to amaze her. As she watched him over the previous months, it was as though he would never stop surprising her with just how good he was.
But it was his faith and commitment to the Lord that really got to her each and every time. As Gemma became more involved in the local church, she had been amazed at how many people said they looked up to Amos.
Of course, she had seen what a good, righteous and moral man he was. But to hear people talk about his integrity and maturity in the faith was a beautiful thing. Even some of his coworkers and friends spoke of how amazed they were by his humility in confessing his mistake in lying, but choosing to reform his behavior and live with integrity once more.
Gemma greatly appreciated all of this. But nothing was so wonderful as simply waiting for him to come home each and every evening. They would sit for a while, spend some time with Justine, eat their dinner, and then have more time for just the two of them.
And now, Justine would be leaving the house for the sake of her own marriage. She was joining a union that was also beautiful.
As the ceremony came to an end, Gemma and Amos stood, ready for the reception.
But they were stopped, to their utter surprise.
“If everyone would wait for just a moment, the ceremony is not actually over yet,” the minister said.
Gemma and Amos looked at one another, questioningly and saw grins on the faces of a few of the people in the congregation that they were close to. Gemma looked at her mother and father and saw the same grin on their faces as well.
“You see, Justine and Daniel did not simply want this day to be about themselves. They wanted it to be about family. And they have told me about their family members who married before they found love,” the minister continued.
Gemma looked at Amos once more, and then at Justine, who was laughing.
“So, would Mr. Amos and Mrs. Gemma Thompson please come forward,” the minister finally said.
Hesitantly and with great trepidation and uncertainty, Gemma followed an equally wary Amos to the front of the church.
Gemma was wearing a simple dress that she had had made. It was a white and blue cotton fabric. Although it was white, she had not thought it bridal enough to steal the attention from Justine.
Now, however, Gemma wished that she was wearing something more suited to the moment and that she was not so anxious standing there in front of everyone.
“Amos and Gemma,” the minister began. “The two of you married under obligation to your own needs. You married because life required that you made a difficult decision that would be a benefit to you in the short term, but perhaps not in the long run of things.”
Gemma blushed, ashamed of the truth of his statement. She had not loved Amos as a woman ought to love the man she had chosen to marry. And Amos had not loved her either. Their match was based entirely on the needs that they had each had in the moment that they needed to make a decision to marry.
“But now, here you are. A man and a woman in love. So, without further ado, before your family and your friends, I should like to lead the two of you in making a new set of vows to one another,” he told them.
Gemma’s heart leapt. Had she not just been thinking about how much she would like to make these vows to her husband once more? Had she not only a few moments before been dreaming of such an opportunity?
“Is that agreeable?” the minister asked.
“Indeed,” she said, far too quickly.
Amos had only just been opening his mouth when she spoke up and, along with the rest of the congregation, began to laugh at her eagerness.
“Mr. Thompson?” the minister asked.
“Indeed…” he echoed in a far gentler way.
“Well, then. We shall begin. Amos Thompson, do you promise that Gemma will be your priority, second only to God, in all things and at all times?” he asked.
“I do,” Amos said.
“And Gemma Thompson, do you promise to make Amos your priority, second only to God, in all things?” he asked her.
Gemma looked closely at her husband and smiled.
“I do,” she said.
“Is there anything you would like to s
ay, Amos?” the minister asked.
Amos took Gemma’s hands in his.
“Yes, I think there is,” he said.
“Please,” the minister said, giving him permission to say whatever was on his heart.
“Gemma, the first moment that I saw you, I knew that you were lovely. Your beauty, your smile, your grace, all of it was overwhelming. But I could sense your disappointment. I could sense the way that you wanted something more from me, maybe something that I could not have given you,” Amos said.
It hurt Gemma’s heart to hear this, but she knew that it was true.
“But the Lord turned everything around. He gave me the strength to continue pursuing you in love and in marriage. He gave me the ability to change the things about my character that needed to be changed and to accept the things in your character that I had seen as flaws,” he said.
“The Lord gave us grace for one another. I did not deserve it, but he was merciful and kind to me by giving me the strength and ability to be what you wanted. And I did not have to change my identity or who I am as a man. I had only to submit to his will for the things that needed to change anyway.
“So, Gemma, I stand before you as a man who is changed. Not for you or by you, but by the Lord for the sake of our marriage. And I promise you that nothing will keep us apart now. Nothing will get in our way. I am your husband, now and forever,” Amos said.
It was quiet for a moment before the minister looked to Gemma, allowing her to say anything that she wished to say in reply.
“Amos, you know as well as anyone that I am a very flawed woman. I have a great many parts of who I am as a person that are selfish and arrogant and need to be changed. But I don’t want to simply address the ways that the Lord is working in my heart. Because I am not so diligent as you are in actually making those changes happen,” she said with a laugh.
“What I want to promise you is that I will always honor and respect you. Out of love and appreciation I will continue to thank the Lord for the ways that you lead our home and the ways that you draw me closer to God,” Gemma said.
“I promise that I will not ignore or forget the ways that you have been so good to me and how you have taken care of me in our life together. God has opened the door for us, but you have chosen to be good to me and to treat me well in the midst of so many difficult things.
“You have taken care of me, kept me safe. You have looked after me when I did not deserve it. Thank you for loving me when I was mean and unlovable,” she said.
“You were never unlovable,” Amos whispered as an interjection.
“Well, I often felt that I was. But thank you for caring for me anyway. You were good to me then and you are good to me now. I promise to do my best to be faithful and kind in return,” Gemma said.
At the conclusion of their vows, the minister pronounced the end of the ceremony and everyone began to depart for the reception.
But Gemma and Amos held back for a moment.
“Thank you for loving me,” Gemma said.
“Thank you for respecting me,” Amos replied.
“You are the most incredible husband that I could ever imagine,” Gemma told him, giggling.
“You know, you say that a lot,” Amos teased. “But I suppose I can’t stop being amazed at you for being such an amazing wife.”
“Then I suppose that we are even. Whatever that means. If we can be even in complimenting one another quite a lot,” Gemma said.
With that, the two of them put their foreheads together and locked eyes, Gemma enjoying the way the perspective both blinded her and made Amos’s features look so detailed.
They held that position for a moment and Gemma knew, without a doubt, that Amos was praying in his mind.
As he finally leaned back and pulled away just slightly, Gemma whispered, “Amen.”
THE END
Can't get enough of Gemma and Amos? Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…
What are the consequences that Lord Linton will have to deal with after his horrible deeds?
What will Amos' prayers be about?
What are Gemma's thoughts about her decision to marry Amos two years later?
Click the link or enter it into your browser
http://lilahrivers.com/gemma
(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “Her Unintentional Pure Love”, my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)
Her Unintentional Pure Love
Introduction
Laila Anderson’s life has not been a bed of roses. She lives in a disrepaired ranch in Coleburn with her father and her brother, since a double disaster turned everything upside down: her dearest mother passed away and winter storms wiped out most of their cattle herd. Having to deal with her father’s gabling addiction, as well as her brother’s irresponsibility, she desperately hopes for things to get better. When a wealthy young rancher offers a helping hand with the critically damaged ranch, she will doubt his true intentions. Will his manipulative behavior become an obstacle to her growing fondness for him?
Jarrett Rains is the third son of the wealthiest family in Coleburn County. For many years, he has dreamt of marrying Pauline Dixon and has no plans to escape that fate. When he loses a poker game to one of the most misfortunate farmers in the town, his pride is deeply hurt. Feeling completely humiliated and embarrassed, he decides to do whatever it takes to get sweet revenge on his family. Having the perfect plan in mind, he will start working for the Andersons. But will he succeed in fulfilling his insidious idea or will the Anderson family realize his underlying goal?
Life in the ranch brings Jarrett and Laila closer than they would ever expect to be, and undeniable emotions are growing between them. Will Jarrett get the future he has always been planning, and run off with Pauline? Or will he see that real respect, honor and love might be staring him right in the face without him realizing it?
Chapter 1
A bright array of colors splashed across the sky when Laila looked up. The scent of daisies filled her nose and she breathed in deeply, closing her eyes. She could feel a slight breeze lifting up her skirts as she stood still in the middle of shin-high grass. The field was broad and surrounded her on all four sides. She spread her arms out, pretending she was a bird that could lift up from the earth and soar through the blue beyond, with not a care in the world.
The sound of weeping distracted her from the beauty. She lowered her arms and looked into the woods beyond the field. The weeping was coming from within those trees. It sounded heartbroken, shattered, devastated. It made Laila sad.
She took a step toward the sound, though she really didn’t want to find out who was crying. The sound hurt her heart, the emotion behind it ebbing and flowing through the energy in the air toward her, penetrating her, making her chest tight and achy.
“Why are you crying?” she asked in the softest voice she could muster. “All is well. There is no reason to cry.”
But the voice didn’t respond to her. She took a few more steps toward the tree line and suddenly, she was almost there. It was as though space had closed together and she’d taken one step instead of twenty.
Laila pulled back, stunned that the trees were suddenly so close.
