We walked through the kitchen, onto the deck, and then down the steps to the path Mama had created. We made it to the tent and arranged the food on the specified tables. I paused to observe my surroundings once we were finished. The dance floor occupied the center of the tent, the food tables were in one corner, the DJ’s table was across the dance floor from the food, and the rest of the tables were scattered throughout the tent. The final outcome was incredible—even prom couldn’t compare to how great everything looked.
As we made our way back to the house, I praised and thanked Mama again. “You did such an awesome job! It’s even better than prom! Thank you so much. I really appreciate everything you did.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”
A few minutes later, I was back in my room, checking to make sure hair and makeup were still in place. I’d just sat down on the edge of my bed when I heard the doorbell ring. Excitement washed over me as I jumped up to grab the box my new shoes were in. I opened the box and took the shoes out, pausing for a minute to admire them, and then slipped my feet in and buckled the straps. I stood again, took one last glance in the mirror, and headed for the stairs. Before I could make it even halfway down, Val and Kayla ambushed me, both chattering at once.
“You look so good!”
“Oh, my goodness, you’re beautiful!”
“Is anybody else here yet?”
“I wanna go see how the tent looks!”
I couldn’t decipher who was saying what, but their enthusiasm made me grin. “Slow down, y’all. I can’t hear anything when you’re talkin’ at the same time!”
Val grinned. “Sorry, we’re just excited!”
I laughed. “Me too! I’m ready, so we can go on outside. Mama put Daddy in charge of greetin’ everybody and showin’ them to the tent, but since y’all are the first ones here, follow me!”
The girls gushed about how beautiful everything looked for a good five minutes once we got to the festive tent. The DJ was already playing music, and the lighting was all set. They couldn’t get over how my mother had pulled it all off in just three weeks.
“Don’t ask me,” I said. “She’s Superwoman, I guess! I just hope people show up, since we didn’t give much notice.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Kayla replied. “Everybody in town’s been talkin’ about this. Even the ladies at the salon where my mom gets her hair done know about it.”
Val nodded. “It’s the event of the year!”
Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach as we waited for more people to arrive. By five minutes ‘til eight, I was pacing. Just as my two best friends were assuring me that people would show up any minute, a group of eight of our classmates entered the tent, followed shortly after by another large group, and then by a few couples. In less than an hour, the tent was filled to capacity.
I made my way around the party, greeting friends and feeling completely overwhelmed with gratitude for all the people who cared enough to share this night with me. But as the DJ got the party warmed up and people began to hit the dance floor, my mind was elsewhere. I joined in with the people dancing for a couple of songs, but I couldn’t completely relax because Landon still hadn’t arrived.
It was unlike him to show up anywhere late, especially when I was involved. I’d visited him in the hospital every day until he was released, and then I’d kept him company at home. The last time we’d seen each other was two days ago, with the understanding that I’d be too busy to leave the house until after the party.
When Landon still hadn’t arrived an hour later, I began to worry. Fighting panic, I pulled Valerie and Kayla off to the side of the tent where no one could hear us. “This isn’t like him,” I whispered. “He’s always early, and I figured tonight he’d wanna be by my side as people got here. He knows how nervous I was about this.” Closing my eyes, I let out a shaky breath. “What if somethin’ happened?”
Kayla put an arm around my shoulders. “Nothin’ happened,” she said. “I’m sure he’s just runnin’ late.”
“Yeah,” Val chimed in. “Maybe it takes him longer now, ya know?”
Of course. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I’d been so wrapped up in my party that his handicap had completely slipped my mind. Until that very moment, I’d been expecting him to come walking through the door. My throat constricted with sudden unshed tears as I realized that wouldn’t be the case.
“You’re probably right,” I mumbled. “Guess I didn’t think about that.” With a heavy heart, I turned my head toward the tent entrance, wishing more than anything that I could see him walk through it.
The DJ’s voice suddenly boomed over the speakers, interrupting my secret moment of grief. “Listen up, all you party animals! It’s time to wish our birthday girl a happy eighteenth!” he announced. “And we’ve got a special surprise just for that! Come on in here, kid!”
Landon wheeled his chair through an opening in the back of the tent, just behind the DJ’s table. I glanced at Valerie and Kayla to see if I could detect any sort of sly expression on their faces that would imply they knew something about this “surprise,” but they looked as confused as I felt.
Taking the microphone from the DJ, Landon locked eyes with me and began to speak. “Cora Stephens, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I’ve never met anybody so thoughtful, smart, funny, or just plain awesome. You’re beautiful—inside and out. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you these past few weeks. You’ve been there for me, even when I wasn’t easy to deal with.” He paused and inhaled, then smiled. “Now, get your pretty self up here so I can give you your birthday present.”
My heart pounded as I glided toward him. I had to remind myself to put one foot in front of the other.
Taking my hand as soon as it was in reach, Landon continued. “I know things haven’t turned out like you always thought they would this year. A horrible thing happened to you, but you still laugh. You still encourage everybody around you to be a better person, just like you always have. You’re the strongest girl I know. I think you deserve so much more than this,” he said, handing me a jewelry box, “but it’s all I could afford.”
I glanced at the box as it entered my grasp, and then back at him. “Landon, you didn’t have to do this,” I whispered.
He smiled that crooked smile I loved so much. “I wanted to,” he whispered back.
My hands trembled as I opened the box. A heart-shaped diamond pendant looped through a delicate silver chain shone up at me. I gasped. “It’s beautiful!”
He spoke into the microphone again. “I want you to know you’ve got my heart. Hopefully you’ll remember that every time you wear this one.” He put the microphone down and took the necklace out of its box, motioning for me to lean down. I ducked my head toward him, and he gently placed the necklace around my neck and fastened the clasp.
Teary eyed, I whispered a soft “Thank you” and kissed his cheek.
“You’re welcome, but that’s only the first part of your birthday present.”
I frowned—hoping he hadn’t spent more money on me—and watched as he rolled his chair through the crowd and onto the center of the dance floor. He gripped both handles of his wheelchair, grinning from ear to ear. Then he planted his feet firmly on the ground and slowly began to lift his upper body.
My eyes widened as the realization of what he was attempting to do struck me. I wanted to scream at him to stop, that he would hurt himself! But I couldn’t. I stood frozen in place, holding my breath. There was complete silence throughout the tent as everyone watched Landon.
With one final, determined effort, he pushed himself out of the chair and stood confidently facing me. “Can I have this dance?” he asked, a huge smile lighting up his face.
In that instant, I regained control of my body and ran to him. Seeing that I was headed straight for him and not slowing down, Landon put his hands out, cautioning me to be carefu
l. I came to an abrupt stop before him and took the hand he offered. He then wrapped both his arms around my waist, and my fingers linked together around his neck. A slow, romantic tune began to play, and we held each other, swaying slowly back and forth.
“I’m recoverin’ a lot faster than the doctors expected,” he said. “I was determined to dance with you on your birthday, even before you planned this party.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, leaving a trail of mascara, I was sure. But I didn’t care. “For you to walk again…that’s all I want for my birthday. Or ever.”
Landon pulled me tighter, and our bodies continued to move in perfect harmony—with each other and with the music. And in that precious moment, I knew we’d both be all right. I knew that whatever plans I’d had before the kidnapping happened no longer mattered. I suddenly saw my life in a completely new light. The only thing that mattered anymore was being here with Landon, helping him through his recovery, and working out my own issues.
I finally realized that, despite all attempts to convince myself otherwise, I was actually not okay. I would be, but it would take time. I began to understand that in order to be truly happy again, I needed to “just have faith,” which is exactly what my father had said that day in the hospital.
God hadn’t abandoned me. Just the opposite, actually. He’d been right there with me the whole time I was being held in that barn, stopping Jeff from doing anything worse than he did and keeping me whole until I could be rescued.
I gazed at Landon through my lashes and reached up to plant a gentle kiss on his lips, saying a silent prayer of gratitude.
Thank You, God, for sending Landon to save me from that awful place. Thank You for giving me such amazing family and friends who support and love me, even when I don’t deserve it. Most of all, thank You for this beautiful tragedy I call my life.
The End
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Acknowledgments
All praise and glory go to Jesus Christ, without whom this entire endeavor would have been fruitless. He gives me the words I write every day. He is my ultimate source of comfort and strength.
My husband, Mark Skeen, is my biggest supporter this side of Heaven. We’ve been through the gut-wrenching ups and downs common to all marriages, and then some. But no matter what, he always holds my heart carefully in his hands. He’s my very own Landon.
To my sweet children, who at the publishing of this novel are eight and five years old, I love you both more than you could ever imagine. Thank you for allowing me to steal away for moments here and there to work on my books. My prayer is that you will both one day have the courage and strength to follow your own dreams.
I would also like to thank Mama (otherwise known as Joyce Bradley) for the unending guidance and love throughout my life. You are a hard-working woman after God’s own heart. It is your servant attitude and willingness to get your hands dirty that have helped shape me into the person I am today.
To my Daddy, Ed Bradley, thank you for the thousands of hours of babysitting over the years that have allowed me to chase my dreams. You make one excellent Papa.
A special thanks to my sister Alicia Bradley for listening to my incessant rambling about book covers, pen names, and other writing struggles. Also, for the free (yet invaluable!) advice and proofreading services.
To my other siblings, Dennis Bradley and Tiffany Raborn, thank you both for your constant support and love. I feel blessed to have been born your baby sister.
I would also like to offer sincere appreciation to my first-ever official editor, Jacqui Hopper. If you had not taken a chance on this no-name author, I likely would have given up on my writing journey altogether.
Finally, to my cover designer, Joan Alley, thank you for the beautiful book cover and for the help and advice along the way.
Author Biography
Emily Paige Skeen writes clean romance with a dash of inspiration and a whole lot of small-town, southern charm.
Writing has always been Emily Paige’s passion—ever since she crafted her first sloppily hand-written tale at the emotionally fragile age of thirteen. When she felt God calling her to turn this hobby into a ministry later in life, she jumped at the chance.
Emily Paige, her husband, and their two kids make their home in a small Georgia town where hay fields and cow pastures outnumber storefronts. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
Visit Emily Paige online at www.emilypaigeskeen.com for inspirational blog posts, book info, and more! Find Emily Paige on Facebook at www.facebook.com/epaigeskeen and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/booksandbabies_eps/!
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