Heart of Love

by Shanna Hatfield

  The guys returned with the steaks, cooked to perfection. Jake gave Anna a cautious glance. When she offered him an apologetic smile, he sighed in relief.

  The skirmish ended much sooner and better than he expected. He supposed he could thank his in-laws in part for that.

  The four of them enjoyed the meal, highlighted with lively conversation and teasing.

  “For not planning on company tonight for dinner, you two really put together a wonderful meal,” Sam said as he cut off another bite of tender steak. Steve and Bobbi raised some of the best beef in the county and Jake always had plenty in his freezer.

  “I had good help with good advice.” Anna smiled at Lisa, thanking her for more than just her assistance with the meal.

  “I do what I can,” Sam interjected, feigning a look of humble modesty and failing miserably, causing them all to laugh.

  After visiting for a while once they finished eating dinner, Anna served the warm crisp with scoops of vanilla ice cream. She made sure Jake had an extra large portion. When she set his dish in front of him, he caught her eye and sent her a message communicated by his raised eyebrow, a message that said all was forgiven.

  “You know, Sam,” Jake said, savoring every bite of his crisp. “It’s a good thing your sister had already reeled me in with her beauty and charm before I ever tasted her cooking because once I did, she could have been a hunch-backed, toothless ol’ hag and I still would have asked her to marry me.”

  Sam howled with laughter while Lisa shook her head, trying not to smile too broadly.

  “I somehow doubt you would have made the proposal, Mr. Chandler, considering your usual type of girl.” Anna gently kicked Jake under the table while giving him a warning glare. “You would have turned tail and run, right after you’d eaten your fill.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Anna awoke early the day of her wedding, nervous, excited, and tied up in knots. The cloudy, gray sky overhead did nothing to relieve her apprehension about the weather cooperating with their wedding plans.

  The ceremony was set for four that afternoon, so there was still plenty of time for the sun to make an appearance. She prayed that it would.

  In need of a few moments of quiet time, Anna sat in her room. It was the last time she’d sit in it as Anna Zimmerman.

  She thought of the day as the end of one book and the beginning of a new adventure story in her life. A story she and Jake would write together.

  Just a little more than a year ago, Jake bumped into her life, turning it upside down and inside out. Thanks to him, to his encouragement and his love, she had blossomed out of her protective shell and gained a completely different perspective on life and herself.

  Anna asked God for his blessing not only on the day, but also on her marriage to Jake in the years to come. Peaceful and content, she left her room to find her mother busy in the kitchen.

  “Morning, Mama.” Anna gave her mom a warm hug from behind and a kiss on her cheek, inhaling her familiar, comforting fragrance.

  “Morning, Anna.” Sue dried her hands and turned to give her daughter a hug. “This is the last morning I get to spend with my baby girl. From now on, you’ll be Jake’s wife, a woman grown with a life of her own.” Sniffling back her tears, she offered Anna a wobbly smile.

  “None of that, now.” Anna dried her mother’s tears and wiped away her own. “We don’t have time to get sloppy all over each other, but I want you to know how much I appreciate all you and Daddy have done for me over the years. I’ve always felt surrounded by your love and I’m grateful for all you’ve taught me. And I’ll always be your baby girl.”

  “Sugar, you are so welcome.” Sue hugged her little girl one more time. “You know your Daddy and I are so proud of you and I don’t think you could have found any finer a man than Jake to marry. Your Daddy still claims all the credit for you two getting together, dense man that he is.”

  Anna laughed, setting the tone for a lighthearted mood the rest of the morning.

  Right after lunch, Jake called Anna’s cell phone. She experienced a moment of panic, terrified he’d changed his mind. Aware she was being ridiculous, she quickly answered.

  “Hi, fancy boy.”

  “Hey, Sugar. How are you holding up?” Jake sounded cheerful and excited.

  “I’m fine.” Anna felt anything but fine with butterflies chasing each other around her stomach. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. There’s so much fussing going on over here, I don’t know quite what to make of it, other than to stay out of the way. Callan’s marching around with a clipboard giving everyone their orders and you should see them hustle. No wonder she’s so good at what she does.”

  Anna laughed, envisioning Callan in her element. She hadn’t thought to ask the woman to plan their wedding, since she had already helped them so much. As soon as Anna returned home from the hospital back in January, Callan asked if she could use some help. When Anna agreed, she jumped right into the wedding plans.

  Although Jake tried to pay her, Callan refused, saying it was her gift to them. Anna was glad for her assistance and expertise. Callan would make the wedding and reception spectacular.

  “I can’t wait to see you,” Jake said. “Maybe I can sneak over for a quick visit.”

  “Absolutely not! You know you can’t see the bride until the wedding,” Anna stated, although part of her wished he would rush right over.

  “If you’re sure…” Jake sounded like a little boy who had just received a vicious scolding.

  “Positive. I’ll see you at four at the rose arbor and not a minute before,” Anna declared, using what Jake recognized as her stern librarian tone.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be the one with bells on,” Jake teased, then his voice softened. “I love you, Anna. I can’t wait to marry you.”

  “I love you, too, Jake.”

  Four o’clock would never arrive. Jake was tired of waiting, tired of shaking hands, tired of acting calm and collected. The slower time seemed to drag, the more nervous he became — not about marrying Anna, but about everything else.

  Would it rain? Would he remember his vows? Would Jace and Jaret remember what to do as the joint ring bearers? Would they have enough chairs? Would everyone fit into the shop for the reception? Would Anna ever come down the back porch steps?

  While Jake paced around the yard, Anna experienced a minor meltdown upstairs in the house. After eating lunch with her family, she and Lisa drove from the farm to The Cottage. With Jake nowhere in sight, they ran up the stairs to the second floor where they’d set up an area to dress for the wedding.

  A cheval mirror took up space in a corner of Anna’s office and a portable rack held their dresses. A card table with a chair in front of it and a foldable mirror caught the light streaming in the dormered windows. It was a perfect place to primp and giggle as they waited for the wedding to begin.

  Lisa, Sam, Clay, and Callan agreed to stand up with Jake and Anna. Audrey filled the role of guest book attendant while Emma would serve as flower girl. Little Jace and Jaret were thrilled to be the ring bearers.

  Anna was surprised and relieved that Jake didn’t want a half-dozen groomsmen standing up with him. She would have been hard pressed to find four other girls to stand up with her and she didn’t want it that way. This wedding, this celebration of their love, was something very personal and the two people standing up with Anna were two women she loved and admired.

  A stylist arrived to do not only Lisa and Anna’s hair, but Sue’s as well. Callan had already dressed and styled her hair, anxious to keep an eye on wedding preparations outside to ensure everything ran smoothly.

  As the stylist worked on Anna’s hair, Lisa removed the mirror in front her. She wanted the transformation to be a surprise.

  When she placed it back in front of her, Anna gasped in shock. Her long, golden brown hair sat high on her head in a loose knot with curls cascading down the back and around her face. She was particularly glad to see a cluster of curl
s nestled above her right ear and adorned with her great-grandmother’s small pearl barrette, effectively hiding the scar from her surgery.

  Lisa applied Anna’s makeup and then it was time to get dressed. Callan walked in just in time to help settle Anna’s dress over her head and button up the back.

  “I love your dress. It’s so perfectly you,” Lisa said, brushing down the skirt, making sure it hung straight.

  Anna chose a white satin gown with a scalloped sweetheart neckline, short-sleeves made of thick lace and princess seams that narrowed at the waist before flaring out into a full skirt covered in seed pearls and lace appliqués. The Venetian lace hem barely came to the top of the wide-heeled Victorian-style white boots Anna wore.

  Ever practical, Anna knew a long gown would be grass stained beyond repair after dragging across the lawn and she didn’t want to spend the day pulling a spiked heel out of the grass.

  Sue hurried inside the room and fastened a string of pearls around Anna’s neck.

  “Her something list is complete,” Lisa said with a smile.

  “Something list?” Sue asked.

  “Her great-grandma’s barrette is the something old, her dress is the something new, your necklace is the something borrowed and her garters are the something blue,” Lisa explained to Sue. As soon as she said the word garter, Anna’s cheeks flushed, making everyone laugh.

  Lisa picked up Anna’s bouquet of white roses, tulips and stephanotis with trailing ivy, handing it to her. The three women looked at Anna and smiled.

  “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Anna struggled to swallow down her nervousness. Aware that the bride was the center of attention on her wedding day, Anna wasn’t sure how to handle it.

  As though she sensed her thoughts, Sue patted her back encouragingly. “You’ll be just fine, Anna. You look absolutely beautiful.”

  Sue went down to take her seat and left Callan and Lisa to walk with Anna to the back door where Ken waited with Emma and the twins. Once the music started, Callan sent Emma, Jace and Jaret down the walk. The twins took their job very seriously and carefully balanced the pillows they carried, each holding a ring. Lisa smiled at Anna and walked out next, followed by Callan.

  Ken kissed Anna’s cheek and brushed a tear from his eye. “I’m so proud of you, Sugar. You’re just about the prettiest bride I think I’ve ever seen.”

  Anna smiled at her dad and patted his arm. “Thanks, Daddy. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Shall we get this show on the road?”

  When Ken marched out the door with Anna on his arm, Jake was unprepared for the overwhelming sense of love and gratitude that flooded his heart.

  There he stood, a reformed good-time guy, about to marry one of the sweetest girls God had ever created. Clueless as to what he’d done to deserve her, he felt humbled beyond words and so thankful for the blessings that seemed to continually pour out on him.

  He caught his breath and stared at Anna, his beautiful bride-to-be. She smiled at him, violet eyes shining with love. When her dad placed her arm on his, he bit his cheek to remind himself he wasn’t dreaming.

  A year ago, he didn’t even know Anna’s name. Now he couldn’t imagine a day without her in it.

  Jake forced his attention to the words Pastor Douglas spoke, afraid he would stumble over his vows. Both he and Anna said their parts flawlessly. When it was time for the exchange of rings, Anna slipped a band onto his finger, and he slipped one on hers. Before he could gather his thoughts, Pastor Douglas pronounced them husband and wife.

  Grateful Anna hadn’t worn a veil, he planned to give her a short, sweet kiss. However, the minute her lips touched his, he surrendered to the passion flaming between them. The kiss he gave his new bride let everyone know just how happy he was Anna officially belonged to him. When the guests began to whistle and cheer, Jake stepped back and grinned while Anna blushed.

  Hours later, Jake looked around the yard, astonished he’d actually survived his wedding day. The last of the guests were gone and the family and friends that stayed behind to clean up prepared to leave. He was amazed at how selflessly so many people had given of their time and talents to both he and Anna during the past months.

  In addition to the house renovations and help with anything they needed, he hadn’t expected any of them to stay and take down decorations, load the rented chairs and tables into trailers to be returned, pick up garbage, put away food, and make sure everything was set to rights before they went home.

  After the ceremony, the wedding party took photos for what seemed like hours before the reception started. Jake grinned like an idiot in most of the photographs, unable to stop smiling.

  Anna appeared more beautiful than he’d ever seen, and he thought she’d looked gorgeous on any number of occasions. The day he first bumped into her a year ago, he never would have pictured her becoming his bride. The changes she’d made since then to both her appearance and outlook were almost unfathomable. Gone was the timid little mouse, replaced by a vivacious, beautiful young woman who transformed his life without knowing what she’d done.

  Jake mulled over the events of the day. While it looked like it might rain, right after noon the sun burst from behind the clouds and the weather warmed until it was quite pleasant. There couldn’t have been a more perfect place to exchange their vows than beneath the rose arbor, adorned with purple and white tulips. Sunlight filtered through the structure, highlighting Anna with a golden glow.

  He couldn’t wait to see their wedding photos. The blue of the sky, the green of the grass and trees, along with an abundance of flowers served as such a wonderful backdrop to his enchanting bride.

  Callan had outdone herself with the decorations and planning. He had no idea some flowers here and greenery there could transform their backyard into a setting that looked like something he’d seen in one of Anna’s bridal magazines. Callan worked more magic for the reception.

  Rather than rent tents, she suggested the newly repaired shop would be a great place for the reception. As part of Jake’s renovations to the place, he gutted the shop, scrubbed it from top to bottom, then painted the inside walls white. Other than adding a new workbench along one wall topped with a high shelf and a deep sink for cleaning parts, he’d lacked the time to do anything further in the space. What he’d accomplished made it just right for the reception, though.

  Callan spent the day before the wedding making the transformation inside the building complete with the help of one of her work crews. She gave Jake orders to stay out of the shop. He was as thrilled and surprised as Anna when they walked inside after the wedding ceremony to discover Callan created what could have passed for a fairyland.

  White organza, intertwined with twinkling white lights, spread out from a circle of rope light in the center of the ceiling to all corners of the room in grand, dramatic swags, pooling in the corners. Organza and white lights scalloped across the edges of the ceiling and more lights and organza streamed down the walls in intervals, creating the illusion of waterfalls of light.

  Covered in white linen, the workbench served as a table for the buffet and the high shelf above it held a huge arrangement of greens, tulips, and assorted flowers with more organza draping and lights.

  Callan raided the yards of everyone who would let her and filled the shop with bouquets of spring flowers. Small round tables took up a good portion of the shop floor, draped in white coverings with white covered chairs accented by deep purple sashes. Clear glass ivy bowls held a candle at each table. At the far end of the shop, a band played from a makeshift platform.

  Anna was astounded at how stunning everything looked. Enjoying the reception and the delicious food at dinner, Anna even managed to keep up with Jake when he wanted to dance.

  All too soon, the last of the guests disappeared and Anna’s earlier trepidation returned in full force.

  Jake had a wealth of expectations for the rest of the evening and she wasn’t convinced she could meet any of them. Her unce
rtainty grew with every departing guest until she was nearly frantic with worry about what would happen when she and Jake were finally alone.

  While Anna said goodbye to their remaining family members, Jake hurried to their bedroom, unlocked the door, turned on the fireplace, and lit the candles he’d scattered around the room. After turning back the blanket and comforter on the bed and switching the two bedside lamps to dim, the room looked inviting, if he did say so himself.

  He removed his boots, tugged off his socks, and took off his belt. Unbuttoning his dress shirt, Jake removed his undershirt and then put the dress shirt back on, hoping Anna might be interested in removing it a little later. He hurriedly brushed his teeth and ran a comb over his hair before joining her on the porch.

  As they waved goodbye from the front porch to the last of the departing family, Anna offered Jake a tremulous smile.

  He’d disappeared for a few minutes, only to return barefooted with his shirt untucked. She wasn’t entirely certain what he had planned, but she wasn’t ready to find out.

  Rather than leave for a honeymoon, they decided to take a week off and enjoy their first days as husband and wife in their new home. Anna thought it sounded like a fabulous plan up until the taillights of the final car disappeared down the drive. Part of her wanted to chase down the car, climb inside, and not look back.

  Forcibly swallowing down her fear, she turned to Jake and noticed a look of desire adding heat to his already warm blue eyes. Anxious, she sucked in a shallow breath.

  Jake glanced down at his new bride and saw alarm in her features, felt it as a palpable force. Furrowing his hand through his thick hair, he took a deep, calming breath. He wanted to sweep her off her feet, carry her to their room, and discover all the wonderful things about Anna he’d not had a right to explore until today.

  After spending the majority of the last year dreaming about her, fantasizing about the moment when he’d finally be free to love her without restraint, Jake was eager for those dreams to become a reality. He found it hard to believe he was actually married to this beautiful, brilliant, very frightened girl.