A Map for Bella Books 1-4

by Paula Kay

  She’d been sitting next to Arianna’s bed, her chair pushed right up close where she could hear her daughter’s quiet voice and hold the hand that had been getting weaker and weaker with each passing day.

  Arianna had asked her to get a small packet of sealed envelopes out of her bedside table along with the box of her journals from under the bed. The letters had been carefully labeled, and Arianna knew each journal where a letter would be placed. When she’d finished, a single envelope remained and this one she handed to Lia.

  “Give her the journals, please—when you meet her—and she’ll find my letters there. But this one—please give it to her on her wedding day. Kiss her and hug her and tell her it’s from me—that I would have loved nothing more than to be there with you all celebrating—watching my beautiful daughter walk down the aisle in her gown.”

  Lia had kept her promise to Arianna over the years, and as she looked at Isabella sitting beside her now, all she could think was what a great privilege it had been. She leaned over to hug and kiss Isabella on the cheek, whispering the words from Arianna. “I’ll leave you to read it. Take your time.”

  Isabella nodded, looking slightly stunned, as Lia got up to make her way outside.

  Chapter 26

  Isabella sat staring at the envelope for a full minute before she took a deep breath and pulled the folded letter out. Her fingers went to the locket around her neck—Arianna—the locket around her neck was going to help her to feel her mother’s presence on the biggest day of her life. But now? Now suddenly her mother’s very words to her were sitting in her lap.

  Isabella pulled a tissue from the box beside her, noticing how quiet it had become in the guest house. Lia must have asked everyone to give her some time to herself, and Isabella was grateful for that now as she stared at the words in front of her.

  My Dearest Daughter,

  What a glorious day this is for you. I know how beautiful you must look and how special you must feel. I would bet that you’re wearing a gorgeous Blu Foster gown and I hope that you are feeling every bit like the princess you are.

  My darling, how I wish I could be there to celebrate with you.

  I wish I could have met your husband, for I know he must be extra special to have won your heart, your love, your trust. I hope he makes you laugh, bella—that you smile whenever he is near because you just can’t help yourself for the joy he brings to your life.

  Isabella laughed as she wiped away a tear. She whispered. “You would love Thomas. He’s every bit the man anyone would want for their daughter and he will be a good husband to me.”

  I trust by now that you’ve had some adventures, that you’re ready to settle down. But don’t stop having those adventures. Bring your husband along and encourage him to see the world with eyes wide open. Make your dreams come true for your family, bella. Don’t stop believing that you can have it all.

  You are embarking on a journey that is foreign to me. I didn’t know love—not a romantic lifetime love, anyway. But I can imagine how it would feel to let myself be loved like that. If I had more time, I’d be more open with my heart, but this letter isn’t about what I don’t have time for. This letter is for the future that is ahead for you. And I’m so very grateful that you are able to read these words today.

  “Thank you for writing them—for giving me the chance to hear from you on my wedding day.”

  Isabella startled herself when she heard her words out loud. She felt an odd sense of calmness, not the intense emotion she’d had the very first time she’d read a letter from her birth mother.

  She knew Arianna now. They’d spent a lot of time together over the years—through stories, letters, and the map that shared so much of what her dreams had been with Isabella.

  Isabella smiled. They’d been on a journey together, alright.

  She brought her attention back to the letter.

  I pray that today is magical and glorious and more wonderful that you could ever imagine. I hope that your wedding night and every day after is spent falling more and more in love with this man you’re getting ready to commit the rest of your life to.

  You are deserving of every good thing, daughter of mine.

  I hope that my words are a pleasant surprise for you today. I hope that they make you smile and that you feel as if I’m there beside you.

  And since I can’t be there, since all you have of me are these words, I hope that the others are there to celebrate with you—Gigi, Lia, Blu, and Jemma. I feel that they will be. I trust that they are your family now too.

  Have a glorious wedding day, my darling. Enjoy every moment, and never for one second forget that I love you more than you could ever imagine.

  All my love forever,

  Your Mother,

  Arianna Sinclair

  Isabella dried her remaining tears with a smile on her face. She noticed Rebecca just outside the window, peering in every so often—probably because it was getting to be about that time.

  She folded the letter carefully and put it away in her handbag, which she’d stash until after the wedding.

  “I love you too, Arianna.”

  She stood up and motioned for Rebecca to come in; she did so followed by the make-up artist, Jemma, and one adorable little flower girl, Annie.

  “Bella, she’s come to touch up your make-up.” Annie gestured toward the make-up artist, who was already picking her brushes up from the table nearby. “Rebecca said you were crying. Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Annie looked so concerned that Isabella stifled a laugh.

  Annie put her hands on her hips. “Bella, do you want to marry Thomas or not?”

  This time Isabella burst out laughing. Annie looked so serious—and worried. “Yes, I do. I very much want to marry Thomas, so what do you say we get this show on the road?”

  Chapter 27

  Isabella smiled down at Annie, who was twirling around in circles, delighted with the movement of her dress. Then she looked into the mirror that the hairstylist was handing her.

  “Okay, why don’t you have a look at the back in the mirror over there?” The hairstylist gave her hair one last fluff and adjusted the headpiece just a bit.

  They’d done a quick touch-up to her make-up and hair, and her dress had been freshened up just a bit. It was getting very close to the time that she’d be walking down the aisle to Thomas. She smiled. Now she was beginning to feel some nervous excitement—but more about the excitement than being nervous about getting married.

  She smiled at Jemma, who was walking toward her.

  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you look right now?” Jemma gave her a big hug. “The dress, your hair, your make-up—it’s all gorgeous. And I have something for you—from Thomas, who is looking mighty fine himself, I might add.” Jemma winked. “Do you want me to give you a minute? I think we should probably be starting in the next five to ten minutes or so—well, your call, but everyone is seated.”

  Isabella smiled as she took the card and small box from her friend. “No, stay here with me. I may need your help—if this card is going to cause any tears.” She laughed as she opened the envelope and the card inside.

  Dearest Isabella (My Izzy, love of my life),

  Just a quick note to let you know that my thoughts are consumed with you this morning, my darling. I am a man waiting patiently for his beloved—waiting patiently for you to become my wife.

  You, my love, are worth so much more than these simple diamonds. They are but a small token of my love for you and my desire to see you smile every day of our life together.

  I love you and I can’t wait to be your husband.

  Yours forever,

  Thomas

  P.S. This is present #1 — because I know you like surprises. ;)

  Isabella laughed as she read the P.S. and took the tissue that Jemma was handing her.

  “Jem, he’s so sweet—that husband-to-be of mine.” She handed the open card to her best friend as she dabbed at a few tears. “You can read it if
you want. And I really need to stop crying now.”

  She watched as Jemma skimmed the note and Isabella could see her eyes tearing up as well.

  “Well, go on. Let’s have a look inside that box,” Jemma said.

  Isabella lifted the lid to reveal two simple diamond stud earrings, grinning when she saw them—a flash of memory hitting her—a conversation with Thomas about her not being a diamond-wearing kinda girl. It certainly seemed that Thomas was set on changing her mind about that.

  “They’re perfect—so perfect! I’m going to swap them.” She was already handing Jemma the small hoops currently in her ears.

  Moments later she stood looking in the mirror at her reflection one last time.

  Jemma hugged her. “Ready?”

  Isabella nodded as they both turned toward the door where Rebecca had just knocked and then stuck her head in.

  “How are you doing girls? Isabella?”

  Isabella nodded.

  “Jemma, can you come with me please? It’s time to get you and Annie ready for your walk. And Bella—Lucas would like to see you if that’s okay, and then I think it’s go time—whenever you’re ready.” Rebecca smiled as she opened the door a little wider so that Lucas could enter.

  Isabella had had a nice long—and rather emotional—talk with her father over coffee earlier that morning. Again Richard had reassured her that he was pleased to be sharing the honor of walking Isabella down the aisle with her biological father. Richard was the father who’d raised her, but that didn’t make Lucas any less of a father to her. She loved that the two men seemed in perfect agreement about that fact.

  “Isabella.” Lucas’s face lit up as he walked through the door toward her and then grabbed her in a big hug. “You look absolutely stunning.”

  Isabella didn’t miss the tears in his eyes. He never held back his emotions with her and it was something that she loved about him. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was a side of him that Arianna had ever known—if he’d been as open with her when they were younger.

  “Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek and then used one of the tissues in her hand to wipe off the smudge of lipstick that she’d left behind.

  “I just saw Thomas and boy, is he ready to see you.”

  “Really?” She couldn’t help grinning as she thought about Thomas not far from where she’d been all morning, getting ready himself. “Does he seem nervous?”

  “No. Well, maybe just a little. I did see him practicing his vows in a corner of the room one or two times.”

  Isabella laughed. “That reminds me to double-check with Rebecca—to be sure that the pastor has my vows.”

  “He does. I saw Rebecca handing both sets to him.” Lucas reached out to touch her cheek lightly. “So, are you ready?”

  “Yes. I think so.”

  Lucas wiped at the corner of his eye before he reached for her hand. “I just want you to know what an honor it is for me to be able to be walk you down the aisle today. Thank you for that. To think that it was only a few years ago when I first learned about you, and now—now I can’t imagine not having you in my life. You’ve brought such great joy to me since the moment I first met you, Isabella.”

  Isabella smiled at him. “I feel the same way about you.”

  “Let’s see if I can give you one more hug without messing anything up.” Lucas laughed and hugged her close. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Lucas held his arm out for her to take. “Shall we get you to that groom of yours?”

  Isabella nodded her head and placed her arm at his elbow. “Yes, please.”

  Chapter 28

  Their eyes met as Isabella made her way nearer to Thomas. She didn’t miss the grin, the quick brush of his fingers across his eyes. He was looking at her the way that she’d been dreaming of for weeks, months—an entire lifetime, it seemed.

  He mouthed the words, “I love you” and she returned the same, her heartbeat quickening just a bit as she finally felt slightly nervous, realizing how it felt to be standing there, her emotions so raw and beautiful among their family and friends.

  She stopped at the end of the aisle, with Lucas and her father—now joined by Emily—on either side of her, as they responded to the traditional question of presenting her to the groom. Her father gently lifted the veil back from her face. She kissed both him and Lucas on the cheek before Richard guided her to where Thomas waited to take her hand in his.

  Thomas. She was marrying her Thomas today.

  Amidst their family, their friends, the soft music that had accompanied her during her walk down the aisle, the beautiful dresses, the incredible backdrop of the vineyard with the sun streaming in—amidst it all, the only thing that mattered to her in this moment was the man standing before her.

  She loved Thomas with all her heart and soul. She could hardly stand what with the intense way he was looking at her—the way her heart was beating out of control when his hand took hers.

  He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Iz, you look so beautiful. I can’t believe how beautiful you look.” He touched her chin lightly, tilting her face just slightly. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and whispered back. “More than okay.”

  They turned together hand-in-hand to face the pastor.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”

  And before Isabella knew it, Thomas was standing in front of her with his vows in hand.

  She squeezed his hand. “Don’t be nervous.” She whispered the words and saw him take a deep breath before he smiled at her.

  “I, Thomas, take you, Isabella, to be my wife.” He paused to look her in the eyes and she tried to keep her composure.

  “I promise to honor and respect you. I promise to remain faithful and true to you, to always have your back and to lift you up when you’re feeling down. I promise to come to you first, with the good things and the bad, to not be afraid to share my innermost thoughts and feelings with you.”

  Isabella dabbed her eyes with a tissue as Thomas continued.

  He grinned at her. “I promise to be your partner in crime and your biggest fan as we go through life together. I promise to never stop surprising you.” He stopped, his voice catching, his eyes weighted with tears. “I promise to always be your best friend. And I promise to love you more and more every day for the rest of our lives.”

  He stopped to look down and take a breath—to gain his composure before looking her in the eyes again.

  “With these words of my heart, Isabella, I bind my life to yours today and for the rest of our lives.”

  They both took a moment to dry their eyes, Isabella discreetly handing Thomas the tissue he’d asked her to have on hand for him—just in case. She smiled at the thought, both of them sniffling and trying to gain their composure while their love for one another was poured out before God, their family, and friends.

  It was Isabella’s turn now. With a deep breath, she took the paper that the pastor handed her, looking down for a moment before she looked back into the eyes of the man who loved her so completely.

  “I, Isabella, take you, Thomas, to be my husband. I promise to honor and cherish you all the days of our lives. I promise to trust you completely and to come to you when I’m feeling down. I promise to be a safe place for you to lay your head at the end of a difficult day. I promise to support you in your dreams and goals—to be your biggest cheerleader as we go through life together.”

  Isabella’s voice caught as her eyes skimmed the rest of the paper. Taking a deep breath, she felt his hand squeezing hers, his finger reaching out to gently dry the wetness on her face.

  She smiled and met his eyes again as she continued. “I promise to trust you with my heart, with our home, and with the future of our family yet to come. I promise to be a good mother to our children and to be a wife who will love you for eternity.”

  She had to look down momentarily, for the emotion that she saw on Thomas’s face caused her to stumble ov
er her words once again. But she was almost done and they were almost husband and wife.

  “I promise to always be your best friend, to be loyal and steadfast in my honor to you.”

  She returned her paper to the pastor so that both of her hands could now be held by her love standing before her.

  “With these words of my heart, Thomas—my love, I bind my life to yours today and for the rest of our lives.”

  Thomas leaned over to kiss her tears away quickly, his hands going to her cheeks.

  The pastor laughed, telling them it was not quite time for kisses.

  Isabella laughed also, noticing their friends giggling behind them. It was almost time for her to become Thomas’s wife.

  Chapter 29

  Gigi laughed along with everyone else when Thomas jumped the gun with his sweet kisses. She dabbed at her eyes with one hand while she squeezed Douglas’s hand tight with the other. Everything about the young couple’s vows had been beautiful, and as she watched them in front of her, she didn’t think she’d ever seen two young people more in love.

  She caught Blu’s eye and the two women grinned at one another. Lia, who was sitting just in front of Blu, shrugged her shoulders as she visibly sobbed into a tissue. Gigi’s eyes went to Jemma, standing in front of them with her best friend, looking like a princess, herself, in the beautiful gown that Blu had made for her.

  The only thing—the only person—missing from the wedding was Arianna, yet it was impossible to feel that she wasn’t there. Through the incredible intersection of their lives, Arianna had been the thread that bound them together, a tapestry of love, each woman so different, yet the same. Their friendships had begun amidst unimaginable heartache, yet the years following had been filled with celebration after celebration—and all of it with one another, Arianna never far from their thoughts or times spent together.