by Kara Lennox
“Clearly I need to spend more time at the office,” Daniel grumbled. “Okay, everybody, back to work. There are innocent people still in prison.”
* * *
THe CHURCH OF OUR LADY of Perpetual Hope had never looked more lovely, Claudia thought, decked out in white roses. The smell of them was everywhere.
Sister Marguerite had seen to it that the floor was scrubbed, the pews polished with lemon oil until they gleamed and every cobweb in even the highest corners removed.
Mary-Francis had paid for the Virgin Mary statue to be repaired by an expert ceramic restoration company. The statue held pride of place at the front of the church, looking remarkably like she’d never been damaged.
Billy and Claudia had agreed to keep the wedding low-key. They’d sent out only a few invitations, just close friends and family, but since Claudia didn’t have any family, Billy’s mother and sisters had jumped in to help her prepare. The Cantus really knew how to throw a wedding, and it took a lot of persuasion to convince them that simple was best.
Claudia wore a plain satin tea-length gown and no veil, just a few flowers wound into her hair. Billy looked breathtaking in a blue suit, crisp white shirt and his boots, of course, polished to a high gloss for this special occasion.
Father Benito did the honors. Mary-Francis and Theresa were there, sitting in the front row, Theresa in her wheelchair but looking five-hundred percent better than she had only a few weeks earlier.
Claudia walked down the aisle to the beautiful strains of the old pipe organ. The love shining from Billy’s eyes almost brought her to her knees, and though she swore she wasn’t going to cry, she did.
When he placed the gold band on her finger, she knew she’d finally found the place she belonged, and that she and Billy would make a warm and loving home together. They were shopping for a big house with lots of bedrooms, where Claudia intended to shelter foster kids, adopted kids, and maybe a few of hers and Billy’s, as well.
They would give those kids all the love and acceptance she’d never had as a child.
“Please join me,” the elderly priest said, “in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Cantu on the start of their new journey as husband and wife.”
They kissed briefly, not wanting to incur the dreaded throat clearing from Sister Marguerite. Then, hand in hand, they began their journey.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459227767
Copyright © 2012 by Karen Leabo
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