Curiosity mingled with the overwhelming excitement deep inside her. “Of which you know…?”
“Nothing,” he confirmed, wrapping his arms around her. “I’ll be as amazed by whatever they’ve dreamed up for us as you will be.”
Brooke cuddled close and laid her cheek against his shoulder. Suffused with his warm, hard strength, she murmured, “The two of them are so sweet, to be putting on a small, private wedding for us.” It was an amazing gift, Nate thought.
All he and Brooke had had to do was okay the budget for the celebration and put them in touch with Jack’s wife, wedding planner Caroline Mayer Gaines. The rest had been done, to the astonishment of all their friends, primarily by the two teenage boys. Now, he and Brooke—who had no superstitions about seeing each other prior to the ceremony—were sequestered together, awaiting their cue that it was time to get the show on the road.
Nate watched as Brooke went over to her jewelry case and removed the diamond necklace and earrings he had gifted her with the previous Christmas.
He helped her with the clasp of her necklace, while they continued talking about the wedding.
“Although as far as Cole and Landry are concerned,” she reminded him with a teasing look, “we gave them no choice.”
That was true, Nate thought. Both boys had vehemently vetoed Nate and Brooke’s original plan to have their wedding ceremony in a judge’s chamber, just down the hall from the courtroom where the adoption of both boys had become official that very morning. Now, Cole was officially Nate’s son, and Landry was legally the son of Brooke as well as Nate. With Brooke and Nate’s wedding, the circle would be complete and everyone would at long last have the loving family they had wanted.
“The kids wanted us to have a honeymoon. And we wanted to have the adoption on the first anniversary of the day we all met.”
Brooke smiled and nodded. “It’s all working out.”
Cole raced back in. “Hey, Mom, you look great! You, too, Nate! Jessalyn and her friends from the retirement center have arrived!”
Landry was right behind him. “The rest of your friends and the judge are all here, too. So as soon as the sound team is done setting up, we’re ready to go.”
“Any clue what the music is going to be?”
Cole and Landry looked at each other and grinned. Cole said, “We figure when you hear it, you’ll recognize it,” he replied. “Nate, you will lead the way down the aisle. Landry is your witness, so he’ll follow you. I’ll go next, since I’m the official witness for Mom, and Mom…you’re the bride—and the main attraction—so you’ll go last.”
Cole and Landry slipped outside.
A moment later, they came back in. Cole handed Brooke a beribboned bouquet of Texas wildflowers.
The strains of the famous Goo Goo Dolls song, “Let Love In”—a favorite of both Brooke and Nate—started up. The teens passed Brooke and Nate each a pair of dark sunglasses. “You’re going to want these.” They grinned, sliding on their own shades, then led the way out of the caretaker’s cottage, onto the lawn. And together, the four of them danced and celebrated their way toward the guests….
“THIS IS ONE FANTASTIC wedding,” Grady McCabe mused, several hours later, as the party wound on.
Dan grinned. “Foosball and Ping-Pong.” He looked toward the sport court, where a tournament for the young people was set up and a wildly good time was being had by all.
Jack sipped champagne. “A wedding cake in the shape of your mansion. And a groom’s cake that looks like the caretaker’s cottage.”
Nate shrugged. “A great sentimental choice by the boys, since this is where it all happened.” Where he and Brooke fell in love, and Landry and Cole bonded. Where he’d become a father for the first—and second—time. And they all became the family they wanted and needed.
Travis slapped him on the shoulder as a radiant Brooke headed toward them. “Looks like you’ve got it all, Nate.”
Nate’s glance encompassed the loved ones of his four best friends, then turned back to them. Two years ago, they’d all been single. Now, they were all happily married. “We all do.”
The guys murmured in agreement.
Brooke slipped her arm through Nate’s. “The dancing is about to start.”
Nate knew the kids had picked out the music for this, too. “Any idea what our song is going to be this time?”
“All I know is it’s a slow tune. And very romantic. At least in their view.”
“That’s all I need to know.” Nate winked at Brooke, then turned to the guys. “Excuse us, fellas. I’ve got a date to dance with the love of my life.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6490-2
THE MOMMY PROPOSAL
Copyright © 2010 by Cathy Gillen Thacker.
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*The Brides of Holly Springs
*The Brides of Holly Springs
**The McCabes: Next Generation
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†Texas Legacies: The Carrigans
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††Made in Texas
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‡The Lone Star Dads Club
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The Mommy Proposal Page 19