by Mary May
“Charlie, I know your daddy is in heaven with Jesus and with the angels, but I would like to be your daddy down here, just until you can be with your real daddy again in heaven. Would that be okay?”
Charlie looked at him her eyes round as saucers. “You are going to be my daddy? I’m going to be your little girl?”
Devon nodded and looked at Sabrina and Carl, who both smiled and nodded. “Yes, ma’am, if you would have me, I sure would like to be.”
Charlie turned around in his lap and patted his cheek. “Okay! You can be my daddy!”
Devon chuckled then put the necklace on her neck and hugged her tightly, his heart feeling like it could just bust open! He looked around the room to see Sabrina’s family all looking at him with love and acceptance. He never in a million years would have ever thought that would be possible.
The next afternoon Sabrina and Rachel were in the kitchen looking over wedding magazines for flower ideas when Eric walked in the kitchen. Sabrina made a quick introduction and then Eric went up to his room to put away his things. Rachel’s eyes followed him all the way down the hall until Sabrina reached over and gently pushed her mouth closed for her.
Chapter 22
They chose to have the wedding outdoors in front of the gazebo like Catherine and Evan. The gazebo was filled with fall flowers and foliage in deep reds, oranges and yellows. They placed white chairs in two sections, making an aisle, and had a white runner that led up to the front where the ceremony would take place. An archway was set up in front of the gazebo with red and gold tulle lavishly wrapped around it, accented by green leaves and deep burgundy roses. The weather cooperated and was in the mid-seventies for the early afternoon ceremony.
Sabrina was so nervous she was having trouble applying her makeup. Her shaking hands had already made a complete mess of her eyeliner…twice!
Rachel laughed. “Here, give me that; you’re going to look like a raccoon!” Rachel took the black eyeliner and smudged it on the top and bottom corners of Sabrina’s eyes. Then she took a deep brown shadow and applied it in the creases of her eyes then smudged it across her eyeliner as well, giving her smoky eyes. She applied two coats of mascara and glossed her lips with a peach-colored gloss. No blush was needed, for Sabrina’s cheeks were already flushed with excitement.
Catherine came in to do her hair. She swept the top half of Sabrina’s hair up and fastened it with a glittering silver barrette. She pulled a few tendrils loose to frame her face, leaving the rest flowing down her back in a wealth of chestnut curls. The effect showed off Sabrina’s cheekbones and beautiful blue eyes.
Sabrina went into her bathroom and slipped into her wedding dress, turning around to take a look at herself in the mirror. The gown was a deep cream in color, falling off her shoulders slightly, leaving her shoulders bare. The bodice had a high empire waist tucking in just under her breasts with a silver filigree design and then falling loosely to sweep the floor. She didn’t wear any jewelry other than her engagement ring. She placed her hands to her cheeks and couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face.
“Jesus, You have answered my prayers for Devon’s salvation and now I get to be his wife! You have provided Charlie with a daddy down here on earth and I pray that You will guide both Devon and me on this journey that we are about to start together. Lord, may we always put You front and center in everything we do. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Sabrina did a little happy dance then lifted her hand and blew a kiss toward heaven.
She opened the door and walked out, watching as her mother’s eyes filled with tears and her friend gave her a huge smile. “Oh, darling, you look like a goddess! So beautiful!” Catherine came forward and placed the short veil made of cream netting sprinkled with tiny sparkling rhinestones over her face, kissing her cheek before she pulled it down, adjusting it so it stopped just below her chin. “May God bless this union with love, peace, and a true commitment to Him, and with one another. Go be happy, darling!”
Sabrina stepped back from her mother, blinking rapidly, trying to save her eye makeup, then turned to Rachel. Her friend hugged her warmly then whispered in her ear. “Devon won’t be able to remember his own name much less his vows!”
Sabrina laughed. “As long as he remembers to say ‘I do’ at the right time, I don’t care! Both of you are gorgeous as well.”
Rachel was wearing a dress that was similar in design to Sabrina’s wedding dress but was a rich hunter green and stopped just above her knees. Her light brown hair was gathered at the nape of her neck in a messy bun, and her dark green eyes sparkled at Sabrina. She was a vision herself.
Sabrina winked. “I bet Eric will be having some troubles of his own!”
Rachel smoothed the dress down over the curve of her hip then looked at Sabrina with a saucy grin. “He had better! I don’t ever look this good; if I don’t get his attention today, it’s hopeless!” she laughed.
Catherine had on a dark russet suit dress with a white rose corsage with dark green and burgundy ribbons swirled through the flowers.
Charlie walked in the bedroom and stopped and stared at Sabrina. “Oh, Mommy! You look like a princess!”
Sabrina hugged her daughter. “So do you, my angel!”
Charlie was dressed in a sunflower yellow dress that had a full skirt with lots of white ruffles peeking out from underneath. It had a scooped neckline and capped sleeves. A white sash was tied around her waist and trailed down the back of the dress. Sabrina had French-braided her hair, slipping in tiny sprigs of baby’s breath, then fastened a white silk ribbon on the end. Around her neck was the silver pendant that Devon had given her. Charlie refused to take it off.
“So are you ready to go marry our Devon?”
Charlie smiled then tugged on her mother’s hand. “Yes, Mommy! Let’s hurry!”
Devon was standing with Bro. Eddie and Eric at the archway. His palms were sweating so bad he was worried Sabrina’s wedding band was going to slip from his fingers. He shook his hands out then looked at Eric, who gave him a smile, slapping his hand on his shoulder.
“Dude, just breathe! I thought it was the brides that got so freaked out,” he teased.
Devon shook his head. “I’m just afraid I’m going to wake up and still be bouncing at the bar and all of this is really a dream!”
Eric looked him in the eye. “It’s not a dream, Devon. Sabrina is going to walk down that aisle in just a few minutes and vow to be yours forever. God is good, man. God is very, very good!”
Devon nodded in agreement then looked at Eric with a puzzled look. “Why did you agree to be my best man? I know that you had feelings for Sabrina. It had to burn when she said yes to me.”
Eric smiled wistfully. “Yeah, I was doing my level best to make her forget you, and in time I might have succeeded to a point, but it was always you, Devon. She may have grown to love me in some way, but it wouldn’t be with her whole heart. So, it’s fine; she is with the one she is meant to be with. I honestly wish both of you nothing but happiness.”
Devon had to admire the man’s honesty. Then his head jerked toward the front because he heard the violins start playing the opening notes to “Amazing Grace,” and he watched as Rachel stepped out from behind the shrubs and started her walk down the aisle. As she passed them, she gave Devon a warm smile and Eric a flirty wink.
Sabrina held Charlie’s hand and waited until Rachel had walked down the aisle and taken her place. Then she smiled at her daughter, who was holding her miniature version of Sabrina’s bouquet of white roses with green and burgundy ribbons swirling through the flowers. She sent another heartfelt prayer of gratitude sailing toward heaven; then they stepped forward.
She saw Devon waiting for her by the archway, and she could see his smile as he watched her and Charlie walk toward him. Charlie giggled and waved at him and his smile got bigger as he waved back at her. Gideon waited and, as with Catherine, as Sabrina passed the halfway point he stepped out and walked them the rest of the way down the a
isle…
Devon felt his heart skip a beat when Sabrina and Charlie stepped out from behind the hedges. Sabrina looked like someone sent down from heaven, and her smile was something he would never forget. Charlie was holding her mother’s hand but broke away long enough to laugh and give him a little wave. He lifted his hand and waved back at the little girl who was just as important to him as her mother. He loved them both so much that it shook the very foundation of his soul.
Sabrina stepped up and handed her bouquet to Rachel. Then she took Devon’s hand, blushing as he smiled and winked at her, mouthing the word “Beautiful!” Devon took Charlie’s little hand, forming a circle.
“Devon and Sabrina asked if I would perform this wedding ceremony just a little differently,” Bro. Eddie went on to explain. “As you see, there are three standing here instead of the customary two; that is because three lives will be changed today. Sabrina and Devon both wanted little Charlie to take her place here with them as I join this new family. Please bow your head as I pray over this new union.
“Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your blessing on this new marriage and this new family. Father, join these three hearts with bonds that cannot be broken. Fill each heart with the love that can withstand the test of time and weather every storm. Guide Devon as he becomes the head of this household, a husband to Sabrina and a father to Charlie. Lead Sabrina as she becomes a wife to Devon and continue to guide her as she raises Charlie in the way that You would have her be raised. Father, be with Charlie and keep Your hand upon her as she grows into the young lady that You would have her to be. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, amen.”
He then turned to Devon. “Devon, do you take Sabrina as your wife; do you promise to love her and honor her even as Christ loves and honors His church? And do you also take Charlie as your daughter to love and honor her, raising her in the way that is pleasing unto the Lord?”
In a firm steady voice Devon answered, “I do.”
Bro. Eddie turned to Sabrina. “Sabrina, do you take Devon as your husband; do you promise to love and honor him even as Christ loves and honors His church?”
In a voice trembling with emotion Sabrina answered, “I do.”
Then he turned to Charlie. “Charlie, do you take Devon as your daddy, to love and honor him as Christ loves and honors His church?”
Charlie nodded her head and answered, “I sure do!” Everyone laughed at Charlie’s enthusiastic answer.
“Then by the power given to me by God and the state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you husband and wife and father and daughter! Devon, you may kiss your new family!”
The crowd erupted into loud applause as Devon bent Sabrina backwards with his kiss; then he picked up Charlie, kissed her soundly on the cheek and hugged her tightly. He wrapped his arm around Sabrina’s shoulder and pulled her tightly to his side. He had everything he ever hoped or dreamed of right here in his arms. If he lived to be a thousand years old he wouldn’t have time enough to thank God for this incredible blessing!
Gideon was standing next to Edgar watching the ceremony but looked down when the butler elbowed him sharply in the side. “What?”
Edgar nodded his head toward the smiling couple. “Admit you were wrong, angel.”
Gideon frowned. “Wrong about what?”
Edgar patted his chest and winked at the warrior. “The human heart!”
Gideon smiled, watching the new happy family… For ONCE… he was okay with being wrong!
THE END
Keep reading for a sneak peek at book three in the Saving Gideon series-The Growing Years!
Chapter 1
Charlie raced to the front door of the estate. “Mommy and Daddy are home! Hurry!”
Cleo laughed and hurried over to the door to open it before Charlie hurt herself trying to open the massive front door. Sabrina and Devon were just returning from their week-long honeymoon cruise to Hawaii. Cleo opened the door and Charlie raced out screaming like a wild child toward her mother who had dropped to her knees to receive her child. Charlie crashed into her so hard they both nearly toppled over from the impact.
“Oh, baby, I have missed you so much! Were you good?”
Charlie nodded her head. “Uh huh! I was real good, Mama! What did you bring me?”
Sabrina laughed and got to her feet, while Devon got their bags from the back of his truck. “Hey, Charlie girl, don’t I get a hello hug?”
Charlie ran over and lifted her arms so Devon could pick her up and hug her tightly. “I was real good, so what did you bring me, Daddy?”
Devon didn’t think he would ever get tired of hearing Charlie call him daddy. It was an honor he only hoped he could live up to. “Well, now, let’s just go ask Cleo and make sure just how good you really were first!” he teased.
Cleo came down the steps hugging Sabrina then Devon. “Oh, she was fine, just fine, except for missing both of you with every breath! It’s good to have you back!”
They went inside to escape the chilly November wind. “Wow, it’s hard to adjust from Hawaii’s mid-eighties to forty degrees here at home, but I’m too glad to be home to care what the temperature is,” Sabrina exclaimed. “Where is Edgar?”
Cleo grabbed a suitcase as they headed up the stairs. “Oh, he is in his room, been holed up in there all day, doing Lord knows what.” They got to Sabrina’s, and Devon’s room, and Cleo asked her if she had anything that needed to be washed right away.
“Oh, no, all that can wait until tomorrow, Cleo. Let’s just throw this stuff in a corner and go relax. I have a ton of pictures to show you!”
Charlie went and banged on Edgar’s door. “They are back! Mommy and daddy are back!”
Edgar opened his door. “What are you yelling about, Miss Charlie?”
Charlie bounced up and down. “Mommy is home! Daddy is home! Come see!”
Edgar laughed gruffly. “Alright, I’ll be down in a moment. You run along.”
Charlie streaked off down the hall toward the den. Edgar closed his door and looked at the angel that was looking over blueprints of the estate. Gideon was pointing out weak areas that needed to be watched carefully for any minions that might try to sneak in.
“How can you guard Charlie when you’re not always in the same room with her?” Edgar questioned. It was something he had wondered about but never could remember to ask.
Gideon looked up. “What? Oh, I just have to be in near proximity. I have an internal radar, so to speak; if she is in danger, I’ll feel it.”
Edgar frowned. “What if it happens suddenly?”
Gideon shrugged. “Fast, slow, it doesn’t matter. I’ll get to her in time.”
The butler sat down at the table with a look of deep concentration on his face. “So, do you protect her from all harm or just life-threatening ones?”
The big angel looked at Edgar puzzled. “Why are you asking me all of this now? It’s been four years.”
It was Edgar’s turn to shrug. “I don’t know. I have wondered, just couldn’t think to ask. There always seems to be something else going on more important.”
Gideon sat down after rolling up the blueprints carefully. It was obvious there wasn’t going to be anymore defense planning tonight. “Ok, this is how it works. Everyone has a certain number of knocks, bruises or injuries they are supposed to sustain. There could be a lesson they are supposed to learn from it or it’s a life experience that will be important later on. Some are just not that serious so we let nature take its course. I am guilty of protecting Charlie too much. I have stepped in many times when I should have let her fall. But we both know this isn’t my usual day job, so I’m learning as I go. My primary job is to be there to protect her from anything that would cut her life short or interfere with God’s plan for her life.”
Charlotte suddenly stepped into the room. “Whew! That was some trip! Hawaii was beautiful, but it’s good to be home! How have things been here? Any problems?”
Edgar shook his head. “No, it’s be
en quiet here. How was the honeymoon cruise?”
Charlotte frowned. “It was fine except I discovered I don’t have a sailor’s tummy.”
Edgar smiled then told Gideon about Charlotte’s troubles on the ship. Gideon snorted in laughter and slapped the table! “Her, too? Man, I would rather face a pack of minions with my right wing tied down than to ever have to get back on an airplane!”
Edgar then repeated Gideon’s comment to Charlotte. Her face brightened when she realized that Gideon had travel troubles, too. “Why is that, I wonder?” she asked.
Edgar asked Gideon.
“I have no idea, but let me tell you it was a humbling experience for this angel. I had a lot more sympathy for the morning sickness that Sabrina had with Charlie. No fun at all!”
Edgar again passed along the message.
Charlotte giggled and nodded in agreement. “So are we going to bring Devon’s guardian in now? He said after the honeymoon we would.”
Sighing, Edgar turned to Gideon to relay the question. Gideon was silent as he considered Charlotte’s question. He had made the decision to wait until they got back, to have Edgar approach the guy. So he supposed now was as good a time as any. He looked at Edgar who was already giving him a very unhappy look. “Okay, old man. You’re on!”
Edgar went into the den and greeted Sabrina and Devon all the while he was sweeping the room looking for Devon’s guardian. The big angel wasn’t in the den, so he looked out in the hall and still didn’t see him. Gideon gave him a “Where is he?” look, and Edgar shrugged slightly and shook his head. He walked into the kitchen and sunroom, but no guardian. Edgar stopped in the den one more time to look around and to see if anyone needed anything. Then they headed back to his room.