One more chance. Lindsey hadn’t managed to extract that promise from her, no matter how hard she’d tried. But the voice in her head wasn’t Lindsey’s. It was her own. Or maybe God’s.
Corbin waited, gaze fixed on her as he bit his lip. His hands twitched at his sides.
He deserved that chance. She nodded.
His face lit up. “Six o’clock? Maybe dinner and a bike ride?”
“Okay.” Sarah tried to compose her face before turning back to the children. Steph Mabry sent her a confused look. Not much she could do about that one, nor did she want to. If she turned Corbin away for good, would he wind up with Steph? That didn’t make sense. He’d just avowed his forever love to Sarah. She had no reason to believe he would be that kind of fickle.
And no matter how hard she’d tried to tell herself otherwise all week, she loved him, too.
But did she dare take the chance?
Chapter 14
Sarah pulled into her apartment parking lot after work. Corbin would be here in a couple of hours, but was she truly ready to pick up where they’d left off?
An unfamiliar SUV was parked near the apartment door. The driver’s door opened, and a large woman exited.
Sarah gasped. Oh, no. Corbin’s Aunt Deb. How on earth had the woman found her?
“Sarah, darling. The Lord has put you heavy on my heart this past week, and I felt I needed to come talk to you in person.”
“Um. Hi.” Did she have to invite Deb in? It would be rude not to, but things with Corbin were fragile enough without the reminder his family would always be there, looking over their shoulders.
Deb enveloped Sarah in a suffocating hug. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about what happened at Don’s and my wedding, and that you’ve felt the repercussions in your life ever since. I tried to find out where your family moved, as I wanted to send some photos and a thank you gift. No one in the neighborhood seemed to have a forwarding address.”
Sarah managed to extricate herself from Deb’s grasp then wrapped her arms tightly around her middle. “I’m sorry for making a scene at your party.”
“Oh, honey. What a shock it must have been.”
Truth.
“You and Corbin have been in my prayers all week. When I asked him, he told me he hadn’t spoken to you since Saturday. That breaks my heart. He needs someone like you. Someone levelheaded and well grounded. He’s a dear boy and like a son to Don and me. We were so thrilled to hear all about you and finally meet you in person.”
“We spoke today.”
Deb spread her arms and stepped forward, her face wreathed in glee.
Sarah backed against her car and tried not to wince.
“I’m so glad to hear that. You can’t imagine how much time I’ve spent on my knees, asking the good Lord to love you both real good. To love you back to each other.”
Had it been God’s intervention? It had felt more like Lindsey’s and Ms. LeRoy’s. No. Deep inside, Sarah knew the Holy Spirit had been nudging her, too. Was nudging her now. She took a deep breath. “Deb? How can you learn to trust someone with your heart? Corbin’s personality is so different from mine. I don’t know how to let go.” There was no way she could ask her own mother this question. Mom didn’t know the answer.
Deb tilted her head and scratched her cheek.
Good. Sarah didn’t want a snap reply. No clichés would do the trick. “Want to come in for a cup of tea?” It wasn’t so hard to extend the invitation, after all.
“I’d love to.” Deb fell in step beside Sarah as they headed toward the building. She remained silent and thoughtful while Sarah prepared a cup of tea for each of them. Then she cradled the cup between both hands and looked at Sarah. “It’s not simple, I don’t think. Here’s one place to start, though. First John four verse eighteen says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’”
Sarah shook her head. “That’s no help. Corbin isn’t perfect.”
“I didn’t say he was.” Deb’s face crinkled into a smile. “God’s love is, though. It’s His love that gives us courage. We won’t find that kind of peace and faith in any human. If we try, we’ll be let down, every single time.”
“But then—”
Deb’s hand covered Sarah’s. “The first step is surrendering ourselves to God’s love, and trusting Him to meet all our needs.”
Sarah nodded slowly. “I’ve been a Christian since I was a teen, so I get what you’re saying. But I think I keep grabbing control back. Not really trusting God.”
“Especially when thinking of marriage?”
“Yeah. That.” Sarah sighed, staring into the steam lifting from her cup.
“Your parents’ breakup hurt you deeply, honey. Some men do prove to be untrustworthy. Sometimes it is the woman who strays. Sometimes a couple simply drifts apart. They don’t know how to bridge the gap and may decide it’s not worth trying. Some marriages end in divorce. But it doesn’t have to be that way.”
“But how can a person be sure?”
“You can’t know. Not one hundred percent. But you can do your part and trust God for the rest.”
Trusting God. There it was again. Trust God. Trust Corbin. She wanted to. Perfect love casts out fear.
“If your marriage is set on the foundation of God’s love and daily built with care for each other’s needs and prayer, you’ll make it through. The first while is full of passion and starry eyes. Those things fade, honey, but deeper joy and contentment take their place. When you find the right man, a man who loves the Lord with all his heart, it’s worth the journey a thousand times over.”
Was there any doubt Corbin had that kind of passion for Jesus? None.
Sarah took a tremulous breath. “Thanks. That helps.”
* * *
Corbin stood waiting for Sarah to open the door to her apartment. Lord, please. How many times had he murmured that prayer? It wasn’t even his real prayer. Not the one he really meant. Lord, I put our relationship in Your hands. May Your will be done.
The door swung open, and there she stood, her face wreathed in a genuine smile.
Hope leaped in his chest as he pulled a handful of fall flowers from behind his back. “For you.”
“Thanks. They’re beautiful.” She took them, and the brush of her fingers against his sent longing shivers through his body.
He followed her into the kitchen, where she pulled out her pottery vase and half-filled it with water before reaching for the asters and daisies. She arranged them, stepped back to look with her head tilted to one side, then fidgeted with them again.
“Sarah.”
She glanced at him then away, her long hair falling to hide her face.
Corbin tucked a few strands behind her ear and cupped her chin in his hand. He couldn’t do patience. “I love you, Sarah. I’ve missed you.”
Her gaze caught on his. “I’ve missed you, too,” she said softly.
He tugged her closer and wrapped both arms around her. After a few seconds, she relaxed against him. Her arms encircled his waist.
“Are you okay? I’m not trying to rush you.” Yet if he could meet her in front of the justice of the peace and pledge his life to her this very minute, he’d do it without a second thought.
“I’m fine.” She pulled back a little and looked up at him.
It was all he could do not to kiss her thoroughly. But he needed to know if they were really moving forward again. He slid his finger down the side of her face. “I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“You’ve mentioned that.” She swallowed hard. “And you’re forgiven. Did you know I had a visitor after work today?”
A visitor? Corbin tipped his head. “No, who was it?”
“Your aunt.”
Uh oh. That could be good or bad. By the evidence of Sarah in his arms, it had to be good. “Oh? What did she have to say?”
“Perfect love casts out fear.”
Not what he’d expected to hear.
“I was afraid you’d hurt me again. Lik
e when we were children. Like my parents did to each other. Like so many people do, ending up in divorce.”
She was safe in his arms. Secure. “I’ll never hurt you again.”
“You can’t make that kind of promise.”
Hadn’t she just said she’d overcome that line of thought? “I’ll never do it on purpose, then. And if I ever do, tell me, and let me make things right.”
“Your aunt reminded me God is the only one I can be sure of.” Sarah’s brown eyes glimmered with moisture. “But that’s enough. He’s enough for both of us.”
Corbin kissed an escaped tear from below her eye. “God is enough.” Then his lips brushed hers and pulled away even as his heart sang. “Come on. Let’s go for that bike ride.”
Chapter 15
The glowing golden days of autumn had passed, and a gray chill permeated the air. Fallen leaves huddled against yellowed grass from yesterday’s icy rain. They’d put their bikes into storage a few days ago, knowing snow would soon be coming.
Sarah barely noticed the chill, her gloved hand firmly tucked in Corbin’s as they wandered the bike path toward her apartment. She glanced up at him and found him watching her from smoldering blue eyes as his grip on her hand tightened. The butterflies in her gut took to dizzying flight. Even amid the butterflies there was peace since the day Deb Shawnigan had stopped in to visit and helped her focus her gaze on the only One who deserved it.
Corbin leaned over and brushed her forehead with his lips. She could’ve used a much deeper kiss than that, even out here on the trail, but he seemed to have something on his mind. If he had bad news, he wouldn’t be dragging it out like this, would he?
Perfect love casts out fear.
She could trust him, because he was trusting God. They both were.
They strolled into the parking lot just as a Panago delivery car drove in.
“That’ll be for us.” Corbin pulled her along as he sped up, digging in his pocket for his wallet.
The aroma of Mediterranean pizza made her stomach grumble as they climbed the stairs to her apartment.
Corbin quirked a grin. “Olives and extra feta, right?”
Aw, he’d remembered.
She unlocked the apartment door, and he set the pizza box on the counter before digging into the backpack he’d left in her coat closet before their walk. She tried to see what he had in his hand, but he blocked her view until the last minute.
She blinked. Pottery plates?
Corbin set a slice on the top one and handed it to her.
Sarah slid the pizza over a bit to see the plate more clearly. “Where is this from?” She looked up at him.
Corbin grinned. “From the potter who won the blue ribbon at the fair. I hope you like it. I bought two.” He set another slice on a matching plate.
“I-I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you went to so much trouble.”
His eyes gazed deep into her soul. How had she ever thought he’d hurt her purposefully? He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. “It wasn’t trouble. I wanted to. For you.”
Emotion clogged her throat and oozed out her eyes. “Thanks.” She set her plate on the table.
Corbin walked past her. “Want to watch a DVD while we eat?” He held up a disc.
A minute ago he’d seemed romantic. Now he wanted to watch TV? Men. Always so confusing, and today more so than most times.
They’d done a movie or two here in the past few weeks, so he knew his way around her system. She nudged the plush dragon out of the way and had a couple of bites of ooey gooey pizza while she waited. Soon Corbin slid one arm around her, his plate resting on the sofa beside him.
Sucking in her lip, Sarah stared at the TV as a rock formation came into view. The castle-shaped mountain behind Castlebrook? Not what she’d expected to see.
A digital Corbin stepped in front of it. “I’d offer you a castle if I could, fair lady, but all I have is a farm and a rundown house.”
No way. She froze, not daring to glance at the flesh-and-blood man beside her.
The digital man smiled straight at her. “I have it on good authority that you’ve got eighty-two Pinterest boards and an HGTV addiction to help us with ideas for fixing it up.”
Was this going where she thought it might be?
The camera zoomed in on a battle scene of toy knights and dragons on a rocky rampart. “I may not be able to offer you a castle, but here’s what I can promise. I’ll slay every dragon that dares to breathe his fire anywhere near you.”
She swallowed hard as the camera swung back to his face.
“I’ll love you lavishly every day for the rest of our lives. As best as I can, I’ll model Jesus’ love to you. Sarah Jamieson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? To have and to hold from this day forward? To be the head of our own Team Bride?” The man on the TV screen opened a small velvet box and held out a glistening diamond.
Sarah dabbed at tears dribbling down her cheeks as she became aware that Corbin — her Corbin, the man she loved — knelt in front of the sofa with that same box in his hands. Her shaking hands set the plate aside just before he spoke.
“Sarah? Will you marry me?”
Her lip trembled as she gazed into his expressive eyes. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
Corbin gripped both her hands in his as he fumbled with the ring.
She gazed in awe and disbelief as the beautiful promise slid up her finger like it had always belonged. Somehow she managed to get words past the lump in her throat. “Corbin. Thank you. I love you.”
He picked her up as though she weighed nothing and twirled her around. “I love you, Sarah. Always have. Always will.” His lips met hers and answered any questions she might’ve had as to his sincerity. “Do you know how much?” He set her feet back on the floor.
Like the sun, moon, and stars orbited her? She blinked. “How much?”
“For you, I would elope.” He kissed her. “I know how you feel about weddings. About my relatives.”
“No eloping.” She shook her head. “Besides, I’m not afraid of your family anymore.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes searched hers. “I want us to have the best possible start, and if that means just the two of us in front of God and a judge, I’m fine with that.”
“I want a real wedding.”
His eyes lit up. “Honestly?”
She’d made the right decision. Sarah nodded. “A small one.”
“We don’t need a big team of groomsmen and bridesmaids. No flower girl. No ring bearer.”
“Just us and maybe Lindsey and Nick.” She smiled at Corbin, suddenly shy. “After all, we can blame everything on them.”
Corbin brushed his lips against hers, electrifying her senses. “I’m so thankful you agreed to be on Lindsey’s Team Bride. That day changed my life.”
“For the better, I hope.”
“Absolutely, my fair lady.” And he returned to the business of kissing her.
The End
Thank You!
Thank you for reading Team Bride: A Riverbend Romance Novella 4. I hope you enjoyed it!
If you'd like to be notified when my next book releases, I invite you to sign up for my email list. As a bonus for my subscribers, I've written Peppermint Kisses, a short romantic story that takes place at 2.5 in my Farm Fresh Romance series. You won't find this story anywhere else, so check it out here: Peppermint Kisses.
If you’re familiar with BC, Canada, you’ll know Riverbend, Castlebrook, and the other towns don’t exist. I took the liberty of redrawing this region of the province, pulling my favorite parts of towns I know and love into one community — with a healthy dose of imagination. I hope you adjusted to the new topography.
Reviews help other readers find books they'll love. As an author, I very much appreciate every review my stories receive, so long as the opinion you voice is yours alone and freely given. Please leave a review!
Merry Kisses: A Riverbend Romance Novella 5
; Chapter 1
“Merry Christmas!” The young mom loaded big bags of toys into her buggy.
Sonya Simmons smiled back. “I hope your holidays are wonderful.” And that you can pay off your charge card soon. She turned to the next customer in the long line waiting to check out of Toy Treehouse. “Good afternoon. I hope you found everything you were looking for?”
The elderly woman nodded. “I have a little something for each of my great grandchildren right here.”
“That’s terrific.” Sonya slid the toys across the scanner and into a waiting bag. Why did everyone have to try to out-buy everyone else? Why was Christmas so commercial?
The woman paid and shifted the bag into the cart. “Thanks so much, dear. You have a merry Christmas, all right?”
“You, too.”
“Look what I found for my granddaughters!” The next customer held up two fashion dolls with princess gowns.
“Oh, they’ll love those sparkly dresses.” Sonya smiled at Mrs. Bryant from River of Life Church. “These are from you, not from Santa, right?”
“Yes.” The older woman sighed. “Santa has been curtailed in my grandchildren’s lives.”
Nice some families had the good sense to do that.
Mrs. Bryant tilted her head to one side. “I haven’t seen you in church lately.”
Of course she’d notice and comment. “I’ve been scheduled to work a lot of Sundays with Christmas coming on.” Oh no, she’d said the word. A furtive glance over her shoulder revealed Deborah four tills over bagging for Annie. “You can see how busy we are, and we aren’t even in full swing yet.”
Mrs. Bryant leaned closer. “Surely your boss would let you have some Sundays off if you asked. The store can’t be that busy of a Sunday morning.”
Team Bride Page 10