Technically, it’s also the place I left Jack stranded. But we’re coming full circle, and I’ll give him as many chances as he needs because I’ve learned that love doesn’t mean we don’t mess up. It means we keep trying to make things better when we do. And oh, making up with Jack … that’s the sweetest thing I know.
“It’s time!” The coordinator sticks her head in the front door and prepares us out to head onto the porch facing the back lawn.
Mama comes into the lobby and gives me a quick hug. She leans close and whispers, “Katrina, you make me proud. I’m so grateful you and Jack found one another. You look too beautiful for words, baby girl.” She smiles warmly and then walks out to be escorted to her chair. I swallow to keep tears from falling.
I hear the soft music of the quartet playing Pachelbel’s Canon. Patrice and Mindy head out first. As soon as I step onto the porch, the tune changes to The Bridal March. I’m trying not to cry as Daddy takes my arm and leads me down the stairs and across the grass.
The skies are dotted with clouds. The mountain ranges provide all the décor we need. I’m carrying a bouquet of sweet peas, lilacs, and white roses. I look down the satin runner laid out toward the grapevine arch to see Jack standing with Brett, Caleb, and Michael beside him. As my eyes meet Jack’s, everything else melts away. All I see is the man I love waiting for me – waiting to begin the rest of our life together.
Somehow, I make it to him. I realize in this moment that I’m living the greatest adventure of my life. I’ve traveled the world, met fascinating people, seen stunning scenery, and been able to pursue my dreams. All of that pales compared to entwining our lives as I become Mrs. Jack Anders.
To think, I couldn’t picture giving up my passion for a man – even this man. When we met, I was on a strict man-fast. Okay, I wasn’t that strict, but I was avoiding men like most husbands avoid the Black Friday sales at Macy’s. Today that fast is obliterated for good. Who am I kidding? I think that fast went out the window when I saw Jack standing over my open car hood trying to help me that day outside Ventura. It just took me a while to catch up with what my heart already knew.
We say our vows, never taking our eyes from one another. As Jack slips the ring on my finger, I hear him whisper two words. “Always, Katrina.” And I whisper back, “Always.”
Epilogue: Mindy
We’re upstairs in the dressing area at Kat and Jack’s wedding. What a day this is! I’m sitting across the room watching the makeup artist put the last touches of mascara on Kat’s lashes.
As I look over at her today, I think of our first meeting. Katrina inspired me. She’s a vivacious, independent woman, with a passion for photography. Watching her teach the kids at summer camp to handle a camera warmed my heart. She left an impression on them with her contagious excitement and the patience she showed as she helped them each manage the equipment and learn how to find the right shots.
Something spurred me to reach out to her. I’m friendly enough, but I don’t usually initiate friendships. My whole life has been spent in Bozeman. The people I know are the ones I grew up with. I was born and raised here. All I know is this valley and some other parts of Montana where I’ve traveled now and then.
Katrina is a woman who has been to more countries than I have pairs of socks. Still, I knew she didn’t have any girlfriends here in town, and when I found out she was going to be here for a few months, I thought I’d step out of my comfort zone to offer friendship.
I’m so glad I did. Katrina and I hit it off like we’d known one another forever. As I watch her getting ready I think of the times we’ve spent in my small group. She came as much as she could and seemed to like being together with my friends. She and I even had some sweet conversations about God. Since Bozeman has become her home, our friendship has had the chance to grow even deeper.
I watch her get ready as I sit in this chair across the room. She just asked if Jack is here yet. Patrice leans in and says something calming to her as only a best friend can do. I think Kat has asked about Jack at least four or five times so far. It’s adorable, really.
Kat’s a lucky woman. Jack isn’t as bold as Caleb, but he’s a catch. He’s steadfast and kind, and he has his Mom’s heart for helping others in need. I never had romantic feelings for him at all. But, I’m not blind, and Jack is a handsome man. Between his solid, quiet strength, his kind heart, and his good looks, he is a man any woman would be blessed to call her own.
I’ve seen Katrina draw out qualities in Jack. He never was a risk taker, but with her he’s more adventurous and bolder than he ever was growing up. Jack brings out the best in Katrina too. She’s like a kite that blows in the wind, and he’s like a strong hand that holds the string. I think she needed someone like Jack to give her a sense of stability and grounding. They are good for one another.
Thinking about Jack turns my thoughts toward the Anders family. I basically grew up with them being like a second family to me.
And no one knows this. No one. But I have had a crush on Caleb Anders since the eighth grade. It won’t ever come to anything because he’s like Katrina, wild and free. Right now, he’s living two hours away near Yellowstone fighting fires and hanging out with other firemen. Caleb attracts a lot of female interest. Of course he does. He’s funny, clever, spontaneous, and even though he seems scattered at times, he’s a deep thinker.
Other guys from church have asked me out here and there. Sweet guys with hearts of gold and solid relationships with God. I usually turn them down. It’s not like I want to be an old maid. I just don’t want to lead them on. My heart is already owned by one man. It’s just that I may never be able to let him know it. I’ve come to peace with that, I think.
Kat looks across the room and meets my eyes. I beam back at her. “Kat, I’m so honored to be supporting you as you and Jack join lives.”
She smiles back at me. “Mindy, I wouldn’t want anyone else here but you and Patrice. You’ve been through all the ups and downs with me.”
Patrice laughs. “Girl, you’ve got more ups and downs than the local amusement park!” We all laugh hard at that – even the young woman doing Kat’s makeup.
The makeup artist turns Kat toward the mirror and declares she looks gorgeous. She starts to pack up her cosmetics, and Kat stands to head toward the door. She turns and tells us how glad she is that we got to meet one another.
I take Kat in. She looks amazing. Her brown hair is in a loose updo with curls coming down around her face in a few tendrils. Her simple white satin dress doesn’t have fluff or frills, just beading along the bodice and hemlines. So tasteful and glamorous. Her skin is glowing with the love and joy she is feeling. It’s like God made her extra beautiful just for this day.
Kat might be slightly full of nerves, but that’s to be expected. Underneath the nervousness I can tell she’s euphoric. Even though I want all this for myself, I’m not jealous one bit. My joy for Jack and Katrina overshadows anything else I’m feeling today. My life isn’t empty. It’s just simple.
Yes, I would love to have the man of my dreams see me and want me. I’d love to build a future with Caleb, but since that isn’t in the cards for me, I’m going to maintain a grateful heart for all the good God has given me and not pine for what can’t be mine to have. I’ll accept Caleb’s friendship and extend him mine.
It’s time. The wedding coordinator calls us downstairs. Patrice grabs the back of Kat’s dress so she doesn’t trip, and we descend together. Kat’s mom is downstairs. She gives Kat a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek and whispers something to her. Kat smiles warmly as her mom walks away to be ushered out the door to her seat.
The three of us wait just inside the back door of the inn, then the coordinator leads Patrice and me out to the porch facing the lawn. Patrice goes first as the string quartet plays our processional songs. She looks back at me and gives me a little smile. Katrina stands behind me in the lobby of the inn. I scan the men standing up front in a row by the flower-covered arch. Jack beam
s with a look of love and anticipation. I step down the stairs and approach the satin runner.
My breath hitches in my ribcage as I turn my eyes and see Caleb staring right at me as I walk toward the arbor. His eyes are soft and riveting, reflecting the kindness and intensity that is Caleb. He has a slight grin on his face, the one that comes so easily to that man who is like a sunset, all warm and comfortable. And he fills out that tux in ways that should be illegal throughout the tri-state area.
He’s watching me. Okay, of course he is. I’m walking down the center aisle. Everyone’s eyes are on me. He’s no different. Still, Caleb’s unwavering stare does strange things to my heart. I feel dizzy and lightheaded. I’m going to cherish this moment forever. I may never actually get to walk down an aisle staring into those amazing eyes again. Right now, everyone might be looking at me, but my eyes are fixed on one person: Caleb Anders.
… Want to read Caleb and Mindy’s story? It will be out on Amazon on August 1st! You can preorder it now.
Get your copy here.
Author note:
Hey, Sweet Reader Friend,
Oh, how I loved writing Katrina and Jack’s story! I hope you loved it too. I want to tell you some backstory about this story … and then give a few important thanks. Then I’ll tell you some fun facts about how Kat & Jack’s story overlaps with my real life.
I never knew if I could write fiction – you’ll be the best judge of that. I have “known” Kat in my head for a few years. She came to me one day when I saw a photographer outside a store using her tripod to set up a shot. Kat introduced herself to my imagination then.
As I went through my day-to-day life, I’d occasionally imagine ways she might meet her man, or what her barriers to romance were, what burdened her heart, and what she dreamed of. But I never thought I could put a whole story in place. I write non-fiction to encourage women’s hearts. Venturing into writing fiction felt like taking a freefall. I just didn’t know what to expect.
One day I decided to post in a writers group on Facebook asking other courageous fiction writers how they started and what they did to keep going. It was the sweetest thread of vulnerable and encouraging words. One man in there, Roland Denzel, shared how he had been packing up his mom’s home in Montana after she passed. He had a romance movie on to keep him company (you’re outed now, Roland!), and from that trip, he began his journey as a writer.
When Roland shared his story, Jack was born in my mind. I knew right away that Jack would be Katrina’s forever love. They are perfect together, don’t you think? A scattered, bright, funny, quirky, creative woman and a kind, careful, steady man. They both had grief to overcome, but in the end, they learned how to put pain aside enough to make room for love.
Fun Facts About the Story:
A lot of things in this story came from my own experiences. Kat is not me. As I said, she came to me and I got to know her in my mind. Our personalities and faith journeys are different. I did, however have the privilege of spending two weeks in Uganda. I met the people of Bwindi and the Batwa people.
My parents live in Bozeman. I didn’t plan to settle the story there, but it’s where the story went, so I followed it. I love the Hill Country of Texas and have dear friends there. Royer’s Pie Haven in Round Top is owned by a precious friend, Tara, and yes, Texas Trash Pie is worth a round trip flight for me. If you ever go to Royers give Tara a big hug for me.
I lived in L.A. during graduate school and was actually born there, though we moved a year after I was born. I met my husband on one of the beaches (during my own man-fast), so I know a lot about that city from the time I lived there in my 20s.
Many of the locations, roads, and shops in the story are real places, because I think it’s fun to weave reality and fiction together. No value judgement or opinion or event in my book is meant to reflect on those real places, except I do love Hill Country Texas, and that’s a fact. The opinions and experiences are all fictionalized to make the story what it is. Sometimes I start with a real location and tweak it to fit the story, so if you go to Bozeman, you may find some of the locations I mention, but not others.
If you loved this story, or even liked it well enough to smile a few times and get a breather from life as you joined Kat and Jack on their adventure, I would love reviews on Amazon. It helps spread the word to other readers.
Keep an eye out for Caleb and Mindy’s story (coming August 2020!) … Will Patrice find a cowboy? … My advanced readers are telling me Michael needs to find a girl who loves him well … and I already know who she is! So many spin-offs have already formed in my head. Characters are vying for my attention, asking me to write their love stories next. You can keep in touch with me at PattyHScott.com if you want to know when my next stories come to life.
Blessings, Patty
All the Thanks …
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Kirsten “Kiki” Oliphant. She’s a gift to me. When I met Kirsten through writers groups and her podcast, I never imagined we would become friends. Now it feels like I can’t remember a time when we weren’t. Since the time we connected, she has been instrumental in guiding me into publishing and writing and helping me reach people with my words. Kiki has cheered me on, made me laugh, and given me sage advice.
She does this not only for me but for many others through the CreateIf Writing group on Facebook, the podcast by the same name, and her online monthly workshops. In the writing world you will meet a lot of people. Kiki has been one to rise above the crowd in her generosity, humility, and upfront way of being authentic. She also happens to be one of my favorite authors. If you want to read any of her sweet-clean romances, check them out under her pen name, Emma St. Clair on Amazon. She also writes YA clean fantasy under the name Sullivan Gray.
The other thanks I have to give are to my family members who let me hole up in an office or on our porch for hours at a time staring at my laptop with my fingers flying. You three guys believe in me and even encourage my full-blown obsession with writing.
My sweet friends Jessica, Kathy, Melanie, and others, as well as my launch team and advance readers have been like the floatation devices and rudders keeping me afloat and steering me well as I fashioned this story until it was fit for human consumption.
I want to give extra thanks to Chautona Havig who is one of the most generous people I know. She formatted the book and gave me solid feedback on the content. If you love fiction, you’ll want to check out her books on Amazon and her podcast, Beyond Fiction Podcast.
Suzy Taylor Oakley did the proofreading for me. She has the eye of an eagle when it comes to a manuscript. I’m so grateful for you, Suzy.
One last thanks (so you don’t feel like you are enduring the Oscars here) goes out to Sam Schey. He’s a voracious reader and book reviewer who has the courage to speak truth when he knows a book can be better. Sam saw the first draft of this story and gave me feedback that literally sent me on a quest to make this story as engaging as I could make it.
A good book rarely comes from one set of hands. I cherish each of you.
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