by M. Leighton
I don’t think Momma was totally thrilled about letting her take care of the wedding, but she knew how much it meant to Grandma, so she agreed. My dad wasn’t too fond of the idea either, but he just shrugged and said whatever made my mom happy was fine with him. That’s kind of his thing—shrugging. Well, that and making Momma happy.
It’s really cool seeing them together. Part of me is actually happy that I didn’t know he existed. It would’ve just hurt to know he was out there and unreachable. Plus, now, I get to see him as my dad, but also as the guy my mom fell in love with. The whole dating thing was weird, but I got over it pretty quick. He makes her so happy. You can see it in her face, in her eyes, and in her smile. Anyone who gives even the tiniest crap about her would’ve wanted him to stick around, no matter how creepy the PDA was.
I look over at my dad where he’s standing, tall and strong, waiting for the music that will cue Momma’s walk down the aisle. He catches me watching him and winks. Then he sticks out his tongue real quick at me. I grin. I can’t help it. He’s such a dork. An awesome dork.
I never thought I’d be this happy.
I glance over at Miles. He’s my dad’s best man, which is kinda weird, but kinda not. He’s the boy I met at the hospital in Duke. He was there having a complicated surgery to repair a spinal injury he got playing football. He and my dad hit it off right away. Miles and me? Not so much.
At first we were both pretty grumpy. I was stuck in the hospital for quite a while and it got old fast, but then one day, out of the blue, I noticed how gray his eyes were and how they made my stomach feel when he looked at me.
Things took a much more romantic turn after that.
As luck would have it, he lives in the next town. He came over to see me when we got back to Shepherd’s Mill. Not too long after that, I got my first kiss. After Momma had carefully screened him for signs of cold, flu, or fever, of course. We lovingly call her the Snot Nazi because she’s always asking about runny noses and weepy eyes and stuff. She’s neurotic, but I can hardly fault her for it.
I didn’t tell her, but I’d have risked getting sick just to kiss him. In a way, it felt more important than breathing. I knew she’d understand because she once told me that’s how she felt about my dad—like kissing him, being with him was more important than air.
Now I get it.
I’m young, I know, but I’m still going to enjoy every minute of this as long as I can. It may not work out at all, but it’s not irrational of me to hope it will. It did for my mom and dad. They fell in love at age twelve then were separated for fifteen years, but they found their way back to each other. Seeing them together makes it feel like dreams come true and miracles happen and true love really does exist. They give me hope. Just being in the same room with them gives me hope.
I glance over at my grandmother. Her boyfriend, John, is beside her. My sister, Hope, is on her lap. She’s dressed in a miniature version of Momma’s wedding dress, because Hope was the flower girl. That’s the only thing about her that looks like us, though. She looks like a girly version of Dad, with her dark hair and rust-brown eyes. I smile at her and she waves. She’s a dorky toddler, but I love her.
I hear the pianist strike the first chord to the wedding march. Everyone stands to their feet and turns toward the house, every eye waiting to see my mother when she appears. I saw her before I walked down, though, so I swing my gaze to my dad. I want to watch him for a few minutes first. I want to see his face when he sees her.
I know the instant she appears. I hear him suck in a breath of air and he looks like he just saw the sun for the first time.
I see his jaw go slack for a second and then it clenches. I know he’s holding in all kinds of emotion. I’ve seen him make that face before, but never quite like this.
His eyes are glued to her, and I watch them move as she moves. He looks awestruck. And so very much in love.
The closer she gets, the more I see him relax. I know a few seconds before she takes his hand that she’s near. His face splits into a smile, like the smile, and I know it’s because of her.
I smile, too.
Because I can’t help it.
And then I look at my mother.
As I stare at her, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and her perfectly hanging veil blur. Her gorgeous designer dress is a fuzzy white silhouette and her one-of-a-kind necklace is a bundle of sparkles, nothing to compare with how beautiful she is. All I can see is her face. I still see it clearly, and I doubt I’ll ever forget it.
She looks luminous.
She shines with love. It almost hurts to look at her, but in a really good way. She’s smiling and crying at the same time, and I realize I’m doing the same thing. I’ve never seen two people more destined to be together, and I’ve never known two people who’ve fought more to be together either. They inspire me. Every day.
Momma takes my dad’s hand and they both turn toward the minister. The swoosh of expensive fabric echoes all around as the zillion guests Grandma invited take their seats.
“Dearly beloved,” he begins, and then goes through the traditional marriage ceremony. I watch with pride and with love, so happy for the two most important people in my life.
I glance at Miles again, and he’s watching me, smiling. I wonder what he’s thinking. Maybe afterward I’ll ask.
I look back to my parents when I hear my dad’s voice. “I loved you before I really even knew what love was, but you’ve shown me what it means to truly give your life to another person, to put their happiness above your own. Until my dying breath, I will be the one to show you that kind of love. I will be the one to sacrifice for you. I will be the one to walk through fire for you. I will be the one to pick you up when you fall, and carry you when you’re sick, and hold you when you cry. I will be the one. Because I’m yours. You have my whole heart for my whole life. You always have.”
Although her back is to me, I hear my mom’s soft little intake of breath and I know she’s fighting tears. She hadn’t heard his vows. He kept them to himself until this very moment. Now everyone knows how much he loves her, including her.
Her voice is shaking when she starts to speak. “You saved me, Dane James. You saved me when I was twelve, and when I was fifteen, and when I was seventeen, and you’ve saved me every day since I came back. You’re my love, my world. You are my rock.”
At that, my dad smiles. I guess it must be some sort of inside joke.
The minister says, “You may now kiss the bride.” My dad is doing it before he can even finish the sentence.
When they turn toward the crowd, hand in hand, Reverend Daniels announces, “Mr. and Mrs. Dane and Brinkley James.”
Applause rings through the air and both my parents turn toward me. Momma holds out her hand and I step forward to take it. She pulls me in between her and my dad just as Grandma steps up with Hope. She hands her off to Dad and then holds out her hand for his free one. Dad situates Hope on his hip and takes my grandmother’s hand just before she reaches for Momma’s hand.
Everyone in the yard is standing, watching, waiting as Grandma turns to speak to the crowd.
“When we moved to Shepherd’s Mill, I thought it would be a place to start over, a place for my daughter and me to have a better life. I wanted to bring her to a town where I could teach her what proper ladies acted like and how women with a good life behave themselves. I thought I brought her here to mold her and shape her and teach her, but she ended up teaching me.” Grandma looks over to my mom, her eyes all sparkly with tears. “I thought she was a willful, stubborn girl, just young and silly, but as it turns out, she was, she is, a much better person than I am. It turns out that my daughter taught me. She taught me everything I need to know about life and love.”
Grandma lets go of Mom and Dad’s hands and cups Momma’s face. Tears are streaming down my mother’s cheeks, but I know she doesn’t care. There’s a kind of happiness, a kind of peace in her eyes that no amount of mascara can enhance. “You grew me
up, Brinkley. You showed me what true love is and how money shouldn’t change who you are. Knowing you, watching you live your life, even the years you were away from here, has made me a better person, and I just want you to know…I want everyone to know that I’m so proud of you. So, so proud of you.” Grandma makes a little sobbing sound and draws Momma into a hug. No one says a word or moves a muscle until they pull apart and Grandma reaches over to put her hand to Dad’s cheek, too. “I couldn’t have chosen better for her. You’re the kind of man she needs. She knew it even when I didn’t, and I’m glad she didn’t listen to me. You’re…you’re the only one for her. You always were. And I’m happy to call you my son.”
My dad smiles and leans down to kiss her cheek. Hope gets in on it, too, wrapping her chubby little arm around Grandma’s neck and making a smacking sound like she’s giving sugar.
Everyone laughs.
Grandma turns around to the crowd and, with a big smile, announces, “My daughter and son-in-law. May they find happiness in every day of their forever.”
A few claps start at first, but then more erupt, and soon everyone in the yard is clapping and cheering for my parents. They were the underdogs in this town and, whether everyone realizes it or not, they came out on top.
John comes up, and he and Grandma fall in behind us. Together, we all walk down the aisle.
This is one of the best days of my life.
I know it’s one of the best for my parents.
They’ve found true happiness. They’ve shown me that life is what we make of it. We just have to be determined enough to chase what we want and do what’s right, no matter what other people say or think.
They give me hope, and I think today they gave a whole lot of other people hope, too.
the end
Dear Reader
Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to meet Dane and Brinkley. I hope you’ve loved their journey as much as I loved writing it. It is my greatest wish that you’ve found something valuable within these pages—hope, love, inspiration, something good to take with you when you go. The Lord gave me the ability to write so that, through me, He could touch hearts all over the world with hope and love and light. I give Him all the glory and thank Him every day for the life, the voice, the opportunity I’ve been given. And I thank YOU for reading.
If you were touched by this story, loved it, thought about it, smiled over it, swooned over it, please consider telling a friend and leaving a review. Your words, spoken and written, are more powerful than you know, and to an author, they’re like water and air and life. You may think you’re just one person, just one reader, but to me, you are much more than that. You are a person who helped change my life. You are a person who can make a difference every time you pick up a book, leave a review, or recommend that book to a friend. Each and every time you do this, you play a vital role in an author’s life. You play a vital role in MY life, and for that I am more appreciative than I could ever express. So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.
Until next time…
Michelle
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Acknowledgments
First is always my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Always.
Next is always my husband. YOU are MY rock. You are the strong and solid fixture in my life, the anchor that keeps me from drifting out to sea. I would be lost without you. I love you more than anything, anything, anything.
To Courtney, the best best friend a girl could ask for. You just get me. You get my thoughts, my humor, my worries and my books. You make me a better me, and my books better places to be. Thank you. Always always always.
To Addison. You’ve become such an important piece of my daily life. You inspire me every single day. I’m so grateful to be able to call you friend and sister. Thank you for your insight on this project. Thank you for just being you. It’s a beautiful thing!
To Kat. You are so tirelessly willing and optimistic, and I love the bright light you bring to my days. You knew and loved these characters years ago and you never gave up on them. Just like you never give up on me. Thank you. Just…thank you.
To Paige. You are such a pleasure to work with, and such a treasure to know. You made this book shine and I so appreciate your patience with me.
To Teresa, Andrea, and Sarah. Thank you for taking time out of your life for these characters, and thank you for your input and your encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me. No. Freaking. Idea.
To every blogger who participated in this release. Y’all never cease to amaze me with your love and willingness to help. I am privileged and deeply honored to be able to work with such incredible women. Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart, thank you!
Other Books By M. Leighton
All the Pretty Lies
All the Pretty Poses
All Things Pretty
Down to You
Up to Me
Everything for Us
Always with You
The Beautiful Now
Levi’s Blue
Pocketful of Sand
The Empty Jar
Strong Enough
Tough Enough
Brave Enough
The Wild Ones
Wild Child
Some Like It Wild
There’s Wild, Then There’s You
YA and PARANORMAL
Fragile
Madly
Madly & Wolfhardt
Madly & the Jackal
Blood Like Poison: For the Love of a Vampire
Blood Like Poison: Destined for a Vampire
Blood Like Poison: To Kill an Angel
The Reaping
The Reckoning
About the Author
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a rarely ever comfortable speaking about herself in the third person, but here goes. Michelle is a former nurse who has always harbored a passion for the written word, a weakness for alpha males, and a profound love of all things romantic. Never in her wildest dreams did this Yankee-turned-Southerner imagine her life as it is today. She has the best job in the world, a husband who treats her like a princess, and a dog that's so smart she may one day write a novel, too. You can often find Michelle hidden away in her cave, crafting a new story, or out in the sunshine enjoying some quiet time with her man. Movies and good food are frequently thrown into the mix, and exercise on days that start with Q. She loves wine, chocolate, the color red, and you can find out more about her at www.mleightonbooks.com.