“You will. Tomorrow. I’ll have a report on the air at six a.m. giving news of a military coup in an African country that’s recently been torn apart by war.” He lifted her head, staring into her eyes. “It’s the last newscast I’ll make, Gin.”
“The last?” She frowned. “Tucker, you love your work. You can’t quit!”
“I love you more, Gin. Besides, I want to come home. I’ve run around the world long enough.”
“Home? To the Junction, you mean?” She didn’t understand what he was saying, what he was trying to tell her. “Why?”
“It’s going to take me a few minutes to explain.”
“I’m here.”
“I know.” He kissed the top of her head, then sprawled on the floor of the clubhouse, his back against the rough, splintered logs, Ginny snuggled in his arms.
“I figured something out. It took being sent back to that hell for me to understand that Quint’s death and my injuries were God’s wake-up call.”
She snuggled closer, eyes closed as she listened to his dear voice.
“I sat there with guns blasting all around me, waiting for them to negotiate with the network for our lives. That’s when I realized that in the scheme of things, my presence on this earth, even being allowed to be here, is a gift.”
He tilted her chin. Ginny opened her eyes and saw the sheer on joy in his.
“I wasn’t there because of some freak of nature, Ginny. I was there because God couldn’t get my attention any other way. The doubts were a way of confronting my past and growing beyond that. He had a new plan for me, a new vision. But I was so mired in the ugliness I saw every day I couldn’t get beyond that to see the future. Quint’s death was the start of my wakeup call.”
“But how—” She frowned, trying to fathom it.
“I went down my own path for a long time, Gin. That’s how I got so alienated from God. I saw success, fame, money, and I started to believe that all those things were mine, if only I could prove myself. The last seven years have been about me.”
Ginny didn’t understand what he was saying. Tucker smiled, the pad of his thumb gentle against her jaw.
“I wanted the best from life, and what I saw was the worst—but it wasn’t a mistake. I see that now. It was all part of the plan.”
“The plan?”
He chuckled at her confusion.
“Uh-huh. The plan. God’s plan. A plan to give me what I really wanted all along.”
“Which is?” She shifted, tired of being kept in suspense. “If you’re not going back to reporting, what are you going to do?”
“I thought I’d stay here, marry you and run the paper.”
Ginny stared at him, her heart thumping at three times its normal pace. Could it be? Could it really be that her dream would at last come true?
“I know how ugly the world is, Gin. I’ve seen it firsthand, and I’ve told the world what I saw. But now I want to do something about it. Tom told me about Lane. He’s like a different kid.” Tucker squeezed her hand in his, his eyes blazing with purpose.
“I’ve seen the difference a little time and attention can make in the boys’ lives. I believe the paper could do the same thing, that I could use it as a vehicle to reach this community and beyond.”
Suddenly she got it. Having seen the worst, God had also shown Tucker the possibilities of the best.
“I want to be part of the solution, Ginny. A means by which people can experience joy, good news instead of ugliness, hope instead of despair. I want to show people God’s love can carry them through anything. It’s one way to stop hate from taking over here. And if we stop it here, we can stop it anywhere.”
Before her very eyes, as he spoke from his heart, Tucker’s vision grew in vibrant strength and wonder.
“If we start with the people in the Junction, start letting go of anger and hate and begin to see each other as friends and learn to understand in this corner, maybe we can make a dent in world peace.” He frowned. “Of course, I’m not sure if Marty will want to sell out to me, but I know he often spoke of retiring. Maybe he’ll want to stay on.”
“The details don’t really matter, though, do they, Tuck?” she whispered. “The Father has all of that worked out.”
He nodded, his fingers threading through her curls.
“I’m only just beginning to understand that,” he said. “If we let go and let God, anything can happen. Look at us.”
Ginny refused to cry. Not now. Not when the Lord had just handed her the desire of her heart.
“Yes, look at us,” she agreed with a tremulous smile. “Seven years, and you’re finally going to keep your promise.”
He blushed. The sight of it made Ginny giggle. He dropped his chin on her head and hugged her closer.
“I guess I needed some work done on my heart before I could finally keep my word.”
With tender strength Tucker turned her in his arms.
“I love you, Ginny Brown. I want to marry you and get started on this wonderful new life. How long do I have to wait?”
“Two weeks?”
He grinned.
“Perfect. I’ll meet you at the church in two weeks. And then we’re never going to be parted again.”
Ginny didn’t respond. She couldn’t. She was too busy kissing him.
After a few moments, Tucker lifted his head and deliberately searched out her feet.
“You promised to get a new pair of shoes for my return,” he teased.
Ginny nodded. She lifted one hand to touch his beloved face. “How about if I wear something special to our wedding?”
His eyes teased her.
“I can hardly wait.”
The church was full. The entire town had turned out to see Ginny Brown finally marry Tucker Townsend. Folks in Jubilee Junction said it was the longest engagement ever.
Ginny didn’t care. Her dream was finally coming true. What difference did a few years make?
She peeked out the door one more time. Tucker still had not appeared at the front of the church, and he was five minutes late. Where was he?
“He’ll be here, honey. You know that.” Adrian smoothed her veil away from her face, his eyes shining with love.
“I know. It’s just—”
“Okay, Ginny. We’re ready now.” Tom grinned at her, a completely new Tom dressed in a tux, his hair slicked back. “We finally got the groom here, but it took some doing.” He saw her glance at the front of the church. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s wonderful. I’m just a little nervous, I guess.” Ginny wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and huffed a sigh of relief.
“Well, get over it! I put a lot of work into this wedding and I’d like to see it through.”
A bubble of laughter burst out, barely smothered as her father led her toward the aisle.
“Don’t worry, Tom. I’m not backing out.”
“Thank goodness!” He scurried away.
Tom’s work would not go unnoticed by anyone today. The boys lined the aisle of the church, dressed in rented tuxedos that matched Tom’s, right down to the pale pink roses in their lapels and darker pink cummerbunds.
Ginny clutched her bouquet a little tighter, firmed her grip on her father’s arm and looked straight ahead, her eyes finding Tucker at last. Why was he late? Was he having second thoughts?
One glance at his face assured her that Tucker Townsend knew exactly what he was doing. She could see the love blazing out at her. Then his eyes slid down the silken cloud of her dress to her feet, a question in their depths.
Ginny lifted her skirt just a bit and let him see the flimsy blue satin sandals with their skinny heels and tiny straps. She’d chosen them especially for this day.
His eyes slid up, met hers, a glint in their depths.
“Don’t fall,” he mouthed.
She rolled her eyes. “I won’t.”
“Come on, then.” He nodded his approval, then smiled at her, a grin so chock full of love she couldn’t
be nervous.
Ginny stepped forward, then stopped, surprised, when the boys tossed rose petals onto the carpet in front of her. Whose idea was that?
Tom winked.
“Plucking these things takes a lot of time,” he whispered. “Tucker spent the morning driving to the city so we’d have enough. I’m afraid we made him late. Sorry, Ginny, but we wanted everything perfect.”
Heart bursting, she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.
“It is. Absolutely perfect. Thank you, guys.” She included them all in her smile.
Then, with her father’s arm supporting her, Ginny walked down the aisle to Tucker.
The service was short. That was Tucker’s choice. His only break with convention was the little speech he offered her before he gave her a ring.
“Ginny, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.” His voice was strong, firm and yet so tender. “Inside and out, you radiate God’s love. It took me a long time to let that love inside, to let its light heal the hurts and show me a better way.”
He pulled something out of his pocket.
“I once told you I didn’t believe in happily ever after.” His voice dropped so the congregation had to lean forward to hear. “You are my happily ever after, Gin, my hope for the future.”
He slipped a magnificent diamond ring onto her finger. Ginny stared as the sunlight caught the facets and shimmered a blaze of light. It was a glorious ring, but it couldn’t surpass the rich glow of love on his face.
Tucker bent his head and kissed her hand, but he didn’t release it. Ginny held her breath as he spoke again, his voice so soft only she could hear.
“I’m giving you this ring as my pledge. I will love and cherish you forever. You’ve lived in my heart for more than seven years, Gin. You belong there.” And then he slipped a wide gold band into place, guarding the diamond.
She wasn’t supposed to say anything. She hadn’t planned a speech. But somehow, as she repeated the vows the pastor recited, the words slid into her mind, and she knew she had to say them.
“Loving you was worth the wait, Tucker. I’m giving you this ring as a promise that whereever you go, whatever you do, I will always believe in you.”
She slid the ring onto his finger.
“I love you.”
“Tucker, you may kiss your bride.”
His kiss was filled with promise, but it was far too short. Ginny didn’t protest. She turned with him to face the folks of Jubilee Junction as the announcement was made.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Tucker and Ginny Townsend.”
They walked down the aisle under a canopy of confetti, which the boys delightedly tossed over them. Outside, friends and relatives gathered around to congratulate the happy couple.
Marty limped up, grabbed Tucker’s hand and pumped it vigorously. “Congratulations. I’m already feeling lots better.”
Coach Bains stepped up, whacked Tucker on the back, a huge grin lighting his face.
“Took you long enough. In my day, we worked a little faster.”
Marty grinned. The boys hooted.
Tucker ignored their gibes. He dusted the confetti off his shoulders, then clasped Ginny’s hand in his.
“Good things come to those who wait, Gin,” he whispered. “I promised you happily ever after, and you’re going to get it.”
“Something tells me it’s not going to take you seven years to keep this promise.” She grinned.
He bent to brush his lips over hers.
“The rest of my life, Gin. That’s how long it’s gonna take to finish this story.”
She snuggled into the arm he wrapped around her waist.
“Okay.”
She was Tucker’s bride. She could wait for whatever else God had in store.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5182-6
TUCKER’S BRIDE
Copyright © 2002 by Lois Richer
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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†Faith, Hope & Charity
*Brides of the Seasons
‡If Wishes Were Weddings
Tucker's Bride Page 21