“You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Pamela lifted one hand and twisted her hip. “Green does happen to be one of my best colors.” She motioned for them to come out of the room. “The girls are already downstairs. It’s time to get you all down there, as well.”
Mike and Pamela walked out first. Callie took a few steps and Tammie lifted the train of the dress. It was too heavy for Callie to scoop up and hold. She felt pretty good, but she didn’t want to take any chances trying to lift anything that heavy.
Once down the stairs, Tammie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then hustled out the door. Ben was probably chompin’ at the bit because he had to seat her before he could take his place beside Kirk.
Originally, they’d planned to have the wedding in front of the orchard and then clean out the barn for the reception. But Callie couldn’t tolerate much walking. Instead, Kirk, Ben and his dad built an arch and placed it a little ways from the house. She and Mike would walk off the back porch and right onto the white runner covering the wedding aisle. They’d also set up a tent with tables and chairs a few feet away for the reception.
She hadn’t been able to help decorate. Getting ready and participating in the wedding would make her sore enough. She hated that she couldn’t help, though she knew Kirk and his family had done a terrific job. She couldn’t wait to see it.
The music they’d chosen filled the air. Callie smiled at the lyrics that promised they’d love one another forever. The music changed, and she knew Pamela was walking down the aisle. After a few moments, she knew Emma and Emmy had to be walking down, dropping green, yellow, orange and red petals.
The beginning of “Wedding March” sounded, and Mike gently grabbed her elbow. “You ready?”
Callie’s heart beat with excitement. Despite her gut reaction to run when Dr. Coe had shared the results of her tests, Callie felt complete peace. She longed to see the man who would soon be her husband. She smiled at Mike. “Absolutely ready.”
He opened the door, and Callie gasped at the sight before her. Yellow, orange and red flowers hung from a white arch. Green bows wrapped around white chairs on both sides of the makeshift aisle.
And Kirk stood at the front. Gorgeous in his black tuxedo, he stared at her. His expression glowed with love for her, and Callie felt her heartbeat speed up again. In only a few steps, he would take her hands. She would gaze into his eyes and promise the rest of her life with him.
* * *
She took his breath away. He’d fallen for her sweet smile in high school. Years had passed, and now he loved every aspect of Callie—her faith, her determination, her compassion, and he still loved that sweet smile.
As she and his dad made their way toward him, he touched the ring buried in his front pocket. In a matter of moments, she would become his wife. He would promise to love and care for her the rest of their days. Wrapping his hand around the ring, he prayed, Oh, God, may they be many.
Once she reached him, he took her hands in his. Their minister talked of love and commitment, important reminders that he should listen to regarding marriage. And yet, the man’s words sounded like jumbled murmurings. Kirk’s senses only had room enough for his bride.
He drank in her beauty. The fancy curls framing her face. The gorgeous dress hugging her body. The expression of peace and love in her gaze.
He released her hand and cupped her cheek with his palm. She lifted her eyebrows in surprise then pressed her cheek against his hand. Such beautiful skin. So soft. For as many days as God allowed he would touch her, love her, care for her.
His turn came to say I do. He hadn’t listened, but it didn’t matter. Speaking the words, he knew the promise he made before God and his family and friends. He would honor his word in the good and bad. All the while, he would continue to pray for good. He’d enjoy every blissful moment and pocket them in his heart to help him through the rough days.
“By the power vested in me and the state of Tennessee—” their minister’s voice broke his reverie “—I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Kirk didn’t have to listen anymore. He knew what happened next. Stepping closer to Callie, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and pressed her lips to his. They were sweet, soft and smelled of peppermint. He longed to sweep her into his arms and carry her straight to the home he had shared with his brother. Their home now.
But he had to be careful not to hurt her. The time would come when he would wrap strong arms around her and hold her tight to himself. With everything in him, he believed healing would come.
Patience had never been his strongest point, but he would make it through. She kissed him again, and he relished the taste and feel of her lips against his. Opening his eyes, he saw the longing he felt reflected in her gaze. Contentment swelled within him. She’d come back to him. He’d continue to pray healing for her body, all the while praising God for a heart that was healed.
Epilogue
Two years later
Callie lifted the baby back ribs out of the oven. She looked at the clock and realized she needed to hurry a bit if she wanted to have dinner on the table before Kirk came in from working on the farm.
Her mind wandered to her scheduled doctor’s visit earlier that day. Much like two years ago, she’d gone expecting a regular yearly visit. Once again, she’d received unexpected news.
Looking at the sonogram printout for what had to be the hundredth time, she traced the outlines with her finger. She believed nothing could top hearing the doctor say, “Congratulations. The cancer is in remission.”
Until today.
She turned off the stove then poured the warmed baby peas into a serving dish. She did the same with the baby carrots and baby potatoes. After placing all the dishes on the kitchen table, she set out a plate and silverware for both of them. Sticking the printout inside their Bible, she placed it on the table beside Kirk’s plate.
She glanced at the clock again. He was later than usual. Twirling the string to the hood of her sweatshirt, she pondered the many reactions Kirk might have. Her thoughts shifted to Pamela’s frustration earlier that morning when she’d told Callie that Jack had contacted her wanting to see the girls. She knew what Kirk’s reaction would be to that.
She shook her head, determined not to think of Jack or Pamela right now. This moment was about her and Kirk and...
The front door opened, and Callie bit her bottom lip. Everything in her wanted to run into the other room, throw her arms around her husband and tell him all she’d learned at the doctor’s office today.
“Smells terrific in here!” he hollered from the front room.
“Thanks,” she called back as she placed her hands on the corners of her lips, trying to force the cheesy grin from her face. “I made baby back ribs.”
“Great, I’m starving.” He walked into the kitchen and went straight to the sink to wash his hands.
Taking deep breaths to calm her beating heart, she sat at the table. He joined her, and she watched as he scooped up a large spoonful of each dish. He motioned toward the food. “You gonna eat?”
She blinked. “Yes. Of course.” She lifted a spoonful of peas. “I love baby peas.”
“Yeah. They’re pretty good.”
“And baby potatoes.”
He nodded.
“And these baby carrots cooked up nicely.”
He blew out a breath. “They look wonderful, but it’s been a long day, and I’m starving.”
He reached across the table and took her hands in his. While he offered the dinner prayer, she bit her bottom lip. She didn’t know if she should fuss at him for being impatient or laugh that he wasn’t getting it. Finished with the prayer, he took a big bite of ribs.
“So, how are the baby back ribs?” she asked.
He licked his fingers, then scooped up a forkful of peas. “Delici
ous.”
She cocked her head. “What about the baby peas?”
“Good.”
He shoveled several more bites into his mouth, and Callie blew out an exasperated sigh. He pointed his fork at her plate. “Why aren’t you eating?”
Deciding to try a different approach, she folded her hands together and placed them in her lap. “I went to see Dr. Coe today.”
His face blanched. “I thought that was tomorrow. What did she say?”
Guilt niggled at her at the fear that wrapped his features. She waved her hands in front of her. “Nothing bad.” She nodded toward the Bible. “See that paper sticking out. If you’ll look at it, you’ll see they did find a little something.”
Pulling out the sonogram printout, he furrowed his brows and wrinkled his nose. “What in the world?”
Understanding wrapped his features as he lifted his brows then took in the dishes on the table. He pointed to the carrots. “Baby carrots?”
She grinned.
“And baby peas?”
She covered her mouth with her fingertips and nodded as tears filled her eyes.
He stood, almost knocking over his chair, and raced around the table. Wrapping his arms around her, he said, “Baby back ribs? Is there a reason for all this food?”
She giggled. “Yes.”
“Oh, Cals.” He planted kisses on her forehead, her eyes, her nose and then her lips. Releasing her, he pointed to the white peanut shapes on the sonogram. “Which one is our baby?”
She giggled again. “Both of them.”
* * * * *
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin ebook. Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Subscribe to our newsletter: Harlequin.com/newsletters
Visit Harlequin.com
We like you—why not like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com
ISBN: 9781460310823
Copyright © 2013 by Jennifer Johnson
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
A Heart Healed Page 15