Perfect Bride for Christmas, A

by Dyann Love Barr

  Zoe turned over her shoulder to check out the back of the dress. Jesse was right; it was perfect.

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  Small, delicate curls framed her face instead of her usual wisps. Her eyes appeared large and green in the mirror. Today, she seemed every inch a bride.

  Jesse used special crystal-decorated pins to fasten the veil so Zoe’s curls peeked out.

  “You look pretty, Mommy,” Michaela said as she tried to sword fight with Macy, using the wands as their weapons.

  “So do you, but ladies don’t do that with their wands. Macy.” She turned to her eldest who gave her wand one last flourish. “Do you want me to take away the wands?”

  “No.” Macy quickly put the wand behind her back.

  “Good, because you don’t want to break them.”

  Zoe pointed to a small settee in Amelia’s bedroom.

  “Sit over there. I want you to keep your dresses pretty for Daddy.”

  Macy and Michaela sat down as instructed but whispered behind their hands and giggled. Mia stood quiet as a mouse.

  Amelia came into the room, excited and flushed with exertion. “Oh my, the dress is beautiful, and so are you.” Today she used her crutches, but the girls had decorated them with the same pink ribbons as on their wands. “Jesse, could you hand me the holly wreath?”

  Jesse picked the small wreath from the white box sitting on the bed and gave it to Amelia.

  “I remember by future mother-in-law doing this for me.” Amelia touched the wreath gingerly. The sharp little points gave Zoe a moment of trepidation.

  The green and red of the holly looked more like a crown of thorns as Amelia raised it over Zoe’s head.

  “Cassie King scared the bejesus out of me. I just knew she hated me for being that hippie chick.”

  Zoe couldn’t imagine Amelia as a hippie. The shock must have shown in her eyes.

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  “I’ll bet you didn’t know that about me, did you?”

  Amelia’s reflection smiled back at Zoe. “She said the King brides wore the holly to remind them that love can cause pain, but its evergreen like the holly.”

  “That’s beautiful.” Tears welled in the corners of Zoe’s eyes

  “And can hurt like hell,” Amelia chuckled. “You can take it off as soon as you say your I do’s.”

  “Mommy.” Mia wriggled up and down. “I gotta go potty.”

  Amelia turned to Jesse. “Could you take Mia to the bathroom down the hall?”

  “Sure.” Jesse held out her hand to Mia. “Come on, sweetie.”

  Zoe watched her daughter leave with Jesse. “Is the judge here?”

  “Yes, he and Alex are thick as thieves.” Amelia gave Zoe a once over and nodded with approval.

  “Alex will be stunned when he sees you come down the stairs.”

  Zoe grabbed a tissue from the bureau to wipe her sweaty palms. “I’m nervous.”

  “Why? We have a ton of food, a few choice guests, the judge, a bride and groom…” Amelia shot a glance at her giggling granddaughters. “Not to mention three of the prettiest maids of honor I’ve ever seen.”

  “Heath is going to give me away.” Zoe stood straight, careful not to jiggle the holly wreath on her head. The less blood the better, unless she wanted to look like the bride of Dracula. “I asked him yesterday if he would do the honors.”

  “It’s just about time.” Amelia looked at the small clock on her bedside table.

  As if on cue, Heath knocked. “I’m here to collect a bridesmaid and the bride,” he called. She opened the door, and Heath stood there looking almost as handsome as Alex.

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  “Where’s Clint?” Zoe asked.

  “He can’t be here. His mare is foaling.”

  Zoe looked over at Amelia. Her face tightened, but she said nothing. Zoe furrowed her brow. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  Amelia held out her hand to the two little girls on the settee. “Come on, girls. Walk your old grandmother down the steps. We’ll find Mia and Jesse on the way downstairs.”

  Zoe watched them go with pride.

  Heath smiled down, catching her holding her hand over her stomach to quell the butterflies. “Alex is sweating bullets. We better get down there before he hyperventilates. I’d hate to have the wedding pictures show him face-first in the carpet.” He held out his arm to her. “Are you ready to do this?”

  “By all means.” Zoe placed her hand on the fine material of his tux. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  ****

  Alex stood in front of the fireplace, impatient with the need to see Zoe. His mother had turned the large family room into a small wedding chapel of white, pink, red, green and gold. It should clash with the glitter of Christmas décor, but his mother had a way with decorating. He was sure she bullied the colors into either working together or suffering the wrath of Amelia King. He smiled at the silly thought and tried not to wipe his damp palms against his tux pants.

  The guests sat on white chairs with a small aisle down the center. In a few minutes, Zoe would make an appearance. Pachelbel’s Canon In D started up.

  Jesse came down the aisle on Heath’s arm, a vision in a beaded blue dress.

  Clint should be at his side, but Alex understood the reason he had to leave. Maybe he’d come to the reception later. He smiled as Heath made a quick exit to bring Alex his bride.

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  A Perfect Bride for Christmas His daughters followed in Jesse’s wake with small pink, red and white bouquets and wands. The temptation to wave the wands won out over any attempt at solemnity. They laughed and giggled their way down the aisle until Jesse gave everyone an apologetic smile and corralled his bunch next to her. Macy rocked on her ankles while Michaela pulled at the tulle under her skirt. Mia peeked up at him with a smile, giving her wand a small wave. Ah, he thought, there is a streak of defiance in his little princess.

  Next, the familiar strain of music that signaled the approach of the bride struck up. The guests rose to their feet. Alex saw a dainty pair of white satin shoes first, along with Heath’s big black clodhoppers coming down the stairs. Next came a delicate flow of lace, and then he saw her face.

  Zoe beamed with radiance. Heath smiled and gave Alex a wink.

  The judge asked them to take their places.

  “It’s my great honor to join my friend, Alex Franklin King, in marriage to Zoe Ann Hillman King Bennett.” He smiled and opened a Bible. “I’m not a minister or priest, but I want to read something that stuck with me the day my wife walked down the aisle. It’s kept us together for over thirty years. This is from First Corinthains.”

  His finger traced the words as he recited, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing .”

  Pausing to breathe, he gave Alex and Zoe a meaningful glance then continued, “Love is patient, 323

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  love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

  “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face
to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

  Judge Parker closed the bible. “I believe you’ve written your vows?”

  They both nodded.

  “Alex, the ball’s in your court.”

  Alex’s throat strained with emotion. “I, Alex, promise you Zoe, to be your husband, your constant friend, your faithful partner, and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”

  His hands shook as he took the ring from Heath.

  Heath’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Alex raised an eyebrow in question but went on with his vows. He’d come too far to be upstaged by a cell 324

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas phone.

  “With this ring, I take you as my wife, for as long as we both shall live.”

  Zoe smiled up at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. The ring slid on her finger as if it had been there forever.

  Zoe took the ring from Jesse, repeated the vows in a clear voice, and pushed the gold band on his finger.

  A dull buzz came from Heath’s direction again.

  Heath looked troubled but gave Alex and Zoe a jerky smile. His mind definitely wasn’t on the wedding.

  The wedding vows were exchanged, but Alex had one last thing to do.

  “Michaela, come here, please.” Alex bent down on one knee and motioned to the triplet who tugged at her dress as if she couldn’t stand another moment in the lace and frills.

  She did as asked but leaned forward, “Can we be done yet?”

  Everyone laughed at her not too subtle whisper.

  Alex lifted her dark curls, then produced a tiny gold locket from inside his jacket. He draped it around Michaela’s neck, and quietly said, “Just about, sweetie.”

  He motioned to the other two. Zoe urged them forward. Alex gave his other daughters the same locket and reached for Zoe’s hand.

  “Girls,” Alex said in a stronger voice. “We’re family now. All of us.” He swallowed hard and dragged in a breath. “I love you all so much.” They embraced as family, amidst a few stray sniffles from the guests.

  Heath’s phone buzzed again. He looked at the caller ID before stuffing it back into the inside pocket of his tux. From the expression on Heath’s face, it had to be serious. He gave Alex an apologetic look and made a discreet escape. Jesse watched him 325

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  leave and sent Alex a silent question with the lift of one eyebrow. He shrugged and shook his head.

  “Zoe and Alex, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, and have made your commitment known to your children, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife.”

  Judge Parker smiled at Alex, then said,

  “Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.”

  Clapping filled the room as Alex pulled Zoe in close and did just that.

  His mother got out of her chair and came forward to kiss both Alex and Zoe. He leaned down to hug her, feeling her small bones as he pulled her close and smelled her familiar ‘Mom’ perfume. Alex felt a tug at his heart. His father should be here to clap him on the back and wish him well. Jesse congratulated them with them a quick hug and scooted out of the room.

  “Everyone, we have enough food to feed half of Kansas City in the dining room,” his mother announced to the guests. “Help yourselves.”

  The next half hour passed in a flurry of pictures and trying to keep Michaela from shucking out of her fancy dress. They cut the cake, consumed several glasses of champagne, and Judge Parker made the toast en lieu of Alex’s brothers. Anxious to leave all this behind, to get his bride to himself, Alex turned to Zoe. “What do you say about getting out of here?”

  ****

  Zoe nodded her thanks for congratulations from a guest and glanced up at Alex. “I think you’re reading my mind.” She leaned closer to whisper in his ear, “Let me get the girls settled, and we can leave.” Alex pressed a kiss on her temple, and her body jerked to attention. Oh yes, she was ready to go home and have her wicked way with him.

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  “Mommy can I have some more cake?” Macy’s face had white and pink icing smeared from cheek to cheek.

  Zoe reached over for a napkin and wiped her child’s face with gentle swipes. “I think you’ve had enough. I don’t want you to have a stomachache on the first night you spend with Gramma. Okay?”

  Macy nodded and bounced out of the room to find her sisters. Guests mingled, eating and drinking to celebrate the marriage. Amelia hobbled from person to person with Keeley in her wake.

  Thank God for that, Zoe thought as she wound her way through the crowd . Amelia was in her element.

  “Amelia, Alex and I are about ready to leave. I want to say good-bye to the children and get changed. I’ll take them up and get them into something a little more casual.”

  “I’m sure they’re ready to get out of these clothes.” Amelia glanced over at Michaela who scratched at the tulle chafing her backside.

  Zoe caught Alex’s blue eyes from across the room. The love shining through filled her with so much emotion she was afraid she’d break into tears of joy. She picked up the hem of her dress and worked her way through the guests to stand next to her new husband.

  Alex flashed her his killer smile. She melted. If they didn’t get out of here soon, she’d clear off the table and have her way with him, in spite of the guests.

  “Everything’s set. I’m going to herd the children upstairs and change.”

  His hand reached up to push back a curl, the touch so soft, and yet, full of promise. “Let me go up with you. I need to get out of this monkey suit.”

  Together they ran up the stairs, eager to get the honeymoon stared.

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  Keeley stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Zoe, do you need help with the dress? I couldn’t find Jesse, but Amelia has her on clean up, so she could be anywhere. I thought you might need someone to unbutton it for you—unless Alex is filling in for her?”

  “Get her out of that dress ASAP, and you’ll be my favorite sister.”

  Macy put her hands on her hips. “Daddy, do you have other sisters?”

  “Can’t put anything past this one,” Alex laughed. “I think she has the makings of a very good attorney.”

  Keeley climbed the rest of the way up the stairs.

  “I can help with the girls as well.”

  Alex drew Zoe close and kissed her soundly, then he placed a kiss on top of each girl’s head.

  “Ladies, I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”

  Soon, Zoe stood dressed in a pair of brown wool slacks that draped like the pants she’d seen Katherine Hepburn wear in the Forties. A brown and tan fitted tweed jacket covered a golden cashmere sweater. Alex’s voice followed a quick knock on the bedroom door. “Everyone decent?”

  “Keeley’s still helping the girls,” Zoe answered as she opened the door. Her breath rushed from her lungs at the sight of him dressed in dark jeans and white sweater, slinging a brown leather jacket over his shoulder.

  He let out a long wolf whistle. “Doesn’t Mommy look yummy?”

  Heat suffused Zoe’s face at his blatant appreciation. She knew exactly what he meant as his eyes traveled up and down her body. “I think Daddy is being silly.”

  Keeley’s mouth quirked up on one side but she kept her eyes focused on dressing Macy.

  Alex winked at the girls. “So yummy I could eat 328

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas her up.”

 
“Like the big bad wolf?” Macy asked as Keeley slipped a red sweatshirt over her head.

  “Yeah,” Alex let the word draw out. “Just like the big bad wolf.”

  Michaela crooked her finger for Alex to bend down and gave his face a thorough inspection. “He doesn’t got sharp teeth.”

  Alex grabbed her up in his arms and gave a mock growl while he pretended to chew on her neck and face.

  Michaela let out a squeal of laughter and wriggled in his arms. “I like make-believe.”

  Alex swung her around to land safely on the floor.

  “Girls, remember what I told you.” Zoe picked up her long camel coat from the bed. “Mommy and Daddy are going away for the night, but we’ll be here first thing in the morning so we can have a family breakfast and open our presents together. Mind your grandmother.”

  All three stared up at her with wide blue eyes.

  “Are you sure Santa will find us? He wasn’t at the store when he was ‘posed to be.” Macy fretted.

  Alex laughed. “He’ll be here. I made sure of that.”

  “Did you holler at him?” Mia gaped up at father with awe. “Just like you did the bald guy at the store?”

  Alex had given Zoe a blow-by-blow description of his harrowing night searching for the girls and his coming down hard on Mr. Jenkins.

  “No, are you nuts?” he asked with a laugh. “I politely told him where you would be, and he said he’d make a special note of it. He’ll be here.”

  “Okay, Daddy.” Macy nodded her approval.

  “Come on, Mrs. King.” Alex put his hand at the small of Zoe’s back. “It’s time to get the honeymoon 329

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  started. Oh wait, I forgot something.” He leaned down and gave each of the triplets a kiss.

  Zoe followed his example and they were soon down the stairs and getting ready to leave.

  One person came out of the crowd, one man she had no desire to see, but she knew Alex considered him a friend.