His Small-Town Girl
Page 20
Tyler opened his mouth, ostensibly to object, but Charlotte elbowed him discreetly, aware that compromise behooved her and would henceforth be a large portion of her life. Besides, she would not pass up an opportunity to befriend her future sister-in-law. Her life, it seemed, had irrevocably changed in amazing ways.
“I trust you and your mother will take care of those details for us,” Charlotte told Cassandra.
Tyler made a choking sound that quickly turned into a short cough. Less concerned with politesse, Preston baldly stated, “Try and stop them.”
“You can count on us,” Cassandra said to Charlotte, ignoring her brothers completely. Turning, she hurried back in the direction from which she’d come, muttering, “I hope Mother is not asleep yet.”
Preston rose languidly. “I’m leaving before I get dragooned into helping out.” He had just turned away when Tyler stopped him.
“Preston?” The younger man looked back. Tyler stepped forward uncertainly. “I’d like to say something to you, something that should’ve been said long ago.”
Preston smiled slightly. “I love you, too, bro.” Then he walked away.
Elated, Charlotte went to slide her arms about Tyler’s waist. “Things seem to be turning out better than I ever imagined.”
“You can say that again,” he told her, lifting his own arms about her. “I’ll take you home tomorrow if you want.”
“Hmm.” She considered, feeling very much like a cat in cream. “Better wait on that. I think I have some shopping to do.”
He laughed. “Buy anything you want. We’ll start at the jewelers.”
Charlotte sighed. “I’m afraid I could get used to this.”
“I certainly hope so. Just like I got used to Eden.”
The days passed in a whirlwind. It was more than a week before Charlotte saw her home again. They returned to Eden in a car laden with new purchases, and that did not count what Ty or Cassandra or Amanda had had shipped ahead or what would arrive later.
They’d planned the ceremony for the following Friday, the first Friday in December, and Charlotte had been gratified to find the church elaborately decorated for Christmas. She showed off her ridiculously extravagant ring and hung on to Ty as if he might disappear in a puff of smoke.
On Sunday evening, they took a lingering leave of one another. Ty had to get back to Dallas to tend to business there so he could afford to take time off for the honeymoon. Since she had no passport, they had decided on a very exclusive resort in the mountains of Colorado. Ty had promised her horse-drawn sleigh rides and skiing lessons.
He would return on Thursday with his family, a thought that made Charlotte’s stomach cramp when she realized how primitive they were apt to find their accommodations.
She need not have worried. The Aldriches swept into town like traveling royalty and behaved just as graciously. Amanda had the rehearsal dinner and the reception catered, all the way from Dallas, in the church fellowship hall. Cassandra produced a mountain of lush poinsettias, sumptuous gold satin and thousands of twinkling lights, with which her personal decorator built a glorious bridal arch unlike anything Eden had ever seen. Preston’s gift to them was a stringed quartet that produced hours of classical music.
The ceremony itself was somewhat unconventional.
Hap escorted Charlotte down the candlelit aisle of the packed church in her gorgeous new wedding gown. Her brothers met her at the altar and gave her hand in marriage, then stood at her side while Cassandra and Preston stood with Tyler.
Grover seemed somewhat overwhelmed, but as Hap would say later, “He got her done.”
Charlotte stood with tears in her eyes and joy in heart to repeat her vows to Tyler and then laughed when Ty, the suave and debonair man from Big D, bobbled his own lines.
“Oh, forget it,” he exclaimed. “I love you, Charlotte, with my whole heart, you and your family and my family and this whole town. The day I blundered in here was the most fortunate day of my life, and I praise God for it. With His help I’ll make you the best husband I possibly can.”
“You aren’t apt to get a better deal than that,” Justus Inman called from behind them.
Everyone laughed, and Grover quickly pronounced them husband and wife. After a long kiss that produced catcalls and more laughter, they ran back up the aisle, then stood arm in arm at the back of the church, watching their families file toward them.
“We’re going to be so happy,” she whispered.
“Yes, we are,” he told her, hugging her close.
They watched Hap offer Amanda his arm, then hobble along beside her with his hitching step somehow matched to her elegant stride.
“All of us.”
Laughing, they ran out into the December night, warm despite the chill of the evening, understanding just how richly God could and would bless His obedient children.
It went far, far beyond monetary things, from creation to salvation to the heart’s desires.
And to think, Charlotte, said to her husband later, that she’d almost missed out!
Just by opening herself to it, by putting aside her assumptions and being willing to let God have His way, she’d received one of the greatest blessings of all.
True love.
Only that could build a bridge between two worlds.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Eden, Oklahoma—God’s country, land of oil! I grew up in south central Oklahoma. That’s where I gained the foundation upon which my life is built, where I received the Lord and first dreamed of being an author. That’s also where I met the love of my life.
I’ve tried to bring the feel and spirit of the place to you and to impart some of what I learned in the little church that my grandfather helped to build with his own hands. What better place to set a series about love and faith and the goodness of our Heavenly Father? It is, in many ways, a world apart. I hope you’ll enjoy your visit there as much as Tyler Aldrich does and that you will be as richly blessed.
God bless,
Arlene James
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
One of the great burdens in Tyler’s life was the acrimonious relationship he had with his family, all of whom were fighting for control of the family company and wealth. Is great financial wealth a hindrance to healthy relationships? Why or why not?
Tyler had attended church his entire life, mostly for the sake of image. He never understood why he should really be attending church. Is his wealth a hindrance to his spiritual maturity?
It is often said that ours is not a God of confusion. Why, then, are committed Christians like Charlotte subject to confusion at times?
Until she fell in love with Tyler, Charlotte thought she knew God’s will for her life. Yet, Ecclesiastes 3:10–10 speaks to the “seasons” of our earthly lives. In light of this, does God’s will for our personal lives ever change? Is this what happened to Charlotte?
The Jeffords saw Tyler Aldrich as someone in need. As Christians we are taught to minister to the needy, but how do we define “needy,” and is it possible for the financially wealthy to be as needy as the less affluent?
The Jeffords ministered to Tyler in a very personal fashion, but the average Christian does not have the opportunity to mingle with the very wealthy. How can we, as Christians, go about ministering to the needs of the financially wealthy?
At one point, during a prayer service, Tyler feels “a presence.” Is it possible in this day and age to feel the physical presence of God?
As Tyler fell deeper and deeper in love, his love for his family began to come to the fore. Is this because he was falling in love with Charlotte?
Tyler eventually found peace through surrender to Christ. Given his financial resources, he could have done much for the cause of Christ. Should financially wealthy Christians feel guilty about spending money on themselves or loved ones?
As Charlotte fell deeper and deeper in love, she began to question her understanding of God’s will for her life. Is this because she had been fo
oling herself about her commitment to Christ?
Charlotte fought against allowing her emotions to guide her. Is it ever wise for a Christian to allow his/her emotions to guide him/her? Why or why not?
STEEPLE HILL BOOKS
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1852-3
HIS SMALL-TOWN GIRL
Copyright © 2008 by Deborah Rather
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*Everyday Miracles
*Everyday Miracles
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**Eden, OK