Adam's Promise
Page 19
A week later, the Broadmoor Hotel ballroom over-flowed with friends and family. Kate stood beside Adam and looked at the crowd that Liza had said would be a small group of family and friends. Kate figured Adam either had a huge family or the Montgomerys had a city’s worth of friends.
She’d smiled and greeted people until her hand was sore, making her grateful her left arm had received the wound. Though it was healing, the soreness remained. Adam told her he knew a good plastic surgeon who could repair her scar if she wanted. She’d thought about keeping it just to remind her of the Lord’s love and mercy.
As Adam linked his hand in hers, she became aware again of the lovely oval diamond on her finger. Its colors glinted in the light from the crystal chandeliers that hung above them. She’d almost hated to give up the rubber band and had placed it in a special spot as a remembrance. Adam laughed at her sentimentality.
Her gaze drifted over the crowd. Most people were strangers but among them she saw Colleen, Jake and Sam, of course. Aunt Fiona’s red hair bounced among the guests. With so many family members, she would take forever to learn their names.
She saw Sam coming her way. Today his look had softened.
“Congratulations,” he said to Adam. “And the best to you, Kate.”
Adam clasped Sam’s shoulder. “Thanks, and I haven’t had time to thank you. If you hadn’t arrived, we’d both be dead.”
Sam shrugged. “I wish you had given me a clue. Valenti called while I was in your room, didn’t he?”
No sense in covering now, Adam thought, as the horrible telephone call struck his thoughts. “You’re right, but he threatened to kill Kate if he saw police…and I guess I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry.”
“I understand,” Sam said, “but it was stupid. Anyway, it worked out, and that’s all that’s important.” He shoved his hand into his pocket. “So when’s the big day?”
Adam looked at Kate, and she gave him an approving nod. “Soon. Another month. Something small. Kate and I are anxious to get on with our lives. We waited too long to waste any more time.”
“I can’t blame you,” Sam said, then used his shoulder to gesture toward Adam’s parents, “but are your folks going to settle for a small wedding?”
Adam laughed. “Sure.” He motioned to the crowd. “This is their version of a small engagement party.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “Really, Adam? Since I have no family, I figured our wedding…” Her voice faded.
Sam motioned to the guests. “This is your family now, Kate. You’ll have to take them or leave them.”
She eyed the crowd, and her frown turned to a smile. “Guess I’ll take them.”
“You’ll be at the wedding, I hope,” Adam said, looking into his friend’s eyes and seeing an approving smile.
“As they say, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
As Sam said goodbye, Adam spotted his father heading toward the microphone, a glass of sparkling cider in his hand. Adam knew what that meant.
The microphone gave a thud as Frank stepped into place. Adam watched all eyes turn toward his father. He gave the mike a tap and lifted his glass. “Tonight is an amazing evening for Liza and me and we’re grateful that so many family and friends were able to join us on such short notice. We’re here to celebrate the engagement of our son, Adam, and his delightful fiancée Kate, but we also want to take this time to thank the Lord for His loving protection.”
As eyes turned toward them, Adam drew Kate closer to his side, recalling how many times he’d thanked the Lord in the past few days.
“We don’t want to dwell on the disturbing incident of last week. Instead I want to make a toast to my son and my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Liza and I have been married for nearly thirty-seven years. I can only speak for myself, but I am grateful every day that the Lord led me to this wonderful woman.”
The crowd applauded, and Adam watched his mother brush away Frank’s comment while her face beamed with his words.
“Adam and Kate, I want to leave you with a few words to think about—words your mother and I lived by. They’re not mine, but they belong to Someone even greater than the mayor of Colorado Springs.”
Titters skittered through the crowd.
“This comes from First Corinthians thirteen.”
The laughter quieted. Adam looked with pride at his father, then gazed at Kate. Her eyes brimmed with tears. He slid his arm around her back and drew her closer.
Frank looked at Adam and Kate. “‘Love is patient and kind. It’s not rude or self-seeking. Love doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’” He lifted his glass. “Adam and Kate, your mother and I wish you many years of happiness, and most of all, we wish you God’s blessings.”
Voices echoed in agreement. Glasses were raised and the cider was sipped to wish them God’s grace.
“How about kissing your lovely fiancée?” a voice rang out. Others joined in the chant.
Adam captured Kate’s gaze. Her eyes sparkled brighter than the diamond he’d placed on her finger earlier that day. “I love you, Kate. I’ll cherish you for the rest of my days.”
“Promise?” she said. “Because I love you, too, Adam, more than I can ever say.”
“Promise,” he said. “Forever.”
In front of God and all the witnesses, Adam lowered his mouth to the most beautiful woman in the world. His angel. His Kate.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Gail Gaymer Martin for her contribution to the FAITH ON THE LINE series.
To my editor, Patience Smith, and my agent, Pam Hopkins, for their loving support, encouragement and direction. I’ll never forget their kindness and friendship.
And thanks to surgeons and authors Dr. Mel Hodde and his wife, Cheryl, who write as Hannah Alexander, and Dr. Harry Kraus, for medical details and advice. To Nancy Williams, Patty Hall and Carla Long, for answering my nursing questions. To Debbie Kinnard, Spanish translator, for her assistance. To Lynda Sandoval, aka Lynda Sue Cooper, for answers to my police and detective questions and, finally to Doris McCraw from the Colorado Springs Visitors Bureau, for providing me with all the great information.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0726-4
ADAM’S PROMISE
Copyright © 2004 by Steeple Hill Books, Fribourg, Switzerland
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