by DiAnn Mills
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just that I want everything to be perfect.” Deidre paced the floor, her small frame draped in pale lavender, looking like a miniature model.
“It doesn’t matter if it snows for the wedding. I’m marrying the only man I ever loved, and God has blessed the day.”
“I’m so happy for you.” Deidre’s eyes pooled. “You are breathtaking.”
“Don’t you dare cry.” Alina stiffened and swallowed hard. “Or I will, too.” She listened to the stringed instruments in the sanctuary. “I never thought I’d see my wedding day.”
“God certainly grabbed your and Ryan’s attention,” Deidre said. “Thinking about you two nearly drowning on that roof still gives me the shivers.”
“Me, too. But it forced Ryan and me to see we were meant to be together.” Alina tilted her head. “It also forced us to forgive ourselves for the past.”
A knock at the door seized their attention. “Alina, are you about ready?”
She flung open the door to a thinner and healthier Fred. The transition from Flash Communications to Neon Interchange had gone smoothly despite the flood, and the new management was doing an outstanding job as far as Fred was concerned.
“Wow, Marta had better tie you down. You look rather dashing in a tux, young man.”
Beaming, Fred grasped his lapels and rocked on his heels. “Yep, I still have what it takes.” A grin tugged at his lips. “You are gorgeous. Ryan will be too tongue-tied to say his vows.”
“He’d better not. I might have to repeat them for him.”
“She would, too.” Deidre crossed her arms.
Alina took a deep breath and scooped up her bouquet of red and white roses. “Has anyone arrived yet?”
“Well, Ryan and the preacher are here.” Fred chuckled. “Those are the two most important ones. And Miss Anna is sitting on the front pew with a woman from Homeward Hills.”
“Are the groomsmen and ushers here?”
“Of course. James has been giving the other ushers instructions on which side of the church is for the bride and which side is for the groom. He is so proud of little Jenna being your flower girl.”
“I never dreamed James and Ryan would make peace, and now James is directing the ushers.” Alina swallowed against the rising emotion. “Takes a big man to admit he’s wrong. When we climbed up into that helicopter, James couldn’t get his apology out fast enough.”
“I appreciated his help after the water went down, although the insurance company took care of it all,” Fred said.
“Life has a way of working out when we least expect it,” Alina said. “I’m looking forward to chapter two.”
This book is dedicated to my sister Debbie, who always finds the sunshine in the rain.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
DiAnn Mills
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
DIANN MILLS lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Dean. They have four adult sons. She wrote from the time she could hold a pencil, but not seriously until God made it clear that she should write for Him. After three years of serious writing, her first book, Rehoboth, won favorite Heartsong Presents historical for 1998. Other publishing credits include magazine articles and short stories, devotionals, poetry, and internal writing for her church. She is an active church choir member, leads a ladies’ Bible study, and is a church librarian.