Crazy Little Thing Called Love

by Beth K. Vogt

  Laughter bubbled forth again. “Who told you that?”

  “Logan, of course.”

  Vanessa knew other brides tried to concentrate on every detail of their weddings. The guests. The music. The surroundings. And yes, all of those things were important. The fact that Brady and Max stood next to Logan, with Rylan acting as best man. How beautiful Julie and Caron looked in their coordinating turquoise dresses, carrying mixed bouquets of pink, yellow, and orange Gerbera daisies, their lacy white shawls flowing around their arms. And how Mindy had gone before her, a smile on her face again, beautiful and confident, thanks to both the extra layer of Spanx and the shawl Jett had thought to purchase all on his own.

  But as she walked forward with her father, she only wanted to see one thing—one person. Logan.

  He stood facing forward, wearing gray slacks, a gray jacket, the sleeves rolled up, and a brilliant blue tie that matched his eyes. Just like she was, he was barefoot.

  When she stood in front of him, Logan leaned forward and whispered, “I thought you’d never get here.”

  More laughter, this time shared with Logan.

  The ceremony was brief, traditional, a repledging of their lives to each other in wholeness and illness, in wealth and poverty, in all God had in store for their lives. Just what she and Logan had planned.

  And so, when the minister broke from the script and said, “Logan asked to say a few words,” Vanessa couldn’t help but interrupt.

  “He did?”

  Laughter rippled through the thirty-some guests.

  “Yes, love. I did.” Logan pressed a kiss to her hand, adorned with her engagement ring and wedding band. “I just didn’t mention it to you.”

  • • •

  Logan could only hope Vanessa forgave him for going off-script with their wedding. While she might think this next part was impromptu, he’d planned and prayed over it for weeks.

  He intertwined their fingers. “I love you, Vanessa.”

  As Max and Rylan crossed the sand and brought the needed items from where they’d hidden them earlier in the day, Logan addressed their friends and family.

  “Most of you here know Vanessa and I were married once before when we were eighteen. Yes, I met and fell in love with her when I was a senior in high school. My grandfather, wise man that he was, told me that you either marry when you’re young and grow up together. Or you get married when you’re older—and you grow up together. I made some mistakes when Vanessa and I got married the first time . . . and I lost her.”

  “Logan . . .”

  He pressed his fingers against her lips, lowering his voice to a whisper so only Vanessa could hear what he said. “Let me do this as your husband, taking accountability for my actions. I know we’ve talked this all out. We’ve forgiven each other. And God has forgiven us. But I want to do this. I need to do this.”

  Max positioned a white wooden chair near Vanessa. Rylan offered her a grin as he set a tall pitcher and basin with a folded towel on the sand and then came and hugged his sister before leading her to the chair.

  Once Vanessa was sitting, Logan knelt in front of her. Max stood to one side, holding the microphone so everyone could hear Logan’s words. As he spoke, he poured water over Vanessa’s bare feet.

  “Love is patient. In the past, I was not patient with you. Please forgive me. It is my heart’s desire to be patient with you.

  “Love is kind. In the past, I was not kind to you. Please forgive me. It is my heart’s desire to always treat you and speak to you with kindness.

  “Love is not jealous. In the past, I was jealous of other things in your life. Please forgive me. It is my heart’s desire to love you freely.

  “Love does not brag. In the past I was focused on what I wanted. Please forgive me. It is my desire to celebrate who you are.

  “Love is not arrogant. In the past, I was prideful. Please forgive me. It is my desire to be humble and to consider you more important than myself.

  “Love does not act unbecoming. My actions toward you have not been a reflection of God’s love. Please forgive me. It is my desire to love you in a way that reflects God to the world.

  “Love does not seek its own. In the past, I was selfish. Please forgive me. It is my desire to love you in a selfless manner, not seeking my own way.

  “Love is not provoked. In the past, I went looking for reasons to be angry. To stay angry. Please forgive me. It is my desire to love you with a merciful heart.

  “Love does not take into account a wrong suffered. In the past, I kept an account of my hurts. I held on to grudges. Please forgive me. It is my desire to forgive you—again and again and again. I do forgive you.

  “Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

  “I know I will fail you, Vanessa. But I will not quit. I will not walk away.

  “I promise to love you as Christ loved the church and gave his life up for her.”

  As he spoke, Logan bathed Vanessa’s feet, washing them clean of the sand that clung to her skin. Then he dried each of her feet with the softness of the white towel, no longer speaking out loud, but praying God would bless them with a new beginning. That God would help him be the husband he longed to be.

  When he was finished, he took Vanessa’s hands and led her back to stand in front of the minister again.

  “Any other surprises?” Even though her words were teasing, he saw how her eyes shimmered with tears.

  “No. Not now.”

  “Logan and Vanessa, you have pledged your lives to each other—again.” The minister looked first at Logan and then at Vanessa. “Be wiser this time. Ask for help when times are hard. And they will be. Pray together. Forgive each other. Know God has brought you together—and he will see you through whatever lies ahead.”

  “He will.” Vanessa’s affirmation blended with Logan’s.

  “Logan, you may kiss your bride.”

  Vanessa turned to face him, the setting sun casting her in a golden glow. Logan cradled her face with his hands, caressing her skin with his thumbs.

  “I love you, Vanessa Hollister.”

  Vanessa covered his hands with hers. “I love you, Logan Hollister—with all my heart, I love you. Thank you for marrying me again.”

  “Hey!” Brady’s voice boomed across the scene. “He said to kiss her—not talk to her!”

  Logan leaned his forehead against Vanessa’s, who was moving in to meet him. “He did, didn’t he?”

  “He did, indeed.”

  Their kiss, woven of love and laughter and renewed promises, was accompanied by applause and cheers and the melody of a harp. The way Vanessa leaned into his embrace, eager to receive him and let the kiss go on, had him tightening his arms around her, drawing her closer.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, let me now introduce Mr. and Mrs. Logan and Vanessa Hollister, um, Hollister!”

  They broke apart, Vanessa burying her face in his shoulder with a breathless laugh. He caught her up in his arms, twirling her around until she begged him to stop. Then they joined hands and walked down the aisle between the few short rows of seated guests.

  “Ready to celebrate, Mrs. Hollister?”

  “Absolutely, Mr. Hollister.”

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything.

  —KATHARINE HEPBURN (1907–2003), ACTRESS

  For now, they had Henderson Beach to themselves.

  They’d even arrived before the sun made an appearance. As she and Logan walked, they left footprints in the wet sand, not bothering to look back to see the waves erase them. Logan’s hand was warm against hers, their fingers intertwined.

  He’d woken her with a trio of gentle kisses and a “Come watch the sunrise with me” invitation. Vanessa hadn’t hesitated to say yes, slipping into a blue cotton sundress that skimmed her ank
les and a light sweater.

  “Did you sleep well, Mrs. Hollister?”

  A blush heated her skin. “Yes.”

  He kissed the back of her hand. “I did, too.”

  She leaned against him, inhaling the fresh scent of the Gulf, watching the sky lighten. “The wedding was beautiful, wasn’t it?”

  “My favorite part was kissing the bride.”

  As he swung her in front of him and pulled her close, she buried her face in the chambray fabric of his shirt. “Logan.”

  “What?” He nuzzled her neck, his touch sending shivers down her back. “It appeared to me you enjoyed kissing the groom.”

  “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Kiss me again, I hope. That’ll keep me happy.”

  His kiss awoke all of Vanessa’s senses, even as she thanked God again for giving them a second chance at loving each other. Logan seemed content with one kiss, settling her close to him, beneath the shelter of his arm, and resuming their morning stroll along the shore. The color of the water was muted, waiting for the sunlight to reveal the vivid greens of the Gulf that earned its title of the Emerald Coast. Vanessa inhaled the scent of salt and surf, savoring the cool touch of the breeze on her face, the strength of Logan’s hand on hers.

  Logan broke the silence first. “You know, we need to finish talking about a few things.”

  His words surprised her.

  “You sound more serious than I expected for a romantic early morning walk along the beach.”

  “I admit you’re a distraction, Mrs. Hollister—” Logan slipped his arm around her waist. “—but I will force myself to behave for the moment.”

  “This sounds serious. What’s on your mind?”

  “The future. Our future.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “I do, too—but in the midst of our whirlwind wedding, we haven’t really talked about it. Of course, a man can only juggle so many life-changing things at one time.”

  Vanessa savored the coolness of the waves against her feet. “Logan, we both agreed we’re willing to be flexible about what happens next, jobwise. I know you’re still trying to decide what comes next with the Stormmeisters—”

  “And you’re trying to decide about school—”

  “And neither of us wants to do a long-distance marriage again.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “But, the reality is, we have five days together—and then the honeymoon is over. You’ve still got an apartment back in Oklahoma, and I have one in Colorado. And you haven’t made a decision about storm chasing.”

  “I couldn’t without talking to you.”

  The sun’s rays broke out golden over the water. “What if I put in my two weeks’ notice now and look into subletting my apartment or breaking my lease?”

  “You are not upending your life for me. I can move to Denver.”

  “No, I’ll come there.”

  “No. I’ve apologized to the team, but that doesn’t mean I have to rejoin them.”

  Vanessa threw her arms around Logan, laughing. “Do you hear us? We’re falling all over each other, determined to be so flexible, so willing to make our marriage work this time, we’re not talking things out. We’re talking over each other.”

  “You’re right.”

  “We’re on our honeymoon.”

  “Right again.”

  Vanessa tapped her forefinger against her bottom lip. “How about this?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “We relax. Enjoy being married. We honeymoon.”

  “Sounds better and better.”

  “And we talk about our options. Pray. Think about things. We’ve got time, right?”

  “Absolutely. I’m not going anywhere right away, are you?”

  “Well, I was thinking about heading back to the bed-and-breakfast.”

  Logan’s grin was slow, the blue of his eyes darkening. “An excellent idea.”

  “I meant for breakfast, Logan.” She tugged at his hand. “I’m hungry.”

  Logan pulled her up against the length of his body, causing them to stumble backward and the water to splash up onto them.

  “So am I, Mrs. Hollister. So am I.” He held her so the tide couldn’t pull her off balance. “Remember that night when we rescued that boy from drowning?”

  “Yes—how could I forget? I’d walked the beach for over an hour, determined to bury all my memories of you in the sand by the time I left.”

  “Everyone said we were heroes that night—saving his life.” He caressed the side of her face with the back of his hand. “But I think . . . I know God used that kid to save us. To bring us back together. I mean, what were the chances?”

  “Crazy, right?” Vanessa stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband, savoring the freedom and safety she found in Logan’s arms. “But it’s always been like that with you, Logan—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

  —PSALM 115:1 NIV

  My husband, Rob: You’ve remained true to our wedding vows for thirty-five years—never realizing back then how our lives would be so affected by imaginary characters. Your support is vital to any success I achieve as a novelist.

  My children by birth and by marriage: You love me on deadline and off—and lately it’s been on . . . on . . . on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  Rachel Hauck: Time to try a series, you said. And then you helped me brainstorm a destination wedding series (three different versions) and the individual books. You. Are. Brilliant.

  Susan May Warren: Back in 2010 in the wee small hours of a life-changing morning, you told me I could write fiction. You’re still helping me believe and accomplish this dream-come-true.

  Rachelle Gardner: My agent and friend—I think I’ve got it now: This is publishing, not brain surgery. There’s never a reason to panic. (See, I am listening—because you know your stuff.)

  Jessica Wong: Having you as my editor keeps getting better and better. I am beyond grateful for your expertise and support. And to Katherine Sandell: Thanks for being part of the editing process, too. I appreciated your insights!

  Edie Melson: Here’s to daily “text prayers”—they made all the difference while I was on deadline.

  The My Book Therapy Core Team: Writers who “get” each other. Friends. Prayer warriors. Wise counselors. Yes, that about sums it up.

  Randy McDaniel, the Okaloosa County Emergency Management Director: Thank you for fielding my husband’s emails and phone calls. (And thank you again to my husband, who also acted as my researcher for this book.) Your information helped me get the details right for when “my” hurricane hit the Panhandle.

  Jeni Cherry, the assistant wedding coordinator for the Henderson Park Inn: Thank you for providing so many wonderful details about the location for Vanessa and Logan’s destination wedding!

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE

  BETH K. VOGT

  Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida, with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her What-were-you-thinking? teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

  1. If you had the chance to plan a destination wedding, what location would you pick? Why?

  2. Vanessa starts her senior year of high school at a new school. As part of a military family, Vanessa moved around a lot, perfecting the role of the new girl. What was high school like for you? What were your friendships like during those years?

  3. Logan and Vanessa tried to solve a problem by eloping at eighteen. Have you ever mad
e a rash decision—one that looked like a good decision, one that was motivated by good intentions—and then regretted it later?

  4. If a friend of yours told you they were planning to elope, what would you say to them?

  5. At twenty-eight, Vanessa was still looking for home. How would you define home?

  6. Logan and his father were both about providing for and protecting their families—but in two very different ways. How do you look at providing for and protecting your family? How would you help Logan and his dad find common ground?

  7. If you could do one thing “for old times’ sake,” what would you do? Why?

  8. Logan, Brady, Max, and Julie were the Stormmeisters—a storm-chasing team. What kind of team have you been part of? What did you learn, being part of a team?

  9. To help her grow closer to God, Vanessa started writing her prayers in a journal. What helps you draw closer to God?

  10. There are often Voices of Truth in novels: key subcharacters who speak vital truths to the hero and heroine. For Logan, it was Pop Pop, his grandfather—and sometimes his sister, Caron. For Vanessa, it was Mindy and Mrs. Wright. Who is your Voice of Truth?

  ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB

  1. Spend some time reflecting on the roles you have taken in weddings in the past (bride, groom, maid of honor, best man, mother or father of the bride or groom), as well as any special memories—humorous or poignant—you have from those times. Share your experiences with one another, and discuss with your book club what was most special about those times.

  2. Read Genesis 16. God promises Abraham and Sarah a child, but when Sarah doesn’t get pregnant, they rush ahead of God. They figure out their own way to fix the problem and help God’s promise come true, resulting in Sarah’s servant, Hagar, giving birth to Ishmael. Think about a time when you have rushed ahead of God’s timing or tried to force a longed-for dream or hope to come true. Share what you’ve learned with the group.