A Bride Before Dawn
Page 19
“Our kids are going to want to know our story,” he’d whispered into Lacey’s ear.
She’d hummed an agreeable sound.
“We have to make sure it’s a good story,” he’d insisted.
“Stories don’t get much better than ours,” she’d answered on a sigh.
“I want to show them a photo album of our wedding and all our guests,” he’d said.
That brought her the rest of the way awake. “You want us to get married again?”
“I thought you’d never ask!” He’d placed his hand over her belly, only now just starting to round. And although he couldn’t feel their children, he and Lacey both believed their babies felt the love radiating from their daddy’s hand. Within minutes, the plans were made, their closest family and friends were called, and here they were, a week later, about to exchange their vows one more time.
Joey, nine months old now, babbled loudly from his mother’s arms behind Noah. It appeared that Charlotte, Noah’s niece and Riley and Madeline’s three-month-old daughter, was going to sleep through the outdoor ceremony of her favorite aunt and uncle. Noah had a couple of brothers and two sisters-in-law who would have disputed that particular designation. After all, the only thing the Sullivan brothers enjoyed more than loving their wives was claiming bragging rights to uncle-ship. It never ceased to amaze Noah when he thought about the fact that all four of the Sullivans—Madeline, Reed, Marsh and Noah—had married the same year.
As if they’d read his mind, Reed and Marsh suddenly appeared on either side of Noah. “The judge is ready,” Marsh said.
“Everybody’s here,” Reed added.
They each clapped him on a shoulder, and the girl Noah had first glimpsed climbing out the window above the tavern last June raised her violin to her shoulder. And the beautiful undulating notes of “Joy to the World” swirled like love itself to the ears of each wedding guest gathered in the meadow where Noah had written LACEY + NOAH six months ago.
Even Joey quieted. All eyes turned to the vision in a flowing velvet cape stepping into view from inside the cider house nearby.
Lacey took a moment to let her gaze rest on the glowing faces of her best friends, and her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. They all stood beaming back at her, smiles on their faces. Even the judge wore a warm glow this morning.
What a morning! Something had happened in the atmosphere overnight, and with the rising of the sun, it was as if the universe was telling her this morning was a gift for her and Noah. There was a dusting of snow on the ground and on everything—every roof and every branch of every tree—was frost so sparkling and white it was almost too much beauty to take in with only one’s eyes. It was as if it needed to be felt, too, in order to be fully appreciated. It reminded her of the love she saw as her gaze met Noah’s.
She started down the stone steps of the cider house as the lovely strains of that single violin continued. She had no one to escort her to the arbor where Noah and the judge waited, and yet she had no fear of tripping. Later everyone would tell her she appeared to float down the steps and along the curving pathway. But Lacey knew she wasn’t floating, for she felt the firm foundation of the earth beneath her every step.
Noah had never looked more handsome than he did at that moment when he reached out his hand, and cradled her cold fingers in his warm palm. April swooped forward and lowered the velvety hood of Lacey’s cape. The music ended. And the judge began.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here this morning to once again join these two in marriage…”
One of the babies started crying while Lacey and Noah were saying their vows. By the time Lacey and Noah both said, “I do,” the babies weren’t the only ones sniffling.
Lacey’s and Noah’s eyes remained dry. A slight breeze wafted across the meadow, and suddenly the air was filled with bits of frost glittering like starlight in the light of day.
Noah kissed his bride, even though they’d been officially married for six months. Never let it be said that a Sullivan didn’t take every advantage handed to him.
What a Christmas, she thought, slightly dizzy with happiness as she and Noah faced their family. As everyone hugged everyone else and backs were patted and babies jiggled, it felt to Lacey as if she’d been in this exact moment before. She couldn’t explain it, but with Noah at her side and their children growing within her, and all these people to love and be loved, it already felt like Christmas.
As Lacey held out her hands to Joey, and Noah took Madeline’s little girl and Riley’s baby in his arms, and all the family gathered around them, they all knew that Christmas wasn’t just a day. Christmas was the belief, the innocent trust in a misunderstood universe that something joyful was coming. It had nothing to do with what was material, and everything to do with what wasn’t.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1566-5
A BRIDE BEFORE DAWN
Copyright © 2011 by Sandra E. Steffen
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**Round-the-Clock Brides
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