The Ortega Project
Page 31
“Wonderful. Then your dad can marry you after all.” She grinned. “See how things have a way of working out?”
As long as Mom was in a good mood, Grace decided it would be the perfect opportunity to tell her about Doc. “Another one of Roman’s friends will be bringing the rest of our stuff in a couple of days. He’ll be staying here too until he and Gabriel find a place—if that’s okay with you and dad.”
“Your friends are always welcome in our home.” They started walking toward the cabin, when a portly man with red hair stepped onto the porch.
“It’s Daddy!” Grace turned her back to her father. “I can’t face him.”
Heavy footfalls made their way down the driveway and stopped directly behind her.
“Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” a deep voice asked.
Grace spun around to face her father. “For what?”
He brushed her hair from her forehead and kissed it. “For failing you.” His voice broke. “We were always close. You should have been able to come to me about you and Jake ending your engagement. And when you held your pain inside, I misunderstood…and I pushed you away. I had no idea how much Jake had hurt you.”
Tears filled her eyes and she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry for disappointing you, for making you ashamed of me.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m proud of you. You’re my daughter, I love you.”
Roman and Gabriel strode past on their way to the back of the SUV.
Her father glanced at them. “Thank you for helping our daughter. It’s greatly appreciated.”
“No problem, sir,” Roman said.
“Your fiancé seems like a nice fellow. I’m going to like him. His Jewish friend seems nice, too.”
Grace grinned. She held her breath, hoping her father wouldn’t be able to spot Gabriel’s real character flaw.
Christian cooed, drawing a grin from her father. “He’s a handsome young man. A nice addition to the family.” He hugged them both tightly. Christian, pinned between them, wriggled and grunted. Her father backed away. “Oops! Sorry, I didn’t mean to crush you.” His voice cracked. “Welcome home, Gracie.”
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Roman
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Roman scanned the property dotted with evergreen trees and pulled a deep breath of fresh air into his lungs. He’d always loved the scent of pine. He and Gabe finished unloading the vehicle and were headed toward the cabin when loud rustling sounded overhead in the tall trees. Both ducked and looked upward.
“What’s that?” Roman asked.
Grace’s father looked toward the racket and chuckled. “Bats. Don’t tell me you fellows are afraid of bats.”
“On the contrary.” Roman smiled. “I like them.”
“Good,” the pastor said, “because of the nearby bat sanctuary, there are loads of them around the lake. But I found if you leave them alone, they won’t bother you.”
Roman glanced at the full moon. “You know something, Gabe? I just might like it here.” His gaze lifted to the treetops. “As a matter of fact, I’m beginning to feel right at home.”
Epilogue
Grace
Three Months Later
“Will you, Roman, have Grace to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others, remain true to her as long as you both shall live?” Pastor Raines asked through a broad smile.
Even though Grace knew Roman’s answer, she closed her eyes and held her breath, awaiting his confirmation.
“I will,” he answered, while Christian rested in his arms. It was Roman’s idea to make their son a part of the ceremony and no one objected.
Grace pushed out a ragged breath. Oh, how she loved the man who stood next her, holding their son.
The pastor turned to look at his daughter through tear-filled eyes. “Will you Grace, have Roman to be your husband?” His voice broke. “Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all others, remain true to him as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” Grace whispered, clutching her wildflower bouquet. She wanted to kick off her sandals and run barefoot in the newly clipped grass, shouting to the heavens, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The exchange of vows went perfectly. In a few short minutes, they would be declared husband and wife. Husband and wife forever. She liked the sound of it.
Despite her worry that rain would ruin her outdoor wedding, today turned out to be a perfect day for the lakeshore ceremony. The sun shone brightly, forcing wedding party and guests to wear sunglasses. Small boats dotted the lake. Good weather. Good friends and family.
Glancing over her shoulder at the people closest to her and Roman, warmed her heart and made her smile. Forming a semi-circle were Deanna, Gabriel, Doc and her teary-eyed mother, who dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. Completing the semi-circle were Jerry, her boss from After Dark and his wife, along with Mark and Jennifer.
A gentle breeze loosened a wisp of Grace’s hair from a comb decorated with flowers that matched her bouquet. She pushed the curl away from her face. As the wind picked up, her short lavender halter-top sundress embraced the back of her legs. Her dress matched the lilacs in the floral spray. Roman and Christian wore khakis and white short sleeved shirts.
“The rings, please,” the pastor said.
During the vows, she tried focusing on each spoken word, wanting to remember every detail, but the promises made seemed surreal and the ended up a blur. She would make a point to focus on the ring ceremony.
Her mother approached Roman. He handed over his son, along with a small baby bottle from his pocket.
Grace had filled his bottle with a blood-substitute formula that Doc mixed up to resemble apple juice. As a precaution, she insisted Christian have a bottle during the ceremony—in case he got hungry and flashed his fangs.
Mrs. Raines had a firm grip on her grandson and stepped back to stand next to Gabriel, who offered Christian a smile.
Roman reached in his pocket and retrieved a wide, gold band.
“Repeat after me,” Pastor Raines said. "With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, 'til death do us part."
Grace’s eyes misted when Roman repeated the promise and slid the ring onto her trembling finger. She gazed at the ring. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“So are you.” He brought her left hand to his lips and kissed it.
Pastor Raines cleared his throat. “Grace, do you have the ring?”
She looked over her shoulder and made eye contact with Deanna, who stepped forward. Grace gave Deanna the bouquet and Deanna handed her Roman’s wedding band.
When her turn came, she repeated the promise enthusiastically. “With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, 'til death do us part."
Her hands shook as she slipped the gold band around Roman’s ring finger on his right hand. The ring only made it over the first knuckle.
Roman shook his head and held out his left hand. “Wrong hand,” he whispered. He removed the ring and handed it back.
She broke out in nervous giggles. Her flub seemed to relax the witnesses and wide grins appeared on their faces. Even her father chuckled.
After taking a deep breath, she started over. With a wide grin, she repeated the promise perfectly and slipped the ring on the correct finger.
They were pronounced man and wife and when Reverend Raines announced that Roman may now kiss the bride, he did so with gusto. He lifted Grace, twirled her around, and lowered her until her lips met his.
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. Hard. The next kiss was tender and slow. Then she hugged him tight and kissed him again.
The witnesses cheered. Even on-lookers in boats near the shore shouted and whistled.
No need to pinch herself now. It was real. They were husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Santos. Grace th
ought her heart would burst with joy. Happy that her plans to elope to Vegas fell through, a lakeside wedding officiated by her own father turned out to be more intimate. And with only family and closest friends in attendance, it was perfect.
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The End
About the Author
Linnea Alexis stopped stirring up trouble in the corporate world a few years ago and now satisfies her appetite for adventure by writing about second chances. She writes Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Historical Westerns where flawed heroes and heroines find their Happily Ever After.
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Originally from Michigan, Linnea now makes her home in Orange County, California.
Find her on social media:
Website: http://linneaalexis.com/
Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11008595.Linnea_Alexis
Twitter: @LinneaAlexis
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Linnea-Alexis-1590000121240152/
e-mail address: linnea.alexis@cox.net
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lalexis0168/
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