Steph released a trembling breath, her anticipation rising. “You two better get out there, too.”
Molly handed her the flowers that Nick had selected—champagne-colored roses, lemony green hydrangeas and ivy cascading from the bouquet. The sweet scent of roses surrounded her. She cradled the arrangement in her arms as she left the room. Ahead she saw her father. He’d grown much older looking since she’d seen him last, but he’d also grown more gentle. With Hal’s attempt to right his wrong, Steph’s spirit lifted.
Her father caught her arm, and they held back, waiting for Molly to precede them as she stepped from the doorway and started the lengthy walk down the stone stairs to the patio below where white chairs formed rows for the wedding guests. She’d been touched when some of the longtime dog owners who used her service hinted to be invited, and she could see some of them from the upper level of the grounds.
Molly made her way down the incline, the stair railing wrapped in white ribbon and adorned with an occasional bow. When she reached ground level and made her way to where Martin and Nick waited, Steph and her father stepped outside. She kept her eyes on the stone walkway, fearing she would trip, but her father held her arm with a firm grip.
Beside Martin, Fred and Suzette sat without moving, decked out for the wedding. Fred wore a white bow tie, and Suzette had a white satin bow gracing her well-brushed coat. They had become committed partners just as she and Nick had become.
Nick stood beside his pastor, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe as a smile grew on his face. Her heart filled with joy as she reached the patio, then began her walk down the aisle. A white runner covered the gray stones, and she followed it to the end, then gazed at Nick in his tuxedo with an ivory cummerbund and bow tie, the handsomest man she’d ever known.
Nick’s chest tightened as he waited in front of their family and friends, and when Steph came through the door in her amazing gown, his heart kicked up its heels and ran to meet her. Her honey-colored hair hung in long curling waves as she glided toward him on her father’s arm. His busy but empty life had become complete when he’d met Steph, and in the past months, his doubts about himself and his ability to be a good husband had faded.
When she reached him, her father moved back, and Steph stood by his side while the scent of her bouquet encircled them. The pastor’s words rose, reminding them of God’s desire that man should not be alone. The verse from Ecclesiastes filled his mind. “Two are better than one.” Nick agreed. He’d been alone too long. Today his new life would begin and in their new house, away from the memories of Doug’s death and a place where Suzette and Fred could romp and not bother anyone.
After they’d exchanged vows and rings, they stood together, eyes locked, and Nick’s heart stirred with the blessings he’d been given, a beautiful wife and a lifetime together. With the pastor’s announcement, he lowered his lips to hers and drank in the sweetness of joy and laughter, support and trust and, most of all, a shared faith.
When they turned, his mother’s face glowed, and gratefulness burst in his chest as the pastor’s voice raised. “I give you Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Davis.”
Nick wove his fingers through Steph’s, just as their lives were now bound together. They took the first step toward the wonderful life awaiting them. Behind him, he heard the clicking of Fred’s and Suzette’s nails on the gray stone.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Groom in Training. I hope you enjoyed the story. If you related to some of the characters’ struggles, I hope it helped you find answers to your own personal questions. Fred’s disappearance became a meaningful analogy along with the Scripture of the lost sheep to our own plight as Christians when we become lost and cannot find our way back or when we doubt that God can forgive us. Just as Steph rejoiced at finding Fred, imagine the Lord’s jubilation when we return to the fold after straying.
Steph’s conflict to understand God’s ways is one that many people share. We cannot force others to believe, but we can demonstrate the power of God through our own faith-filled actions, and this form of testimony can be more powerful than our words. Let God’s Word shine through you in your daily life. You are His shining witness in a darkened world.
May the Lord bless you as you serve Him.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Which character, Steph or Nick, did you relate to the most and why?
Why did Nick’s past relationship with Cara make him feel like a failure? What is your opinion?
How did Nick grow and change?
Steph also saw herself as a failure when she didn’t recognize her husband’s problem. Have you ever felt unable to understand someone in your life? Did you ever feel to blame for their problems, and if so, how did you resolve it?
How much are we responsible for our family’s difficulties?
Suicide is a serious issue in this novel. Has suicide ever touched your life, and how did you deal with it? Did you learn something new about suicide victims and the survivors?
What lessons about love and faithfulness can we learn from dogs?
What are your favorite themes in this book? How do they relate to you personally?
The story shows that Nick’s actions reflect his faith. Is this an effective way to help people understand God’s love for them?
How did Martin grow in this book, and why? Can you relate Martin’s experience to your own life or the life of someone you know?
Nick’s mother played a significant role in this book. In what ways did she affect the story, and how did she provide a catalyst for characters to grow and change?
Do you relate personally to any themes or issues in this novel? Can you offer advice to others who are dealing with those same issues?
Did you read Dad in Training, the book about Molly and Brent? If so, did you enjoy hearing from them again and attending their wedding?
Have you learned anything about dog shelters and dogs needing to be adopted? Does it change your attitudes about where you would look for a pet?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4864-3
GROOM IN TRAINING
Copyright © 2010 by Gail Gaymer Martin
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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* Loving
* Loving
* Loving
* Loving
* Loving
* Loving
* Loving
** Michigan Islands
** Michigan Islands
** Michigan Islands
** Michigan Islands
Groom in Training Page 19