by Heaton, Lisa
When Chelsea entered on her father’s arm, Tuck’s heart began to beat so fast that he momentarily became light-headed. She looked just as he had expected, sweet and beautiful. She was wearing the yellow sundress that he loved, just as he had asked her to. It was the one she wore the day she came to see him, the day he held her and cried. All he could remember from that day, apart from his broken heart, was that she truly looked like sunshine in that dress. She did again today. Often over the years, he had imagined her in it. He wasn’t sure exactly what moved him so much about it, especially since that was such a painful day, but the sight of her in it seemed to somehow assure him that things had indeed come full circle and that his dark days of waiting were finally over. She was his again.
Chelsea walked slowly with her dad, all the while staring at Tuck. What a different experience this was. Walking into what was supposed to be was a better feeling by far than into a fairy-tale. She felt so completely at peace and certain of what she was doing that she unconsciously sighed softly. Just as she knew he would be, Tuck was wearing his best Wranglers and a white starched shirt. His boots were shined and a broad grin was plastered on his face. He truly was beautiful. So tan and rugged, he was the sweetest sight she had ever seen, there waiting for the final time. In the time she had been preparing to go to him: that was her constant thought: his waiting was finally over.
When Bob turned loose of Chelsea’s arm, rather than shaking Tuck’s hand as he was supposed to do, he leaned in and hugged him. “I love you, son,” he whispered and slapped Tuck’s back.
Those words caused Tuck to cry unexpectedly, but Bob only laughed at him. When Tuck was left standing there with Chelsea, he reached for her hand and pulled her closer, which caused a ripple of quiet laughter at his gesture. “I love you,” he mouthed.
“I love you,” she echoed.
Their vows were traditional for the marriage, but after that, the pastor asked Lucy and Sara Beth to join them. He spoke beautiful words about what a family meant and about loving one another sacrificially. Sara Beth squirmed a bit at that one. Even at only four, she respected the words of the pastor and appeared to be taking them to heart. At the sight of all four of them joining hands to pray, there wasn’t one dry eye in the room. There was sniffling going on all around them. It was sweeter and better by far than any fairy-tale wedding could be. It was a true joining of hearts, the four of them, before God.
Just as God intended, there were cake and punch and nuts and mints in Fellowship Hall, along with more food than the wedding party and guests could eat in a week. Tables were set with simple white cloths, and candles and daisies were used as modest centerpieces. It was simple and elegant, exactly as they both envisioned. Everyone they loved and who loved them was there.
After they ate from a mile-long buffet, the cake was brought out. As they cut the cake and fed each other the first bite, Chelsea, without hesitation, smashed a bit of cake in Tuck’s face. If for no other reason, she did it because she had promised the girls she would. Sara Beth hardly believed it was tradition or that her mom would do it.
To Chelsea’s surprise, when Tuck fed her a bite, he smiled softly and assured her, “I will always take care of you.”
Very gently, he lifted the cake to her mouth. The moment brought Chelsea to tears.
“I know that,” she whispered as she kissed the cake from his lips.
It was one of those sweet moments she would cherish for the rest of her life. As much of a jokester as he was, and as sure as he must have been tempted to retaliate, he instead used the moment to reassure her of the promise God had given him and the fact that he took it seriously. If she forgot everything else from that day, she would never forget that moment.
Later when Chelsea was across the room talking with her sisters, Tuck looked on, smiling at the thought that she was finally his. No matter what John intended for the day, Tuck wasn’t going to allow him to undermine his joy or try to steal his victory away. That was what he felt, an amazing sense of victory, not as if he had won technically, but rather he had been victorious in waiting. There was a difference. Deep down, he knew whom she chose, but still, the day brought with it a sense of tremendous accomplishment.
Earlier that morning, Tuck had run back up to the house from the new house site to get something when he found Mark sitting on his front porch waiting for him. John’s best friend and partner had brought papers to sign. He was so infuriated at the thought of John’s final reminder of whom she actually belonged to, Tuck, out of character for him, snatched the papers from Mark’s hand and spat, “Just show me where to sign.”
Mark smiled, which served only to infuriate him more, and asked, “Don’t you want to read what you’re signing.”
“I’m not going anywhere; she’s not going anywhere, so there’s no need to read ‘em.”
Tuck signed the prenuptial agreement, not caring what it said he couldn’t have. All he wanted was Chelsea, and standing there at his wedding reception, watching her smile and laugh as if it were the happiest day of her life, Tuck again reminded himself, he had gotten all he ever wanted. Nothing else mattered but her and their family.
Bobby had watched Tuck for some time. His best friend was lost in the notion that he had finally gotten the girl, and no one could be happier for them. Theirs was the unlikeliest of love stories.
“She’s beautiful, huh?” Bobby asked his friend.
Knowing how Bobby would react to such a statement but not caring whatsoever, Tuck sighed, “So beautiful, sometimes I can’t breathe. I try but the breath gets caught in my chest, and it feels like I’ve run for miles.”
Bobby grinned at what a sap Tuck was. He wouldn’t be caught dead saying such a thing, though he had sure thought it often enough about Macy.
“So did I ever apologize for beating the snot out of you?”
Tuck shook his head. “No.”
“And I’m not now either. Just wanted to remind you what’ll happen if you mess this up.”
He moved in to hug Tuck, whispering. “You’ve always been my brother.”
“And you’re mine.”
Just as Bobby walked away, and just as Tuck was about to go stand with his bride, Irene approached him. As she had in L.A., and just as she did every time she came in town, she made him uncomfortable. She was a straight-shooter, which he liked, but she seemed really cold, abrasive even.
“If you need anything, I work for you now. All you have to do is call.” She tried to hand him her card.
Ignoring the offered card, he asked, “What might I need from you?”
“Money, travel arrangements, help understanding your finances, whatever.”
Help understanding his finances? Who did she think she was? “Look, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need Chelsea’s money.”
“Obviously.”
Irene could tell she was going to have a difficult time with Tuck, and she wondered if he would even keep her on. His feelings certainly made sense as he tried to follow in the footsteps of a man such as John.
“Huh?” She was confusing him. Maybe that was on purpose, trying to make him feel stupid. Shaking his head he said, “I don’t need your help with anything.”
Before he could walk away, Irene forced her card in his hand. “Call or don’t call. I get paid the same.”
Tuck walked toward Chelsea just as angry as he was after Mark left that morning. John had really planned out his final attack well. No matter what came against him, though, at the sight of Chelsea smiling at him as he approached, he was determined that he would never let him win.
At just over an hour into the reception, Tuck was already hoping to leave. After his conversation with Bobby, he had made his way over to Chelsea and hadn’t left her side since. They talked and laughed with everyone at least once. Wasn’t that enough? Anxious to get on to the honeymoon, he asked, “You about done here?”
Sm
iling up at the most handsome man she had ever known, this broad and tall cowboy of hers, she suggested, “Shouldn’t we stay a little longer? They’ve gone to so much trouble.”
“Too bad for them.” He gripped Chelsea’s hand tighter. “I’ve waited sixteen years for this.”
She batted her eyes and inched a bit closer to him. “I’m ready when you are.”
He leaned his head down and kissed her nose. “Have I told you I’m so in love with you?”
“Yes, and I love you.”
Suddenly, she was just as anxious to leave. He was giving her this look that caused her legs to go weak beneath her. She moved her hand to his thick bicep and imagined his strong arms around her. “Let’s make a run for it.”
Tuck grimaced. “How are we going to get out of here without Sara Beth?”
“We’ll figure something out.”
Sara Beth was spending the night with Chelsea’s parents and had known that all week, but when time came for them to leave, she would want to go with them. It was inevitable.
“Try whatever you did for our date. Which, by the way, was what exactly?”
“I’ll tell you soon enough.”
Tuck went to Sara Beth and knelt before her just as he had done that night. Before he could speak, she said, “You won.”
He smiled at how bright she was. “Yes, I did win.”
“Stawting tomowwow I wiww wive at youw house.”
“That’s right, but it’ll be our house, our whole family, at least until our new one is built.”
“Wiww we awways wive togethew?”
“Always, or at least until you find some stinky old boy to marry someday.”
Grimacing at such a thought, she said, “I want to mawwy you.”
“We’ll see if that works out. You may change your mind.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered, “You’we my favowite daddy of all.”
“And you’re my favorite little cowgirl.”
Chelsea watched Tuck with Sara Beth, wondering what he won. It must have been their secret. Lucy was nearby talking to her cousins, but occasionally, she would look over at her and smile. Chelsea went over to her to say goodnight.
“Are you going now?” Lucy asked her mom.
When she saw her dad talking to Sara Beth, Lucy figured they were about to leave. Before this night she had never felt quite so happy. The only moment she could recall feeling as excited about her future was when her mom told her about the adoption.
“Yes, I’m not sure where to exactly, but yes.” Chelsea reached out and moved a stray lock of hair from Lucy’s eyes and grinned. “This is because of you.”
Lucy nodded, tears filling her eyes. “I’ve prayed for this since I met you.”
“I’m glad you did. Lucy, if not for you, I don’t know how I could have made it this far. You are one of the brightest stars in my universe.”
Lucy leaned in and hugged her mom. Looking up at her, she admitted, “I never wanted to lose John for this to happen. I stopped praying then.”
Chelsea’s eyes narrowed. “Of course, you didn’t, neither of us did, but this was God’s plan for us all along. John understood that at the end.”
“Come here, kiddo.” Tuck pulled Lucy from Chelsea’s arms. “Have fun tonight. Don’t stay up late and no texting that boy.”
Exasperated, Lucy groaned, “Dad!”
“Okay, you can text, but not like a hundred times.”
Finally, Tuck was dragging Chelsea toward his truck. Her brother, Preston, had struck again, and the truck was a mess with shaving cream and streamers and cans tied to the bumper.
As she slid into the cab of the truck, she asked, “So, what did you win?”
He was standing there near her, beside the open door of the passenger side of the truck. “Your heart.”
“Is that what you told Sara Beth you were doing?”
“I told her that I was trying to win your heart so that we could all live together like a real family.”
Chelsea grabbed Tuck’s arm. “Not like a real family. We are a real family.”
Tuck grinned. “I know. This is about as real as it gets.”
He glanced at her hand on his arm and then back up at her. “If you don’t let go, I promise we’ll start this honeymoon right here in the truck.”
Chelsea quickly released him. As sure as she was that he was joking, there was something in his eyes that made her believe otherwise.
It didn’t take long for Chelsea to figure out where their surprise honeymoon was. He drove straight to the new house site. As much as he had decorated what he had called a poor man’s version of a big splash for their first date, this time, he had gone all out. There was a big tent set up, not a camping tent, but more like a safari tent. One flap was open and she could see inside. Their new bed was set up in there waiting on them. It was layered with white bedding and fluffy white pillows.
Outside, candles and torches were spread around the campsite, lighting the hillside and shedding light over the little valley below. Again, there was a dance floor set up, but this time as if for a large crowd. Rather than makeshift Christmas lights, there were white paper lanterns strung above. The light from the lantern shades cast a soft and hazy glow, causing kind of a foggy effect to settle around them. The entire setting was so dreamy that it caused her to feel all warm inside, excited even beyond what she had felt all day. Until that week, she had never known he was such a romantic, but clearly he was, and he was hers forever. He had no doubt worked for days to make it so perfectly beautiful.
“You’ve outdone yourself. The port-o-potty is a nice touch.”
“Nothing but the best for my lady.”
“I hope we don’t get too hot. I brought some fans and a generator. I know it’s summertime, but I couldn’t imagine spending my first night with you anywhere but here.”
“I’ll be fine, and there could be no better place to begin than here.”
She felt far away as she looked around. As much as he had fought against anything remotely fairy-tale’esque, he had given her just that. It was stunning, like the set of some romantic movie.
“When have you had time to do all of this?”
“I had a little help. The Whittaker girls helped out. I went begging with hat in hand and apologized for being so hateful at your mama’s house.”
Intentionally, he had set the tent up as close to the foundation as he could. By Thursday, he had insisted that all the equipment be moved out so that the place wouldn’t look so much like a construction site. In the dark, it wasn’t so obvious and really did appear to be a place worthy of her.
“I’ll have to thank them Whittaker girls.”
“They’re crazy.”
Merely nodding in agreement, she looked away quickly, trying to focus on anything but the similarity to John’s words the day of their wedding.
He took her hand and, leading her to the dance floor, stopped by the CD player and pressed play. The first song was the one Chelsea had played the morning he asked her to marry him. Taking her into his arms, he moved slowly with her onto the empty dance floor. A few times, as she hummed along to the familiar melody, he found himself feeling overly emotional. “If I cry are you going to think I’m a sissy?”
“Probably,” she teased.
“That’s okay.”
“If I cry will you call me a girl?” she asked.
“Probably.”
“That’s okay.”
Chelsea had been on the verge of tears since arriving and seeing all that he had done for her. Because he had demanded things be so simple for the wedding, she imagined he was trying to make up for it now. If only he knew, she considered their simple wedding the most beautiful day of her life. There was something about the completion of an epic love story that trumped what all the money in world could bu
y. Their little girls were there with them. They prayed together as a family. It was a day that Chelsea was sure to capture in her memory. Every moment of it was such incredible evidence of God’s grace and mercy in their lives, how could she not be staggered by the simplicity and the complexity of it all? Both had chosen to disobey, yet there they were, after all those years apart. The Lord gave them both much more than they deserved.
Until the music ran out, Tuck held Chelsea near and swayed slowly with her. It was one of the sweetest moments of his life, as he had always hoped they would dance on their wedding day. The day she married John, he could remember how his own arms ached from the greatest need to simply hold her and move as they were doing now. Ironically, since he had made such a fuss about keeping things simple for their wedding, he didn’t dare to mention dancing, so he had made sure to have their own dance floor that night.
When the last song was over, he lowered his head and whispered, “I need you.”
His breath was warm on her cheek causing her stomach to flutter in anticipation of what was to come.
“You have me.”
Tuck lifted Chelsea and walked with her to the tent. Once inside, he sat her on the side of bed and knelt before her, promising, “I will always be faithful to you. I’ll never hurt you like I did before.”
She reached for his face and stroked his cheek. His eyes were filled with such sincerity, causing her to be certain that nothing could ever steal his heart away from her again. This was his absolution, and it was a long time in coming.
“I know that.”
“It’s been a long time for me, years now.”
“Me too.”
“I’m not nervous, though.” He had imagined he would be.
“Me either.”
He pulled her near and kissed her, and as he did so he lifted her and moved her to the middle of the bed.