He’d told her he’d wait for her. Hadn’t he? It had been the one thing she’d clung to as she’d gone through the difficult task of staring down her past. Had it all been a lie? She lifted a hand to touch her hair. All the certainty she’d had earlier rushed out, and all she wanted to do was turn around and find an exit and leave.
But…she was sure he had said he’d wait for her. There had been a verse from him that morning just as there had been every day since she’d last seen him. She took a deep breath and let it out. This was about trust. Could she trust his word and believe that regardless of how things looked at that moment, he really was still waiting for her?
Melanie turned away for a moment. She needed to calm down and having them in her line of sight was not helping. Trust. It was what she struggled with the most, but it was also what she wanted the most. Her heart and mind were in agreement with the desire to trust Tyler. There could be no love without trust, so she would choose to trust him because she loved him.
Turning back around, Melanie had to search for where they’d gone. As the time neared for the start of the evening, the crowd continued to grow, making it more difficult to find people. It took a couple of minutes, but finally she spotted them talking with Ryan.
She took a deep breath and began to move through the crowd to reach them. Tyler had his back to her as he stood next to the woman he’d accompanied. Ryan was the first one to spot her. His mouth dropped slightly as his eyes widened then a smile spread across his face.
Tyler glanced over his shoulder at her before looking back at Ryan but then he turned again, this time with his whole body. Melanie stood still as his eyes swept her from head to toe before returning to meet her gaze. She took the time to look at him as well. He wore his black tuxedo like it had been made for him. His curls looked like he’d had them trimmed again, but they still hung in loose disarray around his face in the way she loved.
“You look…” Tyler paused as he took a step closer and reached out to take her hand. “You look breathtaking. I mean, you were always beautiful…just now, knowing what this represents…breathtaking.”
“Thank you.” The emotion that rushed through Melanie threatened to spill over. Her fingers tightened on his. “For everything.”
Tyler moved closer and Melanie had to tip her head back to meet his gaze.
“I would do anything for you, sweetheart. Anything.” He reached up and touched her cheek. “Your happiness is my happiness.”
“My happiness includes you in my life,” Melanie said with one hundred percent certainty.
“That’s my happiness too.” The smile that spread across Tyler’s face took her breath away. “I’ve missed you.”
Even though they were in a crowd of people, it was if her world had narrowed to just the two of them.
“I’ve missed you too.” Melanie placed her hand on his sleeve, gripping his arm as she decided to take the ultimate step of trust. Trust that what motivated Tyler’s promises to her was love. Trust that this was God’s will for their lives to be intertwined. “I love you, Tyler.”
For the first time ever, it seemed she’d rendered Tyler speechless. He stared down at her, shock on his face. Maybe this hadn’t been the best place to tell him, but life was too short. What was going on with Justin and Alana had proved that. Why not share what was in her heart?
“I know it’s not really the place—”
“It’s perfect.” Tyler lifted his hands to cup her face. “You just surprised me. I thought for sure I’d be the one to say it first.”
“You don’t have—” Tyler’s thumb pressed against her lips kept her from continuing on.
“I love you too, Melanie.” He moved his thumb as he leaned down to brush his lips to hers.
“Ah…my baby.”
Melanie felt Tyler’s smile against her lips. He pulled back but slid an arm around her waist. “We’ll continue this later when we don’t have my mother for an audience.”
As he tucked her against his side, Melanie smiled at Shauna where she stood, her hands clasped beneath her chin, emotion filling her eyes.
“Well, handsome, it looks like you’re going to be my date for the remainder of the evening.” The voice had a refined British accent and reminded Melanie there was a stranger in their midst. “But first, Tyler darling, introduce us, please.”
When she got her first look up close of the woman beside Tyler, Melanie realized that she was older than she’d originally thought.
“Eleanor, this is Melanie Thorpe, the woman I love,” Tyler said as he glanced down at her with a smile. “Melanie, Eleanor is Hank’s cousin. She came with them to attend this fundraiser.”
Melanie took the hand the woman held out and returned the firm shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Eleanor said with a warm smile then she slid her hand through Ryan’s arm and looked up at him. “And now, young man, entertain me.”
~*~*~
Tyler spent the evening as close to Melanie as he could. After finally being with her again after way too many days apart, he wasn’t ready to be separated from her even for a few minutes. He’d had a lot of time to consider how the counseling might change Melanie. He’d even had a few moments late at night when it was just him and his thoughts and he’d wondered if she might come to the realization that she could do much better than him.
But now she was here, different in many ways but in all the ways that mattered, she was the same woman who’d captured his heart. The dark blue dress looked perfect with her light blonde hair and blue eyes. It wasn’t a poufy dress and fit her figure without being too tight. Whatever the design was, he thought it looked terrific on her. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as the evening progressed. Melanie sat with them at their table until it was time for her to give her presentation to the people gathered there.
Knowing what all she’d been through over the course of the past few weeks, pride filled Tyler as she stood behind the podium and confidently spoke about the BlackThorpe Wellness Center’s latest project. The PTSD service dogs. There was plenty of applause as a couple of the residents shared their stories and experiences with their dogs. Tyler hoped that it would result in even more financial support for the program.
He was grateful for the presence of programs like that for those that needed them. For whatever reason, he’d escaped the long-term struggle with PTSD. He’d had some moments right after the accident, but it had certainly not been on the scale that others had experienced. Tyler had no idea why he’d been spared that struggle, but he was grateful, and it made him even more determined to help others who hadn’t been as fortunate.
The only thing casting a pall over the evening was the absence of Justin and Alana. Tyler knew there had been a discussion about canceling the banquet altogether, but in the end, Justin had been the one to encourage them to continue on with it.
As he watched Melanie make her way back to him once her part of the program was done, Tyler wondered what he would do if something like that ever happened to her. His heart clenched at the thought and he prayed he’d never have to find out.
Once back at the table, Melanie sat down in her chair next to his and looked up at him with a smile. “How did it sound?”
“Perfect.” He slid his arm around her shoulders. “Having the dogs here with their owners was a great idea. Puts a face on the need and how well the program is working.”
Melanie nodded. “That’s what we were hoping for.”
They sat close as the program continued and then after it was finished, Melanie took him and his family to meet Adrianne, Alex, and Marcus. Tyler didn’t miss the looks the twin siblings shared with each other and then their little sister when they saw them holding hands.
“Melanie?”
Tyler looked over to see that a middle-aged couple had joined them. The woman’s brows were drawn together as she looked at them and then at where Adrianne and Alex stood side by side. It took a moment, but he sudden
ly realized that these were Melanie’s parents. And from the looks of things, they had no idea about the two of them.
“Hi, Mom. Dad.” Her hand tightened its grasp on his. “I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Tyler Harris.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Tyler, these are my parents, Dennis and Pamela Thorpe.”
Tyler held his hand out first to her mother then her father. Both shook his hand without hesitation though he could see the curiosity on both their faces. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“So, darling,” Pamela Thorpe began, her gaze going from him to her daughter. “How long has this been going on?”
Melanie gave a one-shouldered shrug. “A couple of months.”
“A couple of…” Finely plucked brows drew together again.
Before she could say anything further, Tyler gestured toward his mom and Hank. “These are my parents, Shauna and Hank Wakeford.”
As he watched greetings be exchanged, Tyler wondered if Melanie was going to get grief for not talking to them about their relationship sooner. The fact that they were standing there with his parents made it pretty clear that they had known about the relationship before the Thorpes did.
“I think I’m ready to call it a day,” his mom said a short time later. “I’m still on London time so it’s very late for me.”
“Me, as well,” Eleanor was quick to add.
They had rooms at the hotel where the banquet was. Since Eleanor had traveled with them this time, it had made sense to stay at a hotel instead of his place. Hank would have offered to get him a room as well, but they knew he preferred the comforts of home when they were close at hand.
“See you tomorrow, Momma,” Tyler said as he bent to press a kiss to her cheek. “Sleep well.”
“You, too, sweetheart. Love you.” His mom gave Melanie a kiss as well before turning to the Thorpes. “It was wonderful to meet you. I hope we’ll see you again soon.”
Pamela’s eyes widened briefly at that comment, and her gaze shot to Melanie before looking back at his mom. “That would be lovely.”
Before Pamela could say anything more to Melanie, Alex drew his parents’ attention to someone else he wanted them to meet. Somewhere in all the introductions, Adrianne had slipped away, and Ryan and Marcus headed off as well, leaving them alone.
“Well, that was fun,” Melanie said with a grin, her blue eyes—he still had to get used to them—sparkling.
“I gather you still hadn’t mentioned us to your parents,” Tyler said as he slid an arm around her waist and began to weave them through the crowd to the exit.
“No,” Melanie said with a sigh. “I don’t mind them knowing. I was just trying to spare myself the focus of my mom’s determination to marry us off.”
As they left the ballroom, Tyler looked around then asked, “Is there a restaurant or bar in this place?”
Melanie nodded. “There’s both on the main floor.”
It wasn’t long before they were seated in a booth—both on the same side—and lamenting the lack of comfortable clothing.
Tyler let out a long sigh of relief to finally be away from the crowds of people. He usually didn’t mind them, but tonight, after everything that had happened, he just wanted to be alone with Melanie. Reaching out, he ran his fingers through the ends of her hair.
“Just so you know,” he began as he rubbed the silky strands between his fingertips, “you’re as beautiful to me this way as you were the other.”
She blinked rapidly a couple of times. “Thanks.”
“Did that worry you?” Tyler let his thumb brush across his cheek. “That my type was cute brunettes with brown eyes?”
He was a bit surprised when she hesitated, her gaze sliding away from his for a moment.
“Hey, what I feel for you goes way beyond your outward appearance. The things I love most about you are inside you.” His fingers slipped under her chin, turning her to face him. “I know a lot has changed for you over the past couple of weeks, but here’s something that hasn’t—how very much I love you.”
Melanie leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips then whispered, “Thank you for loving me. And thank you for helping me see that trust is not just possible but necessary for love to flourish. I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
“Popular Questions?” Melanie asked as she read the paper she’d pulled from the bowl. “What kind of category is that?”
Rena shrugged with a cheeky grin from where she was curled up next to Jeff on the couch. They were hosting the monthly gathering which Melanie was attending with Tyler for the seventh time. She’d quickly come to love his friends and claim them as her own. Even Betsy St. John.
Tonight, they’d had a barbeque to celebrate the beautiful spring day, but now they were gathered inside for some weird version of charades. Someone had made up the categories and then instead of guys versus girls like they did most the time, they’d paired them up guy and girl. If someone had a significant other, they were together and the others were paired up with whoever was left.
“Are you ready for this?” Melanie asked Tyler as he picked a paper from the bowl marked Popular Questions and then came to stand next to her. She took a moment to admire the way the man looked that night. White button down shirt. Faded blue jeans. His hair a tumble of curls that always made her itch to run her fingers through it. Thankfully, she was allowed to do that now. But what she liked most was the look in his eyes whenever his gaze met hers.
“I’m like a Boy Scout. Always ready,” Tyler said with a grin as he looked down at the paper in his hand.
“I think that’s always prepared, bro,” Ryan remarked wryly.
Tyler waved his hand at him. “Same difference.”
He turned to Melanie “Ready?” When she nodded, he held up four fingers.
“Four words.”
Tyler nodded and held up his index finger.
“First word.”
Another nod. He tugged his ear then pulled out a dollar from his pocket.
“Sounds like….dollar?”
He shook his head and held the dollar up with both hands.
“Money?”
Another shake.
“Bill?”
Nod.
“Sounds like bill.” Melanie paused. “Dill? Jill? Kill? Mill? Nill? Pill?”
She was mentally flipping through the alphabet, getting frustrated as he kept shaking his head. “Sill? Till? Will?”
Vigorous nod.
“Will? The first word is will?”
Another nod and then he held up two fingers.
“Second word.” She watched as he pointed to her. “Me?”
He shook his head and held up four fingers.
“Fourth word? What happened to the second word?” Melanie asked in confusion.
Again Tyler put up four fingers and then pointed to her.
“Okay. Fourth word is me?”
Tyler nodded and went back to two fingers, this time pointing to himself.
“Man?”
He shook his head, pointed to her and then to him.
Melanie stared at him for a moment then tapped her fingertips to her chest. “Me. You?”
Tyler smiled as he nodded.
“Will you…” Melanie paused. “Me?”
As the expression on Tyler’s face turned from teasing to serious, shivers raced up and down her spine. She looked around, the expectant expressions on the faces of their friends did nothing to slow the pounding of her heart.
When she turned back to Tyler, he reached out and took her hand. Gripping it tightly, he slowly went down on one knee and dug in his pocket.
“Will you marry me?” Melanie whispered the question as Tyler looked up at her.
“Yes. Will you marry me?” His blue eyes showed his love for her as he waited for her answer.
Everything they’d been through in the months following the BlackThorpe fundraising banquet—the ups and downs, the good and the bad—all of it faded away in that moment. Tyler wante
d to spend the rest of his life with her. And she knew without a shadow of doubt that there was no one else she wanted to be with.
“Yes.” She blinked back tears. “Yes, I will.”
Still holding her hand, Tyler pulled himself back up to stand in front of her. She knew that wasn’t an easy move for him, but as soon as he was steady, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Always and forever…yes.”
Tyler kissed her and then took her left hand. “I love you, sweetheart.”
Melanie watched as he slid a beautiful diamond ring on her finger then lifted her hand to kiss it. He drew her into his arms again, holding her close. In that moment, Melanie knew that even though she hadn’t completely embraced her past just yet, knowing that all of it had led to this point, she couldn’t regret it.
As their friends gathered around them to offer congratulations, Melanie felt a sense of peace and rightness in being there with them for this important moment in her and Tyler’s lives. Their support had been staunch once they’d heard Melanie’s story.
Thank you, God, for bringing us here. For bringing me Tyler and helping me learn to love and trust.
The End
Proof of Life
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CHAPTER ONE
ALEX THORPE pressed his hand to the scanner outside the entrance to the BlackThorpe training compound and waited for the gates to open. He wasn’t sure if he hoped he’d run into Justin Morrell while he was there or not. It had been an agonizing few weeks as he’d watched one of the strongest men he knew struggle to keep it together. Justin had always been known for his physical prowess, but it was his inner strength that now had Alex in awe of him.
But he just had no words anymore. How many times could you tell someone you were sorry for their…loss? It wasn’t even a loss really because they still didn’t know—despite hours and hours of following leads—what had happened to Alana. Even the cops had come to a standstill in their investigation. He knew from personal experience that the not knowing was the most difficult thing, but even their ordeal with Melanie’s kidnapping had only lasted two weeks.
A Matter of Trust: A Christian Romance (BlackThorpe Security Book 3) Page 27