“I’m glad.” She squeezed his hand. “Do you think he’d consider coming to church with you sometime?”
“I can’t see that happening anytime soon. But we’ll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, we’ll pray on it. At least my relationship with Kyle is a little bit better now.”
Karen smiled, loving Keith’s jovial mood.
He returned her smile. “I had something else I wanted to talk to you about, too.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He pulled her onto his lap, kissing her cheek. “I love holding you, Karen.”
She giggled, her heart beating wildly. “I like having you hold me, Keith.”
He hugged her for a few seconds before releasing her. “Karen, I just want you to know that you’re one special lady and that I’m in love with you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “What?”
He kissed her nose. “I love you, Karen Brown.”
She smiled, euphoria filling her soul. “And I love you, too, Keith Baxter.”
❧
As the months passed and Christmas rolled around, Keith invited Karen over for a festive holiday dinner. After they’d feasted on roasted chicken and potatoes, they sat in his living room, gazing at his Christmas tree. “It’s so pretty,” Karen gushed. “Do you get a tree every year?”
“No, this is the first time I’ve purchased one since I’ve been living alone.” He pulled her into his arms. “I wanted to ask you something.”
She smiled. “What’s that?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. When she opened the lid, her excited grin made his head spin. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you!” She pulled him into her arms and kissed his lips. “I love you, Keith,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, Karen.”
She admired the ring now gracing her finger. “We need to go let my mother know!” Karen pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “She went out to dinner with some of the women from church, but I’ve got to call her and tell her the news.” She put the phone on speaker after she dialed the number.
“Hi, Karen.” Her mom’s voice sounded in the living room.
“Mom, I’m engaged!”
“Oh, Karen.” Her mother’s voice wavered. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Hi, Ms. Doris.”
Her mother chuckled. “Keith, I already know you’ll be a nice, respectable husband for my daughter. Congratulations, both of you.”
After they rang off with her mother, Keith said, “Our news wasn’t a surprise for her.”
“Of course it was!”
His eyes twinkled as he looked at her. “No, it wasn’t. I asked your mother last week if it was okay if I asked you to marry me.”
She playfully swatted his arm. “Oh, Keith, I’m not some young teenager. You didn’t have to ask my mother’s permission.”
“I know, but I just wanted to be sure she approved.”
“Well, you knew she would. My mother thinks highly of you, and I know she’s grown fond of you since you moved in next door.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Oh, Keith. I’m so excited! Do you think your brother will come to our wedding?”
“I hope so. You know, I asked Kyle to come by for dinner today, but he told me he couldn’t make it. He said he had a date.”
“Maybe he should have brought his date with him.” She took Keith’s hand. “I hope, eventually, that I’ll be able to spend some time with your brother and get to know him. Is he still getting help for his drinking?”
Keith nodded. “He’s been going to AA meetings and says he hasn’t had a drink in weeks. And. . .well. . .”
“Well, what?” she said, continuing to admire her ring.
Keith hesitated then said, “Kyle told me he’d come to church with us this Sunday.”
Karen’s mouth dropped open as she stared at Keith. “You’re kidding,” she said softly.
Keith shrugged. “But don’t get your hopes up. Kyle is known for breaking promises and changing his mind.”
“That may be true, but to have him to agree to come to church with us at all is a big deal if you ask me.”
“Yes, you’re right.” Keith dropped her hand and stood. “I’ll be right back.” He returned minutes later with a colorful brochure. “If you’re agreeable, I’d like to enroll in Calvary Christian College for their fall term.”
Karen smiled, glancing at the catalog, admiring the picturesque campus. “Where is Calvary Christian College?”
“It’s in Waldorf, about an hour from here. We could move there if you’d like, but if you’d prefer staying here next door to your mom, I’ll understand. I also wasn’t sure how you’d feel about trying to find another job as a hairdresser in Waldorf. If you want, we can stay here and I can always commute.”
Karen hugged him. “Keith, if you feel the Lord is calling you to move to Waldorf, I’m okay with that. From my experience, it’s usually pretty easy to find another job at a salon in a new area, but I’ll admit that I have gotten used to seeing my mother every day.”
“How about we compromise? We can move to Waldorf, but we’ll drive down every Sunday to take your mom to church and spend the afternoon with her.”
“That sounds good to me. Thanks, Keith.” Happy tears slid down her cheeks as she hugged him.
Epilogue
Eight months later
“Are you ready, little brother?”
Keith paced the dressing room at the church, feeling stiff and unnatural in his tux. He stopped walking and looked at Kyle, who was also in a tuxedo, ready for the wedding that was going to start in an hour. After a few moments, he answered his brother’s question. “I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m just grateful and blessed that the Lord brought Karen into my life. I am nervous, though.”
Kyle pulled on his collar. “Yeah, I saw Karen and the rest of her bridal party arriving awhile ago. Karen’s a nice woman. I like her.”
Keith nodded. “I’m glad you and Karen hit it off so well.” He paused before continuing. “I know the wedding’s going to start soon, but I just wanted to tell you that I’m glad we’re getting along now and that you agreed to be the best man at my wedding.”
Kyle looked away for a few seconds, continuing to tug nervously on his collar. “Yeah, since I’ve stopped drinking and started getting my life back on track, I guess it made it easier for us to settle our differences.”
“Are you happy, Kyle?”
His brother sighed. “I feel better than I did eight months ago.”
“But are you happy?”
“I know you’re going to tell me that I’ll only find true happiness by accepting Jesus.”
Keith mentally sighed with relief. Although Kyle had not accepted Jesus, he had attended services with him and Karen a few times. And his voice was no longer full of disdain when they conversed about the gospel. Not wanting to push the issue, Keith simply clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Just keep my advice in mind.”
“I will,” Kyle answered.
One hour later, the quartet played the “Wedding March” as Keith watched Kyle, Steve, and his church friend, Aaron, walk down the aisle. Anna, Monica, and Amanda then slowly followed, their matching royal blue gowns flowing behind them. Keith smiled with pride when Karen came forward. Her long lacy white dress contrasted nicely against her dark skin. Her large eyes were full of tears as she approached, holding a red floral bouquet in her small hands. She was so beautiful that Keith knew he could sit and look at Karen Brown forever. After Pastor Bolton performed the ceremony and they’d said their wedding vows, they shared a long, blissful kiss.
About the Author
Cecelia Dowdy is a world traveler who has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. When she first read Christian fiction, she felt called to write for the genre. She loves to read, write, and bake desserts in her spare time. She also loves spending time with her husband and her toddler son. Currently s
he resides with her family in Maryland. You can visit Cecelia on her Web sites: www.ceceliadowdy.com and www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com.
Dedication
To my sister, Joanna.
Thanks for helping me iron out the wrinkles in this manuscript.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Cecelia Dowdy
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
Bittersweet Memories Page 16