They invited a precious few people to the ceremony. Ginger sat in the front row and gave Maya a thumbs-up. Maya giggled. A reception for the entire community would follow at the botanical gardens. Afterward, Maya and Derek would spend the weekend in Myrtle Beach for their honeymoon. Jamila was going to stay with Ginger and Pops while they were gone.
Sheer bliss.
Dressed in a chocolate-and-turquoise empire dress, Heather Gates walked down the aisle. She stopped at the altar and turned to face the guests. Jamila walked down the aisle next, scattering rose petals. Jamila’s turquoise dress was modest and cute, with its specially embroidered hem falling just below her knees. Her dark hair had been curled in cute corkscrews that brushed her shoulders. Jamila was growing into a beautiful young woman.
The music tempo changed, signaling Maya’s cue to walk down the aisle. She tightened her grip on the bouquet of calla lilies in her left hand and drew a shallow breath. The ivory silk of her mother’s wedding gown graced her frame as she and her father walked slowly down the aisle.
She spotted Derek near the altar. A slow smile spread across his face and her breath caught. She was going into this eyes wide open. Yes, there would be hard times. She’d still have to care for her health. She’d still have to have her monthly transfusions. But she wasn’t going at this alone. Her family would now include Derek and Jamila.
Reaching the altar, Pops turned toward her, and his eyes shone with happiness as he whispered, “I love you, daughter. Always.”
She blinked back her own tears. “I love you too, Pops. Forever.” Maya handed her bridal bouquet to Heather and took Derek’s hand.
Derek leaned over and whispered, “You are divine.”
Maya’s breath caught in her lungs and desire rose inside her, heating her to the core. Too full to answer, Maya nodded her head in reply.
The pastor clasped his hands together. “Family and friends. Dearly beloved . . .”
Maya made a conscious effort to focus on the words spoken, but her attention strayed to Derek’s hand gently wrapped around hers. She inhaled; his minty aftershave was fresh and clean, a new beginning. So she hadn’t followed all of her mother’s wishes for her, but this was a good thing. Now Maya felt whole, inside and out.
The pastor read from the love chapter in the Scriptures. Then he spoke of agape love, the God kind of love, that remains committed no matter the hardships of life. The pastor ended by reading verses seven and eight: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Love hadn’t come easily to Maya. With Derek by her side, things would be better.
At the pastor’s instruction, Derek and Maya faced each other. When Derek recited his vows of faithfulness, his voice enriched her soul and wiped away all doubts. He slid the gold wedding band on her finger, a symbol of his lifetime commitment to love and care for Maya.
Maya’s voice grew shaky when she repeated the same vows. As part of their wedding preparations, they had discussed their vows, especially the phrase “till death do us part.” They clearly knew what they were getting into, and they had committed to love each other fully until then. No fear. No regrets.
One lone tear trickled down Maya’s cheek.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Derek, you may kiss your bride.”
Derek lifted the heirloom lace veil Maya’s mother had worn and gently brushed away the tear on her cheek. His hands cupped her chin and he stepped close. His lips brushed hers in a gentle kiss, then he kissed her once more. This time his kiss revealed a deeper yearning, a promise of a lifetime of wedded love. Maya wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to let go.
She stepped back, and ripples of delight rushed through her. “I love you, Derek Sullivan.”
Derek brushed his palm across her cheek. “I love you too. From the moment I surrendered my heart to you, I knew you were the one, for a lifetime.”
Acknowledgments
I started A Lowcountry Bride in 2010. Eleven years later, this story is published! It’s been quite a journey. My greatest wish for A Lowcountry Bride is that it inspires generations of readers to love, to hope, and to have faith in their dreams.
A Lowcountry Bride has come to life because of my editor, May Chen. When I received The Call from May on January 9, 2020, joy filled my heart. Her insightful edits brought out the sweetness and energy in this story. I am so grateful for her positivity, thoughtfulness, and professionalism. May is a bright light in this world.
The team at Avon Books worked very hard to bring A Lowcountry Bride to readers. They also worked on this book during a pandemic, and so they deserve all the flowers. I want to give a special thanks to editor Elle Keck; to the art department at Avon; to the publicity team at Avon, including Pamela Spengler Jaffee and Kayleigh Webb; to my copyeditor, Nancy Tan; and to the production team at Avon, including Diahann Sturge, Robin Barletta, Jeanie Lee, Rachel Meyers, and Pamela Barricklow. I am forever grateful.
My South Carolina family took me in as their own. They showed me the true meaning of community. They taught me the importance of family, faith, decency, and kindness. I am especially grateful to Roosevelt Thomas; the Thomas family; my Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church family in Summerville, South Carolina; Yvette Jackson; Karen Kugblenu; and the late Margaret Wilson.
I dedicated this book to my husband, Daren Williams, and I am also expressing my thanks to him here. Daren sees me through the highs and lows, and he is one of my biggest champions. Daren is my hero in every sense of the word.
My two children, Samuel and Hannah, have been my constant companions on my writing journey. They watched me type on my computer or write in a notebook between playdates and their school lessons. They also saw my career disappointments. When my children read A Lowcountry Bride, I hope they’ll know that their mother never gave up on her aspirations—and so they should never give up on their dreams.
My parents, Laysander and Presentacion, raised me to work hard and do my best. They are the reason I can write this particular story. I love you forever.
Thank you to Lee Hampton for always eagerly reading my books and spreading the word about them to others. I love and appreciate you.
My sister Alethea taught me the importance of unconditional love. I also give my deepest appreciation for my siblings, Diarish, Michael, Laysander Jr., Bertha Darlene—and to my late sibling Kenneth. I love you all.
I am grateful to my in-laws, especially Charlie and Deborah Williams, Danielle Williams, Dale Williams, the late David Williams, and to my little nephew Daniel Williams. Welcome to the family, Daniel.
Thank you to my patrons who support me. I didn’t know if anyone would ever want to read what I wrote, but my patrons did. Their support keeps me going.
I want to extend a special thanks to Melissa Parcel. She is amazing, and I hope that God continues to bless her.
I also want to extend a special thanks to Margo Stebbing. Her poetry inspires me to continue honoring our Filipino ancestors. Thank you for your support and love.
A special thank-you to my writing friends, Piper Huguley, Vanessa Riley, Laurie Tomlinson, Tina Radcliffe, Tanya Agler, Laurie Wood, Cynthia Herron, HelenKay Dimon, Belle Calhoune, Mia Sosa, Thien-Kim Lam, Moni Boyce, Loni Crittenden, Briana Smith, Tristian Evans, Courtney Milan, Rachel Grant, Unoma Nwankor, Tracee Lydia Garner, Lucy Eden, and Stacey Agdern. They have helped me at various points in my writing journey, and I will always be grateful to them.
I want to give a special shout-out to my Faith Book Chella ladies, Norma Jarrett, Chandra Sparks Splond, Sherron Elise, and Natasha Frazier. I appreciate you.
Thank you to the anonymous donor who paid for me to attend the 2017 Romance Writers of America conference. This donor’s generosity changed my life for the better. I will always be grateful.
Thank you to my friends Eveline Powell, Monica Hurley, Shawnda Lindsey, Ashley Harrell, Bwerani and Tamischer Nettles, and Tamara D’Anjou-Turner. Their friendship over the de
cades has been unwavering and kind.
Thank you to Monsignor Raphael Peprah for guiding me on my spiritual journey. I am so glad for your wisdom and kindness.
Thank you to Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction faculty and fellow students. I submitted pages of A Lowcountry Bride during the workshops at our residencies, and your feedback was invaluable in helping me write this heartwarming romance. I also want to give a special shout-out to my mentors in the program, Kathryn Miller Haines and Anne Harris.
Thank you to story coach Savannah Gilbo for helping me transform the muddled story in my brain into a compelling narrative. A Lowcountry Bride would still be a rough draft on my hard drive if it hadn’t been for her.
Thank you to freelance editors Erin McCabe, Erica Monroe, and Jenny Proctor for helping me get this story polished and ready for submission. I am so grateful to you.
Thank you to my current and future readers. I hope this story touches your heart. I am so grateful for your enthusiasm and support.
I am so grateful to my ancestors and my late grandparents, Adelaide and Julian Catacutan; Effie Lattie and Sherman Edwards. I hold their stories in my breath and in my blood. I will tell of their happiness, their heartache, and their humanity for as long as I live.
And finally, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I didn’t know how A Lowcountry Bride would get published, but you guided this story into the hands of the right people. You once said that all things are possible to the person who believes.
I believe.
About the Author
PRESLAYSA WILLIAMS is an award-winning author who writes heartwarming romance and women’s fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Proud of her heritage, she loves sharing her culture with her readers.
She earned a master’s degree in public administration from the College of Charleston. Preslaysa then earned a second master’s degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University. She also has an undergraduate degree from Columbia University.
Preslaysa is a professional actress, a planner nerd, an avid bookworm, and a homeschool mom who wears mismatched socks. Visit her online at www.preslaysa.com to sign up for her newsletter.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by Preslaysa Williams
Healing Hannah’s Heart
Touched by Fate (short story)
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
a lowcountry bride. Copyright © 2021 by Preslaysa Cielita Williams. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
first edition
Cowrie shell art © Sabelskaya / Shutterstock, Inc.
Zigzag pattern © rudvi / Shutterstock, Inc.
Cover design by Jeanne Reina
Cover illustration by Doria Adoukè
Cover photograph © Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images (cityscape)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.
Digital Edition JUNE 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-304030-4
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-304029-8
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