Arizona Pastor (19 page)

A slow smile spread across her lips. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Humility?”

Mouth tilting up at the corners, he said, “I think I am.”

She placed both fists on her hips. “I'm not sure that's the Christian thing to do,
Pastor
.”

“Then I guess you better hang out with me a little more.” He stepped closer to her and cupped her chin with his palm. He pressed a quick, tender kiss to her lips.

She took a step back. “There will always be someone who will think less of you for being married to a woman who had a child out of wedlock.”

“There will also be people who will look down on me for causing my fiancée's death. I was speeding. Breaking the law. I have sinned, as well.” He took her hands in his. “We can't live in defeat by our past mistakes.”

Kristy chewed her bottom lip for several moments be
fore wrapping her arms around him. “I missed you so much this week.”

He kissed the top of her head, then breathed in the luscious fruit scent of her shampoo. “Your parents are here, aren't they?”

“Yes.”

“I'd like to meet them.”

“They want to meet you, too. Mel and Carrie have been singing your praises fairly consistently this week.”

“Then let's go.”

They headed toward the church's kitchen, with Wade determined to have a talk with Kristy's father before the wedding. Mother of the bride and soon-to-be grandmother or not, he planned to ask her dad for his blessing on their marriage as soon as he possibly could. If Wade had his way, they'd tie the knot before her parents went back to Brazil.

K
risty buttoned the back of Mel's wedding dress and then stood beside her daughter and looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The straight dress fit Mel perfectly, with just the smallest hint Kristy's grandchild rested in Mel's belly.

“I should have listened to you and gotten a fuller dress,” Mel whimpered as she touched her stomach.

“You're breathtaking.” Kristy adjusted the fabric around Mel's shoulders. “This dress is perfect on you.”

“You're the most beautiful bride ever.” Tim's voice sounded behind them.

Mel walked to Tim and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Dad.”

Leah peeked through an adjoining room and motioned to Mel. “Come on in here. Let's get your veil on.”

“Okay.”

Mel walked to the other room, and Kristy followed behind her. Tim touched her arm, and she stopped and turned to him. “You've been really good about letting Leah take part in this.”

You mean take over,
Kristy thought, but she didn't say the words aloud. “She's been terrific. She knows so much more about all this than I do.”

“Yeah, but you could have put up a fight. I mean, she's the stepmom. I know she can be a little overbearing, even if she does really care about Mel.”

Kristy raised one eyebrow. “A little?”

Tim grinned.

“Mel cares about her, too,” Kristy admitted.

Tim adjusted his bow tie. “She's had a good time planning and spending money.” He rolled his eyes and chortled. “Mel's invited us to church a couple times.”

“You should come.” With the words said, Kristy realized she really was all right if Tim and Leah came to church—her church. They needed the Lord as much as she did. She also realized the jealousy she felt toward Tim and Leah had disappeared. She no longer wanted their lives. Having forgiven herself, she found she wanted her own life. The one God had planned for her. One she hoped might include a good-looking pastor.

“We might do that.” Tim popped a mint in his mouth. “I just wanted to say thanks.”

Kristy joined Mel and the rest of the girls in the other room. She glanced at Leah, who looked gorgeous in a full-length purple dress. Leah bent down and adjusted a bobby pin in Mel's hair, then motioned for Kristy to stand beside her. “What do you think?”

Mel looked up at her through tulle that stopped just below her chin and then circled around to the base of her neck. Tiny rhinestones dotted the material around her head, and a large silk flower outlined with pearls and rhinestones

nestled behind her right ear. Tears filled Kristy's eyes. “Oh, Mel.”

“She's lovely, isn't she?” said Leah.

On impulse, Kristy gave Leah a hug. “You have done such a good job making this day special.”

Kristy took Mel's hand and lifted it until her daughter stood up. She took her back to the full-length mirror. “Your dad's right. The most beautiful bride ever.”

Lights flashed several times beside them. “Those are gonna be great. You're stunning.” And Kristy felt stunning in her new dress. The photographer gave them a thumbs-up. “But I've been sent in here to tell you it's time to line up.”

“Mom, I'm feeling sick.”

“Like puke sick or nervous sick?”

“Nervous.”

“Everything's gonna be fine. Joel is a wonderful young man, and you're putting God at the center of your marriage.”

Mel fanned her face with a tissue. “Mom, I really think I need to cool down.”

Looking around the room, Kristy spied a fan in the corner. She dragged a metal chair over to it, then sat Mel down. Turning on the fan, she held it in front of Mel's face as she took deep breaths in and out. “Getting better?”

Mel's hands shook, but she nodded. “Don't stop for a minute, okay?”

“I won't. Moms are always ready to help their babies when they're sick.”

“Or nervous.” Mel blew out another breath.

“That's right.”

“You're a good mom.” Tears brimmed in Mel's eyes, and her chin quivered. “I hope I can be a good mom, too.”

“You'll be even better than me.” Kristy grabbed a tissue from the box on the windowsill. She dabbed at Mel's eyes. “Now stop that, or Leah's gonna get both of us.”

Mel chuckled. “I think I'm almost ready.”

Kristy held Mel's hand as they walked to the back of the church. Before letting go, she squeezed and whispered, “I'm really proud of you.”

Taking the usher's elbow, within moments, the doors opened and Kristy walked down the aisle to take a seat on the front row. She locked gazes with Wade. He looked handsome in a black suit and purple silk tie. She loved him so much more than she'd ever thought possible.

She took her seat beside her mom and dad. Dad held a sleeping Noah to his chest. Carrie would walk down the aisle as one of the bridesmaids in a matter of moments. She looked at Joel, who seemed unable to stop fidgeting. He and Mel were so young. She could only pray they allowed God to guide them.

The music started, and one bridesmaid after another walked down the aisle and took their places on the steps of the stage. The ushers closed the doors, and the music changed to the “Bridal Chorus.” With the guests, Kristy stood, and the doors opened again.

She glanced at Joel and saw that he'd stopped fidgeting. A full smile wrapped his face, and he wiped his eyes. Looking back at her daughter, she feared her heart would burst with excitement for all God had planned for her. God's plans. Not Kristy's.

Tim and Mel stopped at the end of the aisle long enough for Tim to declare that he and Kristy were giving her away. Joel took Mel's hands in his, and Kristy studied her child's expressions as she pledged her life to Joel. The vow was sealed with a kiss, and Wade proclaimed them husband and wife. The whole thing seemed surreal as the usher came back, took her arm and guided her back up the aisle.

She stood to the side as the photographer captured pictures of Mel and Joel making silly and serious faces with the wedding party and some of the guests. Her heart pounded, and she fought back the urge to burst into tears because her baby had
really
just got married.

“She looks happy,” Wade's low voice sounded beside her.

“She does.”

The camera flashed as Mel made a duck face while Joel kissed her cheek.

“You're gonna be okay. Eventually.”

Kristy grabbed Wade's hand. Though he'd never married or had a child, he seemed to understand her feelings perfectly. With him by her side, she
would
be okay.

* * *

Wade watched Kristy as she watched Mel and Joel get into his truck. The groomsmen had written on each of the windows with pink-and-purple window paint. Pink-and-purple balloons and empty water bottles were tied to the bed of the truck. Wade wrapped his arm around Kristy's shoulders when Mel leaned out the window and waved as Joel drove away.

They walked back into the reception area and sat down at the table. Her parents stood together beside the punch bowl. Her mom held Noah up while her dad made faces at him.

“You all right?” Wade asked.

“I'm better than I thought I'd be.” She picked a pink flower out of the arrangement at the center of the table and smelled it. “I suppose that's because you're with me.”

Wade looked around the room. He'd hoped more of the guests would have left when Mel and Joel had, but many had gone back for more cake or stayed to slow dance at the front of the room. “Wonder when we'll start cleaning up.”

Kristy pointed to Leah, who appeared to be in deep, intimate conversation with Tim. “Whenever the boss says, and she doesn't appear to be ready.”

“She drove you crazy, huh?”

“Actually, not too bad.” She stuck the flower back in the vase, and then took a sip of her drink. “Mel felt a little overwhelmed at times.” She placed her cup back on the tablecloth. “Tim said he and Leah might come to church sometime.”

Wade nodded. “You're okay with that?”

“I am. I'm not jealous of what they have anymore.”

He rubbed sweaty palms against his pants, and then grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

She stumbled to her feet. “Wait a minute. I took my heels off.”

She started to bend down, and he tugged her hand. “You don't need them.”

“Wade,” she complained. He continued down the hall and out the side door. “Where are we going?”

The sun had just set over the horizon. Yellow and gold hues still mingled in the distance with pinks and blues, painting a beautiful picture just above them. She stepped on a rock and let out a low grunt. He wished he'd been patient enough to let her put her shoes back on. There was nothing he could do about that now.

Slowing down, he continued to guide her to a small bench overlooking the bass pond. The White Tank Mountains stood majestically in the distance. He sat and tugged her down beside him. Some of her brown waves had fallen out of the clip at the side of her head. He brushed the wayward strands behind her ear.

“Am I starting to look a little scary?” She scrunched her nose and smiled. He devoured each freckle that dotted her cheeks. Her lips taunted him.

“No,” he whispered. “Just the opposite.”

His heart pounded in his chest. He moved his leg and felt the sharp corner of the box in his pocket. A thousand times, he'd gone over all he wanted to say to her, but looking at her now, he couldn't remember a single thing.

She frowned and touched his jaw with her soft palm. “What's wrong? You look worried.”

She had no idea. He feared she'd laugh in his face. They hadn't known each other long. Had barely dated officially. And yet he knew she was the one for him. He didn't want to wait another year or two. He wanted her to be his wife. Soon.

He slid down to one knee and wrapped both her hands in his. Her eyes widened. Words escaped him. His throat felt parched as he tried to remember something he'd planned to say. His fingers shook as he pulled the box from his front pocket. “I love you, Kristy.”

She pulled her hands away and covered her mouth. He touched the top of the small container. “I had…all these things… Plans… What I wanted to say. My mind…” His words jumbled together, and he shook his head.

Kristy nodded with tears filling her eyes.

“It's not been long…but I know…in my heart.” Exasperated, he opened the box, and Kristy let out a muffled squeal.

“Will you marry me?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, then sat up and offered her ring finger. “I thought you'd never ask.”

Wade slid the square-cut solitaire on her finger and then brushed his lips against hers. “Thought I'd never get past the stuttering, huh?”

She draped her arms over his shoulders. “That, and I knew you asked my dad.”

“What? He wasn't supposed to tell you.”

“He didn't. I figured it out when the two of you were setting up chairs last night.”

“Well, when did you think I'd ask?”

“Then.”

“When?”

“Last night.”

“I wanted you to enjoy Mel's day first.”

She pressed a full kiss against his lips. “Which is only one of the many reasons I love you.”

“There was another thing I queried your dad about.”

“Queried?”

“Gotta keep you on your toes with the vocabulary.” She laughed. “What's that?”

“I asked if they could extend their stay in the United States an extra week.”

“What did they say?”

“He made a few phone calls and found out they could.”

“Great.”

“You wanna know why I want them to stay?”

“Why?”

“I'd like to get married.”

Kristy dropped her arms. “When?”

“As soon as Mel and Joel get back from their honeymoon. What do you think?”

Uncertainty trailed through his body again as she stared at him and blinked for a few moments. Her expression softened, and she molded herself into his arms. “I think that sounds great.”

One year later

A
fter the church service ended, Kristy made her way to the nursery. Eustace smiled and waved her inside the room. Kristy traced her finger across her son's soft forehead. “How'd he do for his first time in here?”