Finding Peace (Finding Series Book 1) (50 page)

“Can you wrap it around my bouquet, Mama?”

“Sure. That’s a good idea.”

She walks over to where the bouquet is, just as there is a knock on the door.

“Come in.” I say.

My Dad sticks his head in.

“I’ve got a delivery from the groom.”

“Come in, Dad.”

He walks in and takes in a deep breath and holds it. Tearing up, he looks at me with pride and love in his eyes.

“I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you.”

His eyes move to Mama. “Well, almost never.” She never turns to meet his gaze. “Blake will be lucky if he can get through his vows.”

“Thank you, Daddy. You don’t look so bad yourself.” I say to him.

Mama walks back over to me as Dad stands in front of me.

“I put the handkerchief around the bouquet, Kayla. I’m going to go find Frank. I love you sweetie.”

Mama kisses me on the cheek, then walks to the door. Dad watches her as she leaves. Then turns back to me.

“Here, honey. This is from Blake.”

He hands me a small box, then rushes for the door.

“Dad, wait! I have a gift for Blake.”

“Uh, I’ll be right back.”

With that, he leaves, closing the door behind him.
Strange.
Looking at the box I see a small note attached to it. Unfolding it reminds me of all the letters I have received from Blake over the months.

Kayla Rose,

The love of my life. I searched high and low for the perfect gift for you. Nothing I thought of seemed like enough to match the significance of this day, the day you become my wife. This is the best that I could come up with. I promise to add to it as the years go by. I love you Kayla Rose Jameson soon to be McGinnis. I’m counting down the minutes till I see you walking toward me. I’ll be the guy with the really goofy grin on his face and sappy tears in his eyes.

Your future husband,

Blake

Opening the small box I see a charm bracelet. On closer examination, I look at each charm. My man, such a romantic. There are three charms attached. An eight ball, to represent him getting on the pool table and singing to me to get my attention. Laughing to myself, it’s so Blake. Every time I look at that eight ball, I’ll see him standing on that pool table looking down at me and singing his heart out. Then there is a small bench, of course, to represent
our
bench, where we had our conversation and first kiss. Now, that is a great memory. And last but not least, a heart with today’s date on it, our wedding date. A date that will always be in my heart. God, I love this man.

“Tessa, see if you can find my dad.”

“Sure.” She walks out the door.

“Don’t you dare cry and mess up your make-up.” Maggie says giving me a wink.

“Your son is absolutely the best. Have you seen this?” I say holding the bracelet up in my hand.

She smiles at me and walks over to where I’m standing.

“Yes. He showed it to me. I must say, I know my son well. I’ve always known that he has a good heart, but you, my dear, bring out the absolute best in him. I’m so glad that you found each other.”

“Thank you, Maggie. Me too.”

“Let me see this.” Lisa says walking over.

Just then Tessa walks back in. “He and your mom are in a deep discussion in the hallway. I didn’t want to interrupt them. They both seem pretty upset.”

Great. Please don’t do this the day of my wedding.

“Maggie, can you take Blake his gift?”

“I’d be happy to honey.”

I hand her a note and the large frame that is covered in brown paper that I wrote different things that I love about him on. Lisa continues to go on and on about my bracelet.

“Lisa, can you help me with my necklace?”

Handing Lisa my heart necklace with the date Blake and I met on it, she carefully puts it around my neck.

“I think you’re ready.”

“Checklist!” Tessa shouts.

“Something old, my Grandma’s handkerchief. Something blue, my garter, University of Carolina blue to surprise Blake, his favorite college team. Something new, my bracelet. Can you put it on me, Tessa?”

“Chick, do you even need to ask? You know I expect you to do all of this for me when Asher and I get married.”

“Oh. My. God. Did he ask you?”

“Pssh. No way girl. But he will. Let me finish college first.”

“You know, I’ll be there for you, when it’s time.”

“Wait! Something borrowed? We don’t have anything borrowed.” Tessa says in a panic.

The door opens and I’m panicking. Mama looks like she’s been crying, but when she sees me she knows that something is wrong with me.

“What is it, honey?”

“I don’t have anything borrowed.”

She smiles at me. “Calm down. I have the perfect thing.”

She reaches into her purse and pulls out a box, then hands it to me.

“What’s this?” I ask.

She reaches over and opens the box, taking out a pair of pearl earrings.

“These were my mother’s earrings. I wore them when I married your dad.”

Taking them from her, I hold them in my hand. They’re delicate and precious, definitely something you would wear on your wedding day.

Tessa walks over and leans up next to my ear.

“Kayla, no offense, Hun, but that marriage didn’t work out so well. Maybe, we should find something else.”

“No. These are my something borrowed. The marriage may not have worked out, but the love is still very much there.”

Mama looks as if she is going to burst into tears any minute.

“Can you put them on me, Mama?”

“I’d be honored. You know I have to have these back. They’re very special to me.”

“Of course. If I didn’t give them back to you, they wouldn’t be borrowed.” I say to her.

“Let’s get you to your groom. Shall we?” Lisa says.

“You know, normally, I’d say it’s about time, but you and Blake give new meaning to the words hyper speed.” Tessa jokes.

“I love you girl. I’m really going to miss that sense of humor you have.”

“Oh, I’m not joking, I’m serious.”

“Shut up and hug me heifer.”

“Heifer? Did you just call me a heifer? Wait till I give my toast in a little while.”

“Look, I don’t have all day. Hug me, already.”

She comes over and we hug, squeezing each other very tightly.

“I hope that jerk knows how lucky he is.”

“He knows how blessed we both are.”

“He better or I will stomp him into the ground. Don’t think I can’t do it.”

“I love you, Tessa.”

“I love you too, Kayla.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blake

Impatiently, I pace back and forth in the room that will be mine and Kayla’s. We’ve kept our promise and haven’t had premarital sex again. So, not only am I ready to make her my wife, I’m ready for that week long honeymoon in Hawaii. Originally, we had planned to go to Myrtle Beach, but after Kayla changed the venue to our house, I decided to surprise her with a trip to Hawaii. She is going to flip. A knock on the door makes me jump.

“Sweetie, its Mom. Can I come in?”

“It’s open, Mom, come in.”

She walks in carrying a large package. Rushing over, I take it from her. It’s pretty heavy.

“What in the world is this?”

“It’s your gift from Kayla.”

Scratching my head, I look at it wondering what she could have gotten me that is so big. Examining the paper I see that Kayla has written all over it. I begin reading the words. At the top it says…
Things I Love About You
…
your eyes, your hair, your cocky smile, your sweet smile, your sexy smile, your pouty face, that stare you give me
. I smile knowing exactly which stare she is talking about.
Your lips, your kindness, your heart, your everything.
My heart is so full of love for this girl, I’m not sure how I ever lived without her.

“Here’s a note to go with it. Do you want me to stay while you open it or would you rather I leave? I can tell you now she was overjoyed with her bracelet.”

That brings a huge smile to my face. “Really? She liked it?”

“Blake, of course, she loved it. She loves everything you do for her. That girl is a gem.”

“That she is. You can stay, so you can tell her my reaction. I’m sure she will want to know. Dad should be back in a minute. He went to check on some last minute things for me.”

I sit down on our king size bed and open the note from Kayla.

My Dearest Blake,

There are so many special moments that come to mind when I think of you. Moments that we shared together that I never want to forget. This gift is a photo of one of those moments. Well, not that exact moment, but a photo of the same spot and at the same time of day that we shared. It’s really a gift for both of us, our first photo for our home. I love you, Mr. Sexy.

Love your future wife,

Kayla Rose

XOXOXO

Looking at Mom, she is waiting impatiently for me to open the package. Surely, Kayla wouldn’t have given me a gift that I couldn’t open in front of my mom. Besides, she said it was for us to hang in our home. Laughing internally at my thoughts, I shake my head.
Honeymoon please hurry up and get here.

Reaching over, I carefully tear the paper away from the picture frame. Turning the picture around I’m floored by what I see. It’s beautifully breathtaking. Hearing Mom gasp, I turn toward her.

“That is absolutely beautiful. It will be a lovely addition to the house.”

“Yes, it will. I remember the first morning I saw it with, Kayla.”

Turning back to the picture, I examine it closely. There’s a poem on it. I’m not sure how she had it done, but it looks like it’s a part of the picture.

You’ve brought color into my life

Like the colors of the sunset

We shared that day

You’ve brought love into my heart

With all the beautiful things

You do and say

You’ve brought me peace

Like I’ve never known

You my dear and you alone

My soul has found

Its home with you

Kayla Rose McGinnis

Looking up at Mom again, she has tears streaming down her face. But I’m smiling from ear to ear. Seeing my last name with hers makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst. All I want to do is run upstairs to the room she is in and bust through it and take her in my arms.

“I’m ready to get married. Right now. I can’t wait another minute.”

“Okay. I’ll go tell everyone to get this show on the road.” Mom says before leaving the room.

I examine the photo again. The sunset is gorgeous and I can’t wait to hang this up on the wall. Dad peeks his head in the door.

“I hear you’re in a hurry to get married.” He says.

“Yes! I’m in a hurry. Are we ready?”

“Just waiting on you.”

Walking over, I hug my dad and slap him on the back.

“Let’s go then.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Standing under the arbor I made, I watch as each of the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. Finally, Tessa comes walking down, which means Kayla is next. The wedding march starts to play and everyone rises to their feet. Then I see her and Andrew step out the double doors that lead out onto the porch. My breath leaves my lungs and my legs feel weak. She is a vision, she looks like a walking angel. The sun has started its descent and it’s casting a golden glow on everything. That glow envelopes Kayla as she descends down the steps and onto the grass. Not seeing or hearing anyone else, I focus only on the girl of my dreams walking toward me. Her green eyes, locked with mine, are glowing. She dips her head a bit as if she is embarrassed, making me wonder what exactly is going on in that pretty head of hers. Giving her my sexy grin, as she calls it, she blushes a beautiful pink color. Ah, yes, I can only imagine what my girl is thinking right now.

Andrew stops just short of me and waits for the preacher to ask who gives this woman in marriage. Everything, everyone is saying is a dull roar to me. Focusing on anything other than her is impossible at the moment. Andrew places her hand in mine. She is trying really hard not to giggle, which makes me smile even more. Leaning into her, I whisper in her ear.