“Happy wedding day. Don't cry. You’ll mess up my make-up.” Poppy offered her arm to help steady Lacey on her trek across the yard to the steps—no longer construction steps, but the real thing.
She looked up at Beck, who was waiting for her.
“I didn't want to wait any longer. I know you said you wanted a real wedding, but I didn't want to wait. I hope this will do.”
She put her free hand in his good one and stepped up beside him. Her heart fluttered as she felt the strength of his grip, as she looked into those steady eyes.
“I think this will do just fine.”
Her father edged between them. “I’m the one who gets to walk her down the aisle, even if this isn’t how I pictured doing it.”
“Everyone take your places,” Marianne called, and people moved to the living room,
Beck’s hand slipping away from hers as he went to stand in front of the fireplace, with Pastor de la Cruz on one side, his friends on the other. Her friends and sister hurried ahead with their own simple bouquets to stand opposite, smiling and laughing as her dad walked her between the rows of chairs.
She wanted to look around, both to see who was here, and the work that had been done to transform this place into her wedding chapel, but she didn't look away from Beck, didn't let herself waver as she moved toward the man she loved.
Then her hands were in his again. She didn't hear the words the pastor spoke, but heard Beck’s and held them in her heart.
“Lacey Davila, today’s the day I make you my wife, today, here in our home, with the people we love as witness, with my heart open. I’ve never known a woman like you, a woman so strong and loving, a woman so brave and determined. I hope our children have half of those qualities. I want to start every day looking at you, end every day looking at you, for the rest of my life.”
A handkerchief appeared at her shoulder, and Lacey took it to dab at her eyes, and a little at her nose.
“I didn't have time to prepare vows,” she said, taking a deep breath. “But this was the best surprise I could have hoped for. Twelve years ago, you reached out to me and pulled me onto solid ground. More recently when I felt my feet slipping from beneath me, you made sure I was steady. I didn’t...I didn't know what to do with the emotions you made me feel. I didn't recognize them right away as love. But I do now, and every day I am thankful that I have a man like you to love, and that a man like you can love me.”
Now Beck had tears in his eyes, and he tightened his grip on her hands. She barely felt the slide of the ring on her finger, barely heard the pastor pronounce them husband and wife, barely heard the cheers of their friends and family as he pulled her close and sealed the deal with a kiss.
*****
“ICAN’T BELIEVE YOUgot everyone in on it,” Lacey said later that evening, laying in her husband’s arms on the sofa that had been pushed out of the way for the ceremony. Once everyone had left, she’d finally been able to see that the house, while not finished, was livable, and they’d be spending the night here in their home tonight, on their wedding night. Her dad and Con had gone back into town to get the bassinets, and the babies were asleep in the master bedroom
“It wasn't easy. You should have seen all the text messages, all day, every day. Not only that, but Con, Javi and some of their friends were working on the house every day, too, along with the crews from San Angelo, to get it ready. You have some really good friends, Lace.”
“Honestly, I never knew how good until today. But I would have caught on if I didn't have baby brain.”
“I believe that one hundred percent.” He craned his head to kiss her lips lightly. “You ready for bed, Mrs. Conover?”
She winced. That was his mom’s name, and didn't fit her. Still, his mother had hugged her—hugged her! So it wasn't all bad.
“Please, husband. Let’s go to bed.”
