“I think so.”
“And your mommy and I will be really good friends,” Summer said.
“Do you like her?” Larissa asked.
“I never met her, but I know that when I do, I will love her, because we both love you.”
Larissa smiled big, and her fears seemed to be gone.
Summer wasn’t so naïve as to believe that they would never come back, but she did know that there were things that Larissa could know were true, and they would help her be able to grapple with the harder facts of life.
“Are you okay?” Summer asked, hearing the musicians start the song again. And seeing Amy leaning over, looking down the trail.
Summer waved, indicating that everything was okay, and then she looked down at Larissa.
“I’m fine. I’m happy.”
“All right. If you’re ready to walk down, it sounds like they’re ready for you. You have the rings?”
Larissa reached in the little pouch that she had on her wrist. “I have both of them.”
“Perfect. You go on, I’ll be right behind you. Don’t walk too fast. I don’t want to trip. I’m not used to wearing heels.”
They weren’t huge heels. They were square and serviceable, because she would be walking in the woods. She wanted to wear something a little bit dressy. But not so fancy that she looked completely out of place. Still, the waterfall was the perfect backdrop, and she wanted to wear something that complemented it.
Of course, nothing was as important as the man who stood at the end of her walk, in front of the pastor, and right beside his sons. Who looked at her as she walked slowly around the bend. She moved toward his family and the man who loved her.
Leaves fell down around her as a gust of wind blew over, and she was thankful for the little jacket she wore with her dress, since there was a bit of a chill in the air.
Still, she couldn’t ask for a better day for early December, although it didn’t matter. She would have gotten married no matter what the weather and been thankful for it.
Gilbert couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her, and he looked at her with such love and devotion that it was all she could do to walk sedately and not run to him and put her arms around him.
To think that would be hers for the rest of her life, to hug him whenever she wanted to, to touch him as much as she cared to, and to get to hear everything he had to say, and to tell him her every thought, if she chose to.
To give her life to him, to serve him, and to do her best to make his life easier and happier and brighter. While he did the same for her.
Yeah, it would have been extremely difficult for anyone to wipe the smile off her face.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Roland McBride watched the horses as they went in front of him once more.
He was the only one of his family that hadn’t gotten married, and while he didn’t exactly feel left out, he did wonder if maybe there was something wrong with him.
“Hey, Roland,” Judd said, sitting down beside him.
“Hey there, Judd,” he said, respect in the line of his body as he shifted to make room for Judd. Terry, his oldest sister and the sibling that he most looked up to, had chosen a good man. Judd was quiet, but as they said, still waters ran deep, and there was a lot about Judd to learn about, and everything that he learned showed him what a great man he was.
Roland felt a little guilty that he had squandered so much of his life, when he saw how much Judd had done.
Of course, it was never too late to get started working for the Lord, and Roland had a few things in mind.
“You enjoying the wedding?”
“The food is good, so I’m happy.”
“You’re not gonna talk about how beautiful the bride is or how in love your brother looks?” Judd said, teasing a little.
