“All the phone numbers are written on a paper in the kitchen.” Luna rattled off a list of ten more reminders.
Aloni, bless her heart, took it all in stride. “I’ve been watching babies since before you were born, missy. You go on now and have a good time.”
Luna’s eyes widened. Carl detected her fight or flight defense rising and ushered her out of the apartment before she could give it much thought.
She didn’t speak until they were on the road. “I feel guilty leaving the girls. I already miss a lot of time with them while I work.”
“Every mom needs a night off now and then.” He caught a glimpse of her worried frown before navigating a turn. “You are always with them if you’re not working, and I admire you for that. Too many parents can’t wait to get away from their kids and that makes me sad, but it’s not the same as going out for a night.”
“You should be a therapist.” Lightness returned to her tone. “You always have the perfect words for me no matter what I’m going through. How do you do it?”
“I don’t. I let God handle it, and he gives me the words to say.” He winked. “When I’m listening, that is. Hang around me long enough and you’ll see I say the wrong thing more than I care to admit.
They reached the venue ground.
Luna let out a gasp. “This place belongs in a movie.”
Carl agreed. “Several have been filmed here.”
“I can see why.”
The stately mansion covered several acres, and that was only the main building. Altogether, the estate sat on over one thousand acres. There were ten outbuildings, including a six-car garage and a mother-in-law guest house that was bigger than his home. The original brick of the home dated back three hundred years and belonged to a founding family of Mansboro.
He followed the half-circle driveway and stopped at the doors for a valet to take over. When he went to Luna’s side, he felt her shaking. “Are you okay?”
“I’m completely out of my league here.”
“Don’t speak like that about yourself.” He squeezed her hand. “Money or a nice house don’t define you.”
“Easy to say for someone who hasn’t picked scraps from a dumpster so she wouldn’t go hungry.”
His heart ached for her. “You belong here, as much as I or any of the others from Hope House do.”
He kept his hand wrapped firmly around hers and held her close, letting anyone who saw them know that he was proud and honored to have Luna as his date. They walked through the double doors and a man wearing a tuxedo ushered them to a vast room with rows of plush benches.
Floral arrangements of ivory orchids and lavender hyacinths were hung from the end of each row of benches. Three overhead lights emitted a dim glow, and lit candles lined shelves along the wall.
Beside him, Luna tensed. Her gaze frantically searched the room, then landed on an exit door.
“Talk to me,” he whispered.
“People are staring.” She didn’t pull away but used her free hand to smooth her dress.
He glanced around and saw a few ladies from the shelter watching them closely. “Look at their faces, Luna. They’re watching you and smiling because they’re happy for you. That’s all.”
She shifted her gaze to one woman, a newer resident of the shelter. “How do you know?”
“I’ve never heard anyone speak a negative word against you and trust me when I say they are cheering for you.”
“It’s nerve-wracking.” She leaned into him.
Did she realize she’d done it? “They’ll stop in a minute, and once the wedding begins, all eyes will be on Rachel.”
They slid between two benches and sat down. Luna relaxed and struck a conversation with Christy from the shelter who sat in the row ahead of them. Christy asked about the girls and filled Luna in on the current happenings, as though she’d been gone for months, not a week.
Carl watched the interaction, surprised by the simple joy of hearing Luna talk with a friend. Once she started and felt comfortable, all her insecurities fell away. Her face came alive, and her eyes danced.
The preacher came to the pulpit. Aaron and the groomsmen stood to the side of him. A lady at the piano began playing the wedding march. A hush fell over the room as the flower girl entered, followed by the bridesmaids. Every person stood when Rachel entered.
