She slid her hands down the lapels and held her hands over his heart, feeling it thump against her palms. Not quite calm, her cowboy lawyer. “Nervous?”
“Excited. I’ve waited a long time for this day to come.”
She eyed him and tilted her head in surprise and confusion. “I think that’s my line. I’ve been chasing after you since I was a girl. I’ve dreamed of this day nearly my whole life.”
“I’ve thought about getting married to the woman I love. Maybe I hadn’t exactly put you in the wedding dress beside me, but I always wanted the woman to be someone who loved me. Someone who saw the real me. Accepted me for all that I am. Saw the potential in all I could be. A friend as well as a lover. A partner in every way. You are that woman, Brooke, even if I didn’t recognize it right away like you did. Thankfully, you balanced my stubbornness with sheer determination.”
That made her chuckle. “We make a good team.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “I need you to tell me all those things I don’t want to hear in the way you do that makes me listen.”
“I need your steady strength to hold me up when my world crashes down. I need you to love me.”
“I do. I always will, because you do the same for me.” He kissed her again. This time his lips pressed to hers in a long, soft kiss that settled the butterflies in her belly.
Cody ended the kiss, pressing his forehead to hers. “Will you marry me?”
She smiled softly and stared into his sparkling blue eyes. “Yes.”
He stepped back, but halted before walking out of the room with her. “I almost forgot. You need something blue.” He dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet. He took her left hand, pulled the ends around her wrist, and clasped it in place. He took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing the back of it, the bracelet sparkling at her wrist.
“It’s beautiful, Cody. Thank you.”
“A wedding gift for my bride.”
“I have something for you. I thought my mother forgot to take it to you, but I guess she knew you were coming up to get me.”
The plastic box sat on the bedside table. She undid the lid and pulled out the single pink rose surrounded by baby’s breath. She turned to him. His gaze locked on the flower and something in his eyes told her he understood.
“A symbol of our daughter for you to carry with you down the aisle.” She pinned the boutonniere to his lapel.
Cody touched his finger under her chin and tilted her head back, so she met his earnest gaze. “Ready?”
She took his hand and walked ahead of him to the door to prove how ready she was to be his wife. His long strides made it easy for him to catch up and walk beside her down the hall to the stairs. She trailed her fingers over the laurel leaf and roses garland wrapped around the banister. Tiny, twinkly white lights lit their way down to the living room. Vases overflowed with white spider mums and roses. Their sweet and heady fragrance filled the room and calmed her nerves.
“I love it, Cody. The house looks beautiful.”
“Wait until you see the garden.”
They stepped out the back door and followed the path of red rose petals to the garden patio. Outdoor heaters kept them warm in the brisk evening air.
The wedding march played as she and Cody walked the aisle between their guests. Everyone looked wonderful in their dashing suits and pretty dresses. They’d move into the house once they finished the short ceremony. She wanted to be married in the flourishing garden. The florist had made it even lusher with the huge urns overflowing with greenery and flowers. Twinkling white lights sparkled in the bushes. The fountain’s tinkling water added to the peaceful scenery.
Cody walked her right up to the marble pedestal at the front of their gathered friends and family. Their daughter sat on the center of the pedestal with two pink, strawberry-scented candles, one on each side of her. A taller, unlit candle sat behind her.
Brooke stared at the silver vessel, released Cody, and touched her fingers to the small case. Cody’s hand covered hers. She looked up at him and he stared down at her, both of them taking a moment to remember all they’d lost and all they were about to promise to share in their future.
She smiled softly, stood tall, and turned to face him. He took her hands in his and the preacher began the ceremony with a prayer she’d never heard. It spoke of love and sacrifice and perseverance. It spoke of love’s endurance.
She lost herself in the words and drifted off into the past and all she’d overcome. Cody touched her face to bring her back. She smiled up at him, trying not to make a big deal about the conflicting images in her mind to the beauty all around her. She focused on him and squeezed his hand to let him know she was here.
She was okay.
She’d endured.
She’d persevered.
To settle her mind and her heart, she stepped closer and gave him a quick kiss to take the worry out of his eyes.
