She coughed. “Alaska istoocold.”
He laughed and kissed her. “I’ll follow you to Mars if that what it takes to convince you. I love you, Martha GaleJenkins.”
“I love you Elias…I don’t know your middle name. How can I be in love with someone and not know theirfullname.”
“EliasJacob.”
“I love you Elias JacobBoone.”
“Marry me? Make me the happiest man inTexas?”
* * *
November
“Ready?”
Marti looked at Delene and Tina. She’d let each of them pick out whatever dress they wanted to wear today. It honestly didn’t matter to her one bit. The two dresses complimented in style and color and she’d bet Ransom they had coordinated the purchase through Tina’s dress shop. Deep purple for Delene and a deep pink for Tina. Each carried a long,whiterose.
Marti stood and Tina rushed to straighten Marti’s bell-shaped gown, flipping the train of the dress outbehindher.
“Your leg okay?” Tina asked. “Youhurting?”
“I’m fine. Really,” she added when Tina looked doubtful. “It hurts a little but the cast is off and I’m headed down that aisle to marry Eli if you two have tocarryme.”
“You look gorgeous,” Delene said. “Tina, perfect dress forMarti.”
“I know. The minute I saw it, I knew it was the one. Luckily for me, sheagreed.”
“I didn’t care what I wore. Seriously. I’d do this in the nude if it meant marrying EliBoone.”
“Yeah, well, the guys would have loved the nude part, but I doubt your groom would have. He’s kind of thejealoustype.”
Marti smiled. “And so am I. I don’t want you two to know just how good he looks without hisscrubson.”
The three of themgiggled.
There was a knock of the door a second before Marti’s dad opened it. “It’s time,honey.”
“I’m ready, Dad. I’ve been ready my whole lifeforEli.”
Tina led the way down the aisle, followed by Delene and finally by Marti and her dad. Eli’s face broke into a wide smile the minute their gazes met. He looked fabulous. She did love the look of a man in a black tux, especiallythisman.
She and her Dad stopped at the pew where her mother sat. Marti kissed her mother’s cheek and then her dad’s. Her dad took a seat by her mother. Marti didn’t need her parents to give her away. She wasn’t going anywhere. Eli had found his way back home to Whispering Springs and the Riverside Orthopedic Clinic, joining his friend in thepractice.
Eli took her hand and stared into her eyes. “I love you,” hewhispered.
“Iloveyou.”
They turned to face the preacher to join their lives and live happily ever after in a small town inTexas.
