Melodies of the Heart: A Pinewood Grove Sweet Romance (15 page)

There was a blur of activity happening all around her, but Kassidy had never felt so calm. The photographer’s camera clicked and clicked, but she barely noticed it. She didn’t take note of her mother adjusting the jeweled clip in her hair, and she barely heard the playful bickering coming from her three best friends.

“Oh honey, you look gorgeous,” her mother said as she wiped a tear from her eye.

“Thanks mom,” Kassidy said as she rose from the chair where she’d been sitting and straightened the long white train of her dress. She’d been waiting her whole life for this moment, and now that it had arrived, she wanted to hold on to every second of it.

“Are you ready?” Addison asked as she handed Kassidy her bouquet. As maid of honor, Addison had done so much to help Kassidy plan her big day and now she looked close to tears herself.

“I’ve been ready since the moment I met him,” Kassidy said and her cheeks flushed a soft, warm shade of pink.

“Oh, that’s perfect,” the photographer barked at them. “Stay like that.”

A few more clicks of the camera and the photographer was done. The woman did all the weddings in Pinewood Grove and she was a real pro, though she could treat her brides more like professional models than amateurs from time to time.

The whole town had been invited and the church was packed to bursting. Their reception would be at the state park, with row upon row of picnic tables set up so everyone could get a seat. Kassidy couldn’t wait to enjoy the fun that she and her friends had worked for months to plan, but more than anything, she couldn’t wait to see Levi.

Everyone had warned her that the nerves would be overwhelming, but they never came. When the double doors of the church opened and everyone stood to welcome her, her eyes only went to one man.

Levi, in a perfectly fitted black tuxedo, was looking back at her, and ready to make her his wife.

The ceremony was performed by the same man who had spoken in church every day since before Kassidy had been born and he spoke of love, acceptance, and God. Each of his words held so much power and truth over Kassidy. Tears tickled the edges of her eyelids, and when she looked to Levi she saw the same tears in his eyes.

“Do you, Kassidy Olsen, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Pastor Smythe asked.

“I do,” she said, her voice never more clear nor proud.

“And do you, Levi Thayne, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the pastor asked.

“More than anything,” Levi replied.

“Then it is my pleasure to introduce everyone here today to Mr. and Mrs. Thayne,” the pastor announced. “You may kiss your bride.”

The crowd around them cheered as Levi pulled his bride into his arms. Even with all the noise around her, she barely heard them. All she heard was Levi whisper, “I love you.”

“Say it again,” she requested her smile grew even bigger.

“Kassidy, I love you.”

And then he kissed her. Full and deep, in front of God and all their friends and family. She was his and he was hers, for that day, and for the rest of their days.

Sarah Paisley is a twenty-nine year old writer from Ohio. When she’s not at work writing, she can be found riding horses, gardening, and planning her wedding to her soul mate. Melodies of the Heart is her first release, and the first book in the Pinewood Grove series.
Join her mailing
list to be the first to know when book two will be out!