Never Say Never (15 page)

When the ring slid on, Gareth thanked Chelle silently. Every detail, except that kneeling one, was perfect. Soon they would be in the limo, and he would seal this commitment with an unforgettable kiss, more powerful than their first one had been.

Epilogue

Two Months Later

For the third time this year, Charlotte Halloran flew into Houston to go on a cruise. But this trip was something she never would have imagined in her wildest dreams. Her wedding would take place on the voyage, and an excited, fun-loving entourage of friends and family deplaned with her.

After making their way through the sprawling airport to the luggage claim area, they spread out around the lane designated for their flight number. The happy chatter going on around Charlotte made her feel loved and at peace. Chelle gave her mother a hug, then hurried over to talk to her cousin. Charlotte could hardly believe that Gareth had made arrangements for over fifty people from Texas to go on the cruise and attend the wedding. Even Charlotte's pastor would perform the ceremony. His wife was almost as elated as Charlotte to be on this trip. Hank and Margie said they would consider it a second honeymoon.

Before he left Bedford the weekend he asked her to marry him, Gareth made arrangements with Pastor Hank to do his premarital counseling on several phone calls using the speakerphone in Pastor's office. Charlotte enjoyed taking part in the long conversations. The two men quickly became good friends, which didn't surprise Charlotte, since she loved both of them.

The first of the luggage bounced down from the conveyor belt. She would have to pay attention, because she didn't want to miss hers the first time they came around and have to wait for them to make the long trip back.

“Charlotte.”

When she heard Gareth's voice, she whirled toward the sound. He stood so close she was surprised she hadn't felt him arrive. His arms slid around her and pulled her close. Without a moment's hesitation, she threw her arms around his neck and leaned into his embrace. A sparkle in his eyes accompanied the questioning hesitation. She pulled his head down and kissed him. She didn't care that they were in the middle of a busy airport with lots of people to witness their love. The last two months apart had been hard. Although she talked to him, usually more than once a day, she missed his touch.

When their lips parted, someone clapped. Others joined, and Charlotte heard someone speak above the noise, telling the crowd that they were here for the wedding. Her cheeks burned, and she hid them against his broad chest.

“Did you miss me as much as I missed you?” Gareth whispered against her hair.

She nodded, not moving her head from where it rested. Soon everyone's attention reverted back to retrieving his or her luggage.

“I have a whole fleet of vans waiting outside to take everyone to the ship.” His eyes seemed to devour her face, like a starved man looking at a long, overflowing banquet table. He brought one hand up to cup her cheek. “I don't want us to ever be apart this long again.”

A lump formed in Charlotte's throat. “Me neither.”

❧

When the vehicles pulled up to the Voyageana building on the cruise dock, the crewmembers Gareth had handpicked waited to take the wedding guests' luggage aboard the ship. As when Charlotte came on the cruise in early August, the entire group with her went straight to the VIP desk where their keycards were waiting for them.

Gareth had made sure the staterooms he had chosen for them on deck eight were cleaned early this morning, so he could take them there immediately. Charlotte, Chelle, and their neighbor, Linda Miller, were in the Penthouse Suite—the same one Charlotte had before. Until the wedding, Linda's husband and Gareth would share the suite across the hall. It was smaller than the one where the women were, but larger than most of the others, with two separate sleeping areas. After the wedding, Chelle and Linda would switch rooms with Gareth.

Since it was too early in November for holiday travelers, he had been able to get the larger staterooms for everyone else, although they were scattered up and down that deck.

When everyone had their keycards, they all went through the check-in point where their security pictures were taken. A ship's photographer waited for them in the Centrum. So did a small group of other tourists.

“Charlotte, these are a few of my cousins from the Nether-lands.” Gareth's heart swelled with pride as he watched them welcome his bride.

After the introductions, the photographer's assistant clustered the whole crowd on the large, spreading staircase that led from the Centrum lobby on deck four up to deck five's elevators. When she was finished, the photographer stood by the balcony railing on deck six and took several shots from different angles before the Texas crowd had family boarding pictures made.

Gareth walked up the staircase to deck six and caught everyone's attention. “You have a couple of hours to settle in. Then come to the Dancing Waves Ballroom at the rear of this deck.” He gestured that direction. “Our lunch will be served there.”

❧

Charlotte and Gareth quickly ate their food, and he went to the bandstand and stood by the microphone. Charlotte thought he had a commanding presence even in civilian clothes instead of his uniform. Her pulse kicked up a couple notches, making her feel breathless.

“I'll just give you a quick rundown of the schedule while you continue eating. Then you can ask any questions you might have. We'll try to answer them.” He held out his hand toward her and when she joined him he put an arm around her waist. “We'll be at sea two days, moving toward Jamaica. Tomorrow you can get acquainted with the ship in between preparing for the wedding. The rehearsal is on Tuesday morning in the Footlight Theater on deck five, and the wedding will take place there at 4:00 p.m. There is additional balcony seating for the theater on deck six. However, I assume most of you will want to be down close. Some of the crew will come to the ceremony, and we will let as many of the passengers come as space will allow, so you might want to get there early. After the wedding, we will have a reception for just our invited guests in the Monterrey Bay area next to the conference rooms right outside that doorway.” He pointed toward the area. “After the reception, Charlotte and I will spend the night in the Penthouse Suite, and Chelle will spend the rest of the week with the Millers in their stateroom. Do I need to warn you that anyone who disturbs us will be thrown overboard?”

Laughter and hoots erupted across the room.

“Besides, there will be strong guards outside our door.”

Charlotte felt a blush make its way up her cheeks.

“Does anyone have any questions?” Gareth asked.

Hands went up all over the room.

He laughed. “Let's take them one at a time, shall we?” He pointed to one of the Dutch cousins.

“Where are you going to live after you are married?”

Charlotte had expected that one to come up.

“We will keep both our home in Texas and our home in Oosterhout.”

Charlotte laid her hand on his arm and moved toward the microphone. “It'll be nice to have the house in Europe as well as in the US. I hope to spend time in Holland soon, and I'm sure Chelle will want to tour the continent at some point. Maybe she can go over there for the summer when she graduates.” She smiled at her daughter.

Chelle jumped up, and her fist shot into the air. “All right!”

“For now”—Gareth placed his hand on the middle of Charlotte's back—“we'll spend a lot of time in Texas.”

“When you're not at sea.”

Charlotte couldn't tell who said that, but she felt Gareth stiffen slightly. “Actually, I'm not going to continue captaining a cruise ship on a regular basis. Voyageana Cruise Line is opening a cruise-only travel agency in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. I will be the supervisor for that facility. I'll also serve as a substitute captain for the line. Hopefully, I won't be needed in that capacity very often until after Chelle graduates from high school and goes to college. Then when I do go on a cruise, Charlotte can be with me.”

Charlotte tried to remember what other hands had been raised. She thought Billy Miller had been one of them. “Billy, did you have a question?”

All eyes turned to her neighbor, who liked to kid around a lot.

“So whose idea was it for all of us to come along on your honeymoon? Did you think we needed to protect you, or does Gareth need us?”

Charlotte was waiting for the laughing and cheers to die down, trying to think how to answer him, when Gareth leaned toward the microphone.

“Actually, I have a surprise for my bride.” He glanced down and gave her a wink. “We are spending our wedding night on the ship, but when we arrive at Jamaica, a helicopter will take us away to a private Caribbean island that belongs to the president of Voyageana Cruise Line. We will spend the next week and a half in his villa there.”

Charlotte's eyes widened, and she gasped. While everyone cheered, she turned toward him and pulled on his hand until he lowered his head near hers. “It sounds wonderful, but I can't leave Chelle alone that long.”

He chuckled and put his arm around her. “She won't be alone. The Millers and the Larsons will take care of everything.”
When he gently kissed her temple, her heart melted.

❧

While the ship's orchestra played a romantic medley, Gareth peeked out at the auditorium from behind the opened curtain on the stage. The place was packed.

All the seats near the front were filled with family and friends. Behind them an irregular section of white uniforms told him that many of the crew were here. Even though an announcement had been made over the PA system throughout the ship, he hadn't expected so many passengers to attend. Maybe most of them were romantics, or at least the women were. Probably they had to drag the men with them. He smiled at that thought. A few months ago, he wouldn't have believed that he would get married again. How wrong he had been. He looked forward to every single day with Charlotte.

The music changed signaling the time for him, Homer, and Doug to move out and take their place beside the pastor in front of the orchestra. Gareth quickly looked toward the back where Linda Miller started down the aisle, walking in cadence. When she reached halfway, Chelle followed her. After they both climbed the steps up to the stage level, the music changed to “The Wedding March.”

Charlotte stepped into the aisle, and he couldn't keep the tears from forming in his eyes. With flowers twined in her hair and a filmy veil fluttering down her back, she looked like an angel. The off-white gown she wore glowed like a precious pearl. She was precious to him. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Billy Miller walked beside her. Because of the slope of the aisle, she had to watch where she stepped, but she soon turned her eyes toward him and smiled.

❧

When Charlotte looked up toward Gareth, she almost lost her footing, but Billy steadied her. Who could have guessed that she would find another love in her lifetime? She remembered telling Linda several months ago that it would never happen. Maybe
never
should be banished from her vocabulary.

About the Author

Lena Nelson Dooley lives in Texas with her husband James. They are active in several ministries of their church. She speaks at retreats and conferences. Both she and James are interested in missions and have been on several mission trips. A full-time author and editor, Lena holds a BA in Speech and Drama. She has had several novels published by Heartsong Presents and two novella collections. Visit her web site at: www.LenaNelsonDooley.com.

Dedication

Dedicated to the leaders of my Ladies' Life Groups at Gateway Church—Suzette Roach, Aja Schiewe, and Arnita Taylor. Thank you for pouring the love of the Lord into my life and encouraging me to move in my giftings.

And as always, this book is dedicated to James, the man God created just for me, whose strengths meet my weaknesses and who draws strength from me. Our marriage is one of the best things that ever happened to me.

A note from the Author:

I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:

Lena Nelson Dooley

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