Texas Weddings 3 & 4 (21 page)

“Yes you are, honey.”
Kent’s mother gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You’re our little princess.”

The children squealed
as she opened the next gift, a sand art kit. Then came a beautiful dress from
Shauna’s parents and multiple other toys from the children at the day care.
Finally, Shauna slipped a carefully wrapped box in his daughter’s direction. He
had to wonder what she might have selected; such secrecy had surrounded its
choosing.

Charity’s jaw lowered
in amazement as she discovered the beautiful pink ballet outfit inside the box.

“Miss Shauna, I love
you!” She held up the pink leotard and package of tights, then grabbed the tiny
pink ballet shoes and clutched them to her chest. “I dance! I dance!”

“How did you know?”
Kent leaned down to whisper in Shauna’s ear.

“I’ve been paying
attention.” Shauna smiled. “But that’s not all. I have one more surprise.” She
reached to pull a gift bag out from under the table. Charity yanked the tissue
paper out and hollered out as she lifted out the pink tutu. “Pretty!”

Shauna stood and
approached Charity. “I know you want to dance, honey,” she said. “And I thought
you might like this. Maybe one day soon you can dance for us.”

“I dance now!” Charity
jumped from her seat, and it took all of Kent’s wisdom to get her seated once
again. His heart nearly burst as he looked at Shauna—his Shauna. This
move on her part was the icing on the cake, no pun intended. In some ways, it
sealed the deal.

“I have one more
present,” he announced to the group. “But it’s for someone else at the table.”

The children all began
to scream at once. “Me! Me! I want present!”

Kent shook his head
and pulled the little box from his pocket. For nearly two hours he had guarded
it with great care. Now, finally, he could release it to its rightful owner. He
turned to face Shauna, who looked a bit perplexed.

“I have a present for
Miss Shauna.” He spoke pointedly for the benefit of the children. “But I have
to ask her a question first.”

As he dropped to one
knee, Kent’s pulse sang in his ears.

Shauna’s face reddened immediately, and her hands covered
her mouth as the truth registered. “Kent?”

“
Shauna.
. .” His voice trembled then steadied. “I want to start by telling you what an
amazing gift you have been to me and Charity these past few months. We’ve both
fallen in love with you.”

At this, a couple of
the children giggled. Clay slapped himself in the head and groaned.

Shauna’s smiled widened, and Kent forced himself to stay
focused. “I would be so honored”—he swallowed hard—“if you would
make me the happiest an in the earth by becoming my wife. Will you marry me,
Shauna?”

His gaze locked into
hers, and his pulse raced so quickly, Kent thought for a moment he might pass
out. She nodded, slowly at first, then with zeal. Tears rushed down her cheeks,
and her hand shook in his as he slipped the ring on her finger. All around the
table, people began to clap. Shauna sprang to her feet and threw her arms
around his neck, locking him in an embrace.

“How did you manage to
pull this off?” she whispered in his ear.

“I had a little help.”
He gestured to their parents, and her cheeks reddened once again. She looked at
her mother in shock. “You knew about this?”

Mrs. Alexander nodded. “Sure did.”

“And you?” Shauna looked at his mother, amazement sweeping
over her like a flood.

“Yep.” Laura Dougherty flashed a broad smile.

Shauna looked down at her finger then back up at Kent. “I’m
so happy, I just don’t know what to say.”

“Hey now, I thought I was the one who struggled to come up
with the right thing to say.” He wrapped her in his arms.

“You’re great with words,” she reminded him. “Remember that
awesome poem you wrote me?”

Kent groaned. “That was awful.”

“No.” She looked at him with great seriousness. “It was
beautiful. And you know what else is beautiful?”

“What?”

“
She
is.” Shauna
pointed down to the end of the table, where Charity sat eating her piece of
cake. “Our daughter.”

Our daughter.
Kent’s eyes filled up nearly as quickly as the idea
registered fully. Charity would soon have a mother. And he would soon have a
wife.

epilogue

“How are you feeling, son?” Kent looked up as he heard his
mother’s voice.

“I’m great.” In fact,
he didn’t remember ever feeling more joy or peace.

“Where are all those groomsmen of yours? Did they chicken
out?” She looked around the room.

“I have a sneaking suspicion they snuck out to sabotage my car.”
Kent looked at his watch. “They made a commitment to be back in the room in
five minutes.” He fumbled with his necktie, but nerves got the better of him.
He couldn’t seem to get it straight, no matter how many times he tried.

His mother came closer to help him out. “I just came from
seeing Shauna.”

“You did?” His heart felt as if it had elevated into his
throat. “How is she? Is she nervous? What does she look like? I’m sure she’s
beautiful.”

“Whoa, whoa!” His mother laughed. “Too many questions. And
I’m not giving away a thing. You’ll discover all of the answers yourself in
just a few minutes.”

Kent sighed. “Okay.”

She continued to work on his tie as she spoke. “You should
hear all of the conversations going on out in the sanctuary.”

“Are there a lot of
people?”

His mother smiled. “I
think you’re going to be stunned. The place is packed out. And they’re still
coming in, if you can believe it.” She continued to maneuver his tie as she
spoke.

“Really?” Kent looked
at his watch. “It’s only a quarter till three. We don’t start for fifteen
minutes.”

His mother shrugged.
“I know. But they all are entertaining themselves by watching that photo slide
presentation you and Shauna put together on the overhead projection screen.
I’ve never heard so many chuckles, especially when they saw that picture of you
in first grade with no teeth.” His mother stepped back to examine the tie then
untied it and began again.

Kent groaned. “I
didn’t want to use that picture, but Shauna insisted. She thought it was cute.”

“It is,” his mother
agreed. “You were adorable then, and you’re adorable now.” She gave him a pat
on the shoulder.

“I thought you said I
was a tough case as a kid,” he reminded her.

“True.” She spoke with
a hint of laughter in her voice. “But time has affected my memory.”

Her words struck a
chord. “Time has affected my memory, too,” he had to confess. “My painful
memories of losing Faith are fading. New memories are taking their place. I’m
so grateful for that. I don’t ever want to forget Faith—and I’m sure I
never will—but I’m happy to forget the pain. I really think the worst is
behind me now. I feel like I can look to the future without that”—he
stumbled a bit over the words—“without that lump in my throat. You know?”

“I do know.” His
mother reached to hug his neck then spoke with tears in her eyes. “I can’t help
but think that time is a part of God’s plan to extend mercy to His children.
How else could we walk through such stormy times and still come out on the
other side with so few scars? Time heals our wounds. It presses yesterday
further away and brings us one step closer to tomorrow. It gives us hope to
dream again, to believe again.”

Kent thought about her
words for a moment before responding. “Mom, sometimes I think you missed your
calling.”

Her eyes narrowed in
confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he looked at
her with as serious a face as he could manage, “that you should have been the
preacher, not me.”

She chuckled then
responded with a hint of laughter in her voice. “Are you kidding me? I can’t
imagine handling a job like that. No, thank you!” Her expression suddenly grew
quite serious. “But I know that you can because you were called to this. God
called you to lead this particular flock, and you answered the call. I’m so proud
of you, and so blessed and honored that you love the Lord and serve Him with
your whole heart.”

Kent shook his head in
disbelief. “The whole thing just boggles my mind, especially when I think of
where I’ve come from.”

“It shouldn’t.” She
took him by the hand. “Look to the Bible as your example. God took ordinary
men—men who had made mistakes, no less—and used them. That’s how He
works. If we waited for Him to use perfect people, we’d be waiting a mighty
long time.”

“You’re right. He’s a
God of second chances.”
Thank You, Lord.
Thank
You
for not giving up on me during the teen
years. Thank
You
for not giving up on Josh Ebert.
Thank You for not letting me
give
up on Charity during
the terrible twos. Thank
You
for giving a second
chance at love. Thank
You
for bringing Shauna into my
life and for giving me the courage to dream again, to hope again. You are an
awesome God!

His mother looked him in the eye. “And He’ll give you even
more chances when you make mistakes in the future. His grace is sufficient, even
for that.”

Kent nodded in understanding. “That’s what gets me through.
That, and the love of the people in this church.” His heart swelled as he
thought about the people in his congregation. Young and old, they had embraced
him with their love, their understanding, and their enthusiasm.

“They love you,” she said. “I hear their comments. They’re
amazed at all you’ve accomplished in such a short time. And they adore Shauna.
She’ll make a perfect pastor’s wife.”

“I agree.”
How could anyone not love her? She’s
unbelievable.

“Her love for children
is evident. You should see how many toddlers you’ve got in attendance today.”

Kent chuckled. “Should
make things exciting.”

“No doubt. But
speaking of children, did Shauna say how she felt about your suggestion to
start a Mother’s Day Out program at the church next year?”

“She loved it.” Kent
couldn’t help but smile as he remembered Shauna’s joyful expression. “And
she’ll make an awesome director.”

“I’m sure of it. When
I see how wonderful she is with Charity, I can’t help but think she’ll make an
awesome mother, as well.”

“She will.” He smiled. “But even if she struggles a little
with that, it won’t make any difference. She loves Charity, and that’s what
matters.”

“Speaking of Charity,” his mother interjected, “did you
remember to pack her bag?”

“Yes. And I can’t thank you and Andrew enough for keeping
her while we’re on our honeymoon.”

“It’s not Charity I’m worried about.” His mother groaned.
“It’s that new puppy of hers.”

Kent grinned. “He’ll grow on you. I’m sure of it.”

“That may take some doing, but if you say
so.
. .”

The door swung open and five anxious groomsmen entered the
room, faces blazing with excitement. Kent couldn’t help but wonder what they
had been up to. His mother said her good-byes and turned to walk out of the
door.

Kent’s heart beat with excitement as he faced his friends.
They spent a few moments together in prayer with his friend and mentor Pastor
Meeks leading the way. As they walked together toward the sanctuary, Kent
brushed tears from his eyes. How could he contain such joy?

***

Shauna fumbled at the iridescent pearl buttons on the back
of her white lace wedding dress. The organist began the familiar music.

“Are you ready?” Her
father beamed with pride as he reached to take her by the arm.

Shauna nodded with a
full heart. She had always dreamed of a June wedding. And a big church wedding,
no less!
 

As the doors to the
sanctuary opened, the somewhat-nervous bride let her gaze focus on Kent. Her
heart skipped a beat, anticipating the moment when they would be husband and
wife. God had given her the desires of her heart—a husband and a precious
daughter.

 
Kent had already taken his place at the front.
He looked more handsome than she could have imagined. His eyes widened as
Shauna made her way down the aisle in the white Victorian lace dress.

“New
beginnings.
. .” the Holy Spirit whispered to her heart.

Shauna marched slowly,
methodically, eyes twinkling beneath the lace veil. Kent’s mother and father
sat in the front pew, holding little Charity.

“Mama!” the youngster
shouted loudly as Shauna passed by.

Several members of the
congregation let out a chuckle. A few even laughed out loud.

“
Shh
!” Laura Dougherty warned,
putting her finger over Charity’s lips.