The Wedding Shop (37 page)

One Year Later

June 10

T
he scent of summer laced the afternoon breeze as it shoved through trees guarding the wedding chapel.

Haley scanned the blue sky as she burst through the doors on Cole's arm, wearing
the
wedding dress, wearing Love and Truth, a bouquet of purple flowers in her hand.

The guests in the small wedding chapel flowed out with them, cheering for “Mr. and Mrs. Cole Danner.”

At the bottom of the steps, Cole swept her up into his arms, spinning her through the late-afternoon light lacing through the trees. Light, everything in her was light.

The guests, about forty in all, peppered them with petals of lavender, bellflower, and catmint.

Stalking alongside them, Taylor Gillingham stealthily snapped pictures.

“Congratulations, Hal,” Dad said, kissing her cheek, unable to stop smiling since before walking her down the aisle.

“Haley, my beautiful girl.” Mom had gotten more sentimental since the shop opened, since she read Cora's letter, since she gave Haley Cora's money for the shop.

This past week the town council deeded the shop over to Haley while naming her businesswoman of the year.

Behind Cole, his dad came up, clapping him on his shoulder with a hearty congratulations.

She never imagined that when she responded to the tug to “go home,” she'd end up here. Or that reopening the wedding shop was about family and healing, and real love would conquer her heart.

While Cora never healed her relationship with her father, Cole was well on the way to mending his. He and his dad met weekly for dinner, becoming father and son again, living in the present and not the past.

“All right, let's get to the reception.” Haley's oldest brother, Aaron, herded the small crowd toward their cars. “Half the town is waiting.”

The reception was to be at Cole's place,
their
place, the old Good farm where Miss Cora and Birch had lived for fifty-five years. Once the cork popped, Mom poured forth with family history.

“Wait for us.” Haley's bridesmaids emerged from the church, waving their bouquets. Charlotte, Mrs. Peabody, Mrs. Elliot, and Mrs. Rothschild, sisters of the dress, sisters of the shop.

Before the wedding, Mrs. Elliot declared she was hoping to catch the bridal bouquet. “I'll give the younger gals a run for their money.”

Oh, love, its desire never faded as long as there was the breath of life.

“Come on, babe. Our chariot awaits.”

Climbing into the limo with Cole, Haley curled onto her husband's lap. “I think my heart might burst.”

“Mine already did. A year ago.”

She kissed him, brushing her hand over his hair, loving the look in his blue eyes.

“I feel so full.” She kissed him again. “So this is love . . .”

“So this is love.” He drew her into him, his lips fiery against hers.

“Isn't this dress amazing?”

“Very, and I love the story behind it, around it. I love the woman in it.”

“The wedding chapel was so romantic and stellar. I felt like I was being married in a royal court.”

“When we married before God I suppose we were.”

“So what was your favorite part of the day, Mr. Danner?

He brushed a stray curl from her shoulder, his warm, slight touch giving her shivers. “Don't you know, darling? You.”

1. The story opens with Haley as a girl, riding her bike on a summer day with her BFF. Do you have a fun girlhood memory to share? What did you love most about summer as a kid?

2. Cora inherited her aunt's wedding shop. What do you consider the value of inheritance? What about inheritances of a different kind, like spiritual, or historical? Share something you've inherited from your family—natural or spiritual.

3. Haley's mom required the family to set goals every new year. Do you set goals? What's the value of setting goals? How did setting goals ultimately impact Haley's life?

4. We know the saying, “Love is blind.” That seems to be the case with Cora. Why do you think she loved Rufus so much? Why cling to him for so long? Have you been “love blind” before?

5. Haley also experienced a bit of “love blindness.” Did you see that parallel with Cora? Seems kind of obvious now but I didn't start out with that in mind! Books have a way of taking on a life of their own.

6. Cole was wounded by his father's actions. As kids, we don't have control over what our parents choose to do. But we do have control over how we respond. What's the Godly way to respond to the wounds of our past? What truth did Cole come to?

7. The Wedding Shop became a sort of anchor in Heart's Bend, a desired destination for the young women. Is there such a place in your life or past? Maybe in your hometown?

8. Sometimes the best thing to happen to us is right in front of our eyes! Cora couldn't see Birch for looking. Talk about how to recognize the good that's in front of us right now. How can we be “present” in our lives?

9. Charlotte Rose believed the wedding dress belonged to her. But the Lord revealed she must pass it on. How can we have an open hand with the things God has given us?

10. Cole sold his rare electric guitar to help Haley and his father. The situation with Linus was unjust. But Cole's sacrifice brought a sort of humble justice. Jesus's sacrifice is an unjust justice. Talk about how we can surrender our wants and desires to the Lord, letting Him bring justice.

11. What did you think of the women bringing the money to Haley? What was going on there?

12. Haley's mom was an achiever but part of her edge stemmed from losing her father when she was young. She also struggled with Cora's rejection. How do we overcome rejection and the pain of the past?

13. A lot of the story line deals with generosity—people freely giving, even the town was generous. Where do you stand on the generosity scale? Can you improve your aspects of giving?

14. What was your favorite part about the story?

I
'd like to thank the Internet and YouTube and all the people who load up seemingly pointless and uninteresting information. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and from probably every writer's heart, who's searched for information in your cyber mine and found a nugget of truth. Your videos of a boat docking blessed me.

Otherwise, let me shout out to my writing partner Susan May Warren. We're going on book 17 together and, as always, you keep my writing straight and sane. I'm still waiting for your genius to rub off on me but I'll take your love and ideas in the meantime. Give your son David a pat on the back for me too. I'm still smiling over the time I called for help and asked for him instead of you. Ha! You trained him well.

Beth Vogt, my FaceTime partner. Your insight and suggestions helped to make this book better. I appreciate you, friend.

Special heart emoticon for my editors on this book, Becky Philpott and Karli Jackson—the dynamic duo. I appreciate you both so much. Thank you for all of your patience, help, insight, and guidance—for being a phone call away, and for laughing with me on said phone! You are the best!

Gratitude to my publisher, Daisy Hutton, who is a joy to know, let alone work with. I love walking this writing journey with you.

A million heart emoticons to the entire Thomas Nelson/ Zondervan team who do so much behind the scenes. I'm thankful! Feel my love coming YOUR way. You know who you are!

Big bear hug to my buddy Jim Bartholomew for details on construction and renovations. And for lunch. Any and all mistakes are mine.

Hugs and kisses to my husband who puts up with a writer in the house—late dinners, deadlines, and constant questions about minute plot points. “Is that plausible? Do you think that will work?”

Love and devotion to my mom who reads every book and shares them. And to her friends who pray for me. I am blessed by you, Mom, and by the encouragement of your friends.

Shout out to my church family for the rousing cheer when the pastor announced I'd hit the
New York Times
bestseller list. Mostly, I love that you are a people who worship, and who love Jesus, and that we fellowship in His friendship.

At the end of it all, this journey is about Jesus. I do all of this for Him. Not in a religious, platitude kind of way, but in a “You-stole-my-heart” kind of way and “I want the world to know You.” He gave his life for me, so now I write for Him. Jesus, thank you!

R
ACHEL
H
AUCK
is the
New York Times
,
Wall Street Journal
, and
USA Today
bestselling author of
The Wedding Dress
, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by
Romantic Times
and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and two pets and writes from her ivory tower.

Visit her online at
rachelhauck.com
Facebook:
rachelhauck
Twitter:
@RachelHauck