That Wilder Boy Page 16
She smiled up at him. “In the early spring, when the tulips you are going to plant in our backyard are in full bloom. I want tulips in every color of the rainbow. And we’ll recite our vows in the yard, with our friends”—her gaze swept over Eileen and the boys—“and family close by.” Leaning her head against his shoulder, she sighed. “And then we’ll show everyone the meaning of living happily ever after.”
Epilogue
Carrie peeked out the kitchen to the backyard, where guests mingled on the grassy carpet. Some stood in small groups along the walking path that gently curved through the garden area, which showcased hundreds of plump tulips at full bloom. Her eyes feasted on the splashes of bright color—every color of the rainbow, just as she’d asked.
The yard would be Rocky’s best advertisement for his landscaping business. The arrangement of tulips was perfectly balanced, undeniably eye-catching. He’d created a walking path of concrete stepping stones, each of which bore a different insect—from butterflies to bumblebees—formed with broken pottery, glass chips, and marbles. She could see guests pointing, nodding, admiring.
She winged a quick prayer of thankfulness heavenward for this perfect spring day. Kansas could be unpredictable in the spring so, just in case, they had decorated the living room in preparation for an indoor wedding. But the weather was ideal—warm but not hot, breezy but not windy. A beautiful, sunshiny, Kansas day. Being outside on the manicured lawn with its profusion of color was exactly what Carrie had envisioned, and she rejoiced at the culmination of her dream-come-true wedding.
Her eyes sought and found Rocky, and she stifled a giggle. There he was, on his wedding day, plucking something that didn’t belong from between the leafy tulips. She shook her head—gardening was most certainly in his blood. He would be successful in his business venture. She had no doubt.
Pride welled in her chest as she thought about everything he had accomplished in the past several months. In addition to completing his first semester of college and making the dean’s honor roll, he had tilled the ground around his trailer and planted seedlings of various flowering trees. Although nothing else was growing out there, he had a blueprint of plans for the remainder of the ground.
After today he would no longer live in his trailer house—her heart caromed at that thought—and he had plans to turn the trailer into his office. She smiled as she remembered him saying, “A man needs a place to call his own. I won’t clutter up our yard and house here with all my stuff—it can stay out there, and that will be my playground.” She knew he would keep his playground neat and orderly. He took such pride in everything he did.
With a sigh Carrie turned from the window to find Eileen in the kitchen doorway, watching her with a smile on her wrinkled face. Carrie laughed self-consciously.
“You caught me peeking.”
Eileen crossed the floor to join Carrie. “Yes, I did, but I don’t believe in that bad-luck-to-see-the-groom-before-the-wedding nonsense.” She rose up on tiptoe to peek outside. “He looks awfully handsome, doesn’t he?”
Carrie looked again, her heart rising into her throat at the sight of Rocky with his brother, Philip, talking with the minister. “Oh yes,” she released on a breathy sigh. “He’s very handsome.”
Rocky had said, somewhat apologetically, that a formal wedding wasn’t his comfort zone. Could they do something simple? And Carrie had cheerfully agreed. Instead of a tuxedo, Rocky wore a neatly pressed pair of pleated navy trousers with a crisp white button-down shirt—she chuckled to herself—with sleeves intact. His tie lifted in the breeze, and he caught it, smoothing it down across his taut stomach. The muted colors of the tie included all the colors of the tulips, and he blended in perfectly with his surroundings.
Her eyes drifted to his hair, which he had insisted on having trimmed for this day, but to her relief he hadn’t cropped the waves that touched the top edge of his collar. She loved those sun-kissed curls.
“It’s nearly time,” Eileen said softly. “Are you ready?”
For a moment Carrie’s chest pinched. Among the guests were her mother and Myrna, but Mac hadn’t come. He remained adamantly opposed to Carrie taking up with “that Wilder boy” and refused to witness the union. His stubbornness put a tinge of sadness on an otherwise perfect day, but she wouldn’t allow Mac to be a rain cloud on her wedding.
She pressed her hands to her tummy for a moment as nervous excitement roused a flurry of butterflies. “Yes, I’m ready. At least I think I am. Do I look okay?”
Eileen’s gaze traveled from Carrie’s tumbling blond curls down the length of her pink lace dress, ending with her white high-heeled sandals. The woman’s smile grew as her gaze returned to Carrie’s eyes. “Honey, you’re perfect. You’ll take Rocky’s breath away.”
“That’s good,” Carrie quipped, “because I seem to have none of my own!” Her heart beat at twice its normal rhythm, and her words came out in breathless gasps.
Eileen’s forehead creased. “Scared?”
Carrie processed what she was feeling. She shook her head. “No, I’m not afraid. I’m eager.”
Eileen nodded in approval. “That’s just what you’re supposed to feel. C’mon, Carrie—let’s go.”
Through the open sliding door piano music gently wafted from the CD player. Eileen handed Carrie her bouquet of tulips, their stems bound with an abundance of curling pink ribbon, then slipped out the garage door to join the others in the yard.
Carrie stepped through the sliding door. Guests, standing on the grass, turned to watch her progress. But Carrie was barely aware of their presence—her focus was on Rocky who waited beside the minister at the edge of the tulip garden. His brown-eyed gaze pinned to hers, a smile grew on his face. The joy in his expression brought a great rush of eagerness to Carrie’s heart, and it was all she could do to keep from running across the yard and catapulting into his arms.
But Carrie forced her feet to move evenly, steadily, toward her groom, matching the relaxed beat of the music. Her heart celebrated. Lord, thank You for answering my prayer for a man who would love me for myself. Your gifts are perfect.
When she was within two yards of Rocky she could no longer maintain the slow progress, and she skipped the final few feet, her face upturned, her smile so wide she could feel the rounding of her cheeks.
They had written their own vows—simple, straightforward promises from the heart. The minister read a brief passage of scripture—First Corinthians 13—and advised the couple to make the words a part of their lives. Less than fifteen minutes from the time Carrie stepped through the sliding door, the minister presented them to their waiting guests as man and wife.
Rocky’s arms wrapped around Carrie’s waist, lifting her off the ground, and his lips found hers. Her own arms looped around his neck, holding him tight. When the kiss ended, they laughed into one another’s faces while applause broke around them.
Rocky let her feet slip to the ground, but he still held her close as he whispered, “Today is the bud, Carrie. We have the rest of our lives to make the bloom. We are going to create the most beautiful blossom the world has ever seen.”
She shook her head, laughing softly. “You just can’t leave gardening for one moment, can you?”
“I can’t leave God’s plan for me,” he corrected her, tapping the end of her nose with his finger. “And I’m so happy you’re a part of it.”
She nestled into his arms. “Oh, me, too, Rocky. Me, too.”
They released one another to receive the congratulations and hugs of their guests. When everyone had partaken of the cake and punch and left for home, Rocky and Carrie walked arm-in-arm along the path. Dusk was falling, throwing rosy shadows across the lawn and deepening the colors of the tulips. Rocky sat on the bench in the back corner of the yard, Carrie curled beside him, her head cradled against his shoulder.
“So, Mrs. Wilder. . . .” Rocky’s arm was tucked snug around her waist, his thumb tracing a lazy circle on her hip. “How does it feel to be Mrs. W
ilder instead of Miss Mays?”
“Wonderful.” Carrie twisted her head to deliver a kiss on the underside of his jaw. His hand tightened on her waist.
“I’m still in awe.” His low-voiced comment captured Carrie’s attention. “It all seems kind of like someone else’s life, you know?”
Carrie understood what he meant. “I know. Who would have thought someone would love Carrie enough to look past the money to the person?”
“Who would have thought someone would love Rocky enough to look past ‘that Wilder boy’ to the man he’s become?”
Relishing the feel of her husband’s arms wrapped securely around her, Carrie released a contented sigh. “That’s the wonder of God, isn’t it? He makes all things new.”
Rocky didn’t reply, but she felt his kiss on the top of her head. Then he rose, tugging her to her feet. His brown eyes crinkled into a warm smile as he took her hand. “C’mon, Mrs. Wilder. Let’s go get started on that happily ever after.”
About the Author
KIM VOGEL SAWYER, a Kansas resident, is a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, writer, speaker, and lover of cats and chocolate. From the time she was a very little girl, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and seeing her words in print is the culmination of a lifelong dream. Kim relishes her time with family and friends and stays active in her church by teaching adult Sunday School, singing in the choir, and being a “ding-a-ling” (playing in the bell choir). In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. She welcomes visitors to her Web site at www.KimVogelSawyer.com
Dedication
For Kristian, who believes the most “tarnished” life can be made shiny and new.
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Kim Vogel Sawyer
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