And Baby Makes Five (22 page)
L
illy scanned the crowd outside the church, her gaze finding Cort holding Joshua close, like a pro. They were surrounded by a throng of well-wishers led by Norma Sue, Esther Mae and Adela. Lilly’s heart swelled with pride at seeing
her guys
together.
The wedding had been over for an hour and she still couldn’t believe she was Mrs. Cort Wells. Who’d a-thunk it? Lilly Tipps married—to the right man this time! “Well grannies, it looks like our luck has finally changed,” she whispered to herself, knowing without doubt that Cort’s love was forever hers.
“Talking to yourself already?”
Lilly turned to find her maid of honor grinning at her. “Hey, Lacy, you caught me chatting to the grannies about my new husband. Surely they’re smiling right now.”
“I’m sure they are. I know I am. I’m so happy for you. It’s so cool how God brought the two of you together.”
“Not too many women can boast that her hero rode to her rescue on the back of a little donkey with a grumpy dog in tow.” Lilly laughed, thinking back to the night Joshua was born.
Lacy laughed, too. “I don’t think Joshua is going to believe us when we tell him the tale of his birth.”
“Just think, Lacy. It’s like I waited all these years and then Cort showed up just at the right time.”
“God’s time,” Lacy added. “His timing is always perfect.”
Lilly’s heart skipped as Cort came striding up to stand beside her. Lacy immediately snatched Joshua away and started making faces at him as he gazed at her frilly blond hair with wide eyes.
“What’s perfect?” Cort asked, giving Lilly a lingering kiss.
“This,” she said, spreading her arms wide to encompass the gathering of friends. “I feel like I’m in a fairy tale.” Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness. “I love you so much, Cort. I never dreamed this could really happen to me.” He put his arms around her and drew her against him in a solid embrace that she never wanted to end.
“I was thinking the same thing,” he said. “I never dreamed my life could be so blessed. You make me the happiest man alive, Lilly. Are you ready to load up and head out?”
“I am so ready. Are you sure Samantha and Lucky will be okay while we’re gone?”
“Yes, they’ll be fine. Bob will check on them every day. Now that Samantha is back on her old stomping grounds, she’s as happy as a clam. And Loser—I mean Lucky—is like a new dog. He’s so happy to have a friend that he won’t even notice we’re gone. I still can’t believe you wanted to combine our honeymoon with a horse show.”
Lilly touched his cheek. “Why not? I’m looking forward to seeing your world, and Oklahoma seems like a good place to start. Besides, I’m getting to meet all of your family. Just think, Cort, we’re a family.”
“Family,” he said, tracing the outline of her face with his fingertips. “I do like the sound of that, Mrs. Wells.”
“Yep, kind of a weird family,” Lacy chimed in, holding Joshua high in the air as she looked up at his cherubic face. “Samantha, Lucky, Lilly, Cort and baby makes five. That’s right, you cute little fella, I have the feeling that you’re going to have one unusual upbringing.”
Lilly laughed at that bit of insight and leaned her head against Cort’s shoulder, loving the way she felt wrapped in her husband’s strong arms. “One thing’s for certain,” she said, tilting her head and meeting his laughing eyes. “Our life won’t be boring.”
Cort smiled that smile of his that touched Lilly all the way to the tips of her tingling toes. “As long as it’s with you, Lilly, it sounds perfect to me.”
- The Bible says be angry and sin not. Cort had many things to be angry about, but he still kept his faith. What are your thoughts on his reactions?
- Do you sometimes feel like Job and that God is allowing Satan to test your faith? Do you ever feel your life is falling apart and God expects you to smile and accept it without complaint? What advice have you received that helped you? Were there Scripture verses you found particularly appropriate?
- Lilly realized that she had a major responsibility when it came to raising her child. How do you think the world would change if more parents took their responsibility seriously?
- The theme verse for
And Baby Makes Five
is, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalms 143:10. Does God
teach
us to do His good will? How? - As a new Christian, Lilly had much in her upbringing to sift through in order to find level ground. Why is it important for a new Christian to have guidance from mature Christians in order to grasp a full understanding of the Bible? How do we all benefit from guidance?
- Through no fault of his own, Cort’s bright future as he knew it was shattered. Do you know someone struggling to find God’s will in the midst of tragedy? Are you?
- Lilly’s views are shaped by the thoughts of those who raised her. How hard is it to break the cycle of your upbringing? How easy is it to judge someone whose life views you don’t understand?
- Have you seen God fulfill His will through odd circumstances or use unusual people or animals to achieve His goal? Please share.
| STEEPLE HILL BOOKS |
ISBN 978-1-55254-436-5
AND BABY MAKES FIVE
Copyright © 2006 by Debra Clopton
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