Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope) (39 page)

“I still have demons to fight too, Victoria,” he said. “But we’ll help each other do battle. There’s strength in numbers, and we’ll be stronger together.”

She tugged him toward the dune, back the direction they’d come. “I guess we better not keep our guests waiting any longer. We wouldn’t want them thinking that I ran away again, would we?”

He grinned. “No we wouldn’t.”

“A
nd now you may kiss your bride,” the rector said as he closed his Bible and smiled at Tom.

Victoria tried to still the quavering in her chest. She’d done it. She’d finally walked down the aisle, spoken her vows, and promised that for better or worse she’d love and cherish her husband for as long as they both lived.

Of course, she and Tom had already been legally married. But somehow standing in front of their family and friends and pledging their lives to each other made their marriage truly real.

Tom’s hold on her hand hadn’t slackened during the walk back to the beach or during the brief ceremony under the canopy. She’d felt the curious gazes of the guests upon her and sensed the relief from her parents, but she’d kept her focus on Tom. Every time she’d begun to feel a sense of panic rising, he’d squeezed her hands and pulled her gaze to his. The steadiness and love in his eyes had reminded her that they’d get through any difficulties together.

Now a warm sea breeze teased a strand of Tom’s hair. “Mrs. Cushman,” he whispered, his blue eyes dark and filled with thrilling promises. As he bent his head toward hers, she sucked in a breath of anticipation. It didn’t matter that everyone was watching them. She loved his kisses and had been waiting days for another one.

He tilted and brushed her lips with feathery lightness. The warmth and tingle against her mouth teased her and the spark in his eyes told her that he had more to give her. Later.

As he pulled away, she smiled at him, and together they turned to face the guests.

In the front row, James gave a loud snort, and his eyebrows were furrowed together in a glower. “That wasn’t a kiss.”

Tom tossed his dad a scowl in return before holding out his arm to Victoria. “Ready?” he whispered.

“Give her a real kiss,” James demanded.

“Dad,” Tom said through clenched teeth. “Don’t do this now.”

Next to James, Zelma’s smile could have lit the tower lantern. Her eyes danced with delight. Suddenly Victoria knew that she’d done the right thing. If Zelma could find hope and joy despite the dire circumstances of her life, losing one son to death and another to grief, and also losing her feet, surely she could find acceptance and joy, too, in whatever would come. Zelma’s secret was relying upon God’s strength for her joy, which was another thing Victoria would have to ask Zelma to teach her to do.

“Show yourself to be a real man,” James’s voice rang with challenge, “and kiss your bride like you mean it.”

Tom locked eyes with his dad. From the tensing of Tom’s arm, Victoria sensed he was taking the bait.

Inwardly, she smiled. Later she’d thank James.

As Tom pivoted so that he faced her again, his features tightened, and all his desire for her pooled in his eyes.

A series of wild flips bounded across her middle. She lifted her face to him, giving him complete access to her mouth.

With the strength she’d grown to love about him, he made his move. His hand found the small of her back, and he drew her against him at the same moment his lips crashed against hers. Like the powerful waves breaking against the shore only a dozen paces away, his mouth moved with an all-consuming passion, unrelenting, drawing her away from reality.

She wanted it to be a place where it was just the two of them, but the clapping of the guests reminded her that they weren’t alone. Not in the least.

The loudest clap and a shrill whistle of appreciation came from the front row, from James. “That’s my boy! I taught him everything he knows.”

Tom broke away from the kiss, but not before she felt his lips curving into a grin. “Think you’ll be able to put up with all of his pressure?” he whispered against her ear.

“As long as he pressures us to kiss like that at least once a day,” she whispered back.

Tom chuckled. “Around my parents, I guarantee that our marriage won’t be dull.”

“All the more reason to stay here, don’t you think?” She could feel herself flush at her boldness.

His lips found the hollow of her ear. “I love you. Forever.” The words and his breathy kiss held the promise of so much more to come. Whatever the future held. Whatever difficulties they might face. They would face it together. Forever.

Dear Reader, I pray that you enjoyed the continuation of the Beacons of Hope with Victoria Cole’s story. While the previous books in the series are located at lighthouses in Michigan, with this particular book I decided to move to a lighthouse along the East coast. I decided upon Race Point Lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for several reasons. First, I love Cape Cod. My husband’s family has lived there for many years. We took our first trip their together as a couple for our honeymoon and have vacationed there ever since.

Another reason I chose Race Point Lighthouse is because of the history. During the years of 1870 to 1885 the head keeper was James Cushman. His assistant keeper was a man by the name of Thomas. While not a father-son team, I decided to make them so for the sake of the story. Race Point Lighthouse needed both a keeper and assistant largely due to the steam-driven fog signal that required a great deal of effort to keep running.

I also decided to have my characters live at Race Point Lighthouse because the setting is isolated and made a perfect hiding place for Victoria. Today, if you were to visit the lighthouse, you would have to hike two miles over sand dunes to reach it (although volunteers do provide transportation to and from the light). Even though the lighthouse is alone on the tip of the Cape, it’s surrounded by untold beauty and wildlife that made it ideal for this story.

As with all of the books in the Beacons of Hope series, I pray that you’ve been both encouraged and inspired to trust in the Giver of Hope. If, like Victoria and Tom, you’re running away from past hurts or future fears, I pray that you’ll learn to run to the One who promises to walk beside us through our darkest valleys and fiercest storms. He may not take us out of the valley or storm, but He will hold our hand and stay by our side. With Him, we will be forever safe.

Visit
jodyhedlund.com
for a full list of her books.

Shipwrecked and stranded, Emma Chambers is in need of a home. Could the widowed local lighthouse keeper and his young son be an answer to her prayer?

Love Unexpected

BEACONS OF HOPE #1

Caroline has tended the lighthouse since her father’s death. But where will she go when a wounded Civil War veteran arrives to take her place?

Hearts Made Whole

BEACONS OF HOPE #2

Vowing not to have anything to do with lighthouses, Tessa Taylor is the new teacher to the children of miners. Can the light keeper’s assistant break through her fears and win her heart?

Hope Undaunted

BEACONS OF HOPE #3

Would you like to know when my next book is available? You can sign up for my
newsletter
, become my friend on
Goodreads
, like me on
Facebook
or follow me on
Twitter
.

The more reviews a book has, the more likely other readers are to find it. If you have a minute, please leave a rating or review. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.