In His Eyes (17 page)

Connor rose, standing beside her, seeing her chest rise and fall as if she couldn’t catch her breath. She’d taken a step. She’d trusted that he loved her, and she’d been right.

He looked into her eyes, feeling his heart swell, his dreams blossoming like the budding trees. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure.”

He studied her lovely face, the depth of her eyes, the flush of her cheek, her shiny, dark hair that beguiled him. He lifted his finger and drew it across her jaw to her cheek. He traced the line of her mouth, the soft lips that kissed so sweetly.

Her eyes asked, and his lips answered. They brushed hers, capturing her mouth beneath his, her breath mingled with his, her heart beating against his chest.

She nestled against him and he clutched her like a man clinging to a buoy in a storm, fearing if he let go he would drown.

“I love you,” he whispered into her hair. “I accept your proposal.”

He heard her chuckle against his cheek. “You proposed to me,” she said.

Connor drew back and shook his head. “I asked you inside. You said you needed time. Out here in front of God and nature, you asked me, and I accept.”

She captured his hand and kissed his fingers. “Should we go and tell Caitlin?”

“We don’t have to. She’s been praying and she believes God answers her prayers.”

“So do I,” Ellene said.

He drew her back into his arms. “Then we are like-minded, Ellene Bordini.”

Her mouth caught his, and it took his breath away.

Three Months Later

E
llene turned one way then another. She didn’t know whose call to answer. “What, Aunt Teresa?”

“Where do you keep the large platters?”

“In the high cabinet, or if not, in the new storage room in the hallway. I can’t remember where we put them.”

She dashed out the side door to answer her Uncle Gino’s call.

“There she is,” he said, opening his arms.

She moved into his embrace, feeling so loved on this special day.

“
Bella, bella,”
he said, drawing her back and looking into her face. “You’re flushing like a true bride. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Uncle Gino.

“And I made you six sheets of focaccia. Nothing’s too good for my niece.”

“Thanks. We all love your flat bread.” She waited for him to tell her why he’d called, and when he didn’t, she finally asked. “What did you want?”

“Want?” He gave her a dazed look.

“Oh,” he said, chuckling. “How do you want us to set up the chairs? Tito’s unloading them from the truck.”

She glanced toward the road and saw her cousin piling white folding chairs against a rented van. She grinned, grateful for her faithful family. “Did you see the trellis in the back? We’ll be married in front of that. So line them up in rows facing it.”

“You got it,” he said, his eyes scanning the yard. “Where’s the groom?”

“Home.” She caught herself. “With his parents. He’ll be here in a while, then I have to hide at his aunt’s house. Remember, the bride and groom can’t see each other on their wedding day until the ceremony.”

“Ellene!”

She turned toward the door and saw her mother’s arms flapping at her. She shook her head, hoping it was her mother’s drama and not a real problem.

“What’s up, Mom?” she asked, hurrying toward the door.

“Jimmy’s here with the dishes. Do you want them in the new sunroom?”

“Yes. Connor put the huge table there. It’ll hold a lot.”

She followed her mother to admire the renovated porch that now provided wonderful space with windows and a great view. Standing a moment to catch her breath, Ellene thought back to the first day she’d come to the cottage to talk with Connor about the renovations. It seemed so long ago and yet it was less than five months.

Her heart burst with pleasure, realizing that today she and Connor would be married. They’d planned their dream wedding, the family and a few friends together on the island where they’d rekindled their love—a love Connor had convinced her was directed by God.

Through the window she could see the trellis, and Uncle Gino lining chairs facing the water and the place she and Connor would stand.

When she stepped back into the great room, the scent of pasta sauce and roasting chicken filled the room. Her aunts and cousins darted from cabinet to stove to table, preparing for the wedding reception.

She eyed the dining-room table covered in a lacy cloth and piled with trays of Italian cookies—pizzelle, powdered sugar bow ties, miniature cannoli—and in the center of the table, the most beautiful cherry-nut wedding cake from Sweetheart Bakery, decorated with edible orchids. Everything was perfect, and she knew Connor would be so pleased.

Connor. Her pulse skipped with anticipation. How
long had it taken for two bullheaded people—and one who was also self-centered—to hear God’s voice and follow His leading? And Caitlin. Her heart swelled with joy, calling the child her own.

Ellene headed for the side door. From inside, she could see her relatives raising a white tent. Beneath its shade they would place the long tables for their meal. She stepped outside, knowing that soon the house and grounds would be filled with noisy family that were so precious to her.

“Where do you want them?”

Ellene spun around to see her aunt Carmela coming down the driveway carrying a box. “What are they?”

“The bonbonniere.”

“The what?” She strained her neck to see if she could see inside the box.

Her aunt gave her a look that questioned her sanity. “The confetti.”

Ellene grinned. How could she forget the Italian wedding tradition? “Put them somewhere under the tent. We’ll find a table or something, and I have a basket and lace tablecloth to hold them.”

How many times had she come home from a reception carrying a colorful net enclosing five or seven sugar-coated almonds? An uneven number meant good luck and the coated almonds symbolized the bitter and sweet of a marriage. Since Ellene figured she’d already had enough bitter, she looked forward to years of the sweet part.

She eyed her wrist, aware that time was moving too quickly, then went inside. “Mom, I’m going next door. Connor will be here soon, and he can’t see me.”

Her mother looked up at the wall clock and let out a yelp. “You’d better get moving.” She gave Ellene a hug. “Now don’t worry about a thing. We’ll have everything ready on time.”

Ellene’s eyes misted, seeing her mother and aunts working so hard to make her wedding a magnificent event. She brushed away the moisture as she crossed the lawn to Aunt Phyllis’s.

Connor slid from his car and waited for Caitlin to unbuckle her seatbelt. She looked so sweet in her white ruffled dress with lace and tiny pink flowers. His heart swelled, knowing that next door, his bride, the woman he’d loved for so long was getting ready for their wedding.

His cousin and family pulled up behind him, and he waited until they’d reached his side. “This is it. You remember the cottage?”

“But it looks different now,” Sean said. He turned to his wife. “You should have seen Connor and me when we were kids, Jennifer. We had more fun out here.” He lifted his five-year-old son in his arms. “Daddy used to stay overnight here when he was a little boy like you.”

“Can I stay over the night?” the boy said.

Sean laughed, and Connor beckoned them up the
sidewalk to the tent. “We’ll move the chairs up here after the ceremony. If you can help, I’d appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Sean said, passing Connor with his family to walk toward the channel. “It’s a beautiful day and a nice setting for your wedding. The place looks really nice from the outside with the renovations.”

And it would be even nicer. “Thanks. Wait until you see inside.” Connor took a long look at his new home, a home that would be filled with love, faith and hope. The lonely, guilt-ridden days were over. Ellene had changed his life, and she’d helped Caitlin so much through a difficult time.

“There you are.”

Connor turned and waved at Syl, who’d been as supportive as any father could be, and Connor had been pleased to hand his partner a check to pay back a small part of his backing. The store had been doing well, and Connor was confident the new features had made the difference. He’d felt so thankful when Ellene had pitched in with the pride of an owner. Her hard work had turned the dusty place into a tidy store with a creative front window.

Ellene. His stomach knotted with expectancy. In another twenty minutes, he’d be standing before the pastor, promising to love and honor his wife. That would be easy. He’d loved and honored her for many years.

“Come here,” Uncle Gino called, his hands beckoning with wild gyrations.

Connor hurried to him, becoming tangled in a group hug from Ellene’s wonderful family. Each gave him words of advice, some laughable, but some that touched his heart. “Never let the sun go down in anger.” “Let her know who’s boss. She is.” The advice was filled with back-pats and guffaws, and he joined in the revelry—an Irishman learning to be Italian. He loved them.

“Hi, Connor.”

Connor spun around. “Christine,” he said, greeting Ellene’s good friend. They’d only met a couple of times, but he liked the woman. She seemed like an older sister to Ellene. “You look great.”

“The maid of honor always has to look presentable, and you look dashing.” She adjusted his tie.

“Thanks. Have you talked to Ellene?”

“I sure have. She’s still there, so I think the wedding’s a go.”

He laughed, knowing that Christine had been around for all the ups and downs of their relationship.

“It’s time, Daddy,” Caitlin said, skipping to his side. “The minister said we should all go to the wedding place.”

Connor took Caitlin’s hand and led the way. At the trellis, he waited, listening to the pastor’s simple instructions to Christine and to his cousin Sean, the best man.

The family meandered down the grass and settled into the chairs, their voices resounding over the
water. He saw his aunt Phyllis arrive and give a wave to the pastor. She found a chair in the front, then the pastor raised his hands like a blessing. “We will begin,” he said.

The family rose and turned to face the side.

Connor’s heart stood still when Ellene came into view. Her flowing dark hair hung in tendrils woven with white flowers and ivy. She seemed to float toward him, her silky gown shimmering in the summer light and fluttering in the breeze. The bodice glinted and as she neared, he saw beads shaped like tiny flowers.

His bride. Soon, his wife. Connor’s heart overflowed with joy. He lifted his eyes to heaven, whispering a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord who had blessed him with this wonderful woman. They’d been through so many trials, each second-guessing the other, until they’d nearly destroyed something too wonderful to explain.

“Ellene looks like a princess, doesn’t she, Daddy?”

Connor gazed down at Caitlin with tears in his eyes. “She does, Cait, and so do you. You’re both the most beautiful women in the world.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened, waiting for him to answer.

“Promise,” he said.

“That means it’s true.”

She gave Ellene a tiny wave, and Ellene’s face glowed as she gave a small wave back. Syl handed his
daughter over to Connor, and they stood hand in hand, listening to the pastor’s words, the vows, the exchange of rings, the blessings, but all Connor heard was the beating of his heart and the joy that rang in his ears.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Connor heard those words, and with unspeakable joy, he drew Ellene into his arms and kissed her, a kiss that would live in his memory forever.

When they faced the family, the pastor made his final announcement. “I would like to introduce Mr. And Mrs. Connor Faraday.”

Her family and friends rose with a cheer, and Ellene squeezed his arm. “I love you, Mr. Faraday.”

“And I love you, Mrs. Faraday.”

Caitlin shook Connor’s arm. “Can I talk?”

“Talk?” He eyed Ellene.

She gave a minute shrug. “Why not?”

“Okay,” he said, holding up his hand to the family.

The noise subsided, and he gestured to Caitlin.

She squeezed between them and grinned at Connor, then at Ellene. Finally she turned to the family. “I want you to know that this is my new mommy.”

Ellene drew in a breath, then stooped to pull Caitlin into her arms. “And this is my new daughter,” she said, “and I love her very much.”

The three stood, hand in hand, making their way to the family, and the noise rose in decibels as women wiped their eyes and men pretended theirs didn’t need wiping.

Ellene turned to face Connor and pressed her hand against his cheek. “I’ve always seen love in your eyes, but I didn’t recognize it. Thank you for loving me so long.”

Tangled in emotion, Connor couldn’t speak, but he knew later he would tell her all the things he kept in his heart, and he would spend the rest of his life showing her how wonderful a blessed love could be.

Dear Reader,

Islands have always interested me. I love the lighthouses and the sense of being in a unique place. I’ve had the experience of being stranded on Harsens Island, a real place off the base of Michigan’s thumb. My adventure lasted only part of a day, but it is true that residents can be stranded for days to weeks.

Sometimes in life, we feel stranded in different ways. We find ourselves feeling lost and not knowing which way to turn. We don’t know how to escape. Ellene and Connor were lost in their past, not knowing how to rid themselves of the shame and sadness they felt from acting against God’s Word.

When each of us looks into our own lives, I know we can find too many times we have broken commandments or acted against the Lord’s wishes. But we have the answer. We know that God has offered us forgiveness through Jesus’ death and resurrection if we are truly sorry and if we repent of our sins. Rather than carry the weight of shame and sadness on our shoulders, let us hand them to the Lord who promises to carry the burden for us.

May God bless you and may His light shine on you.