Miracles in Disguise (The Trampled Rose Series) (22 page)

Epilogue

“Please, get me out of this wedding dress now!”

Kristina stood in front of the mirror, an ivory wedding dress gracing her petite frame. The dress was a simple satin A-line with a split chiffon skirt flowing elegantly from Kristina’s tiny waist. The small cap sleeves hugged her slender shoulders, and the sparkling beading on the bodice was reflected in her hazel eyes.

She turned as the sales clerk helped her from the pedestal, and the two hurried to the dressing room.

Nathan was in Albuquerque at a conference, and she had spent the morning with Barbara and Sandra shopping for her wedding dress. She had caught a glimpse of Barbara in the mirror and mistook her grimace for distaste for the dress. Chuckling at the horrific expression on the young woman’s face, she said, "Well, if you don’t like it, just say so. You don’t have to make that awful face!”

That was when Sandra gasped. “Oh, honey. Is it the baby?”

Now, Kristina all but ripped the beautiful dress from her body and scrambled into her clothes. As Sandra helped Barbara into the car, Kristina was running to the door. “I love it!” she called over her shoulder to the sales clerk. "I’ll be back later!”

As Sandra drove the trio to the hospital, Kristina called Barbara’s father and then Nathan.

“Mr. M’s going to miss it.” Barbara gasped between contractions.

“Oh, honey, these things can take time,” Sandra assured her just as they arrived at the hospital. Kristina helped Barbara out of the car, and a nurse, accompanied by Barbara’s father, met them at the door with a wheelchair.

Kristina watched as she was whisked away.

Her phone rang just as Sandra walked through the door. “Nathan, did you get my message?”

“Yes, my love. I’m on my way now. But I don’t know if I will make it.”

“Your mom said it could take hours, don’t worry.” Kristina added, “I love you. Drive safely.”

Several hours later, Nathan rushed into Barbara’s room and slid to a halt at the sight before him. Barbara was lying in the bed, a peaceful but weary expression on her face. Her dad was sitting by her side, holding her hand, and Barbara’s closest friend, Steve stood in the corner.

The small cry coming from the other corner is what gave him pause. Kristina was holding a small wriggling bundle in her arms. Looking up at him, her eyes filled with wonder, she smiled. “Hello.”

“How are you feeling?” He asked Barbara, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Kristina.

“Happy, tired, scared, and…oh yeah, did I say tired?”

Everyone laughed, and Nathan stood looking down at the wonderful little girl in his bride-to-be’s arms.

Nathan wiped his hands nervously on his jeans, and hesitated before asking Barbara, “Can I hold her?”

“Well, of course!” Barbara laughed as Andrew and Sandra entered the room bearing a bouquet of flowers for her, and a gift for the baby.

“Son, glad you made it.” His father said, and Nathan caught the smile on his mom’s face as she took in the sight of Kristina and him hovering over the child. It wasn't lost on him either. Looking into Kristina’s face, he saw the love for this child that wasn’t even theirs. He could hardly wait until she carried their own in her arms.

As she looked up at him, she smiled softly, “Are you ready?” For a moment, he mistook her question, he was so lost in thoughts about their future.

“Yes,” he said. The baby stared up at him, protesting lightly about being jostled from its comfortable position. However, she soon settled comfortably in his arms. Tears burned the back of his eyes, and he could hardly contain his emotions. Clearing his throat, he asked Barbara, "So did you finally decide on a name?”

He had been teasing her for weeks that they would be calling the baby, “Hey girl!” if she didn’t decide soon.

“I was going to call her Hope, because she brought me so much hope despite all the darkness surrounding me. But seeing all that has come about since I found out I was pregnant with her, I decided on Amari.”

“Amari?” Nathan began. Andrew McKinley came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder and brushed the baby’s cheek with the back of his finger, "Son, Amari means a miracle from God.”

Unable to hold the tears in check any longer, one slid down his cheek. Kristina reached up and brushed it back. With Kristina’s hand resting on his cheek, he said, “Amari couldn’t be a more perfect name.”

About the Author

When Michelle Lynn Brown was a teenager, her mother used to take her to used books stores at least once a month. It was there she fell in love with the written word. As a writer, she uses this passion to share with others the joy of having a personal and intimate relationship with Christ.

She is a housewife, mother of three, military spouse, writer, blogger, hopeless romantic, and a cuddly lap for one very large cat. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, but raised in El Paso, Texas. And since she married her husband, the military has blessed her with the opportunity to live in many locations, from Germany to Pennsylvania, where she now resides.

Like the flawed characters that grace her books, she has had many stumbles and struggles in her life.  God’s grace and mercy through these trials have kept her on her knees.  It is from this humble position that she seeks to minister through her writing – not as someone who has it all figured out, but just someone who has figured out how wonderful and awesome God is.

Get to know Michelle Lynn Brown better:

www.michellelynnbrown.com

www.facebook.com/michellelynnbrownauthor

www.twitter.com/MizChelleB

The Trampled Rose Series

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