Project Love (Cascade Brides Series) (28 page)

“
Will you all be each others' bridesmaids?”

Charity shook her head. “It's crazy, I know. Two
weddings back to back like that.” She wrapped her arm around his
for warmth. “But I'm glad I'll get to be a part at all. I could've
missed them.”

He smiled slightly. “I don't think they would've let
that happen.”

She didn't respond, knowing missed weddings might very
well have been the outcome.

They continued walking until they stopped in a small
area completely surrounded by colorfully lit, snow-frosted trees.
Daniel took her hands in his. “I'm proud of you, Charity. You were
brave to face your past the way you did.”

Charity lifted a corner of her mouth in an unconvinced
smile. “I don't know about brave. It was more like stubborn for
avoiding it for so long.”

He tucked a lock of
hair behind her ear. “Either way, you followed through, and that's
something. That's
everything
.”

The tender look in his eyes made her heart pound
uncertainly in her chest. “So, did you exchange info with the guys?
Do you plan to stay in touch?”

He nodded. “I probably won't see them all that much,
but it'll be nice to know they're out there, if that makes sense.”

She remembered how Shane looked like he could be a
brother and wondered if they could have that kind of relationship as
well. “Yeah, it does.”

“
But what I'm most concerned about is us.”

Charity regarded him, wondering at the strange tone of
his voice. “Us?”

“
As in where do we go from here?”

Seeking a sign from his eyes, she held her breath at
what she saw there.

“
I love you, Charity.” He cleared his throat. “And
I want to marry you. Is that something you'd be open to?” He closed
his eyes for a moment, his cheeks red from the cold. “I mean, I
just wonder if you've been thinking in that vein at all when it comes
to me.”

Forcing herself to breath normally, she placed a hand on
his chest. “There has been a lot of talk of weddings lately. I'm
not expecting you to up the ante or anything like that, Daniel.”

His eyes glimmered in the bright sunlight. “I'm just
asking for a little direction here. Am I way off base?”

Charity looked away for
a moment to gather her thoughts. The idea of life without Daniel was
beyond bearing. But did
he
know what he was getting into? It took all her self-control to appear
relaxed when what she really wanted was to beg him to ask the very
question he hinted at. “It says in the Bible you have not because
you ask not.”

A relieved smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “It
also says, in the Daniel-revised version, though I have a great job,
new friends, yea an adequate house in Portland, but if I have not
Charity, I have nothing.”

The chilly wind tugged tears from the corners of her
eyes as his sweetness filled her heart and overflowed.

He sank to one knee in the snow, his gaze vulnerable and
tense despite the silliness. “I can't even contemplate life without
you, Charity. You've filled all the empty spaces and only made me
want you more. Will you marry me? Please?”

Charity coaxed him to
his feet and whispered
yes
before confirming her response in a kiss. Daniel wrapped his arms
around her and kissed her back until the only warmth in the cold,
mountain air was the pressure of their lips.

Epilogue

“
You know, I shouldn't have pooh-poohed your
suggestion of a triple wedding,” Hope said, fluffing Charity's veil
which was attached to a vintage silver and lace headpiece. She had
been back from her honeymoon for a month and much of that time had
been spent planning yet another wedding. “This has been kinda cray
cray.”

Charity sighed,
realizing the idea that marriage would mellow her twin was vain
indeed. “You didn't just pooh-pooh it, you
ridiculed
the idea.”

“
Yes, you did, Hope,” Faith said, helping her fasten
a thin silver necklace around her neck. “I remember. But this is
nothing. Just wait until we all start having kids.”

Charity stared at her oldest sister in consternation.
“Can I at least get to the altar before there's talk of children?
You two are always rushing me.”

“
You know, you always were the last one to do
anything,” Hope said, grimacing at the recalcitrant veil.

“
Hope
,”
Faith said in a warning tone.

“
No, I mean it. Like
when we had to go anywhere, you were always the one who couldn't find
her shoes. You made us late for
everything
.”

Charity checked her hair to make sure carefully placed
curls had survived Hope's attention. “Did I make you feel guilty on
your wedding day? Honestly.”

“
Actually you did,” she said, eyebrow arched. “You
reminded me of how I stole one of your boyfriends—that pimply kid
who used to deliver the newspaper.”

“
You did steal him.”

“
Hey, I was just the one who answered the door. Sorry
you picked someone so faithless.”

“
Not the most appropriate conversation for one's
wedding day,” Faith said dryly.

Hope acquiesced. “I think we're ready then. Oh, I
almost forgot, Charity, do we need to go over the birds and the bees
first?”

Charity's eyes widened. “We have about fifteen
seconds. Tell me fast.”

Hope blinked in shock. “Uh...”

“
And
that's
how you deal with your sister,” Faith said calmly, surveying
Charity's gown.

Hope rolled her eyes and flounced away in mock offense.

Charity bit back a grin. “The worm has turned, dear
sister, the worm has turned.”

“
Whatever,” Hope mumbled.

Faith took Hope's place. “You're a beautiful bride.”

“
Thanks,” Charity said, aware of butterflies loose
in her stomach.

“
You got a good guy. Shane is already trying to talk
him into applying at firms closer to us.” She scrutinized her face.
“How would you feel about that?”

Charity shrugged, such thoughts a thousand miles away at
the moment. Right now, she just wanted to marry Daniel and worry
about any possible relocations later.

A knock on the door signaled Eric's arrival. She had
asked him to give her away and he'd been delighted at the notion.
He'd actually used the word 'delighted' and then said something about
being a 'lucky fellow'. From there he'd expounded on the meaning
behind 'plighting one's troth'.

Hope opened the door and the two exchanged a few words
before Eric entered the room.

“
Simply stunning, Charity,” he said, smiling and
holding out his arm.

She tucked her hand around his arm and shot a look at
Hope, who made a face in response.

The silliness helped ease the jitters which had plagued
Charity over the last weeks. Having her sisters to help her plan the
wedding had distracted her from her nervousness. Marriage was such a
huge step and she just hoped Daniel knew what he was getting himself
into. She'd even teased him about marrying her just so he could hang
out with Shane more. At that he'd offered to show her the sales
receipt to prove he'd bought the engagement ring long before he'd met
Shane. And true to his thorough nature, they'd attended pre-marital
classes together in the months running up to their wedding. The
classes had helped—though Charity suspected they would more so
after the ceremony. Right now, not so much.

Shane joined them in the back hall of the chapel. Even
though he was Daniel's best man, he was to escort both Faith and Hope
to the altar. He was such a great guy—besotted with Faith, and as
eager as Daniel to make everyone feel like family.

Shane smiled as she approached. “You look very pretty,
Charity.”

“
Thank you.”

Eric cleared his throat. “I told her first.”

“
Uh oh, Shane, are you here to tell us Daniel got cold
feet?” Hope whispered.

“
That's silly,” Eric said. “I'm sure he'd at least
want to see how fine I look in my tux.”

Poor Shane—unused to Hope and Eric's strange sense of
humor—resembled a hapless deer in the path of an oncoming car.

Faith rescued him by guiding him toward the doors that
led into the sanctuary. Hope took his other arm as they waited for
the cue. Dawn, one of Hope's friends, arrived out of breath with her
toddler, Chelsea, who wore a frothy tulle dress. “Sorry, I forgot
the flower basket.”

Little Chelsea slid from her mother's arms and reached
out for the basket filled with rose petals. She was getting good at
the flower girl role after two weddings. Today was her third time.

Hope leaned down and gave the toddler a squeeze. “Aren't
you adorable today, Miss Chelsea!” The little girl hugged her back,
clearly enjoying the extra attention. Hope glanced back at Eric. “I
want one of these.”

“
Work, work, work,” he said under his breath,
sending his wife a sweet smile.

“
Okay,” Faith said, counting heads, “we're all
here. I'll give the signal we're ready to start.”

Eric patted Charity's hand. “I feel like a sentimental
father.”

“
You're barely six years older than me,” she
reminded him, giving her head a rueful shake. But she couldn't ever
seem to muster any annoyance at a guy who always wore such a dreamy
expression.

Hope looked over her shoulder. “Big relief, Charity. I
see Daniel down at the altar.”

“
Enough,” Faith whispered. “This is your sister's
special day.”

Dawn was first, nudging little Chelsea across the
threshold. Several soft exclamations could be heard as the little
girl made her way down the aisle, clumsily scattering rose petals,
then stopping occasionally to inspect her handiwork. Next Shane
escorted Hope and Faith who were both Matrons of Honor.

Which meant it was really happening.

Charity sent up a
silent prayer for...for
everything
.
Gratefulness reigned supreme when she thought of how God had wrought
not only the miracle of bringing about the restoration of her family,
but bringing her Daniel at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking.

The string quartet
began Vangelis'
Hymne
.
Charity gripped Eric's arm and pulled in a deep breath. As they
stepped over the threshold, she noticed Holly had done an amazing job
of decorating. Aside from laying out the color scheme and describing
her vintage lace tea dress, Charity had given her roommate a free
hand. Swaths of tulle embellished with old lace and silver strands,
creamy roses, and deep red peonies led the way along the pews to two
giant urns filled with massive sprays of ivory and scarlet flowers.
Candlelight wavered from silver candelabras tall and short dotting
the room beneath the dimmed teardrop chandelier lighting.

She saw Jessie, Jill, and Amy sending little waves from
the pews. There were some familiar faces from the Lutheran church.
Hope's former captain Kyle was scooting over to make room for Dawn
and Chelsea who sat next to old older man named Bernie. Eric's sailor
friend was there with Dawn's sister. Faith's friend Merle and his new
wife looked as proud as if she were their own daughter, while
Daniel's parents watched her with tight smiles as if they weren't
convinced she was good enough for their son. Perhaps not so
surprising after what they'd gone through.

Toward the altar, Faith and Hope looked pretty in their
ecru satin and lace dresses. Shane looked dapper as he stood to one
side, taking his role as Best Man seriously.

And then there was Daniel in a tuxedo with tails, his
eyes shining, erasing her fears with every step that took her closer
to his side. She thought back to when she first noticed him at the
coffee shop, taciturn and somber—and perhaps the first person to
see beyond her carefully constructed persona.

When he smiled, it hit her as hard now as the first time
she'd seen it.

As she neared him, Daniel held out his hand. Charity
took it and held on tight.

It was like coming home.

In a good way.

Other titles by Bonnie Blythe:

CASCADE BRIDE SERIES

Rock
and A Hard Place
(eastern Oregon)

Bayward
Heart (Oregon coast)

Soon available as a set

OREGON IN LOVE SERIES

Restorations

Can her old boyfriend rebuild their relationship as well
as her house?

Lights
and Shadows

Chiaroscuro: the treatment of light and shade to give an
illusion of depth—even in love.