Imperfect Love (Heart of Hope 4)

“Well, I suppose you are.”

“Suppose?” I stared down into her bright green eyes. I looked there often to make sure she was still with me. Never again would we lose sight of each other if I had a say in it.

She nodded up at me as she ran her fingers through my hair.

“You’re not sure?” I asked.

“It’s a day by day thing,” she said, grinning up at me.

“Day to day, huh? And today I haven’t met the threshold for being a great husband?”

“The day isn’t over yet.” She reached down and cupped me.

I jerked as her touch sent electric shocks of desire through me. “Well then, let me perform my husband duties. See if I can improve my marks.”

“Making love to me is always a good way to ensure you’re a great husband.”

I laughed. “Good to know.”

28

Terra

Two weeks after Brayden proposed again, I stood in the Rose Garden, where ten years earlier I’d made vows to love Brayden in sickness and in health. Today, I was going to reaffirm those vows. The difference was that today I knew how precious love was, and how easily it could be lost if it wasn’t nurtured. So today, those vows would mean even more.

“Mommy, when do we go?” Lanie was lovely in her little bride’s maid dress. She was so excited to be my maid of honor, although Emma, as a bride’s maid, had to help her with the duties. Not that we went all out like we had for the first wedding. But she’d had a little shower for us.

“Soon baby.”

“How come Noah gets to be up with daddy?” she asked.

I peeked up at them. No one wore a suit like Brayden. If we did lose all our money, he could make a fortune as a suit model. Next to him, Noah stood, tugging at the tie. Brayden smiled at him and bent over to say something.

“Because he’s the best man,” Emma said, handing me a necklace. “Your dad gave this me to give to you. It’s the something old and borrowed.”

I took my mother’s pearls that I’d worn on my first wedding day and I’d wear again today so my mother could be with us. The only difference was that my father wasn’t walking me down the aisle.

“I can’t give you away, you’re already his. Besides, you’re your own woman.” Instead, he was sitting in the front row, pointing toward a butterfly to show Noah.

“Ready?” Emma asked, as she positioned Nina, who I chose as another bride’s maid, in front of her.

“More than ready.”

She smiled at me. “I’m so happy for you, Terra.”

It had to be bittersweet for her. I’d survived cancer and I had the love of my life with me. Emma lost her love to cancer. It didn’t seem fair, and because I knew that life could sometimes be a crap shoot, I’d savor every moment of it.

“Okay sweetie, I’m going up first, then as the special maid of honor, you follow me.” Emma said to Lanie.

“I remember.”

Emma laughed. “Let’s go then.”

Emma and Nina made their way up toward the gazebo with Lanie following. I stepped onto the path and looked directly at Brayden. His gaze caught mine, and in them I saw all the love for me that was flowing through me for him. It had been the same the first time, but this time was so much more poignant.

When I reached him, I handed my bouquet to Lanie.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said.