“Mommy?” Annie rushed forward. “Mommy, what’s wrong?”
Before Emma could reply, Jay took control. “Girls, go inside and get Frankie some water. I’ll take care of your mother.”
The moment they were in the house, Jay pulled Emma into his arms.
At first she was too surprised to do anything but freeze, but then her body gave in and she rested her head on his chest with a sigh. Jay felt solid and strong, warm and protective. And for a minute she imagined that she would be very happy standing in his embrace for the rest of her days. Little by little, she let her muscles relax. Giving a small sigh, she cuddled closer. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d leaned on another person for support.
All she knew was that it had been a very, very long time.
Though she heard the girls talking to each other in the kitchen and knew she should step away, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on. Just for a moment or two longer.
Still holding her close, Jay ran a path along her spine with his fingers. “I promise, everything is going to be okay. No one is mad at you.”
“Ben and Tricia—”
“Are perfectly fine. But they won’t be if you and the girls don’t come back.”
“That’s sweet, but—”
He leaned back so their eyes could meet. “Do you understand, Emma? We aren’t fine without you, Lena, Mandy, and Annie. We want you there. Frankie, on the other hand, can stay home.”
She swiped at her eyes. “I don’t know . . .”
“I think you actually do know,” he said gently. “Don’t you understand what I’m talking about? What this means?”
“Jay—”
“I’m trying to say that life is better with you in it.”
“Even if I ruin things?”
“Especially if you do. Or if I do. Or any of us does.” Smiling, he added, “Emma, between us we’ve got six kinner, eight grandparents, and two spouses in heaven. Things are going to get messy. Things are going to be noisy. Things are going to be imperfect and crazy and full of surprises. We’re going to be late, the house is sometimes going to be messy, and things are going to get ruined. But because of all that, it’s going to be wonderful.”
She looked at him in wonder. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. In one year’s time, I want to be back at this Orange Blossom Inn saying vows to you. My boys are going to be there, and your girls are going to be so happy, and Frankie is going to have his own bone and be leashed. And perhaps, if we say enough prayers, the good Lord will keep Frankie out of trouble for a solid six hours.”
“Six hours?”
“That’s all the time we would need, Emma. Just long enough to enjoy our day and get a chance to taste our wedding cake.”
She giggled. “And if Frankie still gets loose?”
His expression softened. “You know the answer, Emma. If we can’t have cake, we’ll simply have pie.”
When he smiled, she did, too. And she realized that he was exactly right. Life was unpredictable and things didn’t always happen how one hoped they would.
But that didn’t mean one had to roll into a ball and mourn forever.
“I can’t give up Frankie. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have you.”
Leaning forward, Jay kissed her lightly on the lips. “Put that way, he’s my favorite beagle in the whole world. Now, let’s go get those girls and return to the party. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a pretty big wedding going on over at the Orange Blossom Inn.”
“I did hear,” she replied as she clasped his hand with a smile. “I heard it’s the most exciting wedding in town.”
An Excerpt from A Son’s Vow
Chapter 1
March 20
It was another picture-perfect day in Charm.
The sky was pale blue, quietly complementing the acres of vibrant green farmland as far as the eye could see. Spring lambs had arrived. They were frolicking in the fields, their eager bleats echoing through the valley. The morning air was not too chilly or too damp. Instead, a hint of warmth teased, bringing with it as much hope as the crocus buds that peeked through the dark dirt of the numerous clay pots decorating cleanly swept front porches.
It was the type of morning that encouraged a person to go out walking, to smile. The type of day that reminded one and all that God was present and did, indeed, bestow gifts.
In short, it was the type of day that used to give Darletta Kurtz hope. A day like this should have made her happy, revitalized her. It should have made her want to pull out a pencil and one of her many notebooks and record the images she saw and list activities she wanted to do.