The Proposal(73)

Granddaddy beamed. “It’s my best suit. I hoped it would do.”

“I’ll be honored to be on your arm.”

As they started out the door, he stopped her. “Virginia told you about the pearls, didn’t she?”

Emma’s mouth gaped open. “How did you know?”

“The look on your face when I walked in.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, Emmie Lou. I’m just surprised that Aidan didn’t tell you.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You told him? When?”

“The time he came up here to get the food while you were on bed-rest.”

“But why?”

Granddaddy grimaced. “I wanted him to understand that I knew where he was coming from, but at the same time, I wanted him to fight like hell to get you back.”

“You like him that much?”

“I do.” Granddaddy grinned. “I think I might even love him.”

Emma jerked her head up to stare at him in surprise. “Seriously?”

“I’m happy for you, Emmie Lou. I think ol’ Aidan’s gonna make you a mighty fine husband.”

“Oh Granddaddy,” she murmured, her eyes filling with tears.

“Don’t cry now.”

“They’re happy tears, I promise.”

“Yeah, but you’ll get me in trouble with all the hens around here if you mess up your make-up.”

She giggled. “All right then. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”

“Good then.” Eying Emma’s dress, he scratched his head. “Let’s see how we’re gonna get you out of here in that thing.”

She giggled as she turned to the side and slid out of the bedroom doorway. As she swept out into the living room, she found the wedding planner organizing the bridal party. “How do I look Aunt Emma?” Georgie asked, spinning around in his tiny tux.

She grinned. “You look so handsome and so grown up.”

He thrust out his pillow. “I thought today I would get the real rings.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but Casey and your Papa Patrick are in charge of the rings.”

Georgie cocked his head. “Then why the hell am I the ring-bearer?”

Emma’s eyes widened while Casey tried to hide her laughter behind her bouquet. “George Byron Parker! Don’t you dare say a naughty word like that!” Emma chastised.

“Is hell a naughty word?”

“Yes, it is.”

Georgie shrugged. “Oh, I just heard John and Uncle Aidan using it.”

“Well, let them be in trouble, not you.” She patted his back. “You have a very important job as the ring bearer, even without the real rings. You’re part of our wedding party, and that makes you very special.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Georgie seemed momentarily appeased. Then his face clouded over again. “Do I really have to walk with her?” he jerked his chin over to Emma’s cousin, Sarah, the flower girl.

“What’s wrong with Sarah?”

Georgie rolled his eyes in exasperation. “She’s a girl!”

Emma bit her lip to keep from grinning. “I promise she’s a very nice girl, and you won’t have to hold her hand or anything.”

“Good!”

Marie, the wedding planner, clapped her hands. “Okay then. It’s time. Georgie, Sarah, you’ll go out first. Then I need Connor, Stacy, and Casey…oh my, that rhymed,” Marie giggled.

Casey rolled her eyes as she handed Emma her enormous bouquet. “This chick has seriously got to go.”

Emma welcomed the laugh that bubbled from her lips. It helped to ease the nerves she felt. Drawing in a few deep breaths, she tried to calm herself down. After all these years, it was finally happening. She was getting married. As she felt Noah kick beneath her yards of fabric, she shook her head and smiled. God had certainly blessed the broken road of heartache and loss to get to this point of extreme joy.

As they stepped onto the front porch, Emma glanced up at the sky. It was like God had smiled down on their special day by blessing them with not only a beautiful cloudless sky, but one of Georgia’s unseasonably warm days for late January. She leaned on Granddaddy’s arm as they took the path around the house. Memories flashed through her mind of taking the same turn with Aidan as they snuck away for their midnight skinny dipping escapade.

The grassy aisle leading up to the altar was covered with intertwining red, pink, and yellow rose petals. Emma’s heart warmed as it was a special touch, not just to liven up the dying winter grass, but it was a reminder of happy times with rose petals in the hotel room on their first baby-making venture as well as their engagement. It brought a beaming smile to her face. But her smile grew even wider at the sight of Aidan standing at the front of the altar. He peered down the aisle, trying desperately to catch a glimpse of her.