Twenty-Five
“Oh, Mom, you look beautiful,” Emma said as she stood from arranging the train on Shannon’s wedding gown. “I love you,” she said, hugging her gently, careful not to mess up Shannon’s dress. Shannon didn’t care, she hugged her daughter tightly, so happy that Emma had agreed to be her maid of honor.
“I love you too. And this day wouldn’t be complete without you. Thank you for making time to come.”
“Mother, of course. And I have some good news I want to tell you later.”
“Good news? Tell me now,” Shannon said as she heard the music begin.
“I can’t really say, but it has to do with people you love coming to Blackberry Bay.”
“Mom, are you ready?” Alex said, looking so tall and handsome in his suit as he held his elbow out for her to take it.
Her dad wasn’t alive to walk her down the aisle, but Alex had graciously agreed to. His wife, who was expecting, sat in the second row, looking down the church aisle expectantly, waiting for them to come.
“You’re gorgeous,” Marina said. She was the last of the ladies who had been helping Shannon get dressed. Grace, Claire, Vera, and so manyothers had been in the room with her, encouraging her and just spending the last few minutes before it was time to start.
They were all sitting with their spouses now, and Lance stood at the end of the aisle, looking back, love shining in his eyes.
“I’m ready,” Shannon said, glancing one more time at Lance, before she looked at her son and smiled.
Emma had already started to walk, and everyone stood as Alex and Shannon stepped out of the vestibule.
The strains of the music flowed over the church as Shannon walked by so many familiar and beloved faces. The Christmas decorations were perfect, and it was a beautiful, absolutely amazing December evening with light snow falling.
Everything was ready for the reception at the inn, and the guests who had arrived to spend their Christmas Eve at the inn were invited as well.
Vera and Dominic had offered to set up something in the healing garden, heaters and a tent, but as nice as that would have been, the church felt like the right spot.
Pastor Garrett stood at the end of the aisle as Alex handed her off to Lance, and he told them to clasp hands.
As they stood looking at each other, repeating the vows that were as old and timeless as weddings themselves, she couldn’t help but glow and think that this time, it truly would be until death did them part. After all, Lance had been in love with her forever, and he’d never wavered. She had been lured away, but she knew she would never be again. She understood exactly what she had in Lance and that men like him were few and far between. And she was blessed to have him.
Soon they were pronounced man and wife, and they shared a chaste kiss as the audience cheered before the photographer took some pictures, and then they stepped out into the carriage that awaited, pulled by elegant and beautiful horses, snuggled under warm, cozy robes. The falling snow made the scene picturesque as they held hands and laughed together on their way to the inn.
It was a short ride, less than ten minutes, but Shannon felt like a princess as Rodney opened the little door of the carriage and helped her out.
She and Lance walked up to the inn, which they now owned together, and into the feast that awaited them. Marina’s catering was exceptional, the dining room perfectly decorated and amazing for dancing as they finished eating and slid the tables to the side, and the celebration felt like a fairy tale. A perfect ending to Shannon’s long and somewhat winding road, and while she knew that the rest of her life was not going to be completely smooth sailing, there was the idea that perhaps Emma was moving back to Blackberry Bay, or maybe she meant Alex was. Shannon wasn’t sure, but regardless, the idea that people she loved would be close by couldn’t have made the evening better.
They stayed until everyone left, and it was after midnight. But neither one of them wanted the day to end, and they ended up standing on the porch of the inn, wrapped in one of the cozy blankets, watching the snow fall, and talking about their hopes and their dreams, the moonlight glistening off the lake in the distance as they discussed their future together. It was the wedding of her dreams, with the man of her dreams, and Shannon couldn’t have been happier to have come through the dark night and into the most beautiful time of her life.
“Coming home to Raspberry Ridge was the best decision I ever made.” She looked up at Lance, smiling into his eyes.
“I have to agree with that. It’s the best decision that you made for me too.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, and a glow of warmth and contentment grew within Shannon. While she knew that life would not be perfect, she was grateful, from the very bottom of her soul, for everything the Lord had done but especially for her husband and that they had been given a second chance at life and love.
