Her eyes roamed over the church until they landed on Colin. He was staring at her with an intensity that she had never seen before, causing her breath to hitch. This was the man she loved, and it was evident by the way he was staring that he loved her, as well.
Slowly, they made their way to the front of the church, Arabella’s eyes not straying from Colin. There was no other place she wished to look. It was just him and her, nothing else mattered.
Her father took her hand and extended it towards Colin, who readily accepted it. Once she was standing next to him, her fiancé leaned closer and whispered, “You look so beautiful, Bella.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
The vicar began the ceremony, and she attempted to concentrate on what was being said, but it was growing increasingly difficult to do so. All she could think about was how she was about to become Colin’s wife, and she found herself smiling at that thought.
Everything that she had been forced to endure over the years had led her to this moment. This perfect moment, with the perfect man for her. It had been worth it.
Epilogue
Six years later
Colin carried his son,James, on his shoulder as he walked along the path through the woodlands. He glanced back and saw Arabella and their daughter, Esther, trailing behind, chatting merrily.
“What about that tree, Father?” his son asked, pointing at a large pine tree.
“That would make an impressive tree, but I have my eye on something bigger,” he responded.
Arabella’s voice came from behind him. “I pray that isn’t so,” she said. “Last year, your tree barely fit through the door of the saloon.”
“I have since learned my lesson,” Colin remarked.
Esther spoke up. “Why do we always pick two trees for the saloon?”
“That is an interesting story,” Arabella said. “I am sure that your father would like to tell you the reasons behind it.”
“I would.” Colin came to a stop and turned back around to face his daughter. “A long, long time ago, before your mother and I were married, we were assigned to pick out a tree for Christmas,” he explained. “We went deep into the forest to select the perfect tree and your mother picked out a sad-looking pine that frightened children.”
Esther’s eyes grew wide. “It frightened children?”
Arabella smiled. “No, it most definitely did not,” she replied. “Your father is just making up stories again.”
“The tree may not have scared children, but it made them sad,” Colin corrected.
“Is that true, Mother?” James asked.
Arabella shook her head. “The tree did not make any children sad, but it was rather unfortunate-looking.”
“Why did you select that one, then?” Esther asked.
“I thought it had a lot of character,” Arabella said. “It tried its hardest to be a tree, and I thought it should be rewarded for that.”
Esther bobbed her head. “That was nice of you.”
“Thank you,” Arabella replied.
“Is that why you pick out small, feeble trees and Father picks the grandest trees?” Esther asked innocently.
“I pick out whatever tree speaks to me,” Arabella said.
Esther stared at her. “Trees can speak to you?” she asked. “What do they say?”
“Mostly they just talk about how much they want to be a part of our Christmas festivities,” Arabella replied.
With pressed lips, Esther inquired, “Are you making up stories, as well?”
