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That was when she slipped and her foot fell between two wet crevices in the rain-soaked boulders. Her attempts to free herself went to no avail. Exhausted and trapped, she was forced to spend the night out in the storm. The next morning she was found nearly frozen to death. After her rescuers were unable to free her foot, the decision was made to cut her free. The excruciating memory of that day would stay with her forever. Equally the external pain as well as the internal pain. She refused to go outside shamed by her new disfigurement. When the children would stare or laugh at her, she refused to return to school. It was soon after when her self-inflicted isolation began. And ruled her life for the next twelve years.
Standing there in the church aisle, staring down at Ryan’s face as it slowly creased in horror, sent old emotions of the past to come rushing back. Her heart felt the first crack of heartbreak. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, threatening to burst forth, but she somehow managed to stay them. Instead, as if she had not humiliated herself enough, she dropped the prosthetic foot and attempted to make her way down the aisle on her stumped leg. She needed Ryan to see the real Evelina. To see the damaged, broken Evelina that she was. To realize exactly what type of bride he had gambled on.
Evelina took a step forward, but not surprisingly, did not get far. She wobbled then buckled before she even managed to take a step. It was the first time since the accident that she had tried to walk without the prosthetic. Angry, she attempted to lift herself off the floor again, clutching a pew for balance. She resented her mutilated leg and the misery it had brought into her life. Both then and now. For she was certain that with every pathetic step she made, she was losing Ryan. Nevertheless, he deserved to know the truth. Deserved to know that the woman he loved was a monster.
When she fell a second time, she could no longer bear to see the growing look of dread on Ryan’s face so collapsed within her billowed skirts and refused to get up again.
The church fell silent. Not even Evelina’s silent tears echoed off the stonewalls.
Then, “Evelina.”
She glanced up and found Ryan standing directly over her with such sadness clearly reflected in his eyes. Her heart cracked entirely then and her voice came out as a sob.
“I’m sorry.”
He sighed. “You should have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
He exhaled and shook his head. “It explains a lot.”
She choked back another sob at the pitiful look marred across his face. “I told you I was not the type of woman you could just leave behind.”
His brows dipped together. “How?”
She bit her bottom lip, trying to force the tears away. “It was the only way they were able to free me from the crevice that day.”
He cursed under his breath and released a sharp breath as if he felt the butcher of her younger self so many years ago.
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
“I know.”
She nodded in understanding though she really didn’t. She wouldn’t blame him in the least for being angry.
He exhaled wearily. “You must take me for some heel.”
“It’s all right—”
Then shocking her completely, he swept her up into his arms. “How could you think you’re the type of woman I could ever want to leave behind? I tried that and let me tell you, it didn’t work out so well. I’m never leaving your side again.”
Then with determination, he turned and walked down the aisle toward the altar with Evelina in his arms. “Proceed,” he ordered the minister.
“Ryan?”
“I told you, Evelina, I loved you faults and all. You’d have to come up with something a lot more horrifying than a severed foot, sweetheart.” He paused and searched deep into her eyes. “I’ve gotten rather used to carrying you around. I can’t think of a better way to spend the rest of my life than you in my arms.”
Evelina’s heart completed shattered at that point but not from a broken heart, but from the disbelief that he could truly love the whole Evelina. Broken pieces and all.
The Reverend interrupted her musings. “Do you Evelina Elizabeth Hepworth take this man, Ryan Joseph Colby, to be your lawful husband? To have and to hold from this day forward? As long as you both shall live?”
Ryan turned and arched a brow at her as if daring her to refuse him once again.
It was at that exact moment that she finally saw true love reflected in his eyes. There were no more secrets, lies, or wagers between them. She knew she had a long way to mend from what happened to her as a child, but with Ryan by her side, she suddenly felt she was able to face her fears and conquer her demons. Her heart began to pound vigorously then as the process of healing jumped started her pulse and breathed life back into Evelina.
A smile slowly formed on her lips as she stared up into the face of the man she loved, her eyes spewing her true emotions for the first time. From out of her shell, she emerged and entrusted her faith with this wonderful man. A warm corresponding spark lit within his as he smiled at her in return.
“I do,” she said with confidence.
