AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then Pam walked up the aisle.
Gage and Jake started walking up the aisle. Sam had worried that she wouldn’t be able to walk down the aisle and not cry. The words of the song were the words Gray always said to her: “God made her for him.”
Josh held out his arm to Sam, and they started walking down the aisle:
But I see you, before I ever knew you, before I ever knew you
I dreamed of you, I dreamed of you…
He watched her walk toward him and tomorrow seemed so far away. The tears shining in her eyes gave away her emotion, the soft strains of the song with words he said to her often added to the moment.
When Josh and Sam stopped in front of him, he bent his head and looked into her eyes. “I knew you’d like this song. It’s how I feel about you, Sam.”
She swallowed in quick succession and only managed a nod. He held his arm out to her. She wrapped her arm through his, and they walked up on the stage.
God gave me you, gave me you, He gave me you.
They stopped in front of Pastor Jay.
He reached into his pocket and handed Sam a tissue. He’d have to thank his mom for that tip. “Thought you might need this.”
She chuckled and took the tissue, dabbing her eyes and nose.
“Thank you.”
The pastor chuckled and leaned in to whisper, “Are you ready?”
Sam nodded and looked up at him.
“Okay.”
Pastor Jay winked at her and took a step back. He ran through what he would say, when the next song would start, and when they would say their vows. They practiced their vows. They would give Gray’s parents each two roses: one purple, one champagne. A final prayer would be said over the newly-married couple, and the recessional would play “A Better Life” by Keith Urban. Sam and Gray both thought it was the perfect song—happy, upbeat, and said so much about how they felt they’d have a better life! He knew it seemed corny, but if you can’t be corny at your own wedding, when can you be?
They finished talking to Pastor Jay getting final instructions and when he wanted them at the church tomorrow. They thanked Jon for coming and playing for them, then headed to eat at Harmony House. David’s team was there ahead of them, making sure everything was okay. Tank drove Sam and Gray. The poor man—he didn’t get a lot of sleep. When they got there, a private room had been set up for their party. They sat and poured the wine that was on the table. As soon as everyone got a glass of wine, and non-alcoholic wine for the grandkids and Ali, Harry stood.
“I want to make a toast to Gray and Sam.”
He cleared his throat. “Gray, it goes without saying that your mother and I are so happy for you and Sam. We’ve watched you over the years, struggle with life, wanting something more, but not knowing what that was. We’ve worried about you, lost sleep over you, and prayed that the good Lord would hold you in his arms and bring you love and peace. And He did.”
Harry turned to Sam. “Sam, when you walked into Gray’s life, he changed … his whole world changed. He was so excited when he told me he’d met you. His exact words were, ’I found her, Dad. I found the other half of my soul.’”
Harry’s voice cracked. Sam’s tears were flowing. Even Gray had tears in his eyes listening to his dad’s toast.
“He knew the second he met you that you were his other half. He knew God made you for him, Sam. Mary and I couldn’t be happier. I know I’ve told you this before, but welcome to the family. Josh, Gage, Jake, Tammy, Ali, Tracie, and of course, Abby and Dodge, welcome to the Kinkaide family. Cheers.”
There were a few more toasts around the table. A lovely meal was served, and conversation flowed freely.
As the dessert dishes were cleared, Sam stood and cleared her throat. “You’ll all need to bear with me while I try to say what I want to say.”
Gray looked up at her and smiled and winked while he held her left hand.
“I don’t know if there are words in the English language that can express how I feel about all of you. Of course, my children and grandchildren, it goes without saying—I love you all so much. Pam and Jessie, without you ladies in my life, I would not have made it through my darkest days. Thank you; I love you both. The rest of you, Harry, Mary, Dani and Nick, Jamie, Ethan and Eva, Jax, Sarah and Cole, and Lily and Lincoln, Caleb, David, and Tank.” Sam looked at Tank and winked.
Tank winked back and turned bright red.
“You all have been an amazing, loving, wonderful family and if I were to pick out of a catalog the family I would want to merge my family with, you are that family. I love you all and thank you for welcoming my family and me into your family. And Gray.”
She looked into his eyes as he searched hers.
