Holly felt sobered by the news. Here all this time she had assumed her mom was lost because she had never given God a chance. But she had known Him once and turned away?

  “Why do you think God isn’t answering our prayers?”

  “He is.”

  “But why hasn’t my mom changed? Is she out of God’s reach? Has she been gone too long for Him to keep trying?”

  “Holly, I’ve been praying for my sister for twenty-five years, and I’ve seen God touch her heart and work in her life many times. I used to pray that either your dad would change or that he would leave. Eventually he left.

  “I prayed for you and Paul that you would have a chance to hear about God. The moment I heard you’d had a baby, I knew God was doing something in your life, and then you came on that first Thanksgiving and I found out you knew Him. During the time Paul has been in the Army I’ve had a chance to share about Jesus with him, and he’s been asking me questions lately.”

  “Really? You too?”

  She nodded. “One of my life verses is Psalm 37:7: Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Prayer isn’t about begging God to do stuff and then assuming He hasn’t answered if I don’t see anything happening. It’s about continually going to Him with my burdens and concerns and leaving them there rather than having them weigh me down. God may not always act the way I think He should, but He does act. In His time and in His way. Your mom or any of us are never out of His reach.”

  That night Holly asked God to remind her mother of His love that she had experienced for many years and then shut out of her heart. Reclaim her as your own, Father God. Pursue her with your unfailing love.

  The following day Holly went to the store to pick up a gift and a card for her aunt for Mother’s Day that was coming up this weekend. She also bought a card for her mother that expressed the way she felt:

  Though the miles separate us;

  Though the trials of life come;

  Though we don’t have the chance to talk

  As much as I’d like;

  You are never far from my heart, Mom;

  And I love you.

  She sent the card from a mailbox in town to ensure it would arrive in time. Her mom might not want to hear from her ever again, but Holly felt determined to never give up and to never stop loving her, even if that love was never returned.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Holly walked down the center aisle of the church sanctuary toward the altar. Dressed in denim shorts and a yellow t-shirt, she took her place on the stage and turned toward the back. Madeline and Sarah were waiting to come forward with their baskets in hand.

  Tamara and Brian’s wedding rehearsal was in full swing. After much discussion about where people were to stand and the order of the ceremony, they were taking a run-through, making comments and adjustments as they went along.

  Holly smiled as Madeline and Sarah walked slowly up the aisle, tossing imaginary rose petals. Madeline did a good job of keeping Sarah moving. Holly glanced at Scott sitting in the front row watching their girls taking the role as flower girls very seriously. He caught her looking at him and winked. Holly smiled in return.

  After the rehearsal they went downstairs to have a catered dinner in the reception hall. Brian and Tamara were beaming at each other the entire time. Holly felt very happy for them. They had waited a long time for what was to come tomorrow.

  She and Scott sat together at one of the tables along with Madeline, Sarah, and two of Tamara’s bridesmaids. They had come earlier in the day, but Holly hadn’t had a chance to talk with them much. They were both friends Tamara had made during her summers of working at camp. Molly was the other bridesmaid, but she was sitting at a different table with her new boyfriend. She had gotten away from Chase more than a year ago just as Holly and Tamara had prayed for.

  Tamara, Holly, and Tamara’s two girlfriends from out of town stayed up late talking. When they finally headed for bed around one in the morning, Holly and Tamara left the other two in the family room to sleep on the hide-a-bed while they dragged themselves up the stairs.

  “I know I’m going to be too excited to sleep,” Tamara said as they brushed their teeth in the hall bath.

  “I bet you are,” Holly laughed. “Can you believe that by this time tomorrow night you’re going to be a married woman?”

  Tamara smiled shyly. “No. I can’t.”

  “Are you nervous?” Holly whispered. “About tomorrow night, I mean.”

  Tamara nodded.

  “You two have waited, right?”

  Tamara smiled. “Yes. We have,” she sighed. “It hasn’t always been easy, especially the last few months, but we were both saying just last night how glad we are that we never let things take that turn.”

  Holly hugged her. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, Tam. You two will do just fine.”

  “Thanks, Holly. I still remember when you made me promise you I’d wait. You don’t know how many times I’ve thought of that during the last three years.”

  Holly fingered her purity ring and thought of how good Scott had been about keeping his promise to her. Tamara reached out and took her right hand, looking at the silver band on her finger. “How are things going for you two in that area?”

  “Fine. Scott’s kisses are amazingly good,” she said with a laugh, “but that’s all he does. I’ve only had to ask him to stop once, and he felt so bad afterwards that I doubt he’ll ever put me in that position again.”

  “Have you been talking about marriage at all?”

  “Yes. We talk about it a lot actually. That’s what we both want, and I think Scott is ready now, but I’m not quite there yet. He’s been patient with me. I’m sure he’ll ask at just the right time.”

  They hugged each other good night in the hallway, and Holly wished her cousin a good night’s sleep and pleasant dreams. She crawled into bed with only a sheet to cover her. It had been a hot day, and even with her window open the room felt warm and stuffy.

  Holly thought she heard a vehicle pulling up the driveway and Thunder and Lightning barking about five minutes later, but she didn’t get up to check. She didn’t know why anyone would be coming by at this late hour. Must be the neighbors, she thought and let her mind wander to something else.

  Tamara poked her head in the doorway a few minutes later, startling her slightly. “Holly,” she whispered to keep from waking Sarah. “Come here.”

  Holly threw the sheet aside and padded across the hall in her plaid shorts and plain white t-shirt. Tamara stood in the doorway, waving her into the dark room.

  “What’s going on?”

  Tamara grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. That’s when she heard the singing voices. She followed Tamara to the window.

  “They’re serenading us,” she said, pointing down to the back lawn.

  Holly looked and saw two figures in the darkness holding a flashlight to illuminate their faces. It appeared to be Brian and Scott. She started laughing at the off-pitch voices.

  “What are they doing? It’s one-thirty in the morning!”

  “Shh,” Tamara said, giggling. “I can’t hear what they’re trying to sing.”

  They both listened closely. Thunder and Lightning were barking and nearly drowning them out. Holly couldn't make anything out of the words until they got to the chorus. Then she recognized the country song: She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful.

  Their pitch was terrible, their rhythm off, but they were singing their hearts out, and Holly found them incredibly endearing.

  The second song sounded a bit better. One of them was actually singing harmony. Probably Scott, she thought. Their second selection was the classic, Let Me Call You Sweetheart.

  When they finished, Tamara called out, “I love you.”

  Brian replied, “Tamara, my darlin’. Please say you’ll be mine forever.”

  Tamara laughed. “Meet me at the church tomorrow. One o’clock.”

  “Is that you up there, Holly?” Scott called out.

  “I’m here.”

  “I love you.”

  He told her that all the time, but hearing him shout it for everyone to hear made her feel so special. “I love you too,” she whispered.

  “Good night, ladies,” they both said in unison and bowed in grand fashion before making their exit.

  Holly and Tamara turned to each other and laughed again. “I’m sure glad we live out in the sticks. They aren’t exactly Sinatras,” Tamara said. “But that was very sweet. I never would have expected that from Brian in a million years! He’s a bit on the romantically challenged side.”

  Holly definitely knew whose idea it had been. He must have made arrangements to have Deb watch Madeline and everything. After she went back to bed, Holly decided she was going to have to do something special for Scott in return.

  After a fairly decent good night’s sleep, Holly rose from her bed when her alarm music woke her and went to take a shower while Sarah was still asleep. After breakfast Holly helped Tamara with her hair and make-up. They needed to be at the church by ten-thirty to get Tamara into her dress for pictures before the ceremony. With no major hitches, Holly and her aunt managed to get Tamara, Sarah, Madeline, and themselves dressed and ready on time.

  The photographer took shots of the bride and groom alone first. Holly stood back and watched, feeling happy for her cousin and catching her contagious smile. She felt Scott’s hands on her shoulders, and she turned around, seeing him dressed very handsomely in a tuxedo. Brian had asked Scott to be one of the ushers.

  “You clean up well,” she said, rubbing his clean shaven jaw that he sometimes let get a bit scruffy.

  He took her fingers in his hand, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

  She smiled. “No. But thank you for saying so.”

  After the photographer snapped the final picture, Holly and Aunt Dana whisked Tamara away from Brian, getting her out of the sanctuary so the guests could be seated. They went out a side door and down the hall to an open area where they would wait until the ceremony began.

  Holly went to get some water for herself and Tamara. It was a hot day, and the church didn’t have air-conditioning. She was glad Tamara had chosen bridesmaids’ dresses made of airy fabric with short sleeves.

  “Everything is so nice, Tam,” Holly said. “The flowers are absolutely gorgeous. You are gorgeous. No--you are radiant.”

  “I can’t stop smiling,” Tamara said. “My cheeks are starting to hurt.”

  “Well, don’t worry. Once you’re walking down that aisle you’ll go numb all over. You won’t feel a thing.”

  “Thanks,” Tamara said dryly. “That makes me feel so much better.”

  “That’s my job,” Holly beamed, making Tamara laugh.

  “Whew! It’s getting warm,” Aunt Dana commented, fanning herself with a program. “It would be easy to faint up there. Remember to take a deep breath if you start getting dizzy or--”

  Holly saw her aunt’s eyes move to someone behind her. Tamara’s smile faded slightly. Holly turned around and saw her mother walking toward them. They hadn’t heard if she was coming today or not.

  Oh, God. Please don’t let her make a scene. Don’t let her spoil Tamara’s day.

  “Jana!” Aunt Dana exclaimed, stepping past Holly to greet her sister. She hugged her without waiting for permission. Holly thought her mom actually looked like she welcomed the embrace.

  Holly couldn’t move. She glanced back at Tamara who gave her a wary look before going toward her aunt and greeting her much the same way as Dana.

  “Thanks for coming,” Tamara said in her usual gracious way.

  “You look so grown up, Tammy. Have you colored your hair since I saw you last?”

  “Holly helped me,” she said, glancing over her shoulder.

  Her mom noticed her then. “Holly? Is that you? You cut your hair.”

  Holly swallowed hard, determined to put up a good front for Tamara’s sake. She stepped toward her mom. Her mother met her halfway and, much to Holly’s surprise, hugged her warmly.

  Holly stepped back, wondering if her mom had held her out of actual love or just for show. Holly had seen her turn on the charm and sweetness before. She remained cautious.

  Her mom looked like she was about to say something when someone else joined them. Holly heard the male voice first and wondered whom it belonged to. She looked past her mom to see the handsome middle-aged man greeting her aunt.

  “Dana. Great to see you. It’s been a long time, but you haven’t changed a bit.”

  Her aunt didn’t appear to recognize him until he introduced himself.

  “Glen!” she exclaimed, covering her mouth and letting out a nervous laugh. “Oh, my. What on earth--?”

  Holly saw her mother step back and take the stranger’s hand. “Glen, this is Dana’s daughter, Tamara.”

  Glen turned to the bride and nodded politely. “Very nice to meet you.”

  “Hello,” Tamara said.

  Holly kept her eyes on Glen and her mother and their clasped hands. Her mom came toward her once again and Glen followed. His eyes fell on her and a gentle smile emerged.

  “Glen,” her mother said in a soft voice. “This is Holly, my daughter.”

  “Hello, Holly.”

  “Hello,” she replied, wondering how long her mom had been seeing this guy and what kind of man he was.

  “We need to go find a seat,” her mother said after an awkward silence. “But we’ll talk more afterwards, all right?”

  Holly nodded. She wasn’t about to make any kind of a scene right before the ceremony and knew her mother wouldn’t be anything but sweet either with her new boyfriend at her side.

  They walked away, and Holly let out the breath she’d been holding. She decided to go find Madeline and Sarah and get them into position. Finding them with one of the bridesmaids, she took them back with her, and soon the entire wedding party had gathered in the hall except for Brian and the best man, who were waiting elsewhere.

  Uncle Jack came back to let them know the church was filled and they could start anytime. He came to stand beside Tamara and kissed her on the cheek. “You ready, baby?”

  “I’m ready,” Tamara smiled. Her eyes glistened with joyful tears.

  Uncle Jack turned to her aunt. “Was it my imagination or did I see your sister here with Glen Chambers?”

  Aunt Dana smiled. “That was Glen.”

  Uncle Jack lifted his brows and chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

  Holly wanted to know what was going on with her mother and the man that her aunt and uncle apparently knew from the past.

  “Who was that guy with my mom?” she asked. “How do you know him?”

  Her aunt looked at her, seeming to search for the right words. “The four of us went to college together. Jack and I were juniors when Glen and Jana were freshmen. We used to double date a lot.”

  Holly waited for her to go on, sensing that her aunt had a bit more information to share on the matter.

  “Glen was your mom’s first love.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Holly had a dozen more questions running through her mind, but her aunt needed to go have herself seated. Aunt Dana hugged Tamara, told her she loved her, and then disappeared down the hall.

  Trying to focus on the upcoming ceremony, Holly put aside her thoughts and questions. She would find her mother later and see if she had anything to say to her, but right now she needed to be her cousin’s maid of honor.

  Reminding Sarah to throw the rose petals on the floor and to walk right beside Madeline, Holly waited for her turn to walk down the aisle. She wasn’t surprised to see the church overflowing. Both Tamara and Brian’s parents were active in the church and had lots of family and friends to share this special day with. Holly felt most nervous about Sarah not wanting to walk up the aisle with so many watching. She tended to be shy around new people.

  But she did beautifully. Madeline had to coax her forward a couple of times, but she made it all the way to the front and then came to stand beside Holly on the stage. Sarah sat down on the floor about two minutes into the ceremony, but Holly didn’t care. Tamara and Brian were the only two that were on her mind at the moment.

  The pastor kept his words brief due to the heat, and soon the vows were being exchanged, then the rings, and one of Tamara’s friends sang a solo before the happy couple was pronounced husband and wife.

  “You may kiss the bride,” Pastor Stone said to Brian. He didn’t have to be told twice.

  Holly held Sarah’s hand and followed Tamara and Brian out of the sanctuary and into the fresh air. It wasn’t any cooler outside, but a slight breeze felt good on her sweaty skin.

  After a few minutes Tamara and Brian went back inside to greet their guests downstairs in the reception line. Holly stayed outside with Sarah and Madeline and waited for Scott to join them.

  “My mom is here,” she said as soon as he found her.

  His expression changed to one of concern. Holly had told him all about the things her mother had said and done to her in the last few years.

  “Did she talk to you?”

  “Briefly. Aunt Dana and Tamara were there. She came with someone.”

  “Who?”

  “Some guy she used to date a long time ago. Jack and Dana know him. I didn’t have time to get the details.”

  “Do you want to talk to her?”

  “Not alone, but yes. If she wants to talk to me.”

  Scott took her hands in his and held them firmly. Stepping close to her, he prayed out loud.

  “Lord Jesus, we know you are here with us right now. Please give Holly peace. Calm her anxious thoughts and help her as she talks with her mom. We know that you want Holly and her mom to be on speaking terms again and so much more. May it be so.”

  “Amen,” Holly whispered and stepped into Scott’s arms. They held each other for a few moments, and Holly felt better, letting both Scott’s strength and God’s peace calm her heart.