A tiny giggle came from the hallway. Holly turned to see Madeline on her hands and knees watching them. “Say yes, Holly!” she whispered loudly.

  “Madeline, back to bed,” Scott warned.

  Holly had to hide a smile. Madeline scrambled to her feet. Once she was out of sight, Holly laughed, and Scott shook his head.

  “Sorry about that,” he said.

  “Don’t be,” she said, laying her hand over his. “I think she’s entitled to a vote.”

  Scott tried again. “Will you, Holly?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, extending her trembling fingers. “I will.”

  He slid the band into place and kissed the back of her hand. Lifting his eyes, he pushed her hair away from her face and stroked her cheek. “I promise you forever.”

  Leaning forward, he kissed her, and she felt herself getting lost in the intensity of his gentle passion. She thought he had already used his best kisses on her, but apparently he had much more in store for her as his wife.

  He pulled her to her feet and held her in his arms.

  “How long have you had the ring?”

  “Awhile.”

  “Why tonight?”

  “Because I knew you were ready.”

  She stepped back and looked into his face. “How did you know?”

  “The same way I knew last Christmas that you were back in my life for good. You took a risk--opened up your heart, knowing that I could reject you, but trusting that I wouldn’t.”

  She nodded. “I do trust you, Scott. With all my heart.”

  “Good. That’s the way it should be.”

  “I think I’ll go tell your daughter I said yes.”

  She hurried down the hall and peeked into Madeline’s room. Her eyes were open. Walking to the edge of the bed, Holly sat down beside her.

  “I said yes.”

  Madeline bolted upright and flew into her arms. “I knew you would. I just knew it!”

  Holly laughed and held Madeline tight.

  “I’m sorry I was spying,” she said, sobering a bit. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

  “I’m not mad.”

  “You’re not? Really?”

  “Really,” she replied, rubbing noses with the girl that would be turning seven next week. She had grown up right before her eyes. “I thought it was sweet.”

  Madeline giggled. “I’ve been praying for such a long time.”

  “Praying for what?”

  “For you to be my mommy.”

  “You have?”

  Madeline nodded emphatically. “For a long, long, long, time.”

  “Well, I will be very happy to be your mommy.”

  “And Sarah will be my sister too, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “And you and Daddy will have more babies? Lots and lots?”

  “Well, I’m sure we’ll have some. But I’m not sure how many.”

  “At least two?”

  “Probably.”

  “Three?”

  Holly laughed. “We’ll see. I think we need to plan the wedding first!”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Without much discussion over the next couple of days, Holly and Scott decided they didn’t want to wait long to get married. They chose a Saturday in September to have the wedding, hoping the sunny weather would continue until then so they could have it outdoors. They decided to reserve an area of the park down by the river where they had shared their first kiss. With Deb, Aunt Dana and Tamara’s help, they were able to pull everything together in the short amount of time.

  Her mom came the Saturday before the big day and stayed all week, helping with some last-minute details but mostly just enjoying some time with her sister, daughter, and granddaughter. Holly was amazed by the transformation her mom had undergone, and it was good to see she was her new self consistently throughout the week, rather than only during the more brief times Holly had seen or talked to her since Tamara’s wedding.

  But her mom wasn’t all smiles all the time. She still held a lot of deep pain for the years she’d been abused and been shutting out the love of those who truly cared about her. Holly talked to her seriously about some of those times more than once, and her mom usually ended up crying at some point, but Holly knew she needed that. There were still times when she herself would be talking to Scott or Tamara about something she felt was behind her, but the tears of regret or pain caused by others would surface again.

  Glen arrived on Friday in time for the wedding rehearsal, and it was obvious that her mom had really missed him and needed his love and support to keep her on the road to complete healing. Glen reminded her of Scott in a lot of ways, and Holly felt very thankful that she hadn’t had to wait until she was in her forties to be with the man who loved her like Scott did.

  She hadn’t expected being engaged to be much different than what their relationship had been like for the last six months, but it was, and she knew she wouldn’t have been able to wait much longer than six weeks to become his wife. She had always felt at home with Jack and Dana, and in the bedroom that she and Sarah shared, but on her final night away from Scott, the way she’d been feeling for the past several weeks hit an all-time high. She was meant to share her days and nights with Scott for the rest of her life, and she was really looking forward to going away with him tomorrow night, and also sharing their lives in every way after they returned from their honeymoon.

  A little bit of anxiety surfaced while she was trying to go to sleep. She wanted a marriage that would last. She wanted to be the wife Scott needed her to be. She wanted to be a good mother to Madeline as well as Sarah, and any other children they had in the future, but could she really have all that? Would she and Scott be happy ten or twenty years from now like Aunt Dana and Uncle Jack were, or would her life end up in ruins like her mom’s had?

  You know what I want, Jesus, and I believe you want that for me, and for Scott, and for our daughters. I know it takes a lot to keep a marriage together, and I don’t know what all will be involved in that for me and Scott, but I trust that you know, and that you will always give us exactly what we need. Whether that’s faith in each other, or faith in you, or something we can’t anticipate right now. I trust in your faithfulness to carry us through anything.

  She clung to that reality for now and during the ceremony the following afternoon when the enormity of what they were doing surfaced more than once. She also clung to Scott’s strength and his obvious joy and confidence that this is what he wanted for them. He had known all along what a good match they would be, and he’d never wavered from that, even when she had made him wait a whole year to figure out what he already knew: They needed each other. God had brought them together without much hype or fanfare but had given them a love for each other that was stronger than the pain both of them had been through.

  They drove to Sunriver that evening and were planning to stay for a week. Saying good-bye to Sarah, who would be turning four in a couple of weeks, was a little rough since she’d never been away from her for more than a day, and Scott seemed to have a difficult time leaving Madeline, but once they were on their way, it felt good to have some time for just them. They were parents, and their daughters were a huge part of their lives, but this week would be about beginning a new phase of their relationship as husband and wife that would outlast their roles of parenting young children.

  Scott didn’t waste much time taking full advantage of that once they arrived at the resort hotel and found their room. They’d already had dinner before leaving Hood River, and Scott didn’t mention or seem to have any plans of leaving their room once they were inside and he’d carried in all of their things. She wasn’t really interested in doing anything else either, but Scott’s anxiousness to be with her and his nonstop passion surprised her a little bit.

  He’d been so reserved and careful, even during the last six weeks, but she was his wife now, and he didn’t have any shame in experiencing that reality. And their time together was much more amazing and wonderful than she’d ever anticipated. Unbelievable really. She felt spoiled and incredibly loved by the time she was resting in Scott’s arms in the middle of the large bed.

  “I love you, Holly,” he said, kissing her forehead and holding her close to him. “And I always will.”

  “I won’t ever leave you, Scott,” she said, feeling he needed to hear that right now considering what had happened in his first marriage. He didn’t talk about Melissa very much, usually only when she asked him something about their relationship that had always been very unstable, but she knew he still cared about Melissa and would be with her today if Melissa had allowed him to be.

  Scott fell asleep without responding to that, and she fell asleep soon after. It had been a long day, she hadn’t slept much last night, and the comfort and security of Scott’s arms was too much to make her feel anything but content and completely relaxed.

  The following day they spent most of the time in their room relaxing and enjoying each other, but they did go out for meals and took a long walk around the resort after dinner. They were walking in silence and holding hands when Scott mentioned her words from the previous night for the first time.

  “What made you say that?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I thought maybe you needed to hear it.”

  “I did,” he admitted. “There hasn’t been a day during the last eight months that I haven’t been worried about losing you. I thought getting married yesterday would dispel that feeling for good, but it didn’t.”

  She felt shocked at his words because he’d never mentioned his insecurity before. He said something else before she could respond.

  “On the drive here it really escalated for some reason, and then after last night when being with you was the most incredible thing I’ve ever known--” He stopped walking and pulled her close to him. “I was so scared, baby. And then you said that. And--”

  He paused again, seeming overcome with emotion. She kissed him gently and finished his sentence with her own words.

  “And I meant it.”

  “I know,” he whispered.

  “Why haven’t you ever told me that?”

  “Because you never gave me any reason to think you would leave or stop wanting this. It was Melissa that--”

  “Yes, I did,” she laughed. “I left before, remember? I was gone for a whole year!”

  “Yeah, I remember,” he said. “But I meant this time. You never said or did anything to make me think you were going to be gone the next day. Melissa used to tell me that it wasn’t going to work. I just refused to believe it until she was gone, and even then I hung on for a long time.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Scott. Please? I’m not going anywhere unless you do something completely out of character that forces me to go away for my own safety. You’re too good to me. You love me too much. And I know you gave the same to Melissa and she walked away anyway, but I won’t do that. I love you, and I’m here to stay. For always.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Holly Christiansen gazed across the candlelit table at her husband. A whole year. I’ve been married to this wonderful man for a whole year. Where did the time go?

  Scott caught her staring at him and smiled. “What’s that look for?”

  “I love you.”

  “Well, that’s good to know,” he teased. “I may use that to my advantage later.”

  The waiter came to take their orders, and Holly requested what she’d had the other times Scott had brought her to the hotel restaurant. That first Valentine’s Day, the evening after he had proposed, and the night she had told him they were expecting a child. With the baby pushing up on her stomach tonight, she didn’t know how much she would be able to eat, but she supposed Scott could always finish her plate.

  After the waiter left, Scott extended his arm across the table. She placed her fingers in his warm palm. His touch still stirred feelings within her. Deep feelings for the love and security and care Scott lavished upon her. Their strong and steady courtship had led to a strong marriage. A marriage where they weren’t only a couple but parents as well. She was certain the addition to their family would draw them even closer.

  “What are you thinking about?” Scott asked after a long silence.

  “Our wedding.”

  Scott smiled and lifted her fingers to his lips. “That was a good day.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  “I remember the way the wind was blowing your hair across your face.”

  Holly had forgotten that. The weather had been perfect except for the breeze that kept playing havoc with her veil.

  “And don’t forget the kiss,” she said. “I remember closing my eyes and imagining we were sharing our first all over again.”

  “Me too.”

  The maitre d’ appeared with a vase of red roses and set them in the center of the table. “For you, madam. From your companion.”

  Holly smiled and took the card from among the perfect red flowers.

  My heart still beats with passion for you.

  Holly lifted her eyes back to her husband. “Mr. Christiansen, I do believe you are a hopeless romantic.”

  Scott straightened her wedding ring with his thumb. “Guilty as charged, ma’am.”

  Their appetizer came and Scott gave a prayer of thanks for the food and for the year God had given them together. He asked for many more to follow, for whatever blessings He saw fit to give them, and for a safe delivery of the baby due in two weeks. Her belief that God would always give them exactly what they needed to keep their marriage solid and their love for one another growing seemed to be holding up just fine, and Scott’s simple prayer calmed her anxiousness about the impending delivery and the new challenges awaiting them.

  Scott released her hand and they began enjoying the bread and seafood dip. Holly had taken her third bite when she felt her abdomen tighten. She chewed slowly and breathed through it, supposing the contraction was a result of putting something into her stomach. That had been happening for the last several days.

  A second one came, then a third. Holly decided not to eat anything else until they stopped. The last one made her feel nauseous.

  “You feeling all right, babe? You aren’t helping me with much of this.”

  Holly rubbed her bulging abdomen. “Not much room in there. I need to save some space for the main course.”

  She didn’t want to say anything about the contractions to Scott. False labor, she assumed. She’d been through this with Sarah, gone to the hospital twice, only to be sent home. When they’re real, I’ll know.

  When their salads were brought, she took several bites of the crisp greens. She loved the Italian dressing they used here and knew lettuce wouldn’t fill her up as quickly as the bread dipped in creamy sauce had.

  But when the pain gripped her lower abdomen and radiated around to her back, she dropped her fork on her plate and had to lay her head on her clenched fist.

  “Holly? What’s wrong?”

  She couldn’t respond.

  Scott waited. When she raised her eyes, he looked very concerned.

  “I think it’s time.”

  “Time for what?”

  She laughed. “For the baby!”

  “The baby? Now? But you’re not due for two weeks.”

  “Now, Scott.”

  Scott stood up so quickly he knocked his chair over. He came to help her to her feet. She felt okay now that the contraction had subsided, but she knew another one would be coming soon enough.

  “Is it too soon?” Scott asked, sounding panicked.

  “No. Sarah was two weeks early.”

  “She was? You didn’t tell me that.”

  Holly swatted him across the chest. “Scott Daniel! I did too,” she laughed. “How many times have you said, ‘Maybe it’ll be born on Sarah’s birthday,’ and I said, ‘if it comes early like she did, it will be closer to our anniversary?”

  He appeared to have no recollection.

  They made it to the parking lot before she had another one. She had to stop and lean against someone’s car for support. Scott looked pale when it ended. “Should we go straight to the hospital?”

  “No,” she said, taking his hand and letting him help her into the front seat. “We have time to go home and get my bags and call the doctor. Relax, honey. I’m not going to have it in the car or anything.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She laughed again and was still laughing when he turned on the engine and put on his seat belt. “What’s so funny? I don’t see anything funny about this, Holly.”

  She tried to stop, but Scott’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. “I’ve never seen you like this,” she said, laying her hand on his tense face. “It’s so sweet.”

  He did not look amused and remained serious on the drive home. He pulled into the driveway and told her to stay put while he went in, got her things, and called the doctor.

  “I have to come in,” she insisted. “I have to go to the bathroom!”

  Once they were inside, she knew she was going to have to get Scott to calm down. He nearly knocked over the phone and had already turned it on before he realized he didn’t have the doctor’s number in front of him.

  Holly took the receiver from him, set it back down, and grabbed his hands. “Scott, listen to me.”

  He didn’t look at her. His eyes were scanning the counter for the phone book.

  “Are you listening?”

  He sighed. “Yes.”

  “You need to take a deep breath and calm down.”

  “Holly! You’re in labor! How am I supposed to calm down?”

  She laughed again and fell into his arms. Another contraction came, not helping her case. It was all Scott could do to just stand there instead of dialing 9-1-1.

  Once her abdomen relaxed, she tried again. “Yes, I am in labor, but this whole process is going to take awhile. I was in labor for nine hours with Sarah. My water hasn’t broken yet. I can’t have you using up all your energy in the first hour and then conking out on me at ten o’clock. I need you, Scott. I need you to stay calm, okay?”