Nathan pulled the tiny blue box from his pocket flipping it open before Rainy’s astonished eyes.
“Yes!” Lucas yelled launching himself at Nathan and knocking him to the ground. “Say yes, Mommy! Say yes!” the boy cried as Nathan twisted to meet Rainy’s soft eyes.
“Yes,” Rainy smiled. “A thousand times yes.”
Nathan grasped Lucas, pulling him along as he managed to get on his knees before Rainy. “I love you,” he said leaning in and sealing the commitment with a kiss.
Lucas giggled as Nathan and his mother kissed. “Now I can call you Daddy,” the boy enthused. “I been prayin’ to God every night that he would let you be my dad.”
Nathan felt the tears sting his face as the boy hugged his neck, and he pushed himself up pulling Rainy into his side. Together they would be one, a family, created by God who had overcome the past.
***
“I still think you’re crazy,” Mrs. Smythe said as she and Anne smoothed the lacy train of Rainy’s wedding dress. “What if he leaves again?”
“Dana,” Owen’s voice was firm. “It’s time to let it go,” he said more softly. “You can see as well as I can that Nathan has changed.” The older man gazed around the church room where his daughter was preparing to walk down the aisle. “It seems that God really can change a man’s heart.”
Dana looked up at her husband, surprised by his words. “You really think so?” she asked looking back at Rainy. “I don’t want to see my little girl hurt again.”
Owen pulled Dana into his arms. “Honey, life always brings hurt, but maybe with faith, we can get past those painful things and get a fresh start, just like Nathan and Rainy.”
Dana sniffed turning and hugging her daughter tight. “Maybe when you come back home, your father and I will start coming to church with you.”
“I’d like that, Mom.” Rainy leaned in kissing her mother’s cheek. “I can never repay you for all that you have done for me.”
Anne sighed dreamily as she lifted Rainy’s veil into place. “I can’t believe this. It’s like a fairytale.”
Rainy laughed. “When did you get so romantic?”
Anne’s face flushed bright red, clashing with her short autumn gold dress. “I’m not.”
“Maybe that young man you invited to the wedding has something to do with it,” Owen chuckled.
“Nathan and Rainy invited everyone from the church,” Anne protested turning back to check her lipstick.
A soft knock fell on the door and Owen hurried to open it.
“We’re ready,” one of the ushers said. “Mrs. Smythe if you’re ready?”
Dana dabbed at wet eyes with a tissue then smiled. “Of course,” she said stepping outside and taking the young man’s arm. “I’ll see you down there.”
“Oh, I’m next!” Anne grabbed her small bouquet of sunflowers and peach roses and hurried out the door, racing toward the foyer. “Don’t be late!”
Rainy chuckled, joy spilling from her like a fountain.
“Are you ready honey,” Owen looked down at his daughter his dark eyes full of love.
“I am, Dad,” Rainy said taking his arm. “I know mother worries about Nathan, and with our past I understand, but you need to know something. I’m not putting my trust in Nathan. I’m putting my trust for Nathan, in God. I know Nathan loves me, but no one can love me like God.”
Owen leaned over kissing Rainy’s brow. “I’d like to know more about this kind of love,” he said. “When you and Nathan come back from your honeymoon, we’ll join you at church.”
Rainy’s heart fluttered at her father’s words. It had been hard enough getting her mother on board with this wedding, but to have hope that her parents might come to find the same love and peace she and Nathan had thrilled her.
The first strains of the wedding march began and Rainy squeezed her father’s arm walking to the double doors of the sanctuary.
Rainy’s eyes shimmered with tears as she followed her oldest friend down the aisle and her eyes fell on Nathan standing tall and straight in a black tux and holding Lucas by the hand. He had called their son his ‘best little man’ and though Nathan’s cousin stood with them, Lucas beamed with pride.
It didn’t seem possible that a chance meeting at a Dude Ranch in Wyoming could lead to this much happiness, but Rainy was learning that with God there were no coincidences.
“Hi, Mommy!” Lucas enthused as Owen placed her hand in Nathan’s. “Are we married yet?”
“Shh,” Rainy smiled. “Not yet, let the preacher talk and after we kiss then we’ll be married.”
“Ah-hem,” Pastor Bob cleared his throat but grinned at the couple. “Shall we begin?”
Nathan winked at Rainy making her smile until her cheeks hurt. In what seemed a matter of seconds the words were all said, the rings exchanged, and the final vows spoken?
“Now?” Lucas asked, looking between the preacher and his parents.
“Now,” Pastor Bob agreed. “Nathan, you may kiss your bride.”
Nathan pulled back the short veil covering Rainy’s shining face and dipped his head, meeting her eyes. “I love you Rainy,” he whispered as his lips met hers.
“Yippee!” Lucas yelled grasping Nathan’s legs. “Now you’re my Daddy.”
Together Nathan and Rainy knelt pulling Lucas into their arms, as they started their life as a family.
Nathan scooped Lucas into one arm as his hand held fast to Rainy’s, and they walked up the aisle together as a family for the first time. God had brought him full circle and in doing so had completed his heart.
***
“You promise to be good for Mimi and Poppa?” Rainy asked as the reception wound down and Lucas yawned at her sleepily. “Your Daddy and I will only be gone for two nights.”
“I’ll be good,” Lucas said dropping a sleepy kiss on his mother’s face before climbing into his grandfather’s lap. “Will you bring me something back from your honeymoon?”
