A March Bride (A Year of Weddings 1 #4)(27)
His sincere confession caressed her heart. “No, my heart was the dead one. Then you found me and said, ‘Design a garden for me.’ Sitting on those same steps, I saw possibility. For a garden, yes, but also for love.” She kissed him. “We made grass angels and you helped me off the ground—”
He laughed. “How could I forget? You tripped and fell into my arms. I never wanted to let you go.”
“I did that on purpose, you know.” She nuzzled her face against his, butterfly kissing his cheek.
“Sure you did.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I remember wanting to kiss you that day, very much.”
From the veranda stage the music changed. Nathaniel shoved back his chair, taking her hand. “May I have this dance?”
Susanna rose, the silk taffeta and tulle petticoat of her dress rustling past their chairs, the heels of her golden shoes striking a solid sound on the makeshift dance floor.
The guests, sitting at surrounding tables, applauded softly.
Nathaniel drew her into his arms and began an elegant waltz as the melody of the song rose higher and Mickey began to sing.
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts . . .
“The Wedding Song,” she whispered, a new wash of tears filling her eyes. “How did you know?”
“Oh, a little bird named Glo told me.”
Mama, sweet Mama. “A friend of theirs sang it at Daddy and Mama’s remarriage ceremony when I was twelve and so happy. My very divorced parents reconciled, remarried, and were giving me a baby sister.”
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name, there is love . . .
Susanna closed her eyes and rested against her husband—oh, she loved the sound of the word—as Mickey’s smooth melody confirmed . . . there is love.
When the song ended, a soft clanking arose from a table to the left, and Daddy made his way toward the dance floor, tapping his champagne glass with a fork. The sound technician passed him a microphone.
Nathaniel slipped his arms around Susanna, pressing her back to his chest.
“Well,” Daddy said, his voice rattling with emotion, as he smoothed his hand over his waistcoat and lean middle. He looked good. Strong and vibrant and fit from Mama’s strict diet. Susanna could almost erase her memory of him lying in the hospital bed weak from a heart attack at forty-eight. “Most of you have known Glo and me a long time. Therefore, you’ve known our Susanna, too. Queen Campbell and Prince Stephen, Prince Colin, Jonathan, the staff from Brighton, it’s good to have y’all here for this little shindig. I’d like to thank everyone for their hard work in pulling off this surprise wedding.” Daddy swerved to face the royals, sitting among the Truitt, Vogt, and Franklin clans. “If y’all wondered what kind of man and king this fella here truly was, let me tell you, you’re sitting among his generous, kind heart right now. Not only was this spontaneous wedding his idea, he put boots on the ground to make it happen. Put his money where his mouth is, and y’all know how we like those who do as much as they say. And you know why he did it?” Daddy stepped toward them. “For this beautiful girl here. Our Susanna.” His voice quivered, breaking down. “’Cause he loves her that much.”
Susanna trembled, feeling the love in her daddy’s confession. It was watching him grow in his faith and in his love for Mama that repaired most of her childhood fears.
“Suz, you’re about the best girl anyone would ever want to know. Well, you and my girl Avery. And I mean that, kitten. Y’all are probably thinking I’m saying that ’cause she’s my daughter, and if so, well, you’re right.”
A merry laugh rippled among the guests and Nathaniel sweetened her temple with a kiss.
“But I know it because I’ve watched her. She’s loyal, almost to a fault. She loves people. Genuinely. But watch out now, ’cause if you take advantage of her she’ll give you the dickens for it. She encourages folk. But she won’t tickle your ears. She’ll tell you the truth in a way you can swallow it. When she was born, Glo and I felt sure God sent us an angel straight from heaven. She never cried ’cept when she was hungry. But then as a little girl, she didn’t have it so good. As much as we loved her, Glo and I didn’t love each other well and we fought. A lot. Couple of kids we were.” Daddy wiped under his eyes with his finger. “And Susanna,”—he cleared his throat with a deep cough—“would hide out in her closet, pretending it was her secret garden because she didn’t know if our anger was ever going to spill over on her. So I guess it’s fitting that today her wedding and reception are in a garden.” Sniffles rippled up from the tables and through the air. “Suz, you found true love and I pray that your marriage will always be the safest garden you can ever find. Nate, son, see to it that my little girl is always at home in your palace and in your arms, hear me? ’Cause I think a girl’s daddy trumps a king any day, and if I hear of you doing anything to hurt my girl, I’ll hop on over to Brighton and take you out back for a discussion.”
The men hammered the table with their fists and the women hooted. “Go, Gib!”
Nathaniel bowed toward Daddy. “I am duly warned.”
“On that note, Nate, King Nathaniel II, welcome to the family, son. It’s good to have another man. I’ve been outnumbered by girls for thirty years.”