Authors: Nancy Hopper
Tim snorted. "I think things will be all right. But thanks for the extra security. It will make Tasha feel more confident."
Brent shook his head. "If you weren't so damn good for her, I think I'd take a poke at you." He groused harmlessly.
"Yeah, right. Brent, he's just grandstanding. If we postponed the wedding, he'd just find new ways to terrorize us the next time around. It's all going to come to nothing. We can't let him get away with this. If he thinks he's won this round, it will reinforce his ugly methods. He'll go right on doing rotten things to people, and getting away with them. We have to take a stand, and let God deal with him. Let's stop him in his tracks, Brent. That's what is really behind this. He doesn't want to be accountable for what he did to Tasha."
Brent sighed, and shook his head uncertainly. “I sure hope you're right, Tim. Because everything we've got, depends on it.”
Tim grinned at him. “Brent; nothing depends on it. He can't take anything from us that really matters.”
Brent looked at Tim as if he'd lost his mind.
“
Money is the least of my worries, Brent. God sees to our every need. He can do it without our financial house of cards.”
Brent blinked. “What in the world?” he muttered.
“
If by some long shot Smith did win his lawsuit, and we lost all our financial holdings; it would mean that God had something better for us. He would still take care of us, and he would restore whatever Smith managed to steal away. There is absolutely nothing to fear.”
Tim patted his shoulder, and went to his room to change. Brent just gaped after him. He could not even fathom the level of Tim's faith. He was humbled by it.
James and Michael immediately jumped on Tim when he walked into their dressing room. They were dressed, and looking very tense.
"What's going on?" they demanded. "The place is crawling with cops and private security."
"Yeah. This is what you call a
very
high profile wedding." Tim teased wryly. "I'll explain later. Just keep your eyes open for any kind of trouble. Brent is afraid that someone is going to try to hurt Tasha. I had to talk like a Dutch uncle to get the wedding to go on. They wanted to take her into protective custody. Just keep quiet about it. It's touchy stuff. But I would like it if you guys would go to the back, and escort Dana and Elaine up the aisle. I don't think it will raise too many eyebrows, and then Brent and Tasha will only be alone for a couple of minutes."
"No problem." Michael agreed. Tim didn't need to ask James what he thought of the idea. Any reason to be near Dana suited him.
So, Tim went out front by himself and waited, looking very handsome and dashing in his black tux and crisp, white shirt. He marveled at the fairy tale land that Tasha had created.
There was much he hadn't noticed the night before; or maybe, more had been added. White roses, netting and wired ribbons of velvet and satin created bows and garlands of impeccable beauty and taste. The string quartet in the corner gave an ambiance that was uniquely special. Forest greens gave a scent that was heavenly.
The center aisle was covered in a white runner, and strewn with fragrant, white rose petals. Tim had to grin, and stare at his feet. Tasha was so superb that he couldn't believe it. He knew very well that she'd done it all herself, and that she'd done it for him.
He had no idea how many eyes misted over to see him standing there looking so handsome, waiting patiently for the bride he'd paid so dearly for. If the room looked like something out of a fairy tale or dream, Timothy looked very much like the prince who belonged in it.
He shot a look at his parents, and grinned broadly enough that his dimples showed. The photographer took a picture, and Tim winced at the light, bringing several chuckles. He felt as though the time of standing there alone, would never end.
Finally, Dana came up the aisle on Michael's arm, a vision in green velvet, with her hair swept up into a beautiful, curling cascade with white rosebuds and pearls peering out here and there, and dainty ribbons set with twinkling, clear rhinestones to catch and hold the eye. The dress was elegant and svelte. Slender and flaring only below the knees. Dana looked like a movie star in it.
“
I still think you should ha’ given me a chance, Dana.” Michael whispered to her, in his Irish brogue. Dana just smiled, and shook her head.
They were followed by James and Elaine, who looked equally as elegant in ruby velvet.
Then, at last, everyone stood, and watched Tasha enter the room on her father's arm. Tim had to close his eyes for a moment to control the tears that came pouring.
"My Lord, there is none like her." He said softly. He swore he heard a low chuckle, in response.
She was absolutely stunning. She had to be the slenderest, most stately of brides. Her dress was all satin, but of a consistency that clung ever so softly to her curves, and glimmered like a shimmering mist with every step she took. The bodice plunged in a sweet curve, the straight sleeves formed half-gloves that covered her hands to the knuckle, and buttoned with a row of soft pearls across the back of her hands. Layers of netting slip below the knee caused the skirt to float and ripple around her feet, as if she stirred the still waters of a pool as she walked. A tiara of the finest, tiny rhinestones held her veils. A very short, rounded train followed her. Her bouquet of white Roses, burgundy lilies, pale, trailing Orchids, Lily of the Valley and ferns, was a fragrant armful, cascading nearly two full feet in front of her hands.
As she came closer and smiled at him, Tim felt his knees go weak. She was too beautiful to be real. He felt James' hand on his back, steadying him a bit. He closed his eyes again briefly, and drew in a deep breath.
When he opened them, Brent was ready to pass Tasha's hand to him. He reached for it, and drew her to his side. It was like being in a dream.
Her smoky eyes were riveting, and he felt himself getting lost in them, as he told her with his look, all that he couldn't say. Then they turned, and went up to the altar to be joined in Holy matrimony.
Tim looked up at his uncle Paul, and managed a smile. Having been with him at a critical moment, Paul understood as no one else did, the depth of hell Tim had gone through in hope of this moment. He was honored to be the one to join Timothy with his greatest treasure on earth -- his wife.
After the wedding, Tim and Tasha went back to her dressing room to discuss how they would handle the reception, in light of the new issues the day had presented. Brent came into the room unexpectedly, with a woman on his arm. Tim raised his eyebrows, and Tasha went very pale.
"Oh, my God." She whispered. She clutched Timothy's arm for support.
"Hello, Tasha." The woman said. "Mr. Rain, I am Lynda Smith. Deming's wife." She added dryly.
Tim raised his eyebrows higher, and nodded acknowledgment.
"I am sure you are wondering why I'm here. I won't waste any more of your time than is necessary. I came to let you know that you have nothing to fear from Deming. He has dropped his ridiculous lawsuit, and he is in counseling. He knows if he stops treatment that I will leave him. For reasons I can't fathom, he doesn't want that. I am very sorry for the pain he's caused you. He knows very well that the publicity came from Pattie Danniels, and that you had nothing to do with it."
Tasha looked like it might be too much, all at once. Tim covered her hand with his, and wrapped his other arm around her.
"I told him that if he has a mind to sue someone, it ought to be that silly reporter." Lynda Smith went on. "However, my influence with him in business affairs is somewhat limited. I'm sorry about the timing of all this. I only found out about the lawsuit this morning. I immediately met with Deming, and we had a heart to heart.”
“
I am just very sorry that this ugliness re-surfaced; and that any of us had to be hurt by it, again." Tasha managed to say.
"Well, Tasha; evil doesn't stay hidden. It just finds another time and place to manifest. I'm not so sorry that it's happened again, other than the effect it's had on you. Deming needs help, and now it can be dealt with."
"He needs Jesus Christ." Tim offered quietly.
Lynda Smith gave him a sideways look. "Whatever it takes." she answered in a hard, brittle voice.
"He is
'what it takes'
." Tim advised. "Nobody, and nothing else can root out the lusts of a man's flesh. If you will pray for him, Mrs. Smith, you will see him become the man you've always dreamed of, and known that he could be. Only Jesus can do it. The man that you fell in love with and married, is still inside Deming Smith's heart."
Mrs. Smith looked at Tim with surprise and suspicion. "What do you know about Deming?" she asked with a derisive snort.
"Nothing. I've never met the man. But I am seeing him, and you, in a 1957 Cadillac, when you were both quite young. And he's making promises to you, he's sharing his vision with you for taking over his father's business, and becoming one of the richest men in America. Only then, there wasn't a speck of malice in his heart. He had no idea of the things he would become willing to do, to make that vision come true. That earnest, honest man that you fell in love with is still within reach, through God.”
"Pray for his salvation, Mrs. Smith. Jesus has promised me that He will save Deming, if you'll pray for him. While you're at it, pray for your own salvation. You two have the power and opportunity to turn everything around, but it’s going to take some honest soul searching and repentance. Pray, and God will do it all for you."
Lynda Smith looked up at Tim as though seeing him for the first time. "Why not? We've tried everything else." She said slowly. She shook her head, as though to snap out of it. "I'm proud of you kids for not allowing Deming to mess up your wedding. I like a man who won't be intimidated. Especially, when it comes to money."
She looked up at Tim with a bright, bold eye. "And you, young man. I wouldn't let Deming get his hands on your ranch for all the tea in China. I am quite certain that I'd be answering to God Almighty, if I did. You take this little girl on a honeymoon that she'll never forget. And don't give Deming another thought. He won't do anything to hurt anybody.”
“
This is a wedding present." She informed Tim sharply, pressing a wad of bills into his hand, and closing his fingers around it. "A personal gift. Don't you claim it on your income taxes, or I'll spank you. You be good to that girl, and I will make many contributions to your ministry." She rolled her eyes. "If Deming gets saved, I'll give you all I've got. I've learned to hate his money. I'd like to see it put to good use for a change. And I hope that … if we need help getting through this, that we can call on you." she said, almost humbly.
“
Of course.” Tim assured her.
She smiled at Tasha, kissed her cheek, and swept out the door. Tim looked at the money in his hand, and staggered backward, paling.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.
"There's … a huge wad of thousand dollar bills here!" Tim managed to convey.
"I wouldn't have expected anything less from Lynda Smith. Welcome to the world of the high rollers, darling." She said sweetly.
Tim rolled his eyes, and put the money in his wallet, which he could no longer fold, and hid it deep inside his coat's breast pocket. "Man! Thank you, Lord." He said incredulously. He gave Tasha a sly look. "Now, aren't you glad I talked you into going through with the wedding?" he reproved her as they went out to join the reception line.
"You know that I am." She admitted. "I knew that if anyone could find a way to make it happen, it would be you. I knew you wouldn't just bend over, and I knew nobody but you had a chance of convincing Daddy. That's why I insisted on telling you, myself. Now, where are you taking me on our honeymoon?"
"
That
is a surprise." He denied quickly.
"Timothy," she objected. "How will I know what kind of clothes to take?"
"You know darn well you'll buy more than you can stuff in your suitcases, when we get there. After all, you just married a wealthy man! And I ain't talking about the money in my pocket, either." He assured her, with a gleam in his eyes. She felt his adoration and basked in it, as he broke into a satisfied chuckle.