Grace Alive: a Christian Romance (23 page)

“Yes!” I shouted and started jumping up and
down and clapping. “Yes! Branson, yes!” I said again and pulled him
into my arms. I brought his face toward mine and kissed him long
and passionately. His arms surrounded me, and he was laughing as I
kissed his face off.

“Wow! That was so much easier than I
thought!”

“What did you think I’d say, get lost,
buddy?” I said with a laugh. I held him back and stared up at his
handsome face. He then brought my lips to his again and whispered,
“I love you, Zoe. You just made me the happiest man alive.”

We drove back to my parents’ house with me
glowing and grinning from ear to ear. I kept staring at the ring
Branson got me. It was stunning. It was a marquee cut diamond with
tiny diamonds on the side that wrapped all around the band. I can’t
believe I was going to be getting married! Ah! I grabbed Branson’s
hand and rubbed his knuckles.

“I love you, Branson, do you know that?”

“Yeah, I figured that out, because you said
yes,” he said with a laugh. I lightly hit his arm.

“I could change my mind,” I teased him.

“I think you like that sparkly ring too
much!” We pulled back up into my parents’ driveway, and I
practically flew out of the car.

“Whoa!” Branson said as he shut the door and
hurried after me. I had to show this rock off! I ran inside the
house and straight toward my mom.

“Mom!” I yelled and started jumping up and
down squealing. She was smiling. Apparently this was planned.

“Guess what?” I asked even though I knew she
knew what I was going to say.

“What, Zoe?” she asked. My dad and the girls
came into the kitchen.

“I’m getting married! Ah!” I screamed again,
and the little girls started jumping with me.

***

Branson and I were planning our wedding in
three months! Ah! I was so excited! I went into the kitchen and
pulled out my binder. I was trying to be organized with my wedding.
My mom smiled and sat across from me.

“Mom, do you want to help me pick out my
invites?” I asked her. She nodded, and I scooted a book at her. She
poured over the invitations, and I saw tears drip down her
cheeks.

“Mom? You okay?” I asked.

“I’m just really happy for you, Zoe. Despite
what your father and I did to you, you still followed the voice of
God. I’m really proud of you.” She pointed at a silver and white
invitation and nudged the book toward me.

“What about that one, sweetie?” she asked. It
was very elegant. Wow it was perfect! I nodded up and down.

“That was too easy!” I said and laughed. “I
think I’ll have them ordered this week.” I pulled out more books,
and we started picking out everything I needed. I heard footsteps
at the edge of the kitchen and looked up. Branson stood there. My
heart leapt. He was so handsome. So perfect for me.

“Better get in here quick or the rugrats are
going to eat your dad.”

I came to Branson and kissed him full on the
mouth. He wrapped me up in his arms and then looked over at my
mom.

“PDA, Zoe, babe,” he mumbled through my
lips.

“I don’t care, they can get used to me making
out with you.”

“Okay, but seriously, those girls are going
to eat your dad.” He laughed and held me out and turned me toward
the living room. CC and Evie were putting bows in my dad’s hair. I
started giggling.

“We better go save him.”

Breathe. Breathe Zoe, breathe. I stood
outside the door of the sanctuary of our old building. The new
pastor of the church had graciously allowed us to rent it. My dad
was standing beside me trying really hard not to lose it.

“You look so beautiful, Zoe. I’m so proud of
the woman of God you’ve become.” He kissed my cheek and tears came
to my eyes.

“Dad! You’re going to make me bawl! Stop!” I
scolded as I brushed my gathered tears away.

“I just messed up with you for so long. I
really want you to know how proud I am of you.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” I said and forced my tears
away. I didn’t want streaks down my cheeks as I made my way down
the aisle.

“Ready, baby?” he asked me. He looked so
handsome in his tux. CC, Evie, and Bree Bree walked down the aisle,
their hair curled in soft ringlets, wearing tutu like dresses, and
clutching lacy baskets. Bree Bree walked unsteadily, but CC helped
her. They dropped petals as soft music played, and then they just
ran down the aisle giggling toward their daddy. He chuckled as they
came and sat at his feet. Bree started throwing her flowers all
over the place.

“Flow—er. Flow—er,” she said, and the crowd
all oohed and awed.

“All arise,” Pastor Dom said with a grin. The
bridal march started playing, and I gulped. This was it! My eyes
locked onto Branson who was smiling at me. My breath was taken from
my body. How could I have been so blessed?

This was always my plan, Zoe. I wanted to
show you My love. I love you, daughter, I love you.
I felt my
whole face break out into a huge smile at God’s words. My dad was
sniffling beside me as we walked down the aisle. My sleeveless
white dress was embedded with thousands of glittering gems; the
train was long and swept over the ground behind me like a flowing
river. My hair was curled softly around my face, and a veil rested
on the back of my head adorned with more shimmering gems. I felt
like a princess today.

I saw my mom sitting on the side wearing a
beautiful, pale pink dress that sparkled, her hair pinned up in
exquisite curls. Tears were sparkling on her cheeks as she smiled
at me. Alison and Mia stood up front wearing turquoise, one
shoulder strap dresses, that ruffled to their knees, and silver
heels that crisscrossed on their ankles. They both watched me with
excitement on their faces.

We made it all the way down the aisle and
stopped. Pastor Dom looked at me with a look of pure joy.

“Who gives this woman to this man?”

“Her mother and I,” my dad said with tears in
his voice. He kissed my cheek and whispered, “I love you, Zoe.” He
then went and sat down. Branson walked down the steps and came to
me. I took his hand, and we walked up onto the stage. Branson’s
look melted me and made me tear up again.

“You look beautiful.”

“You too,”

“Thanks I try,” he joked. Pastor Dom
continued the ceremony. We took communion, exchanged vows, and
rings. It was almost the big finale. I had prepared something for
the girls.

“CC, Evie, and Bree come here,” I called to
them. They came running from where they had been sitting on the
steps. They all wrapped their arms around my waist.

I bent down to them, in my hand three
roses.

“These are for you.” I handed one to each of
them. “I want to read something to you, my beautiful girls. This is
called
Child of My Heart by Cindi Markham.
Not flesh of
my flesh, nor bone of my bone. Yet a child of my heart, that I call
my own. On the day you were born, looking down from above, God
wrapped you up warm in blankets of love. He knew that your life was
destined to be, entwined with my heart, so He gave you to me. To
love you, to raise you, as one of my own to give you a place to
always call home. No matter the distance or time spent apart
wherever life takes you, you’ll be in my heart. For God joined our
lives and caused you to be a part of my world, and my family.
”
After I’d read the poem, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the
building.

“Okay, this is the best part, Branson! I know
you’ve been just itching for this!” Pastor Dom said as the little
girls ran to the front row to join my mom.

“With the power invested in me by the state
of Michigan I now pronounce you man and wife! You may kiss your
bride! Wahoo!” As the words left Pastor Dom’s mouth, Branson’s lips
found mine in the most amazing kiss on the planet. I felt like I
was going to burst with joy! He dipped me down, and we continued to
kiss until everyone was shouting and cat calling. I blushed as he
pulled me back up.

“That’s a kiss!” Dom said with a laugh. “I
want to introduce to you all Mr. and Mrs. Branson Tate.” Cheers
resounded as Branson and I started down the aisle, a funky tune
blasting from the speakers.

I had a microphone in my hand, and so did
Branson.

“Love rescued me, your love came into my
heart and set me free,” Branson sang.

“Love rescued me, your love came into my
heart and delivered me,” I sang and grinned.

Branson twirled me as we made our way past
the rows of people and out of the sanctuary our voices ringing. I’d
finally found my happy ending.

Epilogue

I stared at the cover of my book in awe. I
had done it. I had given her a happy ending. I turned the book over
as I looked up at Branson with the biggest grin I’d ever had in my
life. A squeal of pure joy came out my lips as I held up my
book.

“I did it. I can’t believe this.” I flipped
through the pages of my romance novel. It had taken so much work,
but I had finally accomplished one of my life’s goals.

“It looks great,” he said, his brown eyes
sparkling with life.

“I have a book signing next month.” I was
still in shock that I’d finally published the novel that I’d been
writing forever. Branson pulled me up off the floor and gave me a
passionate kiss. I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him
back.

“I knew you’d be the next J.K Rowling, Zoe,”
he whispered.

“Branson, her books are about wizards.”

“Yours is about love’s redeeming grace. Much,
much better.” He ran his fingers through my hair as his mouth
enclosed mine again.

“No more talking, little Miss Author pants.”
He picked me up into his arms and carried me away.

Grace Unbroken

Natasha House

I carefully applied my eyeliner for the fifth
time in a row tonight. I was going to do it this time. I was almost
there. Just a little bit more.

“Hi, lil’ sis, how’s it going?”

I jumped, and there went my perfect line. A
black streak went down the side of my eye.

“Urgh!”

“Oh, sorry, that’s a bummer,” my older
brother Cam said with an apologetic shrug.

“It’s okay; it was a hopeless cause anyways.”
I glared at the streak going down my face and heaved a sigh.
“What’s up, Cam?” I tried to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
Cam gave me a ‘sorry’ smile again.

“Mom wanted me to tell you that we’re leaving
in 10 minutes. You almost ready?” I could tell he was staring at
the black streak that was going down my face. I forced a grim look
and nodded, then broke out into a fit of giggles.

“Do you think I could pull off the ‘I did my
makeup blindfolded’ look?” I asked.

“Sis, you could pull off any look and make
other girls jealous.” Cam reached over and kissed my dark hair.
“Just a warning, Benny has gas. Bad.” Benny is our six-year-old
brother.

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll practice
holding my breath right now. Tell Mom I’m almost ready. It’ll be
just a—few more minutes.” I made a face at myself in the mirror,
which made Cam chuckle.

“Okay, but, Clare, you might want to fix
that.” He pointed at my tribal makeup. I went to go slap his arm,
but he darted out of my reach and shut the door with a grin. I made
quick work of my face and decided that I’d attempt this eyeliner
battle one more time.

After the sixth time, I finally looked
halfway put together. 10 minutes. I had 10 minutes. I grabbed my
curling iron and did a fast curl job on my mid-length black hair.
My hair drives me nuts most days. It’s got this ‘fly-away’
syndrome. I try my best to make it look halfway decent and then it
just decides to do whatever it wants.

After hair spraying the crap out of it, I
gave a satisfied nod and looked at the tornado I’d created in my
room.

I’m a rummager. When I can’t find the perfect
outfit, or I’m in a hurry, every piece of clothing I own ends up on
the floor or thrown on my bed. I looked down at my tiger shirt
accented by silver gems, my black skinny jeans, and a pair of red
boots that went up to my knees. I’d put on my favorite necklace
which was a tiny tiger’s paw. I love tigers. They are my fav!

“Clare bear! Time to go!” my mother called
from the living room. I heard the front door open and close and
knew Mom was heading toward the van. I have to say, having a name
that rhymes with everything can get annoying. Clare bear. Clare
hair. Clare pear. I mean think about that for a bit. Annoying.

“Coming!” I ran out of my bedroom, glancing
once more at my full length mirror. Good enough.

“Pull my finger, Clare!” Benny shoved his
finger in my face as I tried to get out the door. I ignored him as
I bumped him lightly to get by. I got into our mini-van that I just
loved
to be seen in and shut the door behind me. Ben and Cam
climbed in the other door, my mom and dad were already in the
van.