“Look,” she whispered, turning to face Paulette and Kay excitedly.
“Oh, Rachel!” Kay barely whispered at the beauty of the dress.
“It’s beautiful,” Paulette told her, reaching out to touch the delicate dress. “Go try it on.”
They smiled broadly at her as they watched her hurry into one of the vacant changing rooms. She nearly ripped her shirt as she hurried to unbutton it and take it off. Next came her sneakers and jeans. She stood unmoving in her bra and underwear as if in a trance. She found herself just staring at the dress for a minute, unable to take her eyes off the gorgeous creation. Very carefully, she removed the dress from its hanger, slowly stepped into it and pulled it up the length of her body. When it was in place, she buttoned the buttons as far as she could reach and tucked her bra straps under the material that hung slightly off her shoulders. She turned to look in the mirror and gasped at the beauty before her.
It was as if the dress had been made for her. It fit her perfectly and made her feel absolutely beautiful. The off-the-shoulder style made her feel delicate and sensual, and she knew that she would never find another dress to outshine this one.
She stepped out of the changing room to stand before Paulette and Kay, holding her breath nervously. Paulette looked at her silently then smiled with tears in her eyes at the vision before her. Kay couldn’t speak.
“I feel so pretty,” Rachel whispered, spreading her hands across the skirt before looking up to see the two women watching her.
“You’re a vision of beauty,” Kay said when she was finally able to talk. She stepped forward to embrace the young woman who had been her daughter since she had come to live with her at the age of five.
Rachel felt Paulette’s hand squeeze hers. It was settled. They had found the one dress that was made for her. There was no need to look further. Now all they needed to do was to find some shoes, nylons, a full-length slip, and her special gift for Sam. For that she would ask Kay and Paulette to allow her time to shop alone. She didn’t want anyone to see what she wanted to purchase for Sam before he did.
It was something that was going to show him exactly what he meant to her. He would always know how much she loved him.
Paulette sat on her bed, rubbing her stomach contentedly as she watched Rachel place a single sprig of baby’s breath with a small bow made with a single pastel blue ribbon in her hair. She smiled widely when her cousin-in-law turned and faced her.
“How do I look?” Rachel asked breathlessly. She held her hair up so that her Aunt Kay could finish buttoning the long row of silk buttons.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” Paulette told her sincerely.
“Gorgeous!” Kay added, stepping back to admire her niece.
Rachel smiled, released her hold on her hair to allow the soft curls to cascade down her back, and smoothed the tight-fitting corset of satin and lace across her torso. She settled the long gold chain down the front of the bodice, smiling at the sparkle of the single ice blue stone against the precious white material of her dress. She turned to view herself in the full-length mirror that hung on Paulette’s closet door and smiled nervously.
The reflection that stared back at her stunned her momentarily. She was a beautiful bride if she did say so herself. It was a gorgeous wedding gown. She wouldn’t have picked a different one even if she had all the time in the world instead of the two-hour shopping spree of the night before.
“What a beautiful bride you are,” Paulette said softly, her words bringing Rachel’s focus back to her.
Rachel turned and faced her, smiling. She sat down beside her on the bed and reached out to tenderly touch Paulette’s very swollen belly.
“What a beautiful mom you are,” she told her, gently rubbing her hand across her stomach.
Paulette laughed and touched Rachel’s hand. “You will be, too. Very soon, I bet,” she teased.
Rachel smiled at the thought, but found herself worrying again that she was doing the right thing. She knew without a doubt that she loved Sam, but she wondered if she could live with him, knowing that he didn’t love her in return. Maybe Gwen was right and love would grow between them. She hoped and prayed that it would.
“Do you think Sam loves me?”
“Of course he does,” Paulette answered, shocked. “Hasn’t he told you that he does?”
“No, he hasn’t,” Rachel answered quietly.
“Oh, Rachel. He loves you,” Paulette insisted. “You can tell.”
“You can?”
“Absolutely!” Kay answered, shocked that it was even something that was being questioned.
Rachel looked at Paulette and her aunt quietly. She reached out and held their hands, squeezing them slightly.
“Rachel, Sam isn’t a man who is comfortable saying what he feels,” Kay told her sincerely. “He shows what he feels.”
“Gwen said the same thing,” Rachel whispered.
“Roy has told me some of the tough times Sam has gone through,” Paulette added. “He’s been alone since his mom died. His dad put a lot of pressure on him. Roy tried to be there for him, so did Kay and Jarod, but Sam didn’t want to burden anyone. He’s pretty much done everything alone without anyone to help him get by,” Paulette told her sadly. “Give him time.”
“Rachel, search your heart,” her aunt told her quietly, touching her cheek gently. “Sam keeps the people he loves very close to his heart. Look at the way he is with Jarod. They have never spoken the words, but you know how deeply they love each other.” She waited until Rachel looked her directly in the eyes. “And you know how much he loves me and Roy and Paulette.”
Rachel nodded.
“He has never once said the words but every one of us can tell you without a doubt that he loves us,” Kay told her emphatically.
“Absolutely,” Paulette assured her. “It’s just his way. Can’t you tell how Sam feels about you by the way he treats you?” Paulette asked worriedly.
Rachel smiled at Paulette, blushing slightly. “He is kind and caring and affectionate,” she admitted quietly. “But I need to hear the words, Paulette.”
“I know,” Paulette said, understanding completely. “You will, honey. I know you will. Give him time.”
“We’d better get going,” Rachel said, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Sam will be waiting for us at the church.”
She turned, picked up her small bouquet of white roses with tiny pink rosebuds mixed in the arrangement and offered Paulette her hand. Kay offered her hand as well and, between the two of them, they managed to pull Paulette up off the bed awkwardly. Rachel smiled down at her cousin then turned and led the way from the bedroom to the living room.
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to this, Paulette?” Rachel asked her worriedly as they reached Roy.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Paulette said with determination. “Let’s go, Roy, before she changes her mind.”
Roy leaned forward and kissed his cousin’s cheek tenderly. “You look beautiful, Rache,” he told her, smiling. “Sam is one lucky guy.”
“By the way, Rachel,” Kay said quietly as she walked behind her. “I won the bet.”
“What bet?” Roy asked as he helped Paulette maneuver her way through the living room.
Rachel laughed and smiled. “She made a bet with me that Sam was going to marry me.”
“When did she do that?” Roy asked, surprised.
“When I was fourteen,” Rachel answered, laughing. “She bet me a quarter.”
Roy laughed and led the way out the door. “Come on, Rache,” he urged her. “The groom is waiting for his bride.”
Rachel blushed, a nervous flutter racing through her stomach at Roy’s words. She walked out the front door to Roy’s truck, smiling when she saw the clean blanket that Roy had spread across the back seat for her. She turned to watch him as he helped his wife into the front seat and carefully buckled her seat belt.
“Make sure you be good for your mother during the ceremony, tiger,” he said, speaking directly to Paulette’s belly, leaning forward to kiss it lightly before closing the door. He reached in to place Rachel’s overnight bag and his digital camera onto the back seat before holding Rachel’s hand to help her into the truck. He carefully tucked the length of her wedding dress inside before closing the door. Going to the opposite side of the truck, he helped his mom climb up into the truck and waited for her to get settled before closing her door. Climbing in behind the steering wheel, he looked at Paulette to smile at her as she looked back at him.
“When I saw Sam this morning at the camper, he said to tell you that Stan and Gwen will be at the ceremony,” Roy called over his shoulder as he buckled himself in, started the engine, and pulled out of his driveway to head toward the church. “He told them you two were renewing your vows in church because the first time you got married it was by a justice of the peace and none of us were there.”
Rachel was stunned into silence. She was so touched by Sam’s surprise for her. She had mentioned to him the night before that she had wished that Stan and Gwen could be at the ceremony. He never gave her a clue that he would try to arrange it for her. What a beautiful gift for her wedding to have her close friends and family there.
They arrived at the church twenty minutes later, and Rachel found herself holding back as fear gripped her. Paulette took her hand and gently pulled her along into the church. Rachel saw Jarod standing in the doorway and smiled at the way the elder gentleman stepped back to allow them entrance, automatically placing his hand at the small of Kay’s back as she took her place beside him. They exchanged a soft look before turning to face them.
They looked perfect together. He was handsome in his formal black tuxedo with the satin gray Windsor band tie held with a diamond stickpin. Kay was beautifully dressed in soft blue chiffon, tears already filling her eyes as she looked at her niece.
“Rachel,” Jarod said as he bowed to her formally. “I am so glad that you are marrying Samuel. Miss Joanna would have been very happy.”
“Thank you, Jarod,” Rachel whispered, accepting his good wishes, her heart fluttering with love at the mention of Sam’s mother. The fact that Jarod addressed her and Sam without the formal titles he usually used spoke volumes. He was officially comfortable with being a part of this new family.
“I’m going to head down to stand with Sam,” Roy interrupted them.
Before he could ask for help with Paulette, his mother stood on one side of his wife and Jarod stood on the other, offering their arms in support. Paulette held on to each of their arms and smiled warmly. She turned to smile at Rachel and nodded to the two elderly people. Rachel couldn’t help but laugh as she saw the wheels turning and knew a plan was being hatched. She had no doubt that her aunt would be a married woman soon.
Rachel laughed and stood tall to straighten her dress. “I guess I’m ready,” she said nervously.
Paulette reached out to hug Rachel tightly. “Don’t be nervous,” Paulette whispered to Rachel, squeezing her hand. “Sam is the one we all picked out for you. We’re pretty particular, you know. We would only want the best person for you, and you have him.”
Rachel smiled at Paulette, Jarod, and her aunt, then looked up at Roy and saw him staring down at her. The tender expression on his face touched her deeply.
“Your mom and dad would have been so happy for you,” Roy told her quietly.
Rachel smiled at the mention of her parents. She wished that they were alive to share this wonderful day with her. Deep down, she truly felt that they were beside her at that moment and had the most incredibly peaceful feeling of contentment as she felt their love encircling her. The love was there. It was warm and it carried a scent of warm cinnamon rolls. It was a familiar feeling and a familiar smell that permeated her senses often throughout her lifetime.
“Thank you so much,” she finally spoke, her emotions strong. “I probably would have bolted if you hadn’t let me stay at your house last night.”
Roy leaned forward and kissed her cheek gently. “I know you’ll be happy, Rachel,” he told her quietly.
Rachel nodded and turned to walk into the church. It was then that she saw Sam waiting for her at the end of the aisle. He was standing tall and proud and looked incredibly handsome in his black tuxedo. There was something different about him though. She had seen him wear that tuxedo before, but today he looked happy in it—not at all like the previous time that he had worn it. Stan and Gwen were seated in the first pew and the priest was standing next to her future husband. Everyone else seemed to melt away as she walked the distance toward him.
Sam watched Rachel silently, stunned by the vision that approached him. Her dress was shimmering in the candlelight of the church, and he felt as if she were coming to him on a cloud of beauty.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered to her, leaning forward to rest his cheek against hers. “I missed you lying beside me last night.” His voice was soft as he spoke, ensuring that no one could hear him except her.
“I missed you, too,” she whispered back, smiling up at him and blushing lightly.
When Sam placed the diamond wedding band on her finger and the priest said the words that joined them as husband and wife before God, Rachel could feel her body relaxing. She reached up to remove the ring that she wore on the index finger of her right hand, took Sam’s hand in her own, and placed the wide gold wedding band on his finger, kissing it gently and smiling up at him when she saw the surprise on his face. It was her gift for him.