The First Man You Meet (8 page)

Mark and her mother had defeated the majority of her ideas. She’d wanted to hire clowns to entertain at the reception, but her mother didn’t seem to think that was a good idea.

Shelly had never been that fond of white wedding cake, either. She wanted something a bit less traditional, like Cherries Jubilee, but Mark was afraid something might catch on fire and so in the interests of safety, Shelly had agreed to a traditional cake, decorated with pink roses.

A knock sounded on her bedroom door and Jill opened it. In walked Aunt Milly, looking absolutely delighted with herself.

She introduced herself to Jill, then turned to gaze lovingly at Shelly. ‘‘So I see the dress worked.’’

‘‘It worked,’’ Shelly agreed.

‘‘You love him?’’

Shelly nodded. ‘‘Enough to eat white wedding cake.’’

Milly laughed softly and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hair had faded to gray, but her eyes were still blue and
clear. It was difficult to tell that she was a woman well into her seventies. She clasped both of Shelly’s hands in her own.

‘‘Nervous?’’

Shelly nodded again.

‘‘I was, too, although I knew to the very bottom of my heart that I’d made the right decision in marrying John.’’

‘‘I feel the same way about Mark.’’

Aunt Milly hugged her tightly. ‘‘You’re going to be very happy, my dear.’’

A
N HOUR LATER
Shelly and Mark stood at the front of a packed church with Pastor Johnson, who’d known her most of her life. He smiled warmly as he spoke a few words, then asked Shelly to repeat her vows.

Linking hands with Mark, she raised her eyes to his. Everyone else faded away. Aunt Milly. Jill. Her mother. There were only the two of them. She felt a jolt of pure joy at the love that radiated from Mark’s eyes. He stood tall and proud, his gaze eagerly holding hers, the love shining through without doubt, without question, shining through for her to read. Shelly knew her eyes told him the same thing.

Later, Shelly couldn’t remember speaking her vows aloud, although she was sure she did. The words came directly from her heart. Directly from Mark’s.

They’d been drawn to this place and this time by forces neither fully understood. Shelly wasn’t entirely sure she believed Aunt Milly’s wedding dress was responsible, but it didn’t matter. They were there out of love. She didn’t know exactly when it had happened. Perhaps that day on the beach, when Mark first kissed her. Something had happened then, something that touched them both.

The love that began as a small spark had grown and
flared to life until they’d been brought here, to stand before God and family, pledging their lives to one another.

To love. To cherish. All the days of their lives.

It was enough. More than enough.