Читать книгу Midnight Promises - Sherryl Woods, Sherryl Woods - Страница 7

Prologue

The bride wore a cocktail-length, off-the-shoulder gown in shimmering off-white satin and an antique lace mantilla—a family heirloom—reluctantly provided by her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

At the front of the small Roman Catholic church in Serenity stood the man who’d changed Karen Ames’s mind about love, convincing her that the past was just that, over and done with. He’d promised her enduring love, a true partnership, and he’d shown her those traits time and again during their long courtship.

At a tug on her skirt, Karen leaned down to look into the excited face of her six-year-old daughter, Daisy.

“When are we getting married?” Daisy asked, practically bouncing up and down in anticipation.

Karen smiled at her eagerness. After too many years with no father figure around, Daisy and Mack had fallen as deeply in love with Elliott Cruz as Karen had. And in many ways, it was his kind and generous relationship with her children that had convinced Karen that Elliott was nothing like her first husband, a man who’d abandoned them all, leaving behind a mountain of debt.

“I want to be married to Elliott,” Daisy said with another tug in the direction of the altar. “Let’s hurry.”

Karen checked her four-year-old son to assure that Mack hadn’t stripped off the tie she’d put on for him earlier or managed to douse his new suit with soda. She also assured herself that the wedding rings were still firmly attached to the pillow he would carry down the aisle.

Dana Sue Sullivan, her boss, friend and matron-of-honor, touched a hand to her shoulder. “Everything’s good, Karen. How are your nerves?”

“Dancing a jig,” she responded candidly. “And then I look inside and see Elliott waiting there, and everything settles.”

“Then keep your eyes on him,” Dana Sue advised. “And let’s get this show on the road before these two leave without us.”

She glanced down at Daisy and Mack, who were already inching from the foyer into the church.

At some signal Karen didn’t even notice, the organist began to play for their entrance. Daisy took off down the aisle almost at a run, scattering rose petals with enthusiasm. Then, at some whispered comment, she grinned, glanced back at her mother and slowed to a more sedate pace. Mack was right on her heels, his expression solemn, a tiny frown puckering his brow until he’d safely reached Elliott’s side.

Dana Sue followed, winking at her husband who was sitting at the front of her church, then smiling broadly at Elliott, who was running a nervous finger under the collar of his shirt.

Karen took a last deep breath, reminded herself that this time her marriage was going to be forever, that she’d finally gotten it right.

She lifted her gaze until she met Elliott’s, then took that first confident, trusting step down the aisle into the future that promised to be everything her first marriage hadn’t been.