He stood and wrapped his arms around her. “All is forgiven.” She rested against his chest, her arms tightening around him. “I know we have more to talk through, but from here forward we will do it together.”
“You know I will follow you anywhere.” Marilyn raised her head, her gaze a promise.
“How about Botswana?”
He chuckled at her confused look, something in his chest unraveling. He could trust this woman with his heart. He’d lost sight of that. He’d lost sight of her. Never again. “I’ll explain later, I promise.”
He closed his eyes for an instant, then looked over to Stella, who had finished her piece.
Romeo walked over to her, was talking to her, and even from here, he could see that the smile on his daughter’s face seemed— “Is there something going on between Stella and Romeo?”
“Oh, Bob. Bob!” Marilyn laughed, her hands on his chest.
What?
Just then, a man walked by him, his gloved hand holding the mittened hand of a pretty Christmas elf, given her red hat topped with a pom-pom and her red jacket. “Duke!” He knew him from the coffee shop.
“Preacher,” Duke said.
He didn’t mind. “Did you ever find that car?”
“Sure did.” Duke’s grin stretched wide. “Thanks for your advice.”
The beginnings of a revelation took hold in Bob’s mind. His advice to Duke, his care for Gerald—these had not been because he was a pastor. He’d served God in those moments because of who he was, not because of an office he held.
It’s not an all-or-nothing game. Marilyn’s words rang true. He didn’t have to keep doing ministry the same way. He was called to serve, and he would do just that, in whatever way God had laid out for him.
Next to him, Marilyn and Duke chatted, Duke outlining the disasters they’d been overcoming this past week, his arm around the woman next to him. She was beaming up at the man. So maybe love was in the air up here.
“Now we just need to find a pastor for this wedding.” Duke gestured around. “Or all this effort will be for nothing.”
Right. The wedding.
Dan’s words about friendship haunted him. Dan had made the hard call to confront Bob about his actions. Bob owed him an apology phone call.
And maybe something else.
Marilyn grabbed his arm. She speared him with a look. And yeah, he’d felt the tug in his own heart too. “Duke,” she said. “You’re in luck.”
A flurry of activity and several hours later, Bob waited by the makeshift altar flanked by tulle and birch branches. Spread out in front of him, a congregation watched for the bride to walk down the aisle.
After agreeing to do the wedding, he’d met with the bride, Vivien Calhoun, and the groom, Boone Buckam, who’d confirmed they’d be grateful for his help. They’d spent some time getting to know each other over a cup of hot chocolate in the Evergreen lodge. Then they’d held a rehearsal for the wedding party before the bridesmaids changed into their gowns.
Bob had run through the order of service and jotted a few notes for an impromptu sermon. He’d put on something nicer than his sweats and combed his hair, slipping into a familiar pastoral uniform that felt just right—called, even.
The bridal march began, and Vivien appeared at the end of the aisle in a white dress, a fur wrapped around her shoulders.
“Would the congregation please stand,” he called out. As one, the group stood.
Near the back, he saw Marilyn. She met his eyes and smiled.
The bride joined her groom.
“Dearly beloved…” The words of a traditional wedding service flowed from him like warmed honey from a jar. Boone held Vivien’s hand as they moved through the elements of the ceremony.
Bob’s hands felt slick in his gloves. Time to take the plunge into the sermon. He prayed he could keep it together. “Some of you may know how hard Boone and Vivien have fought for this day and the many mishaps they’ve conquered along the way. In fact, this whole week is a fitting metaphor for the adventure that is marriage.”
As Bob gave his sermon, he alternated between looking at the couple and looking at his own wife. He wanted this message to reach her heart too.
“We strive for perfection but find something else, usually something better. A winter wonderland wedding, for example.” He pointed at the snow structure around them, the twinkle lights reflected a million times over in the ice until the whole place was lit like starlight. A few people in the crowd chuckled. His heart soared. This was the first message he’d given in a while that just felt right. “Maybe we lose some things along the way.” He grinned at Duke, who gave him a little salute in return. “We try to hold it all together…” This with a quick glance at where Romeo and Stella sat next to each other. “But in the end, we find that keeping Christ as our foundation is what holds our marriages together. A wise man recently admonished me to cherish my wife. I intend to do that, and I in turn admonish you to do the same, Boone. Cherish your wife.”
He blinked back unexpected tears. The old familiar thrill of being part of birthing a new family came over him.
“If we could have the rings.” He led Boone and Vivien through the exchange of rings, but his eyes kept returning to Marilyn, who mouthed the vows along with the bridal couple. He winked at her. She blushed and ducked her head.
They reached the end of the ceremony, and now for the best part. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Boone Buckam. Boone, you may kiss your bride!”
The crowd erupted in hoots and hollers as Boone dipped Vivien into a deep kiss. Bob joined the rest of the congregation in clapping and cheering.
He couldn’t wait to do the same thing to his own bride.
She always cried at weddings.
Marilyn swiped at her cheeks. Happy tears this time. The swell of the music had filled her heart as the bride walked down the aisle in a fitted lace dress that flared at her knees, a small train following behind.
Vivien’s bridesmaids in their slate-blue dresses made the ice chapel take on the hues of the sky. And the groomsmen, standing tall and proud beside their friend Boone, all looked so handsome. She felt it was safe to admit that, because she was old enough to be their mother.
The pomp and circumstance of weddings always danced in her heart. This one was made even more special by the looks Bob kept throwing her way. She’d held his gaze as often as she could. She hoped no one else noticed that he looked at her more than at the couple he was marrying.
They’d stolen a few moments together while he was changing, and he’d told her about LeRoy’s job offer. “It’s just for a year, but I think it could be really fun. Stella doesn’t need us as much anymore, and I bet the church would give us the time.”
Excitement built in her. “Of course, we’ll have to pray about it, but I’m game for an adventure.” She’d laughed at his bemused expression and kissed him on the cheek. “What, did you think I was too much of a homebody to want to try something new?”
“I don’t know what I thought, but I’m never doubting you again.”
Botswana. The word whispered through her.
Of course, they’d pray about it, but she already felt a tug in her heart to Africa. She could hardly wait until they had time to really talk about it.