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Luke grinned. “I think it will. Thanks for your help. Seriously… thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
SECOND EPILOGUE
The dresses were purchased and altered. The young maid of honor and the three bridesmaids looked lovely in the bluebonnet inspired tea length dresses. Standing in the meadow of bluebonnets under a cloudless blue sky was inspiring and the scene tugged at Allie’s heart.
But what made her heart overflow with happiness was Luke standing next to her. He looked handsome as ever. He’d traded in his Carhartt work clothes for a dark navy suit and tie, though he still wore his boots and hat. The nice boots and hat—not the dusty, dirty ones that he had to leave at the back door.
Allie wanted to remember this scene forever. The people she loved gathered around in beautiful clothes chosen just for this day. The day she’d marry the man she’d loved for just about half her life. Her dream was coming true today.
Pastor Petrie looked over the small crowd after everyone had made it to the arched trellis covered in ivy and blue ribbon and the music had stopped. “We’re gathered here today in the presence of God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Luke squeezed Allie’s hand as the got ready to say their vows to each other. They’d chosen to mix traditional and vows they wrote themselves.
Pastor Petrie directed them to turn and look into each other’s eyes as they said their vows. “Luke, please say your vows to your bride.”
Luke looked from the pastor to Allie and smiled. He looked a little nervous, but Allie wasn’t worried he was changing his mind. She was completely certain in his love for her.
“I, Luke Carson Duncan, take you, Allison Hope Patrick, to be my wife. To have and to hold from today forward. I’ll cherish you every day God gives us together. I’ll have your interest first in all I do. You’ve been the sunshine I didn’t know I needed. You’ve shown patience, tolerance, and love I never knew could exist. I can’t imagine my life without you in it and I’m thankful I don’t have to know what that looks like. I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and always, Allie. Thank you for saying yes.”
Allie was overflowing with emotion as she brushed an escaped tear from her cheek. She took a deep breath before she started speaking. Her voice was quiet and pensive. But it was also strong and sure.
“I, Allison Hope Patrick, take you, Luke Carson Duncan, to be my husband. To have and to hold from today forward. I’ll cherish you every day that God gives us together. I’ll enthusiastically support your work and ideas. I’ll always be your soft place to fall if things don’t go as planned. I’ll be your biggest cheerleader when things are good or when they’re difficult. You’ve given me the confidence to expand my horizons and I’m looking forward to what comes next for us. But most importantly you’ve shared your precious daughter, Molly, with me. I don’t think I could love her more if I’d given birth to her.” Allie turned to Molly and reached for her hand. Molly took her hand and was pulled into their embrace. “Molly, I promise to love and cherish you, too. Every single day. I’ll love you like you’re my own—because you are my own. You and your dad are a package deal and I’m the luckiest woman in the world to get both of you. I’ll love you forever, too.” She leaned over and kissed Molly on the cheek and the girl remained at the side of her father and her soon to be stepmom.
She looked at her dad and then back at Allie. “It’s the wishing well. It works. I threw in a quarter and now here we are.” Luke smiled and Allie covered a giggle with her hand.
And then after they exchanged rings, Pastor Petrie pronounced that Luke and Allie were husband and wife and that they were now a family. Luke and Allie kissed and then there were celebratory hugs and kisses all around.
Allie was fully present in the moment today. She was where she belonged. There was no doubt and there was no ghost. She would make sure Molly never forgot the mother she never met, but she would happily stand in as the bonus mom the girl needed and wanted.
And after almost wasting her life wishing for a man she didn’t have, the wait was finally worth it. She wasn’t Luke’s first love, but she’d be his last. And she was good with that.
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