Page 53 of Courageous Demands

“Reese said to follow Mrs. Carpenter’s lead – and focus on the wedding,” Alec said simply. “I trust the man with my life.”

“He’s an amazing brother-in-law… and right,” Elana smirked. “Let me handle the dirty business, and you focus on making this biggest, grandest, most spectacular event this community has ever seen. People will need to be dreaming of your moment – not your supposed infamy.”

So they did.

They followed everyone’s advice, took their ideas, and multiplied them tenfold, determined to put on quite a show. They had been very careful purchasing items, making slow moves to put the wedding together under the guise of the annual children’s fall festival – Trunk-or-Treat. This was a harvest festival where the kids could safely Trick-or-Treat instead of running through the streets, going door to door. Ember Creek was a small town, but that didn’t make it crime-free.

And their moment was finally here.

I’m ready to walk down the aisle and see my Prince Charming.

Ha! I’m more like a toad, and we both know it

Hardly – don’t make me start buying frogs for the house like Blythe buys mice. Do you know how funny it is to see Lance and instantly think MOUSE…

Yeah, he’s getting better about it. How are you holding up?

Nervous. You?

Nervous – but ready. We’re moving to line up, so I’ll see you at the altar, Mrs. Beckett!

See you there, husband!

Putting her cell phone away, she carefully stood up and shook out her skirts as a few friends popped in to say ‘hello.’ It was like each of the firefighters, both teams, had their wives show up in support. Each of them was smiling, laughing, and chuckling at how flustered she was.

“You’ll be a pro at this in less than a month; don’t worry.”

“I promise the names will get easier.”

“Unless they dub you with a nickname… ah, Mrs. Justin, what’s your first name again?”

“Faith,” the woman chuckled easily as a baby nearby fussed slightly.

“Maya, why don’t you and Flynn go take a seat in the church.”

“I think everyone would rather I take a moment to feed and change him out here. I’m going to go find a ladies’ room – congratulations again, Willow, and welcome to the family.”

Her family was in attendance – her mother spent hours talking with Alec’s mother about grandbabies, creating an avid conspirator in their push to become grandparents.

Everything was seemingly perfect— almost too perfect.

“Sweetie,” Willow looked away from the mirror to see her mother’s face peering in the doorway. “We’re about to line up, and your Daddy is coming down the hallway right now. I just thought I’d give you a heads-up.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You look beautiful, honey,” her mother said again, stepping back to allow her father into the room. Willow didn’t want to ruin her makeup or cry before the wedding, so she looked at her father and chuckled at his already-glassy eyes.

“Hey, Daddy… no emotional outburst, comments, reminiscing, or anything else that will cause my Covergirl face to become smudged in the slightest. It took an artist to make me look this good,” she joked easily, trying to use one of Alec’s tactics to lighten the mood.

“You always look beautiful.”

“But today, I’ve got to look Movie-Star-Beautiful because I can tell you for a fact that every camera, every reporter, and every set of eyes is going to be on this wedding.”

“It looks like most everyone in town is out there. Do you know people are standing in the aisles?”

“No way…” she gaped, shocked.

“Yup. The fire marshal is threatening to do a headcount…”

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