Page 55 of Courageous Demands

“Her mother and I,” her father replied simply – and extended his hand toward Alec. “Take care of my baby girl, son.”

“With pleasure, sir,” Alec said thickly, and she could hear the emotion in his voice. He turned slightly from her father, meeting her eyes, and his proud smile shone before everyone. “It would be my greatest honor.”

Her father nodded and stepped back, joining Willow’s stepmother, her mom, and stepfather, who looked on from the first pew beside Mary, Alec’s own mother.

Alec extended his arm toward her and she laid her hand there on his sleeve, noting that his hand was trembling. His glistening eyes met hers through the veil, and she couldn’t help but smile at him.

“This has been a long time coming,” Alec said in a hushed voice only for her, stepping forward toward the pulpit.

“Much too long,” she agreed emotionally. “You look wonderful.”

“You are pretty stunning yourself.”

“Wanna get married?” she asked, teasing him gently to put him at ease.

“I thought you’d never ask,” he replied tenderly, turning to face her. “Let’s do this, Mrs. Beckett.”

They stood there, listening to the pastor, and were the epitome of serenity during this moment they both considered sacred. Neither took marriage lightly, and the fact that they were here, together, was nothing short of a miracle in her mind.

As Alec began to say his vows, her heart was in her throat. There was no way she was going to make it through the ceremony looking distinguished or elegant. Nope. She was very close to being a blubbering, weepy woman for the whole town to see.

“I remember the first time I looked at you,” Alec said hoarsely, smiling wryly at her. “We were in science class, and we were assigned to work together to recreate a diorama on molecules. I was so nervous, so unsure of what to think, because I barely knew your name. You were the quiet girl who always kept your mouth shut, listening, and your nose down, focusing on your paperwork.” Alec smiled tenderly at her. “You still do, you know. You’ve always listened when people spoke and have the kindest heart that I know of.”

She let out a nervous sniff, blinking back tears as she thought back to that day. He had to move seats, and he looked so alarmed at being paired with her, but then he took his seat like a champ, turned to her, and smiled.

“I remember looking at you, thinking ‘who is this mysterious girl’… and slowly fell in love,” he admitted, not holding back. “I fell so hard for you that I couldn’t see straight. I knew with every fiber of my being that we were meant to be, that you were my better half, and someday we would be united before God as man and wife, and then you dumped me,” he blurted out flatly, his eyes shining affectionately as the crowd and his teammates laughed openly.

Willow was so stunned he was airing that part of their history that she blurted out ‘sorry’ immediately, causing another ripple of uncomfortable laughter.

“And you were right,” he said loudly, not looking away from her. “You are the one for me and always will be, but it wasn’t our time. I needed to grow, mature, and learn how to love you – and you, in your wisdom, gave me the space I didn’t know I needed. You made the hard decisions, yet never stopped loving me.”

“I never will either,” she breathed softly.

“Even when we were reunited, and I was hurt, you were there to soothe my emotions, to show me how much love a person could have, and honestly – you are a miracle.”

He smiled tenderly and gave her a playful wink before speaking again.

“You’ve always seen the big picture, even when I couldn’t. You love with the knowledge of a parent – kind, teaching, gentle, and understanding,” he said loudly, and she knew he was up to something. “I see that in everything you do, in every decision you make, in every smile you give, and even walking down the aisle, you think of others… stopping to let those children share in our moment, our joy – and I would be honored to spend my life at your side, basking in that warmth.”

Willow met his smug smile and nearly laughed aloud as she realized he was taking this moment of silence from the onlookers to brag about her to them. They had no idea, yet he was there, always supporting her and planting the seed in their minds.

“You’re really something.”

“I’m yours, my love.”

“So you are,” Willow smiled tremulously as she took a deep breath and spoke from her heart and soul. “You were always so out of my league, so larger-than-life, beloved by the whole town, that it was intimidating. Everyone knows the Beckett family…” she glanced at Mary, casting a smile at her new mother-in-law, before looking back at Alec.

“Your family name is synonymous with honor, duty, and, unfortunately – sacrifice,” she said loudly, not looking from Alec’s beautiful gaze as he swallowed emotionally. “Despite the loss of your father, you took up the legacy he’d created, becoming a fireman in the same city that is sharing in our joy now.”

Willow turned, looking over their faces, and clung to Alec’s hands as she turned back to him. Today, she would be taking his name and vowed to always bring a glimmer of pride to it – for him, their children, and someday their grandchildren. No one would ever equate ‘Beckett’ with wrongdoing or shirking their duty.

“I remember when we met,” she smiled tearfully. “I was in awe of that fire burning within your soul and the zest you have in your soul… and today, I am still marveling in that presence before me.”

“Aww shucks,” he chuckled shyly, not bothering to hide it as Lance leaned forward, grinning and pointing.

“You talkin’ about this guy?”

“Shhh,” she laughed – along with the crowd. “Back in line with you. Your wife is watching, remember?”

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