Page 11 of The Yes at Yuletide

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Momma whispered as Judge said he was actually glad to be the one on that side of the altar for the first time.

“I’m not nearly as nervous as I usually am,” he said. “Because I know that if I make a mistake, both Ollie and Aurora will forgive me.” He beamed at them and then faced the crowd. “That’s what’s been on my mind these past few weeks since these two showed up at my house and asked me to do this for them. Forgiveness.”

Momma leaned into her husband’s arm, because they’d had many opportunities over the years to forgive each other. She’d watched her sons make mistakes with their wives and families, and she’d watched forgiveness mend the wounds in their hearts and rebuild bridges.

“Sometimes we can get these seeds of darkness in our hearts,” Judge said. “It can take years to root them out and let the light back in. The fastest way to get those gardens replanted and get the joy back into your life is to seek the forgiveness you need. If you’ve done something wrong, apologize. Give forgiveness as easily as you’d like to receive it.”

He focused on Ollie and Aurora again. “There’s something I’ve wanted for sixteen long years, and both of you know what it is.” He grinned at them, and Momma found herself leaning forward, as she didn’t know what it was.

“To win the Christmas light show,” Aurora said, and Judge nodded.

A chuckle escaped his mouth. “To win the Christmas light show. There’s still two more days of voting, and you know where I am right now?”

“Third,” someone called, and Momma twisted toward the voice.

“Third,” Judge confirmed. “I’ve been third for six years in a row.Third.I hate being third. I just keep thinking that if I could get second, I’d be so happy, but this morning when I woke up, I knew I didn’t want second either.”

Momma wasn’t sure where he was going with this, and she shifted her feet. She was an old lady, and standing for a ceremony that lasted much longer would be hard.

“No one wants to be second,” Judge said. “And my counsel to you today, Ollie and Aurora, and everyone who can hear my voice, is to put your spouse first. Put each other first. Don’t ever let your partner think they’re second, because no one wants to be second. It will take forgiveness to put each other first. You’ll have to forgive yourself for bad behavior. You’ll have to forgive him when he hurts you, and he’ll have to forgive you when you stay up all night sewing when he wants you to come to bed.”

Judge grinned at the couple, and they looked at one another again. Though Momma could only see their profiles, she could see the curve of their lips as they smiled together.

Her heart warmed all over again, and Gideon’s hand in hers tightened.

“Let’s get this marriage done,” Judge said. “But before we all break and make a run for a table, I want everyone to look at their spouse and think about where they are in your life. Are they first? Do you have something to be forgiven for? Do they? Can you give it to them freely? I encourage you do so, if possible.”

He cleared his throat. “All right, you two. Aurora Jacqueline Martin, do you take Oliver Quinn Osburn to be your legally and lawfully wedded husband?”

Momma leaned forward again, but the girl spoke in a loud, clear voice when she said, “Yes.”

“And do you, Oliver Quinn Osburn, take Aurora Jacqueline Martin, to be your legally and lawfully wedded wife?”

“I sure do,” Oliver said, and a smile burst onto Momma’s face.

Judge had barely started the sentence proclaiming them husband and wife before the whooping started. Momma knew her boys could raise the roof on any building with their whistles, catcalls, voices, and applause.

They were only rivaled by the Glovers, who were much larger and working hard to catch up with the number of grandchildren in the Walker family.

Momma let her tears flow down her face as she clapped as loudly as her aged and weathered hands would allow.

Oliver and Aurora finally kissed, and Momma pressed both hands to her heartbeat. “Oh,” she sighed with joy. “They’re going to have such an amazing life.”

Beside her, her loud cowboy husband who’d given her all those loud, cowboy sons, whistled through his teeth just before grabbing onto her arm as the crowd of men and women surged toward Oliver and Aurora.

Momma let his parents have the first hugs, and in fact, she stepped around the beautiful, one-of-a-kind altar to Judge Glover.

“That was such a beautiful ceremony,” she said, taking the man into a hug. “It did my heart such good.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“I heard you got engaged a few days ago.”

“That’s right,” Judge said, stepping back and smiling at her.

“Who’s going to marry you?” She glanced at Oliver as he moved around through all the uncles—his and Aurora’s.

“I think we’re going to ask Pastor Corning,” Judge said. “Or Willa.” A woman came to his side, and they did look like they belonged together. “This is her.” Judge smiled down at the pretty dark blonde. “June, this is Penny Walker, Oliver’s grandmother.”

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