Page 65 of Evan

“A little frightened.” Cassie had barely touched her own plate. Her stomach was so knotted, she could hardly swallow. “Nervous. It suddenly feels real. For the last few months, I have been too busy to think about my wedding day and night, but now that it is upon me, I have questions.”

“Surely not about marrying him?”

“No.” She shook her head adamantly. “It’s about me and my inadequacy.”

“Girl, you are exquisite and from what we see, Evan adores you.”

“I am…,” she swallowed the lump in her throat and could not believe she was going to tell these women her inner fear. She had only just met them, but they were already like family. “I have never been with a man before. There, I have said it.”

They did not stare at her as if she had two heads and a horn in the middle of her forehead which was a blessing. Instead, they guided her over to a table where several chairs were grouped around.

“He is going to be in for a treat.” Kelly told her softly, golden brown eyes twinkling. “And I am quite sure he knows of your innocence.”

“I am petrified thinking that I will not please him,” she admitted.

“Honey, you already do. That man cannot take his eyes off you.” Leesa reached over and patted her hand. “Love is what makes it so wonderful, not how inexperienced or how much of an expert you are. It’s the love that counts and as far as we can see, you have that in abundance.”

Chapter 16

He was sweating. Just faint patches of moisture beneath his armpits, not noticeable to his best man standing next to him and not enough to show through his starched white shirt and immaculately styled black tuxedo jacket.

Not even enough to bead his upper lip or his forehead where his ink black hair was stylishly cut and brushed back from his face, but enough to alert him to the fact that he was nervous. Last night had been torture for him as he refused to go to sleep before hearing her voice.

“Promise me that if you happen to change your mind between now and ten in the morning, you will let me know.” He had half teased her.

“I will send you a detailed message as to the reason why I will not show up tomorrow for the second-best day of my life.”

“The first being when you surrendered your life to the Lord.” She had told him that one day when they were talking.

“Yes. I will be there bright and early. I am not one of those brides who think it’s fashionable to be late.”

“I sincerely hope so. I will be conspicuous as it is with people staring at me.”

“I promise to be there with bells on.”

“I love you.”

“I love you so much, Evan, and cannot wait to be your wife.” He had taken those words to bed with him and woke up this morning remembering them.

Now he was standing front and center with the large space packed to capacity and waiting for his bride. He was puzzled to see Pastor William taking his place at the pulpit. Cassandra had told him that the man would be playing a dual role – as giveaway dad and the one performing the ceremony.

He smiled briefly as her friend appeared to take her place and straightened his shoulders in anticipation of his bride making her way towards him.

But when she did not appear, he could feel his gut tightening, until there was a hush in the church, the silence so profound, one could hear a pin drop. It was as if everyone had collectively held their breath and were staring at something on the pulpit.

A frown touched his brow as he started to turn and look at what had them so enraptured. Then her clear, beautiful voice sounded and had him turning fully around.

His breath strangled inside his throat as he beheld the most hauntingly beautiful sight he had ever seen. The dress, from throat to waist was made entirely of transparent lace with a champagne colored under covering to hide the flesh.

A thin gold belt was around her narrow waist and the shirt was full, with yards of tulle, drifting from waist to several yards behind her. The sleeves were long, coming to a point at her wrists. Her hair was braided to one side with garlands of flowers around her head.

Diamonds were at her lobes and her eyes were shining with love as she sang, her eyes holding his. He finally noticed that she was singing the lyrics of ‘Here and now’ by Luther Vandross and putting her own incredibly beautiful spin on the popular song. The words were meant for him and was a promise to him only.

His throat became thick with emotions as she sang the words:

‘I look in your eyes and there I see,

What happiness really means.

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