Page 117 of Hidden Depths

“You’re not.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Good. ’Cause I’m still hoping for a second date.”

She bit back on her smile. This was a moment she wanted to savor and enjoy as much as she could.

“I’m not sure.” She cocked her head sideways. “That last one didn’t end so well.”

He pulled her toward him and wrapped his arms around her. “That’s why I want a second chance.”

“You think you can beat those fish tacos?”

He smiled, then kissed her without warning.

A whimper escaped her throat as she gripped him tightly, and the air sizzled, sending her head into a spin.

Nothing made sense, and yet everything did.

A shrill whistle ripped through the air, and Sara and Tom pulled apart, looking back at the house.

Kev waved his arms in the air, then cupped his hands to his mouth. “Pie’s getting cold! Stop smoochin’ and come and get some. And bring your friend.”

Tom laughed. “I take it that’s Kev?”

“Yeah. You like pie?”

“Love it.”

She linked her fingers in his, and they walked together to the house, entering a wall of warmth and the smell of berries and pastry.

“Evie. Kev,” Sara said. “My name is Sara Fitzgerald, and I’m from Virginia and the Florida Keys. This is Tom. He’s the FBI agent who saved my life. I’ve been in witness protection, but I’m not anymore, so I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not.”

“Hah!” Kev shouted. “I knew you had a story. But I think you may have risen above my expectations.” He dragged a chair away from the chunky wooden dining table. “Have a seat and tell us all about it.”

Sara nodded as she sat. It would take a long time before the exuberance of freedom wore off. And one thing was for sure. God knew a thing or two about ordering her life.

Epilogue

Sara stoodin front of the full-length mirror and ran her hands down the flowing white dress.

“You look beautiful,” Margaret said, standing behind her with her hand on Sara’s shoulders.

“Thank you for being here to do this.”

“Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss it. And now that I know everything you went through…well, it makes tonight all the sweeter. I knew you were a strong woman, but you are far more resilient than I could have ever guessed. And now, here you are. I have no words.”

“Yes. Here I am. And I will always be grateful to you because, even in the midst of my circumstances, you were the one who showed me the way to true freedom.”

“It was a privilege. And it will be a privilege to walk you down the aisle tonight. You ready?”

“Yes.” She straightened as she let out an unsteady breath.

“Then let’s go.”

Margaret led Sara out of the room and down a long hall with polished wooden floors before exiting the hotel’s large open doors. Outside, the crickets and other night insects filled the air with their clicks and whirrs.

A frog croaked in search of love as Sara descended the stairs, and soft guitar music played a lilting tune.

Tom stood under a canopy of fairy lights that mimicked the starry sky above. His hands were clasped in front of him, and his lips were slightly apart in a look of awe as he watched his bride walk down the aisle where a small group stood watching.

Sara had intended to take a second to focus on each of their guests and smile in greeting, but when she locked eyes with Tom, she couldn’t look away. Her lips trembled, and she blinked at the few tears that escaped her eyes before she wiped them away.

Margaret presented Sara to Tom, placing her hand in his. Then she kissed Sara on the cheek before stepping to the side.

Pastor Frank stood before them. He smiled and winked, then addressed the crowd.

“Welcome, friends and family. Every one of you here has played a special part in the journey of these two who stand before us tonight to join their lives together. Their love is a witness to all of us, not only of the resilience of the human spirit that God has placed in each one of us, but also of His love and care for us. His guiding hand leads us in the plans and purposes that were established before the beginning of time. It is offered as a path we can choose to follow or disregard. Sara and Tom have chosen God’s way above all else, and tonight, their paths combine in a union that God will bless as they stand here before us and commit themselves to love and cherish each other as long as they both shall live.”

Sara tightened her grip on Tom’s hand. Despite all the heartache, the pain, and the fear, through it all, God has used the broken threads of her life to create a tapestry more beautiful than she would have dared dream for herself. And in her heart, she made a commitment, not just to be Tom’s wife, but that together they would follow God all the days of their lives.

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