Page 83 of Coming Home to Maverick

“Oh, come here.” He pulled her close and kissed her like he meant it, short, meaningful pressure. Then, as he continued, the kisses slowed and lingered, his love pouring into each one until Bailey hardly knew how to respond, so full of Maverick and his love and this beautiful feeling between them. Her fingers rose up into his hair, and she pulled his face closer as he rolled her down onto the carpet beside the bed. Then, with his hand on her hip, he said, “I love you, too, Bailey. Stay with me.” He rested his head back. “I’m exhausted, but I don’t want you to leave.”

“Right here on the floor?”

“Sure.” His eyes closed, and his breathing steadied.

“No, wake up.” She nudged him. “Let’s get you back in bed.”

Barely coherent, he crawled back up onto her side of the bed and closed his eyes. “Stay,” he mumbled.

So she did. She curled up next to him, wrapping her arms as far around his waist as they would go, pressed her cheek into his back, and stayed until he fell asleep.

Chapter 24

Bailey sat in the same bride’s room at the same church as the first time she’d planned to marry Maverick, the day she should have stayed.

But looking back, if she’d stayed, she would never have known just how precious her life was at this moment. She didn’t quite forgive what she’d done, but she knew she’d get there. How could she keep from herself what God gave? The sweet peace of her prayers had been her greatest solace and her strength. If God loved her, maybe she could love herself, even with her messed up past.

The contract to record an album sat on her dressing table. Why did she bring it with her? She could not even venture to guess. But seeing it now, it felt important that she didn’t have even a twinge of longing. Nothing that paper offered was even half as wonderful as the life she would lead with Maverick and Gracie in Willow Creek. She knew that now.

She stood in front of the mirror. Her mom had already come and left. She was likely sitting in the front row with her father. By now, Maverick was standing at the head of the congregation, each of his brothers in a line beside him.

A small knock at the door made her smile.

“Mama?”

She opened it. “Gracie Faith, you look beautiful.” Her little dress was white like Bailey’s, and it flowed to the floor. She carried matching flowers, and her eyes lit with so much love and excitement. They filled Bailey with a whole new happiness, all for Gracie. “Such a beautiful girl, inside and out.”

Her eyes widened. “You look beautiful, too. Daddy is not gonna know what to say.”

Bailey laughed. “I’m so happy to hear you calling him Daddy. How did that come about, anyway?”

She twirled in her dress, making it poof out all around her. “’Cause I wanted him for my daddy.”

Simple enough. Bailey reached for her hand. “You ready for this?”

“Uh huh.”

“You know it’s something special to be a Dawson.”

“Yup.” Her face crinkled. “And it’s something special to just be us, too.”

Bailey’s eyes threatened to tear up. “You are so right. It’s something special just to be you.”

Gracie nodded.

The two of them walked down the hallway of the church to the back double doors and then nodded to the attendants.

As the doors opened, the music started, and she and Gracie walked down the aisle together, side by side. The church was packed. Everyone from Willow Creek had come out to see them finally get hitched. Those who couldn’t fit inside were lined up outside along the front. As she walked down the aisle, she passed her fellow teachers at the middle school, friends from high school, even Tiff and her friends were there, and they’d brought dates. Perfect. She kept walking. Her parents smiled their wonderful, accepting love, strengthening her yet again. Then Mama Dawson, her eyes full of support, reached her hand out. Bailey gave it a squeeze. A whole line of brothers, each one strong, true, and handsome, grinned at her. When her eyes met Maverick’s, she picked up her pace, racing against the beat of the music.

He moved to take her hand and led her up two stairs to stand at his side. Gracie Faith stood behind her. “In a hurry?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Absolutely.”

Epilogue

EpilogueFive Years Later

---