Page 83 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
An oboe?
“Live music?” she asked Leslie.
“It sure is,” Leslie told her. “Couple of your friends decided you deserved better than a streaming playlist.”
“That’s so sweet,” Nora murmured.
And of course, she only knew one oboe player. It was a touching idea that Edward wasn’t just saying this was okay, he was actively participating.
As they entered the barn, she noticed the lights first. They were strung from the ceiling, hung from the doors,and lying in shimmering piles in every corner, making the whole barn look enchanted.
A few outdoor heaters had been set up at intervals, keeping the space nice and warm in spite of the winter weather.
Quilts were laid over hay bales for seating and she had to smile at how charming it looked—much nicer than the plastic folding chairs she was picturing.
And better yet, all their friends and family were there, smiling and chatting.
Edward was the first to notice her.
Instantly, the oboe melted from “Ave Maria” into “Canon in D” and the two guitarists followed.
Nora was amazed to see that one of them was Edward’s new girlfriend, Anita. She smiled at Nora, as if she knew how happy this day was for her.
Maybe she’ll be part of the family one day…
Then River stepped forward and Nora lost her train of thought.
She had told him she would be wearing a dress she already owned, and that he shouldn’t bother dressing up too much.
But the man was wearing a suit that fit perfectly over his wide shoulders, the trousers hugging his narrow hips, and the whole look making him seem like a groom in one of those wedding magazines she always pretended to ignore in the checkout line.
She felt herself blush all the way to her hairline, and hoped no one would notice.
But River’s dark eyes flashed with pleasure, and she knew she was busted.
“Come on,” Leslie whispered.
Nora moved to the end of the aisle with her friend. Leslie took Nora’s coat, and then headed over to her seat, sending Pixie out with her little basket of flower petals.
Pixie grinned at Nora and then skipped ahead, moving too quickly for the music, but winning smiles and chuckles of approval as she scattered the pretty pink petals generously down the aisle.
Pixie’s confidence had grown so much over the last few weeks. When the holiday break was done, she had started at the local elementary school in Trinity Falls. She made friends right away, and her happiness at having a crew at school seemed to spill over into every aspect of her life.
Nora followed her down the aisle, loving the proud way River gazed at Pixie, and the tinkle of the girl’s laughter when she reached him and he winked at her.
Nora was practically trembling by the time she reached River. The simplicity of the ceremony couldn’t hold back the tide of emotion she felt. Could it really only have been a few weeks ago that she was worried over just about everything in their lives?
Now it wasn’t just Pixie who was happier—John-John had started preschool over at the church, and when he wasn’t talking about preschool friends and activities, he was playing with the kittens.
The mother cat had returned just after Christmas, looking scrawny and with an injured leg that Nora and the local vet had been able to care for.
Now there were four people and six cats living on the farm. Though River had warned the children that themama cat was an outdoor animal, and might start bringing her babies back to the barn to sleep one day, that day hadn’t come yet. So far, the cat family spent its days exploring the farm, and its nights in a furry pile in the blanket-filled crate the human members of the family didn’t bother to close anymore.
And better yet, in their talks with the vet, it came up that he could use a helping hand for a few hours each day. With John-John in preschool, Nora was free to jump in. And with no more condo fees to pay, she didn’t feel pressure to work more hours just yet. In fact, Edward was moving back into the condo, and he planned to buy out her share as soon as he could.
River took her hands as she reached him, and she was already blinking back tears as he gazed down at her with so much love that she wasn’t sure her heart could hold it all.
Her eyes stayed on River as the pastor spoke the beautiful words of the ceremony, and it all passed in a haze.
