Page 71 of Colton's Second Chance
“Noelle, what’s going on? What about the burial?”
“We’ll go. Soon. I just need a moment…” She waved him inside, then hurried to the edge of the parking lot where she pulled out her phone and checked for a signal.
Eli gritted his back teeth as he moved back into the church and sat in the front pew where he’d been for the funeral. What was Noelle’s plan? Why couldn’t she just give him a straight answer? If she was leaving him again, this time hewouldhave the truth from her.Ifshe was leaving him? He snorted and balled his hands in his lap. Hadn’t she just confirmed that she was flying out of Anchorage tonight? Once again, he’d let himself fall for her only to have the rug jerked out from under him.
He could only blame himself this time. How did the saying go?Fool me once…
“Do you know what this is about?” Parker asked as he settled in the pew next to Eli.
“No,” he answered tightly, not bothering to hide his frustration or disappointment in his tone.
The church door thumped shut, and his family fell silent as Noelle marched to the front and stood before them with her shoulders back and her chin high. Despite her body language, Eli read anxiety in her gaze as she cast her eyes toward him.
“Thank you for staying just a few moments longer. I need to be going soon to the cemetery, but first… I wanted you all here to be witnesses… I mean, I wanted you all to share…” She buzzed her lips in exasperation. “I’m already blowing this. Eli, will you come up here?”
He glanced to Parker, looking for confirmation he’d heard Noelle correctly. His brother waved a hand, motioning he should go.
Fatigue and achy muscles dragged at him as he joined Noelle at the chancel railing.
She took a deep breath and said in full voice, “As I look around this little church, full of family and friends and flowers, I can’t help but think it would be a nice place to have a wedding.”
A murmur rippled from the pews. Eli tipped his head and fixed a curious look on Noelle. Had he heard her correctly? Suddenly blood was pumping through him so hard and fast he could barely hear her over the whoosh in his ears.
“Eli, I have no excuse for the heartache I’ve caused you these last many years. Nothing I can do will erase that hurt. The choices I made after graduation are my biggest regret.”
He opened his mouth to reply, to tell her she was forgiven, but she placed her fingers over his mouth, adding, “But… I’m not finished.”
A few chuckles from his family twittered in the sanctuary.
“I’m asking you for the opportunity to go forward with a clean slate.” Noelle swallowed hard. “I’m asking you for a second chance, and…and I don’t take my request lightly or without offering you long overdue assurances. Today, in front of your family, I’m pledging you my full, unconditional love and trust.” Noelle cut a quick glance to the pews, and Eli followed her gaze to his mother, who beamed and nodded.
Noelle cleared her throat. “I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you and showing you how deeply I love you.”
Eli’s body grew still, and he dared not breathe for fear he was dreaming.
She took both of his hands in hers and got on one knee. “Eli Colton, I want to come back to this church in a few months and marry you. Will you be my husband?”
He sucked in a gasp—or maybe the sharp sound of an inhale came from his family. He couldn’t be sure, because he was numb. Dreaming. So damn tired he was hallucinating.
Except Noelle was down on one knee. Looking up at him with wet eyes and a hopeful expression.
After some awkward amount of time, Parker stepped up beside him and poked him in the ribs. “This is the part where you say yes.”
Eli exhaled and pulled Noelle to her feet. He felt the prick of tears sting his eyes as he framed her face with his hands and kissed her soundly. “Hell yes, sweetheart. Absolutely, yes.”
Epilogue
One week later
Thanksgiving
Eli sat back in his chair and put his hands on his stomach with a happy groan. “My compliments to the cooks, one and all. Everything was delicious!”
“Hear, hear!” Troy said, lifting a glass and leaning over to give Lakin a kiss on her cheek.
Noelle chuckled and said, “This is the first Thanksgiving I’ve celebrated in about four years, since my friend Emma moved out of state, and I think I made up for it in one sitting.”
“Not so fast! We still have pies,” Eli’s Aunt Abby said, rising from her chair across the room at another table and waving Spence and Parker back to their chairs.
