A Bouquet of Love (27 page)

“I have my ways.” He smiled, then ushered me on board.

The whole place smelled heavenly. I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent, then opened them again, noticing our friends and family in the distance.

“Are they coming with?” I asked.

“Not just yet.” Alex reached down to the front seat of the trolley and picked up the most beautiful bouquet of Cassia roses in a bright shade of yellow, then handed them to me. “We'll come back for them in a few minutes. I need a little time with you . . . alone.” He waggled his brows in playful fashion and gave me a little kiss on the forehead.

My heart went crazy at this point. Alex led the way down the platform to the back. The trolley took off, and everyone on the street followed along behind us, waving. We waved back, but I was shaking so hard I lost my grip and almost went tumbling off the back of the car, nearly losing the bouquet in the process. Alex wrapped me in his arms and held me close. The trolley rounded the corner and we headed off on our way.

“Where are we going?” I asked, struggling to hold on to the bouquet.

“Where would you like to go?” He gazed at me with such tenderness that I felt my heart melt.

If he had asked me this question a month ago, I would've
said, “Home to Santa Cruz.” Never in a million years would I have said the words now tripping to the end of my tongue. “It doesn't matter, as long as we're together.”

He planted several kisses along my hairline, sending tingles down my spine, then our lips met for a kiss so sweet even Mama's baklava couldn't compete.

Oh, how my heart wanted to sing! My toes wanted to tap! I could dance from the back of this trolley car to the front and then back again, if it meant doing so with this amazing man in my arms.

After a couple of dreamy moments, Alex looked at me and grinned. “Um, Cassia?”

“Yes?” I gazed into those gorgeous brown eyes, the same ones I'd taken note of that first day I saw him on the trolley.

“You're doing it again.” His whispered words tickled my ear.

“Hmm? Doing what?”

“Humming.”

I was indeed. The words to “The Trolley Song” danced their way from my heart to my lips. I simply couldn't help myself.

Then, as the man of my dreams slipped down to one knee, as he pulled out a tiny box and opened it to reveal a diamond ring that even Judy Garland would've swooned over, I realized that my heart would probably go on singing . . . for the rest of my life.

SPECIAL FEATURE

“GALVESTON TOURISM COMMERCIAL”

“WELCOME TO PARADISE”

WRITTEN BY

Athena Pappas Cosse, Stephen Cosse, Niko Pappas, Cassia Pappas

“WELCOME TO PARADISE” JINGLE BY

Cassia Pappas and the Splendora Sisters

“WELCOME TO PARADISE” JINGLE plays over WIDE SHOT of GALVESTON STRAND midday. Shops open for business on both sides of street, filled with happy customers spilling over onto sidewalks. WIDE SHOT of TROLLEY clang-clang-clanging by. TOURISTS seated on every row of TROLLEY snap photographs of sights as they whiz by. Close-up of PASSENGER near front of TROLLEY. ZOOM IN on BROCK'S face. JINGLE (INSTRUMENTAL ONLY) continues in background.

BROCK

(shakes hands with man on TROLLEY, looks into camera)

Looking for the perfect place to vacation this summer? Why not take a little ride to sunny Galveston Island? The scenery will take your breath away.

Shot WIDENS and camera flies over GALVESTON ISLAND, taking in breathtaking SCENERY along the COAST, where we see suspiciously WHITE SAND and CARIBBEAN-
BLUE WATER. WAVES wash in and out. TIGHT SHOT on NIKO and HELENA riding bikes along SEAWALL. CUT TO WIDE SHOT of MOODY GARDENS, flowers in abundance. CASSIA and ALEX are having their pictures taken in FLOWERS by HANNAH.

BROCK

(back platform of TROLLEY, looking at SCENERY)

Whether you're looking to rest, work, or play, Galveston's got it all. Great beaches, five-star hotels, amazing entertainment, and the best food on the planet.

WIDE SHOT of STRAND, minus TROLLEY. CUSTOMERS flood into various RESTAURANTS. TIGHT SHOT of SCARLET walking out of LET THEM EAT CAKE BAKERY, holding a WEDDING CAKE. She nearly drops it as she attempts to wave at OFFICER O'REILLY, who catches it and smiles.

BROCK

(voice-over)

Looking for a cultural experience? Whether your heart dreams of going back to Italy, Greece, or a thousand other places around the globe, you will feel right at home here.

WIDE SHOT of RESTAURANTS. ZOOM IN on PARMA JOHN'S. LAZ stands outside, welcoming tourists, holding a PIZZA. Camera swings across street. TIGHT SHOT of NIKO dressed in SUPER-GYROS costume, positioned to fly off into skies above. YIA YIA and OTHER PAPPAS FAMILY MEMBERS hand out SANDWICHES and BAKLAVA to TOURISTS walking down sidewalk. THREE NUNS grab
SANDWICHES, converse with SPLENDORA TRIO, and they all walk into SUPER-GYROS together.

BROCK

(voice-over)

Good food, awesome surroundings, amazing friendships. You'll find all of these and more on Galveston Island.

LONG SHOT of picnic tables set up down the center of STRAND. PARTY GUESTS (ENTIRE CAST AND CREW) share a meal together.

ALL PARTY GUESTS

(raise glasses of sweet tea)

Opa!

BROCK

(voice-over)

Whether you're ready to shop till you drop or start your own business, there's no friendlier place on the planet.

WIDE SHOT of FLORIST SHOP. Camera ZOOMS in on SIGN with SHOP'S name: A ROSE IS A ROSE. CASSIA and ALEX stand outside, passing off a BRIDAL BOUQUET OF COLORFUL ROSES to GABI.

BROCK

(voice-over)

Preparing for a big event? You'll find some great places to get you geared up for the big day.

TIGHT SHOT of GABI in SEWING ROOM, stitching VICTORIAN WEDDING GOWN. CUT TO WIDE SHOT of SASSY
SHEARS HAIR SALON. TIGHT SHOT of NIKO having his unibrow waxed in the middle by SOPHIA. He overexaggerates, crying out in pain. YIA YIA and HELENA look on, cheering at his clean-cut results.

BROCK

(voice-over)

And speaking of the big day, when you're looking to tie the knot, you won't find a more luxurious place to say “I do” than here on sunny Galveston Island.

CUT TO WIDE SHOT of Broadway Street. ZOOM IN on CLUB WED. GUESTS (ALL CAST MEMBERS) are gathered on VERANDA, throwing birdseed as GROOM JORDAN and BRIDE GABI (wearing VICTORIAN GOWN and carrying BOUQUET OF ROSES) run out front door and toward lawn. TIGHT SHOT of HANNAH taking photos. GABI pauses at edge of VERANDA and throws her wedding bouquet of YELLOW ROSES to crowd of ladies standing on STRAND. LILY and JASMINE both catch it and fight over it.

BROCK

(voice-over)

Yes, there's no finer place to ride off into the sunset with the one you love than right here. So why not experience your happily ever after in paradise?

CUT TO TIGHT SHOT of TROLLEY (BACK PLATFORM), where ALEX and CASSIA stand, kissing. TROLLEY begins to move and they grab railing. ZOOM out to reveal TROLLEY (INSIDE) filled with ROSSI CLAN and PAPPAS CLAN, all toasting with sweet tea. CUT TO TIGHT SHOT of NIKO (with a Band-Aid between his brows) laughing and talking with LAZ. ZOOM to back of
TROLLEY, where CASSIA and ALEX kiss once more. TROLLEY fades from view in the SUNSET.

BROCK

So what's keeping you? The experience of a lifetime awaits you on Galveston Island!

FULL CAST SINGS “WELCOME TO PARADISE” JINGLE

FADE TO BLACK

Small circle in center of black screen WIDENS to reveal NIKO flying across the sky in his SUPER-GYROS costume, GYRO SANDWICH in hand. From below, SPLENDORA TRIO tries to snatch SANDWICH out of his hand, but he's too fast for them. They FADE FROM VIEW. NIKO flies over GALVESTON BEACH with WHITE SAND and CARIBBEAN-BLUE WATER, JINGLE playing merrily in background.

FADE TO BLACK

Writing a book is tough work ordinarily. Factor in several health issues and two personal crises (the death of a best friend and the early delivery of a granddaughter), and writing a book becomes more than tough; it can seem impossible. This was the scenario I faced when I sat down to write Cassia's story.

On Valentine's Day 2013, my best friend, Kay Malone, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her journey over the next couple of months was grueling and painful to watch. I spent countless hours at her bedside, both in the hospital and in her home. She passed away the day after Mother's Day, just two months before this book was due to the publisher.

At this very same time my daughter was expecting her third baby, little Jenna Reese. Complications set in, and we wondered if the baby would make it. On the day after Kay passed away, we received news about the baby that terrified
us. We wondered if Jenna would survive. Thankfully, she arrived with few issues and is thriving today. Praise God!

In the midst of all this, I was dealing with perplexing health issues of my own. The exhaustion didn't help. In the back of my mind (as I drove from hospital to hospital, funeral to NICU), I kept thinking,
I have a book due in a few weeks
.
But how in the world could I possibly write a romantic comedy? It seemed impossible!

Then something remarkable happened: this story unfolded like a gift from the Lord. I found my spirits lifted, my hope restored, and my joy reignited, all because of a wacky story about a nutty Greek family. By the time it was completed, I felt sure I'd penned one of my all-time-favorite books. I couldn't help but think of Kay as the story came together. I know she would've loved this one. And I know she would have whispered, “Keep going, girl! You can do this!” as I wrote, wrote, wrote.

I miss my sweet friend. But as I gaze into the eyes of sweet baby Jenna, I'm reminded of the circle of life. Somehow in the midst of the battles, we can still experience joy, even in the mourning. Perhaps as you read Cassia's story, you experienced some of that joy yourself. That is my prayer.

To my sweet friends Karen and Matt Bailey and Radonna Gideon, who walked with me through the valley of the shadow in the weeks before this book was written. I couldn't have made it through without your prayers.

To my precious daughters. You got me through so much in the weeks leading up to this book. Bless you.

To Jenna. You are the light of Nina's life and bring joy to us all.

To my editor, Jennifer Leep. You are a precious friend and strong advocate.

To my copy editor, Jessica English. What a hard worker you are! I depend on you so much and you never let me down.

To my agent, Chip MacGregor. You are my literary hero.

To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Take care of my BFF until I get there.

Award-winning author
Janice Thompson
enjoys tickling the funny bone. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage, and she has published over ninety books for the Christian market. She has played the role of mother of the bride four times now and particularly enjoys writing lighthearted, comedic, wedding-themed tales. Why? Because making readers laugh gives her great joy!

Janice formerly served as vice president of Christian Authors Network (CAN) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the Year for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. In addition, she enjoys public speaking and mentoring young writers.

Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. Her tagline, “Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters!” sums up her take on life.

She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at
www.janiceathompson.com
or
www.freelancewritingcourses.com
.

W
EDDINGS
BY
B
ELLA

Fools Rush In

Swinging on a Star

It Had to Be You

B
ACKSTAGE
P
ASS

Stars Collide

Hello, Hollywood!

The Director's Cut

W
EDDINGS
BY
D
ESIGN

Picture Perfect

The Icing on the Cake

The Dream Dress

A Bouquet of Love

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