A Wedding In the Family (19 page)

“And Dan did what? Hit him? Kicked him?” he asked without needing to. He already had a pretty good image in his mind.

Angela lifted her head to meet his silvery gaze. “Yes.” She studied the sadness she saw in his eyes. “Why?”

“God, forgive me.” He spoke gently and raised a hand to touch her face, loving her more now than ever before. “I don’t want you to fear something like that happening again—not with me.” He paused. “Find your kids, Angie, and go home.”

She stared at him, stunned by his words. He had brought her down here to say that? Go home? “Adam, what’s wrong? What does this have to do with seeing my old house today?” She couldn’t understand what might have prompted such a change of heart. But what she didn’t know was that if there had been a change of heart, it was only that he loved her
more.
The real change was in his thinking. “Think of what you’ve been through,” he said.

“I don’t want to think about it—”

“You have to. Before you let history repeat itself. You and the kids—you didn’t know what time Dan was coming home, or some nights even if he was coming home at all. Your children couldn’t even have a dog in the house in peace. Those are pretty basic things in life, Angie. I think you’re entitled to them.” He paused, but the sadness remained.

“But, Adam—”

“I shouldn’t have dated you. I wouldn’t have asked you out if I’d known the history you’d had with Dan.” Adam looked away from her watery blue eyes and the obvious love shining there. “You’re right to be afraid of a future with me. I don’t think I’ll ever take another drink again as long as I live, but even after seven years I can’t promise you that.” Angela listened to his words and felt him pulling away, gently, slowly. Her mind swirled with doubts and questions. She should be the one letting go. Not Adam. Not like this. She was the one who should say goodbye.
“What God finds acceptable, don’t you call unacceptable.”
The words from yesterday burned into her heart, but were they enough? For her or for Adam? Sure, he had become a Christian, and God had accepted him. But did that mean she should have no regard for his past? Or his alcoholism? It wouldn’t go away just because he’d accepted Christ. Couldn’t the Lord show her which path she should take? Was it all up to her? “Adam, things are different with you. You wouldn’t—”

“You don’t know what I’d do. I don’t even know for sure what I’d do if I started drinking again.” He walked away from her, sliding his hands into his pockets and shrugging his shoulders in defeat. “I stood looking at that house today, thinking of the pretty wife and three children that had lived there in what could have been a nice home for a happy family.” He hesitated, trying to find the right words. “But it wasn’t, was it?” He looked up to see Angela’s
eyes flood with tears. She shook her head. No. It hadn’t been a happy family, and he wasn’t going to let himself be the next man to hurt her. “A life with me wouldn’t be fair to you. I don’t want you to live in fear of something like that again.”

“But you’re not like Dan,” Angela said in heartfelt honesty. “I wouldn’t wonder whether or not you’d come home to me.”

He stared at her, startled to hear her thoughts spoken aloud. Not come home to her? That was unimaginable. Some days, some nights…that was all he wanted in life. “Angie, don’t.” How he wished she wouldn’t make this more difficult now that he’d determined to let her go. “You were right to run from me…from what I could be.”

“It’s not what I want,” she said hesitantly, torn by conflicting emotions. “But Adam, it’s just that…I don’t know what to do. I keep thinking that the Lord will make it clear to me, but He hasn’t. And if I walk out of here tonight, I know I’ll be giving you up forever—completely. No more tomorrows…no more possibilities for us. And I’m not ready to do that—not yet” Her voice broke off in a soft cry. “Oh, Lord, I don’t know how I’m ever going to do that.” Her hand flew to cover her mouth.

Adam’s heart ached for her in a way that it never had before. He reached out as she buried her face in her hands, and the tenderness in his touch against her dark curls, her shoulders seemed almost unbearable. He drew her gently to him, into the warmth she’d never forgotten existed, there, in Adam’s arms. And
he never wanted to let her go. “Seven years, Angie,” he murmured into the softness of her hair. “Years—not months, weeks, days. I don’t know any other way to prove myself to you. It’s the Lord that keeps me from drinking—we both know that—but still, we can’t do this…we can’t be together, if you won’t trust me, too.” And if she couldn’t, he would walk away. Now. Tonight Once and for all. He had to if he wanted to hang on to his sanity. “When you said you wouldn’t marry me, I didn’t start drinking. I didn’t give it up for you, and I won’t go back to it when you leave—
if
you leave.”

Angela wanted to trust, almost more than she wanted to breathe. Why couldn’t she have some sign from the Lord? Some thought…
anything
that would make the choice clear to her? Prayer had not given her the answer she wanted. She wasn’t asking for a fire in the sky or a voice from heaven. Just something other than her unquenchable love for this man.

Then Adam remembered Rob’s suggestion. He’d been reluctant to use her brother’s idea. It seemed a little “holier than thou” to him; but now he was running out of time and words…and hope. “What God finds acceptable, don’t you call unacceptable.” Adam’s statement was quietly spoken, his lips brushing her temple with each syllable.

“What did you say?” Angela asked. Pulling away, she stared at him in wonder. She’d heard exactly what he’d said. Every word of it. The same words spoken in her Sunday School class yesterday morning. The teacher had looked directly at her, as if the message
was meant for her alone. And hadn’t she nearly dropped her coffee as she’d thought of Adam? If she needed any more of a sign than that, she would be asking for an out-and-out miracle. But then, wasn’t that what this was? Her own personal miracle?

Adam didn’t repeat what he’d said. He was lost in amazement that such a simple statement could bring such life to the tender blue of her eyes. Then he realized that he needed to respond. “It’s something Rob said.”

“Adam, that’s it,” she said in a hushed voice. “That’s all we need.” Then she was in his arms again, right where she belonged, and he held her close without understanding her sudden sense of confidence.

“Angie, why is that enough? And how could your brother know it would be?”

“The Lord told me that very thing—’What God finds acceptable, don’t you call unacceptable’—in Sunday School yesterday. The teacher looked right at me when she said it.” Angela laughed a little. “We were studying the tenth chapter of Acts—Peter and Cornelius and the visions, but I knew it was meant for us. I knew it immediately. In fact, I nearly dropped the cup of coffee I was holding!”

“Then why didn’t you come to me yesterday? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Adam, you know me better than that You don’t think I’d trust myself to come to that conclusion, do you? I would probably have forgotten about it eventually if you hadn’t said it. But that’s all the confirmation
I need. Rob couldn’t possibly have known. The Lord has led him to that thought. Just for us, Adam, just for us.” Angela lifted her head to study his face. Had she ever found anything less than she hoped for in this man’s eyes? And how much hurt had she inflicted? “Adam, I’m so sorry.”

But Adam moved his hand from the hollow of her back to press warm, strong fingers against her lips. He shook his head, unable to speak through the emotion. Was it possible to love someone too much? If so, he was certainly tumbling over that edge down to wherever it would lead. And he hoped God would forgive him because he wasn’t looking for a way to turn back now. “Angie, just say you’ll marry me. Soon.”

“I will,” she answered as she stared into his tender eyes, “and it couldn’t be soon enough—unless it happened right now.”

Adam’s smile of satisfaction was brief. Then, with the gentle touch of his hands upon her face, he leaned close and Angela slowly raised herself up, meeting him halfway in the warmth of a kiss they’d gone too long without. In that moment, Adam knew—they both knew—their need of each other was unending. It took the quiet but persistent knock at the office door to bring their deepening kiss to a halt.

“Mom?” Nathan pushed the door open a little, just enough to peek inside and see Angela in Adam’s arms, smiling. And Nathan smiled in return. “Does this mean things are okay with you two?” he asked, a ring of uncertainty in his voice.

“Very
okay,” Angela said with confidence. “We’re getting married. Soon.”

“Honest? For real?”

“Honest. For real,” she assured him. “And Adam has another piece of news you might enjoy hearing.” Angela looked at Adam and nodded toward the photograph. “Show him.”

“I guess I’ll have to let go of you to do that,” Adam stated, a mischievous slant to his mouth.

“Only for a moment.” She smiled tenderly.

“You’ll see this guy in person tomorrow, Nathan. For now, this will have to do.” Adam reached for the photo and handed it to the boy.

“Max!
Mom, is it really?”

“Yes. Adam went to our old house, and saw Max hanging around there, probably hoping to find you,” Angela explained as Adam’s arms went back around her. “Nathan, believe me, Max didn’t run away because of anything you did. You had nothing to do with it at all.”

“But can I see him? Can I keep him?” Nathan asked immediately. “David! Heather! Check this out!” He turned to his siblings who were crowding their way past him and into Adam’s office. “It’s Max!”

“We’ll pick him up at the vet’s tomorrow and bring him home,” Adam explained.

“But we can’t keep him at the apartment, Mom. You said we weren’t allowed.”

“Max can stay with me until your mother and I
are married. Then we’re going to need to find a larger home,” Adam told them.

“Married?” Heather and David repeated in unison.

“Yes, married. Finally,” Angela answered. “But when?” She met Adam’s gentle gaze as Nathan showed the picture of Max and told his brother and sister what had happened.

“As soon as we can arrange it. We’ll call Rob.”

“How about Thanksgiving?” she suggested. “Hopefully, Rob and Micah will be there with the babies. That would be wonderful, Adam. A wedding on Thanksgiving Day—a wedding we need to thank the Lord for. There couldn’t be a more appropriate time.”

Adam smiled and pulled her close, brushing her temple with a light, teasing kiss. “Sounds perfect.” As perfect as life itself seemed in that moment. Adam and Angela both knew there would be much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving Day. And every day thereafter.

“D
early beloved, we are gathered together…”

“…to ask the Lord’s blessing. He chastens and hastens, His will to make known.”
Heather’s happy voice burst into song, singing a portion of the musical selection she’d performed at school in last night’s Thanksgiving program. Everyone that had crowded into the Granston living room for the wedding looked at her, first in surprise and then with quiet amusement.

“Thank you, Heather,” Rob said from where he stood close to the fireplace. “You’re right. We are here to ask the Lord’s blessing.”

“Especially on Thanksgiving, Uncle Rob.”

“True enough, hon, but what I was aiming for was ’to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.’” Rob exchanged a gentle look with his sister, who stood before him, in a delicate ivory suit, beside her husband-to-be.

Micah, Hope and Grace were all smiling broadly
at Heather’s enthusiasm. The little girl was obviously too excited about the wedding to keep silent. And she was right: it was a day specifically set aside to thank the Lord for his goodness.

“What’s a wedding without a little music?” Adam suggested, and squeezed Angela’s hand.

“Go ahead.” Heather’s wide blue eyes gazed up at her uncle, the minister. “That’s your job. Marry them. Then maybe I’ll sing something else…if you really want me to, Adam.”

Adam assured her that it was what he and Angela
both
wanted, and the ceremony proceeded. The school principal married the recreation director in the midst of family, friends and the crying of the Granston twins, who woke up before the wedding was over that Thanksgiving noon. Then the holiday was truly observed at Ed and Grace Granston’s home with prayer offered over a traditional turkey dinner that was enjoyed by everyone present. Even Micah, who quite proudly displayed to Angela her newly acquired skills of feeding, burping and changing diapers on her two tiny babies—without most of the fear she’d exhibited earlier.

“You’re doing fine with them, Micah,” Angela said. “Just like I knew you would. But let Rob help you as much as he can.”

“I’m still worried that I’ll do something wrong, but I’m taking it one day at a time, and so far I’m doing okay. And Rob does help me a lot,” she added. “I don’t think I could handle this without him. He even takes care of the middle-of-the-night feedings so I can
get some sleep.” She paused, then laughed quietly. “Lucky for you I have him around. Otherwise, I might be calling you for help and interrupting your honeymoon.”

Angela glanced across the room toward the fireplace where Adam stood talking with her father and Eric. At that moment he looked over at her and smiled, watching her as he listened to his new brother-in-law. Angela squeezed Micah’s arm and leaned close to whisper, “Call Mom or Hope. I don’t want to hear from anyone until Monday.”

Micah nodded and promised not to bother the newlyweds—no matter what happened during the long holiday weekend.

Angela looked at the tranquil scene just outside the living room window of Adam’s home. Crisp white snow covered the ground with more fat flakes floating from the sky as she watched. The reflection of the street light on the sparkling snow made the lovely picture all the more mesmerizing. And her new diamond flashed in the dim light of the room with even the slightest movement of her hand. Her kids would dig out the sleds tomorrow from where they’d been stored in the garage during the past two years of minimal snowfall. This would be the winter weekend of their dreams. Angela smiled. Hers, too, but it had nothing to do with the weather. Three days and nights alone with Adam were more than she’d hoped for during this busy time of year. The fire crackled in the wood-burner in the corner, adding to the perfect scenario for their time alone together. She turned from
the window at the sound of his footsteps.

“Hi,” she said quietly, wrapping her hands around the mug of hot chocolate Adam offered her. “Looks good,” she commented and studied Adam’s smile through the shadows.

“So do you,” he answered. He placed his cup on the nearby end table, then touched the shoulder of her satiny gown. “Although I kind of miss that baggy sweat suit you were wearing the night we first met.”

“You’ll see plenty of that when we’re back home with the kids.”

“I didn’t realize you’d come out of the bedroom,” Adam remarked as he glanced through the window at the wintry scene. “It’s nearly 1:00 a.m. I thought maybe you’d fallen asleep.”

“Not a chance, my husband,” she replied. Then she placed her cup on the end table next to his, freeing her hands to slide around his waist and settle comfortably behind him against the belt of his brown robe. “I may never sleep again.”

Adam’s smile widened. “My thoughts exactly.” He leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “I love you, Angie.”

“And I love you.” She relaxed into his waiting embrace. They stood together in the shadowy silence of the darkened room, watching the holiday snowfall.

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” Angela whispered the words to one of her daughter’s favorite tunes. But the weather had nothing to do with Angela’s predictions for the coming days—or nights. For her, it would be a warm December.