North Dakota Weddings (22 page)

“Could be many reasons. Maybe she didn’t know of my uncle’s love, or didn’t think he was the right man, or her parents didn’t approve. Who knows? But sounds like your grandfather felt guilty and wrote this confession to go with the ring. Must have been a serious rivalry between the two of them to win her hand.”

“I wonder if he secretly hoped the ring would be discovered one day.”

“And I wonder when and how my uncle learned it was hidden here.”

“I’m guessing my grandfather told him he’d hidden it here, knowing there wasn’t a thing Mr. E could do with it secreted away in the nerve center of a launch control facility, until, of course, he purchased it once it was decommissioned.”

Andi sighed as thoughts of all the times these last few years—before Mr. E or her grandmother had died—they’d spent together. They’d seemed to enjoy each other’s company, and near the end, she’d seen Mr. E kissing her grandmother. Just as things had begun to warm up, her grandmother had died.

“I still can’t believe my grandfather would do such a thing.” He stole the ring from Mr. E, effectively stealing the woman he loved.
And I was about to do the same—steal the hidden treasure from his nephew
. Though only a ring, Andi had hoped and believed it was much more.

The disappointment was a direct hit to her heart, and she’d done it to herself. “Look, I know what you said, but I can’t keep this.” She handed the ring to Vance. “It was your uncle’s, stolen by my grandfather. My grandmother didn’t deserve to have it, or a second chance with your uncle.”

Andi rushed from Vance toward the blast door exit.

“Andi, wait!”

Tears blurring her vision, she turned to face him, walking backward and shaking her head. “Later, Vance…just, later.”

The microwave dinged, signaling Vance that his lunch was ready.

Another day, another burrito. Man, he used to love these things, but now as he stared at it, he realized even a burrito couldn’t restore his appetite. He set the plate on the kitchen island. Thanks to Andi, he wasn’t hungry. That wasn’t fair. He couldn’t blame her. She had nothing to do with the problems at his company or with Peter. Vance assumed she needed some time to sort things out. He’d give her that.

The Lord knew they both needed it.

Adding to Vance’s stack of decisions to make, a man had left a message sometime in the middle of the chaos regarding purchasing the missile site. He’d heard Vance wanted to sell. Vance hadn’t made that a secret.

If he left now, he’d leave Andi. He needed more time to get to know her, to find out how she felt about him, if they were right for each other, to know what to do.

But staying had never been part of his plan. His intention had been to think about whether to stay or leave ANND Systems, but in his heart he’d decided a long time ago he was leaving. His family wanted him back in Texas. He was happier there. His dad’s words came back to him.
“Sometimes a person thought he knew what he wanted and when he got it, he discovered how wrong he was.”

The box with the ring rested inches from his plate, the lid open, revealing the diamond shimmering like a distant quasar through the lens of the Hubble space telescope. Either that or, if you looked at it just right, an entire galaxy.

Vance’s appetite suddenly returned, so he sat at the counter, eating and thinking. It was all unreal—his uncle bought the missile site to search for a ring a man had stolen from him decades before, hiding it away so he could propose to the woman he loved, stealing her, too. Then his uncle hired Andi, the granddaughter of the guy who stole and hid the ring, to renovate the place and gave the property to his nephew when he died—a nephew who fell in love with the granddaughter while she was renovating. Uncle Vance couldn’t possibly have known.

Real life is stranger than fiction
. He’d heard that old saying plenty of times. There wasn’t any denying its truth. But Vance believed the Creator of the universe held all things together and worked all things for good for those who love Him.

Vance dropped his fork. He knew what to do.

E
lisa walked through the front door after school. “So glad this is the last week of summer school.” She looked at Andi. “Sis, is everything okay? Why aren’t you at work?”

Andi had told Elisa she could stay home today to rest from yesterday’s drama, but she’d wanted to go to school. Probably to see Todd. “I gave myself the day off.”

“But I thought you were going to work after you dropped me off?”

“I did.”

Elisa threw her backpack on the chair and sat next to Andi. “Did you tell him?”

“Yeah, and we found a box and opened it.”

Elisa’s eyes widened. “You did? What was in it?” Her excitement dampened. “Oh wait, I guess it wasn’t that great or you wouldn’t be sitting here depressed.”

“I’m not depressed.”

“Are we sisters? You always want me to talk to you. The same goes for me.”

Andi took a sip of her coffee. “I placed so much importance on finding what was hidden, even believing it would be something to help us financially, that I hid the fact that I was searching for something from Vance.”

“How did he react when you told him?”

“You know, I think he was upset at first, but that didn’t last long. He helped me open the box. It was a ring.” Andi explained about the letter and that she’d followed in her grandfather’s footsteps.

“You did no such thing. You told Vance. You gave him the ring.”

“It’s not only that.” Andi’s eyes teared up. She groaned and shoved herself from the couch, hating that she’d let down her guard. None of this would have happened, she wouldn’t be feeling this way if she’d guarded her heart.

“Well?”

“Someone contacted me, asking about the missile site property. They want to buy. I gave him Vance’s number.”

“That would mean we get our money, wouldn’t it? Isn’t Vance going to share some of those profits with you for the work?”

“Technically, we’re not finished.” Andi set her coffee cup on the kitchen table.

“Oh, I get it. If Vance sells, then he’s…”

“Gone.” That old familiar pang hit her in the chest. When would she ever learn?

“Andi, you can’t know that.”

“Can’t I? He’s always made it clear he was leaving. There isn’t anything for him here.”

For the rest of the day, Andi sat on the sofa, watching mindless television shows—something she usually had no time for. But it was therapy of a sort, giving her a rest from the burdens of her heart and mind.

Close to bedtime, someone rang the doorbell. Andi knew she looked horrid but didn’t care. “You get it,” she whispered to Elisa. “Probably Todd.”

Elisa peeked out the curtains. “Nope, it’s Vance. You get it.” She ran to her bedroom.

Andi sighed, not ready for this conversation or confrontation. She wasn’t sure which. She finger-combed her hair to make sure her ponytail was in place and took a deep breath to quiet her heart.
More like harden
.

The doorbell sounded again. Andi opened it to see a nervous smile spread across Vance’s face. As always, he looked adorable with his crooked grin.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to open the door.”

Andi didn’t know how to feel, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. “Are you going to sell the site to that guy?”

“Wha—Can I come in first?”

“Oh, sure.” Andi stood aside, allowing him into the living room.

They stood there, quiet and awkward. If Andi weren’t so down, she would have laughed.

Another nervous chuckle escaped Vance. What was going through his mind?

“This isn’t going like I imagined.”

Andi angled her head. “What isn’t going?”

“Can we go outside?”

“What for?”

Vance must have known that taking her hand gently in his held magical powers over her because he did just that.

“Trust me. This will go much better outside.”

Andi couldn’t help but smile and follow him.

“Let’s take a walk.” He held her hand.

Feeling more relaxed than she had all afternoon, Andi tried to enjoy the time with Vance, knowing she might not have much left.

They continued walking until they were in the field near her neighborhood. “Here. This will work. I can see the stars and still see your face.”

“Vance, what’s going on?”

“My uncle meant for you to have this ring, Andi.” He opened the box, revealing the diamond ring.

Andi gasped, uncertain she ever wanted to see the ring again. “I thought we’d already been over this. It belongs to you.”

“And I’m giving it to you.”

Andi shook her head and pulled away, but Vance tugged her close and kissed her lightly. Keeping his face near hers, he said, “Once you let your guard down and let me in, I realized you’re all I ever wanted. Andi Nielsen, will you marry me?”

Stunned with his proposal, her knees wobbled. She nodded.

He grinned. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes.” She swallowed, barely able to speak the word. “Yes!” Louder now.

“You’ve just made me the happiest man in the universe.”

Vance smiled, brighter than she’d ever seen—his smile shining like two colliding galaxies.

A
n unusual wedding, indeed
, Andi thought.

Under the night sky—the stars glittering like diamonds and the heavens a clear reminder that God held the universe together, even as He held their hearts together—Andi said her wedding vows. Vance at her side, she never dreamed she could be this happy and content. God had remodeled her heart even as she had remodeled the missile site.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Andi closed her eyes and accepted her husband’s kiss.
Her husband
. The words made her feel like she was floating.

When they finished, they turned to face the small crowd—including Vance’s family members from Texas who were willing to brave the mosquitoes on a cool North Dakota summer evening so Andi and Vance could have their wedding under the stars.

“Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Vance Young.”

Andi and her new husband hurried down the aisle between the folding chairs, arms linked.

They rushed back to their home across the field at the missile site, where they would host a reception for their guests. They’d agreed to live there for a year, while Vance worked as a contract programmer and prayed about starting his own company. Elisa would stay with Freya Emerson for a couple of weeks to give the newlyweds time alone, then she’d move into her new room at Ground Zero.

He lifted Andi in his arms, swept her into the elevator, and continued to hold her until they’d crossed over the blast door threshold. He set her gently on her feet, then pulled a gift—wrapped in white with a silver bow—from the side table and handed his present to her.

She giggled as she took it. “What’s this?”

“I wanted to give you something special.” He winked.

If there was one thing she loved, it was a man who could make her weak in the knees with a simple wink. Oh, how she loved him. She carefully ripped open the paper to reveal a certificate and gasped. “You…named a star after me?”

“And why not? You’re my shining star.” He tugged her to him and kissed her on the top of the head. “You should know it’s only a novelty gesture. The only thing I could officially name after you through the International Astronomical Union was an asteroid. I didn’t think a mere asteroid was a good fit for my beautiful Andi.”

“You are amazing. I love that you’d want to name a star after me, and I love you.” She stared up into his eyes expectantly.

“You know, the wedding under the stars was memorable, exceptional even. I’m glad we did it.” He nuzzled her neck. “But now I’m hoping the guests won’t stay too long.”

Andi smiled her agreement.

This novel is dedicated to my loving family. Thank you for your tireless encouragement and support. My deep appreciation goes to critique partners, Deborah Vogts, Lynette Sowell, Ronie Kendig, Lisa Harris, and Shannon McNear for your commitment. Thanks to the staff of Douglass County Museum of Natural and Cultural History who shared invaluable information, giving me a behind-the-scenes tour and answering my questions. Special thanks go to paleontologist Walter Stein of PaleoAdventures for providing details of the fossil dig experience that I needed to write this story. The views expressed in this novel are not necessarily his, and any mistakes are mine alone.

T
his was supposed to be a rare opportunity, or so Amber McKinsey had been assured. After the man in front of her finished his purchase, Amber stepped up to the counter. “Where can I find the museum director, Brandon Selman?”

The museum store cashier, an older woman who could easily have been Amber’s grandmother, smiled and adjusted her glasses to study Amber. “I’m not sure if
Dr
. Selman is available. May I ask your business?”

Amber didn’t miss the woman’s emphasis on the title
Dr
. and felt like an idiot. Noting her name badge, she said, “Gladys, Dr. Selman accepted me as a volunteer. You see, I’m an undergraduate student….” She trailed off when she noticed Gladys organizing her work center.