This Time (21 page)

"
You look beautiful," Gates said.

"
Mercy, I'm gonna cry," Mary Beth said, reaching for a
tissue.

Belle glanced in the mirror, her
reflection so different from the first time she waited in this room
and anticipated the walk down the aisle to her groom. Her once
bouffant hair was now short and stylish. Her big, ornate dress with
puffy sleeves and thousands of beads had been replaced with her
mother's simple, elegant, white silk and organza gown.

She faced the room. "I
hope Burke thinks so."

"
You're going to take his breath away," Mary Beth said.
Gates and Meg softly agreed.

"
How are you doing, Meg?" Belle asked, walking over to where
her friend sat, dressed in a burgundy gown, her round belly
apparent underneath.

"
I'm fine," she said smiling, squeezing Belle's gloved
hand.

"
Just don't go into labor during the ceremony," Gates said.
"We've waited too long for this."

She patted her belly.
"Baby Belle and I have an understanding."

Belle grimaced at her
friend. "So, you are seriously naming her after me? I thought you
were kidding."

Meg answered tenderly.
"Stan and I talked about if for a long time. If she grows up to be
half the woman you are, we will have done well."

Mary Beth stood to leave,
straightening her a-line skirt and fluffy her red curls. "Come on,
ya'll, let's leave the blushing bride alone for a few minutes. Give
her some quiet."

Meg and Gates kissed the bride
on the cheek and stepped out of the room with Mary Beth.

Softly, Belle began to pray, her
heart full of love and thanksgiving for her Lord. The events of the
last few months astounded her. First, Burke's surprising but
impassioned proposal while they huddled together in the Haymakers'
bleachers, then the night in the chapel.

For the wedding and reception,
they'd invited close family and friends, wanting the evening to be
intimate and simple. Since it was Christmas Eve, the reception
would be brief so that Pastor Mike and the rest of the guests could
attend services celebrating the birth of the Savior.

After Christmas and the
honeymoon, a large elaborate reception would take place at the
Tulsa Racquet Club. The guest list included most of the town,
Hollywood and sports celebrities Burke had become acquainted with
through the years, his former teammates and a large press corp.
Though Belle looked forward to the gala event, she could not
imagine anything more wonderful than the joy she felt right now,
waiting in the small, quaint room to marry the man she'd always
loved.

But even more than the joy of
marrying Burke, she continually sensed the Lord's redeeming love
and amazing grace toward her. And, as they planned the wedding, it
seemed as though He'd gone before and prepared the time and place
before they even asked.

A light knock echoed from
the door. "Can I come in?"

"
Yeah, Daddy, come on in."

Her father stepped in, his
face glowing, such a different face than the last time he had
walked through that door. "Meg and Gates are about to walk down the
aisle."

"
And Burke?"

Duke cleared his throat.
"I stood here before and delivered the worst news of your life.
Today, I can tell ya that man is as anxious as any groom I ever
saw. Checkin' his watch every two seconds to see if it's time
yet."

She beamed. "This time
feels different, doesn't it?"

Duke nodded. "The first go
'round was all pomp and circumstance, running around, doin' all the
traditions. It felt forced in some ways."

She agreed. "This time
feels easy and graceful. The Lord is so good, Daddy. In my wildest
dreams, I never imagined I'd have a day like this. It's
perfect."

"
That's cause ya left the choosing to Him. You put your hope
in His love and plan for ya. I reckon he turned them ashes into
something very beautiful," Duke said with a wink.

"
Yes, He did. Beauty for my ashes, joy for my
mourning."

Her father checked his
watch and held out his elbow for Belle. "Let's go get ya
married."

They walked into the
quiet, candlelit foyer. Anticipation filled the air. Belle squeezed
Duke's arm. "I'm nervous."

"
Ah, kitten, e'vry one of these folks loves ya. No need to
be nervous."

Through a narrow, rectangular
window on the sanctuary door she could see Meg and Gates standing
at the altar, facing the back, waiting for her to enter.

The quartet changed the music,
and Pacabel's Cannon in D wafted on the air. At the right time in
the music, the ushers swung open the sanctuary doors and the guests
stood as Belle glided into the room on her father's arm. All eyes
focused on her, but for Belle, only one set of eyes mattered.

Burke's handsome face bore an
expression full of love. Tears pooled in her eyes and her heart,
humbled and honored, softened with emotion.

Once at the altar, Duke placed
her hand in Burke's, kissed her cheek with trembling lips and
stepped back.

Burke drew her close, locking
his eyes with hers. His smile radiated love and tenderness. They
lingered in the joy of the moment, letting the music play, basking
in each other's presence.

Pastor Mike began the
ceremony with prayer and a scripture reading. "Love is patient,
love is kind. Love keeps no record of wrong."

With emotion, Burke and Belle
spoke their own vows, repeating words they'd penned from their
heart.

Burke's vows brought tears
to Belle's eyes. "I left you once, and I promise to never leave you
again. Never. I will always be with you, encourage you, comfort and
love you. You can depend on me. I pledge my fidelity and heart to
you, and you alone. Belle, before God and this congregation, I make
these vows to you."

Wiping away her tears,
Belle spoke her vows from her heart. "I promise to forgive and
forget that you ever left me. This day is a new day for us, Burke.
The past is past. It is not a part of our future. I promise to love
you, respect you, encourage you and trust you. I will be faithful
to you in body, mind and soul. Burke, before God and this
congregation, I make these vows to you."

After Pastor Mike pronounced
them married, they shared communion together as their first act as
husband and wife. Reese and Duke gathered around them and prayed
over them a father's blessing.

Finally, Pastor Mike
presented them to the congregation, announcing a new family to the
teary eyed guests. "With great joy I introduce to you, Mr. And Mrs.
Burke Benning.

"
Burke," he said, his face animated with a wide smile. "You
may kiss your bride."

As his lips touched hers, she
fell into his embrace. Thunderous applause filled the sanctuary.
When the processional music started, the ushers opened the doors.
The local press lit the back of the room with video lights and
camera flashes.

Burke gazed down at Belle and
winked, squeezing her hand three times, I-love-you. She beamed up
at him, her heart enraptured and in love.

This time is our time, she
thought, walking up the aisle on his arm. This time.

Dedicated to my sister, Rebekah,
whose voice I hear in Belle's.

Rachel Hauck is an inspirational
fiction writer and Vice President of American Christian Romance
Writers. She lives near Orlando, FL with her husband, two dogs and
cat. A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in
Journalism, Rachel works as a project manager for a software
company.

During a sabbatical from
her job, Rachel started writing inspirational romance. "My
relationship with my husband unfolded in such a way that I know God
is a God of romance. Inspirational romance is a wonderful way to
demonstrate God's desire to be intimately involved in our lives,
especially human romantic relationships."

During a local high school
football game, she came up with the idea for This Time.

This is Rachel's first book with
Writers Exchange, you can keep track of her work on her author page
at:

http://www.writers-exchange.com/Rachel-Hauck.html

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