rubbed his thumb across her lip to still the trembling. “None of us know what our futures will bring. But that can’t stop us from living. Or getting married.”
She was silent for so long that his pulse gave a thud. Then without warning, she slipped the ring onto her finger, back where it belonged. And she bestowed a smile upon him that made his limbs turn as weak as the sand. “Thank you for telling me about Ike.”
He nodded and had to swallow before he trusted his voice to speak. “I think it’s time we both stopped running from our fears, don’t you?”
Without waiting for his assistance, she stood and held out a hand to him. “Does that mean you’ll think about staying here at Race Point as the assistant keeper?”
He clasped her hand and rose, so that he was standing next to her. Victoria had wanted to stay with his parents, especially to be there for his mom. While he was glad to see her maturity since the first day they’d arrived, he hadn’t planned on living at the lighthouse, at least not long term. But maybe it was time for him to put the past to rest once and for all. Maybe by remaining instead of running, he could finally find forgiveness and peace with not only all that had happened to Ike, but also what had happened to his mom.
Victoria squeezed his hand. “She wants you to stay. They both do.”
“Only if you promise to stay here with me.”
“Are you sure you want me? I have no doubt that I’ll still have to battle my fears many more times in the years to come.”
“I still have demons to fight too, Victoria,” he said. “But we’ll help each other do battle. There’s strength in numbers, and we’ll be stronger together.”
She tugged him toward the dune, back the direction they’d come. “I guess we better not keep our guests waiting any longer. We wouldn’t want them thinking that I ran away again, would we?”
He grinned. “No we wouldn’t.”
Chapter 25
“And now you may kiss your bride,” the rector said as he closed his Bible and smiled at Tom.
Victoria tried to still the quavering in her chest. She’d done it. She’d finally walked down the aisle, spoken her vows, and promised that for better or worse she’d love and cherish her husband for as long as they both lived.
Of course, she and Tom had already been legally married. But somehow standing in front of their family and friends and pledging their lives to each other made their marriage truly real.
Tom’s hold on her hand hadn’t slackened during the walk back to the beach or during the brief ceremony under the canopy. She’d felt the curious gazes of the guests upon her and sensed the relief from her parents, but she’d kept her focus on Tom. Every time she’d begun to feel a sense of panic rising, he’d squeezed her hands and pulled her gaze to his. The steadiness and love in his eyes had reminded her that they’d get through any difficulties together.
Now a warm sea breeze teased a strand of Tom’s hair. “Mrs. Cushman,” he whispered, his blue eyes dark and filled with thrilling promises. As he bent his head toward hers, she sucked in a breath of anticipation. It didn’t matter that everyone was watching them. She loved his kisses and had been waiting days for another one.
He tilted and brushed her lips with feathery lightness. The warmth and tingle against her mouth teased her and the spark in his eyes told her that he had more to give her. Later.
As he pulled away, she smiled at him, and together they turned to face the guests.
In the front row, James gave a loud snort, and his eyebrows were furrowed together in a glower. “That wasn’t a kiss.”
Tom tossed his dad a scowl in return before holding out his arm to Victoria. “Ready?” he whispered.
“Give her a real kiss,” James demanded.
“Dad,” Tom said through clenched teeth. “Don’t do this now.”
Next to James, Zelma’s smile could have lit the tower lantern. Her eyes danced with delight. Suddenly Victoria knew that she’d done the right thing. If Zelma could find hope and joy despite the dire circumstances of her life, losing one son to death and another to grief, and also losing her feet, surely she could find acceptance and joy, too, in whatever would come. Zelma’s secret was relying upon God’s strength for her joy, which was another thing Victoria would