Endless Love (Santa’s Secret Helpers #5) - Leeanna Morgan Page 0,35
“Remember to put the heart in your pocket,” she whispered.
With a grateful smile, Shelley placed the pretty fabric heart in her pocket. Because, right now, she needed all the good luck she could find.
Chapter 10
As John waited for the bridal party to arrive, the music drifting through The Fairy Forest did nothing to calm his nerves.
This morning’s surprise breakfast with Shelley and Bailey was supposed to help them feel more relaxed about the wedding service. Five hours ago, it had. But, standing in front of the balloon arch, waiting for his bride, was one of the most terrifying things he’d ever done.
When he’d joined Steven and Zac in front of the room, the quiet chatter of their families and friends had dropped to an expectant silence. Even Zac, the most level-headed of all of them, looked as nervous as John felt.
They all wanted today to be perfect. Shelley and Bailey had spent a lot of time organizing their double wedding. From the color of the flowers, to the music that would play throughout the service, everything had been carefully planned, right down to the smallest detail.
John smiled at his mom and dad, at his sisters who were sitting with their boyfriends or husbands. It didn’t seem that long ago that they were enjoying Christmas together and wondering what the following year would bring. He’d known what he’d wanted to happen, but that had depended on Shelley.
Now, less than two months later, he was about to marry the woman he loved more than life itself.
The music changed and his heart pounded. As Lionel Richie sung the first words of “Endless Love”, he looked over his shoulder.
The first person through the large double doors was Mila. She waved at Steven before walking toward them. With all the excitement of an eight-year-old, she dipped her hand into the basket she was holding and threw red rose petals high into the air.
John smiled when Elena dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Bailey and Shelley’s mom had cried so much at last night’s wedding rehearsal that even her husband was worried. Hopefully, after letting go of all that emotion, she would be more prepared for today’s ceremony.
Sam came next. In her pale pink gown, she looked beautiful. Even though she’d been incredibly tired over the last few months, nothing could hide the happiness on her face.
John glanced at Steven. The easygoing smile on his friend’s face had disappeared. That could only mean one thing.
Zac nudged John’s arm. “I can see Shelley.”
He looked down the aisle. Ted was standing between his daughters as they slowly moved past their family and friends.
Nothing John could have said or done would have prepared him for the sight of his bride. She was without a doubt the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. With her hair gathered on top of her head, and a veil falling in soft folds around her shoulders, she took his breath away.
His hands shook as he tried not to let the emotion of what was happening overwhelm him. Then Shelley smiled, and nothing else in the room mattered.
As she stepped closer, he couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever felt so humbled by the love shining from another person’s eyes. He was amazed that Shelley had agreed to marry him, to spend the rest of her life with him and, hopefully, have a family together.
As soon as they were standing beside each other, Shelley held his hand. And for the rest of his life, he never wanted to let go.
Shelley’s eyes filled with tears as John held her trembling hands. It was the moment she’d been dreading, the one part of the entire wedding that she still wasn’t sure about.
Bailey and Steven had already said their wedding vows. Their promises to each other, and to Mila, had been heartfelt and sweet.
Over the last few weeks, Shelley had tried so hard to write her vows. She’d wanted each word to be important, to tell John how much she adored him.
But, regardless of time she put aside to write them, nothing seemed right. All the traditional wedding vows she’d heard kept sweeping her own words away. It wasn’t until she’d listened to John’s sermon last Sunday, that everything fell into place.
John loved her for who she was. He respected her methodical brain, her never-ending need for lists, and her addiction to chocolate fudge. He laughed at the silly, mixed-up words that sometimes spilled from her mouth, and her disastrous attempts to cook fancy dinners.
She didn’t need to