The Second Chance Bride (Country Brides & Cowboy Boots) Page 18
“I know. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Another knock. “Savannah?”
Savannah looked at Lily. Her eyes sparkled.
Lily gave her that familiar merry look. “The next time I see you, you’ll be Savannah Steele, but you’ll always be the sweet girl who caught polliwogs in my backyard pond.”
Savannah gave Lily a serious look. “You’re right. I will always be that girl.”
Savannah opened the door to find her father standing before her in understated elegance with his tailor-made gray tuxedo and deep purple silk tie. Every crease was perfect and the white shirt set off his weathered face and strong hands.
He gave Savannah a tender smile.
Lily beamed at both of them. “Well, I think it’s time for me to find my seat,” she said as she moved past the pair.
Tears came to Charles’s eyes. “You remind me of your mother.”
Savannah nodded. “I had my dress patterned after hers. Do you like it?”
“It’s lovely, and you match her in every way, including beauty and grace.” He glanced around the corner. “Everyone is lining up. Marissa is practically dancing, she’s so excited to be your maid of honor, and Shelby and Chantelle are standing in line next to Ben and Steve.”
Savannah nodded as she heard the music from the organ and piano begin. Taking her father’s arm, she moved out of the dressing room and watched as Shelby and Chantelle moved down the aisle in their deep purple dresses. Marissa turned and gave Savannah a wink before placing her arm through Keith’s and sweeping down the aisle in lavender, behind Chantelle and Shelby.
“It’s time. Are you ready?” Charles asked as he looked into Savannah’s eyes with gentle affection.
Savannah looked up at her father. “Yeah. Are you?”
Charles wiped away a stray tear as he nodded. “I’m learning that by giving you away, I get to keep you in my heart.” He smiled at Savannah. “You taught me that.”
The wedding march began and Savannah tightened her grip on her father’s arm. “I am always your little girl,” she said. “And I’m glad I haven’t lost my father.”
The crowd rose to their feet as Savannah looked down the aisle, but she didn’t see them. She didn’t notice the garlands of flowers that hung from the pews or the giant sprays of blooms that stood behind the minister. Instead, she focused on her father’s warm arm wrapped around hers, and Alex’s loving gaze from his place at the altar.
When she arrived to stand in front of Alex, she squeezed her father’s arm as the minister asked, “Who gives this woman to be married?”
Charles hesitated for a moment before answering, “Her mother and I do.”
Savannah turned to her father to see tears in his eyes as he removed his arm from hers and took his seat in the front row. She smiled tenderly at him before handing her bouquet to Marissa and turning toward Alex, she took both of his hands in hers. The warmth of his fingers against her cool skin allowed her to take a deep breath as she looked into his eyes, so full of hope and love.
She squeezed his fingers, and he returned her affection.
Here stood her future, bright and glorious with every possible promise. Here stood her second chance, and with it came a deeper love than was shared the first time.
Chapter 36
Savannah walked with Alex, their hands entwined as they studied the rows of pecan trees just beginning to open to spring. Stopping for a moment, Savannah turned to face Alex as he brought her hand to his lips. The wedding set glimmered in the dappled sun. “I can’t believe we’ve been married six months already,” Alex said.
Savannah squeezed Alex’s fingers before leaving him to meander to one of the trees, where she touched the cool, gray bark.
“Do you know what my name, Savannah, means?” She made her way back to him.
Alex gave her a curious look.
“It means ‘treeless plain.’” She laughed. “Can you imagine a girl named after a treeless plain wanting to be an arborist and then marrying the owner of a pecan orchard?”
“Sounds like a fairy tale to me,” Alex said.
“Yep. My very own fairy tale.”
“Are you enjoying your classes?”
“What’s not to love?” Savannah replied. “I get to study trees all day.”
“It’ll be a perfect fit for us here,” Alex said. “I love the idea of having our very own arborist.”
Savannah grinned as she fell into step with Alex. “Have you heard from Amy?”
“Just this morning,” Alex said. “They’re already taking reservations starting in July. She and Steve are loving their little inn, and they’re gearing up for a busy summer.”
“I got an email from Lily this morning,” Savannah said. “Shelby is finishing her last physical therapy appointment this week. She and Ben are planning to marry alongside Chantelle and Mason. It’s going to be a double wedding. They’re sending us an invitation.”
Alex took a deep breath. “It turned out for the best in every possible way, didn’t it?”
Savannah nodded. “Marissa is getting straight A’s in school, and Dad has actually started dating! Can you believe it? He’s seeing Leah Winters. I’m excited to meet her. She owns the Blossom Café in town. Although, I guess Kelly isn’t very happy. Her last email asked me if I could run interference for her.”
Alex gave Savannah a hard look. “Typical.”
Savannah rubbed his arm. “Don’t be like that,” she said. “I know Kelly and I don’t get along, but she really loves my dad, even though she has an odd way of showing it.”
“What did you tell her?”
Savannah shook her head. “I can’t help her, really. My father’s dating business is his own.”
Alex breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you see it that way. After what we’ve been through, I would hate for you to interfere.”
Savannah agreed before turning toward Alex. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Alex bent down and kissed her on the mouth. “What is it?”
Savannah pulled him in a gentle embrace. “I’m pregnant.”
Alex stepped back and looked intently into Savannah’s eyes. “Are you sure?”
Savannah nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure.”
Alex pulled her close. “How are you?” he asked. “Do you need to go to bed? What can I do?”
Savannah laughed. “I’m fine,” she said. “I couldn’t be healthier, and I’m really lucky, because my morning sickness is minimal. But I do have a couple of requests.”
“Anything.”
“When this baby is born, I want to plant an Autumn Blaze maple.”
Alex gave her a knowing look. “In memory of your mother.” He nodded slowly. “That’s a lovely tribute, Savannah. I hope you’ll let me help.”
Savannah nodded. “Yes, of course. You’re a part of this legacy now,” she murmured. She gazed down at their clasped hands for a moment before gazing back up at him. “There’s something else. When I’m past this first trimester, I want for us to go home and tell my dad in person. He’s going to need to see that I’m fine, healthy, and happy. And…and if he’ll come, I want him here for the birth. He needs this, Alex.”
“I know.” Alex paused. “It’s going to be hard to share you in that moment, especially with the man who banished me from your life all those years ago, but I see your logic, and I agree with you.”
Savannah reached up and caressed Alex’s face. “But for now, it’s going to be our secret, okay?”
Alex pulled Savannah into a tender embrace. “Just when I think I can’t love you more, I do.”
Savannah breathed deep the scent of sage mingling with the Texas spring as the love she and Alex shared reached every part of her healed heart. “I’m so glad you found me,” she said.
“And I’m so grateful for this second chance,” Alex said. “Because you’ve always been my first choice.”
* * *
Thanks for reading The Second Chance Bride by Danni
Lee Nicholls. There are more Country Brides & Cowboy Boots books to enjoy available for Kindle.
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The Sherriff’s Bride from Kimberly Krey.
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The Horse Trainer, the Buyer & The Bride
The Chef, the Holidays & the Husband
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Catching a Counterfeit Cowboy
by Sarah Gay
The Cowboy’s Accidental Bride
by Cindy Roland Anderson
An Unexpected Groom
A Much-Anticipated Bride
A Cowboy’s Proposal
Dating the Rogue Cowboy
by Lucy McConnell
Also by Danni Lee Nicholls
The Jewelry Box
A Light to Come Home By
The Sand Dollar Promise
Lilies and Clover
Finding Home
The River Home
Danni has one inspirational talk on tape titled,
“To Each A Gift.”
About the Author
Danni Lee Nicholls wrote her first story when she was ten-years-old, and she’s been putting pen to paper ever since. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading or playing outside. Danni loves hiking the forested mountains and beaches of her Pacific Northwest home, rain or shine. But let’s be honest, it’s mostly rain. Her partners in these adventures are her husband of over thirty years and their rascally Golden Retriever pup.
Danni is keenly interested in the human condition and received her BA in Social Work from University of Washington in 2015. She graduated with her Masters in Social Work in 2017 from Boston University at the hopeful age of fifty-four. Her desire to understand those who are on this journey of life motivates her efforts as a social worker, therapist, and writer.
The Second Chance Bride, is Danni’s first foray into romance writing, and she promises there’s much more to come.
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