Van Dyke pronounced them man and wife. “You may kiss your bride.”
Air crowded into her throat. David fumbled for a moment, placed his hand on the side of her face, then kissed her cheek as if she was his mother. She blinked, and the chill that blew through her lingered.
He signed the marriage certificate, his name scrawling off to the side like a primer student’s. Karen wrote her name beneath his, swamped with misgivings and doubt one moment, sure she was doing the right thing the next.
Marcus shook David’s hand and patted Karen on the shoulder then scooted out the door like his tail was on fire. Karen couldn’t blame him, what with David acting like he was taking part in his own execution.
Only once during the wedding breakfast did she catch a glimpse of the David she knew hidden beneath the wounded exterior. Buckford set David’s plate before him and leaned down to whisper something Karen didn’t catch.
The grim expression cemented on David’s face all morning softened, and a smile relaxed his lips. He blew out an easy sigh. “Thank you, Buckford. Thank you for understanding and not judging.”
The older man patted David on the shoulder and cast a glance at Karen. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Buckford was pleading for understanding himself. She lifted her brows, but he shook his head and returned to the kitchen.
Jesse rose when it came time to serve the wedding cake. “A toast to Karen and David.”
Karen lifted her glass of punch. Would David take part? A trapped breath escaped her chest when he felt for his glass and held it before himself.
“Karen, you are a gracious and lovely addition, and Matilda and I welcome you as the daughter we never had. We know that things don’t always work out according to our plans, but they always work out according to God’s plan and for our good.” He smiled and nodded several times, his eyes suspiciously bright. “David, you’ve had a bumpy road this past little while, but with Karen by your side, I foresee things smoothing out for you. If I didn’t know how much you love each other, I would’ve suggested waiting for this union, but if ever two people were meant to be together, it’s you. I wish you all the happiness you deserve.” He raised his glass. “To Karen and David.”
Matilda and Sam echoed his words. “Karen and David.”
Karen pressed her glass to her lips and took a deep drink, all the while watching David over the rim. He lifted his punch and took a sip, his face thoughtful. Was he softening?
The family scattered as soon as they could decently do so, leaving Karen and David alone together for the first time all day.
She folded her napkin into a square and laid it beside her plate.
“So, what’s your next move, Mrs. Mackenzie?”
“I was just going to ask you the same thing. Where do we go from here?”
“You’re not already regretting your decision, are you?”
“Of course not. It would be natural for me to ask what your plans are for the near future.”
“How appropriate, because I do have plans. Buckford is upstairs packing my things. I’m headed to Denver to take up residence in the town house. Certain information has come to my knowledge that makes it prudent I separate myself from my family for the time being, my mother in particular. The train departs in two hours.”
“You’re leaving?” She gripped the napkin, crumpling the precise folds she’d just created. “What about me?”
He rubbed his hand down his face and tested his temple with his fingertips. The bruise had faded to a pale yellowish green, and he didn’t wince as he probed. “I can’t very well travel alone, now can I?” His lips twisted. “I can’t do much of anything alone anymore. You can come along and get a taste of what it means to be married to someone in my condition.”
“Why leave your family? And why your mother in particular? I would think you’d prefer to stay here where everything is familiar.”
“Suffice it to
Air crowded into her throat. David fumbled for a moment, placed his hand on the side of her face, then kissed her cheek as if she was his mother. She blinked, and the chill that blew through her lingered.
He signed the marriage certificate, his name scrawling off to the side like a primer student’s. Karen wrote her name beneath his, swamped with misgivings and doubt one moment, sure she was doing the right thing the next.
Marcus shook David’s hand and patted Karen on the shoulder then scooted out the door like his tail was on fire. Karen couldn’t blame him, what with David acting like he was taking part in his own execution.
Only once during the wedding breakfast did she catch a glimpse of the David she knew hidden beneath the wounded exterior. Buckford set David’s plate before him and leaned down to whisper something Karen didn’t catch.
The grim expression cemented on David’s face all morning softened, and a smile relaxed his lips. He blew out an easy sigh. “Thank you, Buckford. Thank you for understanding and not judging.”
The older man patted David on the shoulder and cast a glance at Karen. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Buckford was pleading for understanding himself. She lifted her brows, but he shook his head and returned to the kitchen.
Jesse rose when it came time to serve the wedding cake. “A toast to Karen and David.”
Karen lifted her glass of punch. Would David take part? A trapped breath escaped her chest when he felt for his glass and held it before himself.
“Karen, you are a gracious and lovely addition, and Matilda and I welcome you as the daughter we never had. We know that things don’t always work out according to our plans, but they always work out according to God’s plan and for our good.” He smiled and nodded several times, his eyes suspiciously bright. “David, you’ve had a bumpy road this past little while, but with Karen by your side, I foresee things smoothing out for you. If I didn’t know how much you love each other, I would’ve suggested waiting for this union, but if ever two people were meant to be together, it’s you. I wish you all the happiness you deserve.” He raised his glass. “To Karen and David.”
Matilda and Sam echoed his words. “Karen and David.”
Karen pressed her glass to her lips and took a deep drink, all the while watching David over the rim. He lifted his punch and took a sip, his face thoughtful. Was he softening?
The family scattered as soon as they could decently do so, leaving Karen and David alone together for the first time all day.
She folded her napkin into a square and laid it beside her plate.
“So, what’s your next move, Mrs. Mackenzie?”
“I was just going to ask you the same thing. Where do we go from here?”
“You’re not already regretting your decision, are you?”
“Of course not. It would be natural for me to ask what your plans are for the near future.”
“How appropriate, because I do have plans. Buckford is upstairs packing my things. I’m headed to Denver to take up residence in the town house. Certain information has come to my knowledge that makes it prudent I separate myself from my family for the time being, my mother in particular. The train departs in two hours.”
“You’re leaving?” She gripped the napkin, crumpling the precise folds she’d just created. “What about me?”
He rubbed his hand down his face and tested his temple with his fingertips. The bruise had faded to a pale yellowish green, and he didn’t wince as he probed. “I can’t very well travel alone, now can I?” His lips twisted. “I can’t do much of anything alone anymore. You can come along and get a taste of what it means to be married to someone in my condition.”
“Why leave your family? And why your mother in particular? I would think you’d prefer to stay here where everything is familiar.”
“Suffice it to
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