Epilogue
Two months later, Belle, wearing a simple dress and holding a bouquet from Naomi’s flower garden stood next to Aaron in front of Pastor Jerry and tried not to pinch herself. Aaron McSweeney, who looked handsome in a gray western suit, was about to become her husband.
This cowboy had won her heart.
Next to Belle stood Kelsey, who had been beside herself when Belle asked her to be her maid of honor. Lyle beamed proudly when Aaron asked him to be his best man.
Around them sat her parents and Aaron’s family, friends and the whole town of Sweet Mountain.
What started out as a small wedding turned into a bigger one as news of their nuptials spread through town. No one wanted to miss the event.
“Your day is going to be so special,” Rachel, who was married to Aaron’s younger brother, Levi, said as she bounced her toddler on her knee.
“I hear yours was special, too,” Belle said with a laugh. “People still tell me about your wedding. It made quite an impression on everyone. No one could believe one of the McSweeney boys would marry.”
“No one was more surprised than I.” Rachel’s eyes went wide. “I crushed on the big man on campus. That he would give me a second look made me melt inside.”
“Why shouldn’t he give you a second look?” Belle said firmly. “You’re the most gorgeous woman in town.”
“Stop.” Rachel laughed, then added slyly, “At least Levi tells me that every day. I’ll never tire of hearing him say that.”
With patience and kindness, Pastor Jerry led Belle and Aaron through each part of the ceremony. It seemed that the service had barely started before the minister introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. McSweeney.
“This is beginning to sound familiar.” Aaron tipped his head to hers.
“Two down, five to go.” Belle smiled at him.
Amidst applause and cheers, they strode up the aisle while Seth played the Cowboy Wedding Song on his guitar. After a wedding reception of sandwiches, fruit and a beautiful wedding cake Naomi had made, Aaron leaned into her. “It’s time to go.”
Belle looked into Aaron’s eyes. The first night of the rest of their lives was about to begin.
In a torrent of flower petals, they dashed to Aaron’s truck that had been decorated with a just married sign and streamers. Tonight, they would stay at Aaron’s cabin.
Lyle and Kelsey were excited to stay with Belle’s parents at their cabin. The next day Aaron and Belle would drive to her parents’ cabin to take her children, soon to be their children, on a cruise.
When Aaron and Belle arrived at his cabin, Aaron helped her get out of the truck’s cab. He swept her into his arms. Porchlights showed them the way to the front door. Inside, the cabin’s transformation took away Belle’s breath.
Soft lighting and music greeted them. A tray of wrapped tidbits and a chilling bottle of nonalcoholic champagne and two champagne glasses waited for them on the coffee table. Rose bouquets sat on every tabletop. Twinkling lights had been strung across the ceiling and around the windows.
She glanced at him and saw that he watched her, relief and something else filling his eyes.
“When did you do this?” Belle asked in stunned amazement.
“I can’t take complete credit. Mom and Rachel did some brainstorming and thought you might like this theme.” He dropped his gaze before looking at her again.
“Like it? I love it.” She twirled happily, her dress rippling about her ankles. “It’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen.” She stopped and stared at him, her mood suddenly serious. “This is more beautiful than any scene in a movie.”
Stepping to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Rising on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his. His mouth grew hungry as he tasted each kiss and poured his passion into her.
“This hardly seems fair,” he whispered.
Frowning, she withdrew slightly and lifted her gaze to his. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, Mom and Rachel did all the work, and I’m reaping the rewards. I merely mentioned that I wanted to make the cabin special for our wedding night and asked for some ideas. They sketched out a few designs. I approved this one. I thought it fit best with who you are, and they set to work.” He kissed her again. “Not that I’m complaining about reaping the rewards, I mean. Although, I did do one thing. I did set up the sound system.”
“You had the idea. Kudos on the music. It definitely sets the mood.” She pressed kisses across his mouth and jaw. “I’m lucky to spend a night in this beautiful place.”
“Then come see the bedroom.” Withdrawing from her, he took her hand and stepped back before leading her up the staircase decorated with more twinkling lights, garlands and more rose bouquets. The romantic music followed them.
She had to look everywhere to capture the elements of each room. She was in awe at the attention to detail.
In the master bedroom, gone was the plain bed with the wood headboard and navy duvet. In its place sat a canopy, the gauze tester lined with more roses. Filmy drapes were drawn to each post that framed the upholstered headboard.
“This is like a fairytale.” She took in the room, the elaborate dresser, the ornate mirror and the vanity with a silver tray holding a brush and comb set. Crystal lamps sitting on each nightstand matched the crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling. “But are you sure you’ll be comfortable in a room like this?”
“All I do is go to sleep.” He touched a finger to her chin and kissed her. “You wouldn’t believe the places I’ve slept. As a first responder, I can’t be picky.”
“I guess not,” she said with a laugh.
“But tonight, I have other things in mind.” Gently he slipped his fingers through her hair.
His touch was so tender it brought tears to her eyes. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. He pressed kisses to her lips and down the curve of her neck. With each touch, her body flooded with warm tingling. She relished each kiss, as he laid her on the bed and stretched out next to her. Holding her close, she basked in his passion that bespoke of each way he loved her.
Closing her eyes, she sank into the love that filled her and overflowed with each tender touch.
A year ago she had thought her life had ended. Now she lay in the arms of the man she didn’t think she could love any more but knew each day she would.
How God had blessed her with a life she had never thought possible. How could she be happier? She didn’t know, but she looked forward to each day when her happiness and her love for Aaron would grow.
One year later …
Belle lay in the hospital bed. The tiny infant in her arms suckled hungrily, his eyes opening and closing as if analyzing each sound. The joy she felt holding this union of her and Aaron filled her with joy and relief as she touched the tiny fists that flailed before delicately finding a resting place against her skin.
Aaron had warned her that a McSweeny hadn’t fathered a girl in several generations. Felix had only brothers, now seven sons. Rachel, Levi’s wife, had two sons. They had adopted the daughter of Levi’s friends when the friends passed away.
Belle didn’t care. She had a healthy baby whom she would love and cherish and raise to love God. That was all that mattered to her.
“Hey.” Aaron’s voice was husky. “Why the tears?”
“I’m so happy.” She looked up at her children. Though Belle was covered, her children looked slightly embarrassed to see her nurse their infant brother. “I felt the same way when Lyle and Kelsey were born.”
“You cried?” Lyle’s mouth twisted in confusion.
“It was a release.” Belle laughed at his all-boy mannerisms. He’d become so like Aaron and his brothers, wearing jeans and boots and a cowboy hat. He could herd cattle, flip chickens and ride horses as if he were a born and bred McSweeney.
In name, he and Kelsey were. Shortly after Belle and Aaron married, Aaron adopted both children. They were happy to call him Dad.
Chad had tried to make the adoption difficult, but when Belle shared the conflict with her prayer group, his heart changed. She thanked God when Chad gave her his blessing and wished her a happy life. He hadn’t had contact with his children in a while. For him to complicate the adoption didn’t make sense.
He had two children with his new wife. Belle prayed that they were happy. Children deserved a home filled with joy. Her own children had suffered with the strife that had wedged between her and Chad. When her ex-husband had asked for a divorce, she felt sad, but she felt relief. She couldn’t stand to see her children suffer for a mistake she’d made.
That God had changed Chad’s heart about the adoption was the blessing she hadn’t expected and made her fall to her knees in thanksgiving. She couldn’t ask for anything more. Aaron wanting her children to be McSweeneys was the greatest gift from God. Aaron loved her children, now their children. He spent hours with them, teaching them the ways of the ranch. He even taught them about being a first responder—something both children wanted to do.
Lyle would soon be old enough to join the crew on calls. He had the skill set to battle the fires. Thinking of her son as a firefighter made Belle slightly nervous, but she wouldn’t deprive her son of his goal. He had direction and dreams. Belle wanted him to follow those.
“What are you going to name our brother, Mom?” Kelsey chewed her lower lip. “I mean, we have to call him something.”
“We made a list of names.” Belle looked at her husband. She had wanted to see what their baby looked like before they settled on a name. She wanted to stay with the McSweeney tradition of giving their child a biblical name.
“Which I have right here.” Aaron pulled his phone from his pocket.
He handed the phone to Lyle, who scrolled through the list. Kelsey looked over his shoulder.
“Demetrius.” Lyle looked up from the list and grinned. “I like that name.” He shifted his gaze to Kelsey. “What do you think?”
“Demetrius is a cool name,” Kelsey said with excitement. “What about a middle name?”
“We have to decide on that, too,” Belle said.
“How about Aaron for a middle name?” Kelsey looked at her father.
Aaron smiled. The glow in his eyes showed he was pleased.
Emotion caught Belle high in the throat. She was glad her children showed their love for their father by giving his name to their baby brother.
“Demetrius Aaron McSweeney, I like the sound of that. What do you think, Mom?” Lyle looked at her with hope in his eyes.
“I think that sounds wonderful.” Belle arched a brow at her husband.
“I think that’s a very nice name for this little guy,” Aaron said softly.
“Good.” Belle shifted the baby and covered herself.
Demetrius offered her a toothless grin. His eyes opened for a moment before closing again. Eating had exhausted him.
She held his head as she rested his warm, soft body against her shoulder. She drew in his baby fresh scent, the reminder of how much she loved that smell when Lyle and Kelsey had been born. Looking at them now, she found it hard to believe that they had ever been that small.
“When the nurse returns, I’ll tell her we’ve made our decision so she can tell the staff to get the birth certificate ready.” Belle rubbed her hand over her baby’s delicate back.
“Good. I need to get these guys to youth group, but I’ll be back. Hopefully, they’ll have the birth certificate ready by then so we can both sign it.” Aaron smiled at her.
Belle’s heart lifted at the smile she’d see for the rest of her life.
God had blessed her. She couldn’t ask for anything more than to spend eternity with this man.
“’Bye, ‘bye, Demetrius.” Kelsey kissed the small head that was covered with soft dark hair.
Belle wondered how long that hair would stay. Demetrius’ eyes were bright blue, like Aaron’s. His hair would probably be blond like Aaron’s, too.
Kelsey hugged her mother. “I’m so glad we have a baby,” she said with feeling.
Belle fought the lump rising in her throat. “I’m glad you’re glad.” Belle kissed her daughter’s cheek and thanked God for all her children. They had been the blessing she never expected.
Lyle stroked a finger along Demetrius’ arm, which made the baby jump. Lyle wasn’t keen on the hugging and kissing, but smiled and gave her a quick hug along with a, “’Bye, Mom.”
“’Bye, honey.” She watched them walk out the hospital room door.
At the door, Aaron turned to her and smiled. “You did great, honey.”
“I’m just glad it’s over.” She exhaled roughly. “And that I can now hold this precious little bundle.”
Aaron nodded, then disappeared.
“What do you think of your family, Demetrius?” she asked the sleeping baby, whose full lips spread into a grin before vanishing.
“I thought so.” She rested her cheek against his head. “I think you’re all pretty special.”
The miracles God had performed in the lives of each one of them were too numerous to count, but she would always thank Him for His blessings. She had more than she ever expected. The husband she loved. The children she loved. The extended family she loved. God’s blessings overflowed.
Start reading Another Chance at Love to find out if Hannah will always believe her greatest gift is her punishment or will Trey convince her that his love for her is everlasting?