Chapter 38
Two Months Later…
Susan placed her phone on Paul’s kitchen counter and slowly exhaled. Telling Cole Morrison she wasn’t applying for the executive chef position at his luxury resort had been easier than she thought.
“He understood?” Paul picked up a spoon and stirred the sauce he was making.
“He did.” Susan moved to stand beside Paul, drawn by the rich aroma of caramelizing shallots and wine. “Cole said he won’t be advertising the role for another six months. If I change my mind, I can still put my name forward. But I’ve already found what I’m looking for.”
Paul turned off the burner and faced her, his expression tender. “No regrets?”
“Not even one.” She reached for his hand. “Working with you at your restaurant is better than managing someone else’s vision, no matter how impressive the setting.”
Paul lifted her fingers to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Before either could speak again, his phone vibrated on the countertop.
Paul glanced at the screen. “It’s Kathleen.” He answered immediately. “Hi, Kathleen. How can I help you?”
Susan watched Paul’s expression shift from relaxed to alert within seconds. He mouthed “Lynda” and tapped the speaker option.
“—wants you both at St. Joseph Medical Center as quickly as possible,” Kathleen said breathlessly. “Matt’s taken his first independent steps. Real ones, Paul. After all those hours of physiotherapy, he just walked across the rehabilitation room without any assistance.”
Susan pressed her hand to her chest, emotion swelling unexpectedly. “That’s incredible.”
“Hi, Susan,” Kathleen said. “Isabel and Frank are already heading to Polson. Can you and Paul leave now?”
“We’ll be there within the hour,” Susan promised.
After ending the call, Paul grabbed their jackets and they headed toward his truck. Matt’s progress had been gradual, each milestone celebrated but never certain. For him to achieve full mobility meant everything—not just for his recovery, but for the future he and Lynda were creating together.
The drive to Polson passed quickly. When they reached the hospital, Isabel and Frank were waiting for them in the main lobby.
“Matt’s upstairs in the rehabilitation area,” Isabel said, gesturing toward the elevators.
“Have Kathleen and Patrick arrived?” Susan asked.
Frank nodded as they walked across the lobby. “They got here a few minutes ago. We told them to go upstairs while we wait for you.”
The rehabilitation wing was surprisingly quiet for mid-afternoon. A nurse directed them toward a room at the end of the corridor. Frank knocked twice before opening the door.
Matt sat in a wheelchair near the window, wearing a charcoal suit with a crisp white shirt and burgundy tie.
His hair was combed back, and his recently trimmed beard gave him a distinguished appearance.
But it was his eyes that made Susan wonder what was going on.
They sparkled with barely contained emotion.
Stephanie stood beside her dad’s wheelchair, beaming with pride. Carol from the shelter was there too, along with Amy and her family, all dressed more formally than you would for a hospital visit.
Susan looked across at Kathleen and Patrick. “What’s happening?” she asked.
Before anyone could reply, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Pastor John appeared in the doorway, slightly disheveled and apologetic.
“I’m really sorry,” he said, catching his breath. “I was on the other side of Polson and there’s road construction near Jette. The detour added thirty minutes to my journey.”
Susan’s eyes widened. If Pastor John was here…. She turned to study Matt more carefully, noticing the details she’d originally overlooked. He’d attached a small rose to the lapel of his jacket, and he looked more nervous than she’d ever seen him.
“You’re getting married,” she whispered, wonder coloring her voice. “Today. Right now.”
Matt smiled. “Lynda and I decided that we’ve waited long enough.” He gestured toward the door they’d just come through. “The hospital chapel is along the corridor and to the right. Lynda’s waiting in a room just off to the side. She wanted to see you, Kathleen, and Isabel before the ceremony.”
Susan looked at Paul.
“You go,” he said. “I’ll wait for you in the chapel with Frank and Patrick.”
Susan’s heart hammered with unexpected emotion as she made her way to the chapel with her friends. “Did you know about this?” she asked Isabel and Kathleen.
Kathleen shook her head. “I didn’t have a clue. What about you, Izzy?”
“Me neither. Although, I was a little suspicious when Lynda stopped talking about marrying Matt. I thought they must have postponed the wedding until he’s fully recovered.”
The chapel was a lovely room. A large stained-glass window shone soft amber, red, and yellow light across the wooden floor. Someone had added white bows to the back of the aisle chairs, and a colorful flower arrangement sat at the front of the chapel.
Isabel ran her hand along the top of one of the wooden chairs. “This is nicer than I thought it would be.”
Kathleen nodded. “I imagine a lot of heartfelt prayers are said here.”
Susan nodded. Over the years, she’d seen her fair share of hospital chapels. And each time, she’d been relieved to have somewhere safe, peaceful, and quiet to sit and reflect on what was happening to someone she cared about.
Isabel walked across the room. “Lynda must be through here.”
They stepped inside the small room and found Lynda standing in front of a full-length mirror.
The wedding gown she’d bought in Bozeman looked just as incredible as it had all those weeks ago. From the soft V neckline to the flowing skirt, Lynda looked like a radiant bride.
Susan sighed. “You’re beautiful, Lynda.”
“Stunning,” Kathleen agreed, her own voice thick with emotion.
Isabel simply pulled Lynda into a fierce embrace. “I’m so happy for you and Matt.”
Lynda eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
“I know this is a surprise,” she began, her voice quavering slightly.
“But Matt and I decided we didn’t want to wait for a perfect moment in the distant future to get married.
He’s fought so hard to recover, and I refuse to postpone our lives together for another day. ”
She picked up three bouquets that were sitting on a nearby table. The winter roses, evergreen sprigs, and delicate white flowers were gorgeous.
She gave a bouquet to each of her friends. “You’ve been my anchors for as long as I can remember. You’ve supported me through every challenge, and celebrated my happiness as if it were your own. I can’t imagine marrying Matt without all of you standing beside me.”
Kathleen grinned. “I might not be dressed to be your bridesmaid, but I’m honored.”
Susan glanced at Isabel. “So are we. I can’t wait to see Matt’s face when you walk down the aisle.”
Soft organ notes drifted through the doorway.
Lynda smiled and straightened her shoulders. “Is everyone ready?” she asked.
“We’re ready.” Susan walked across to the door and held it open.
Matt was waiting at the altar with Pastor John beside him. When he saw Lynda, his expression changed into something so tender that Susan had to blink back tears.
Lynda walked slowly down the aisle, with Isabel, Kathleen, and Susan beside her. There was no father to give her away, no traditional procession—just four women who’d been friends since summer camp, walking together toward a future none of them could have imagined.
As Lynda reached Matt, he stood from his wheelchair with Pastor John’s steadying hand on his elbow. The small congregation gasped softly, but Matt’s focus never wavered from Lynda’s face. He stood tall and steady, reaching for her hands as she joined him.
“I wanted to stand for you,” Matt said quietly. “You’ve stood by me through everything. This seemed only right.”
Lynda’s tears spilled over, and she squeezed his hands. “I’m so proud of you.”
Pastor John smiled warmly. “Shall we begin?”
Susan glanced across the chapel and caught Paul’s eye. He was sitting in the front row beside Frank and Patrick, and the expression on his face mirrored everything she was feeling—joy for Matt and Lynda, gratitude for the community they’d all found, and something deeper that made her heart swell.
Pastor John’s voice filled the quiet space. “We gather here today to witness the marriage of Matthew Reynolds and Lynda Morth.”
Susan listened as Pastor John spoke about second chances and the courage it took to open your heart again after loss. She watched Matt’s thumb gently stroke Lynda’s hand, saw the way Lynda’s shoulders relaxed as she gazed at the man she loved.
When it came time for vows, Matt spoke first. “Lynda, I’ve spent many years convincing myself that caring for animals was enough—that work, family, and routine were all I needed.
Then I met you, and you proved me wrong about so many things.
” His voice grew thick with emotion. “You showed me that healing isn’t just about medicine and time.
It’s about having someone who refuses to give up on you.
Someone who sees past the broken parts to what’s still whole.
I promise to be that person for you, too.
To care for your heart the way you’ve cared for mine.
To build something together that honors what we’ve both lost and what we’ve both found. ”
Lynda took a shaky breath before responding.
“Matt, when my marriage ended, I thought I’d lost my ability to trust. I believed the only thing I could count on was myself.
But you taught me that partnership isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about showing up for each other when things fall apart.
You ran into a burning building to save animals who couldn’t save themselves.
That’s who you are. And somehow, you saw something in me worth saving too.
” Her voice wavered. “I promise to be your partner in every sense of the word. In the clinic, in the wildlife center we’re building, and in this life we’re creating together.
I promise to let you lean on me when you need to, and to lean on you when I forget I’m allowed to. Most of all, I promise to love you.”
When Pastor John pronounced them husband and wife, Matt kissed his bride, and the chapel erupted in applause and cheers. Stephanie was crying openly, and even Carol was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
As the newlyweds turned to face their guests, Susan looked at Paul. Declining Cole’s offer wasn’t just about a job or a location. It was about choosing the life she wanted to live, with the people who mattered the most.
Paul smiled at her, and she smiled back, her heart full to bursting.
The organ began playing as Matt and Lynda made their way down the aisle. Lynda held Matt’s arm, supporting him as he walked with careful, determined steps. When they reached the back of the chapel, he sank gratefully into his wheelchair, but the joy on his face never dimmed.
Isabel leaned close to Susan and whispered, “Who would have thought? Four girls at summer camp, and look at us now.”
Kathleen dabbed at her eyes. “It’s the best adventure we ever had.”
Susan nodded, watching as Lynda bent to kiss her new husband again. “And it’s not over yet.”
As they filed out of the chapel behind the happy couple, Paul’s hand find Susan’s. She laced her fingers through his, and together they followed their friends into whatever came next.
And wherever that path led, Susan knew they wouldn’t be walking it alone.
THE END