Page 59 of Absolute Valor

The best thing in life is finding someone who knows all your flaws, mistakes, and weakness and still thinks you’re completely amazing.

Chase signed off on the house yesterday, his contractor sick to death of his constant phone calls and insistence of him not wanting to know what would happen if he didn’t finish in time. A cold front had moved in last week, helping the leaves on the trees to change into the oranges, reds, and golds I love so much.

Dylan and Chase put the finishing touches on the gazebo. As soon as our wedding is over, a crew will come in and attach it to the end of the dock, creating a floating oasis. Priscilla had her florist in here last night covering everything with flowers. It’s sweet and I love how much she has taken in, not only Grace and myself, but Lainie and Claire as well. I haven’t had reason to test the waters, but according to Claire, if you need a shoulder to cry on, Priscilla has two. She didn’t care if the reason you’re upset has everything to do with one of her sons.

What I do know, she is a woman in charge, which is evident by the way she’s fluttering around the yard, directing contractors where to place things. She has honored my request of a small affair, but she is making it something incredibly beautiful, using the colors I’d chosen long ago.

I worry about how much she’s doing—first Austin’s impromptu wedding, and then Dylan and Claire’s extravaganza. Dean swears he’s taking her to a secluded beach somewhere so she can rest, but I know she and Claire have been whispering about something they are sure the city needs.

My dress is nothing extravagant; it wouldn’t be me if it were. I’ve never been the girl who dreamed of the day she would wear a ballgown, crawl into the back of a limo, and dance the night away with the man of her dreams.

“Audrey, it’s time.” I’d asked everyone to give me a few minutes before the ceremony to myself. Dean took Grace, with her white dress and orange sash, to look at the pumpkins Uncle Dylan had brought out of his field. I wanted to stand back and watch this group of incredible people who had become more than my friends. They had saved me and given me the family I always pictured. I would never forget my Momma and Daddy, or the struggle they had and all the sacrifices they willingly made. Staying together when there isn’t an ounce of love between you, just so you can avoid hurting the other—well that might just qualify them as heros, too.

Chase had a friend of his in high school who played the guitar, Cecil Ledbetter, he went over to his parents’ farm and asked him if he would be willing to play for us today. Dylan had scoffed when he heard and I knew there was a story there, but remaining kind to someone sometimes requires you to keep a smile on and your mouth closed.

Dean and Carson both offered to walk me down the aisle, but I declined them both. I wanted to do it myself, to take my final steps as a single woman the same way I walked into his life. Now, I watch Grace release her flower petals, before picking them back up, and tossing them again. She has made sure everyone around her knows the man at the end of the aisle is her Da da.

Carson stands from his chair and helps speed Grace along, giving me a clear path to join Chase and his open arms. Mr. Ledbetter strums the guitar as I take the last few steps into the gazebo, knowing the next time my feet touch the ground, more than my last name will have changed.

Chase stood in a pair of jeans, his black boots polished to a high shine and his gray-blue shirt I love so much. Priscilla fussed until he agreed to put a jacket over it, reminding him he could use it to warm me up. Claire curled my hair, something I was clueless on how to do—my normal straight brown hair, now cascaded in ringlets and waves down my back. Seeing the way Chase took in my look, I’m going to learn. As I try to step up, Chase is there with his hand out, reminding me of how much he cares. “I’ve got you, Sweetness. We ain’t starting this thing without ya.” I could hear laughter behind me as I pulled myself up on the last step.

My dress is floor length and white with ruffled layers, designed to look antique. I found it one day while shopping for Grace a new pair of boots to go riding with her new Paw Paw Dean. For the first time in my life, I didn’t look at a price tag, instead handing the credit card Chase gave me to the cashier, too entranced to consider what Chase would say. That was, until I took it out of my purse to give the card back to him. He didn’t even look at it when I handed the receipt to him. He crumpled it up, stuck it in his back pocket, and then motioned for me to keep the card, at least until my new one came in the mail.

“Dearly beloved…” The family priest nearly fell over in his chair when Priscilla asked him if he was willing to do one more Morgan wedding. “I’ve had the honor of knowing this family since before Priscilla and Dean brought these young men for baptism and first communion. I’ve watched them as they participated in various youth events and charity programs, hoping my prayers would keep them on the right path until God revealed what he had planned for them. When I first met Audrey, she was a young girl who asked our Christmas Angel program for a doll. Every year after that, I would see her as she grew, her requests always so simple and few. Many of you don’t know this, but Chase gave Audrey a piece of jewelry before he ever laid eyes on her. Some would call it the hands of fate, but I disagree. I call it the hand of God, choosing these two as the perfect pair.”

Father Fitzgerald had met with us for council. Normally, there was an extensive class the church required us to take, but with our actual wedding taking place on a river bank, and not in the church, he allowed us to slide a little.

“The next time I had the pleasure of visiting with Audrey, she brought little Grace to the church for me to bless her.” I never told a soul I visited the church during the week, lighting a candle and praying for God to send me a miracle. “Chase, while you were away with the Marines, your Momma came to the church every Wednesday to pray for your safe return. And every Thursday, Audrey would be sitting outside the side door, waiting for the church to be empty so she could have her time to pray. What Audrey didn’t know, was I too prayed for her, asking God to bring a special man into her life who would treat her the way I know Chase will.”

A sniff came from the audience behind and I turned, finding Priscilla wiping her eyes as she brushed Dean away. Claire held her hands out for Grace to come see her, my daughter appeared to have a collection of people already wrapped around her finger.

Chase had wanted his friend Zach to attend, but he was still in Afghanistan, trying to finish things up so he could return home. Austin set up a live feed so the guys in his old unit could watch the wedding—it was early in the morning there, but they didn’t seem to care. Six sets of eager eyes appeared on the screen on Chase’s side. It may have seemed strange, but to him, it was everything.

“Audrey, do you take Chase to be your lawfully wedded husband?” The first time I looked into those blue eyes, full of anger after punching the crap out of Lucas, completely confused me as to why I didn’t fear him. How could a man who didn’t know me, take his shirt off to stop my bleeding nose?

“To have an to hold, for better or for worse.” Seeing his face as I confessed I had Grace, assuming the coldness I saw was directed at me instead of Lucas. I will never know what happened in the moments before Clifford’s house caught fire, or what Cash thought as he saw the bridge disappear before hitting the water. But what I do know, is this man, this family, is here to make criminals stand accountable for their actions. “Till death do you part?” Chase winks as I open my mouth to pledge my life to this man. “I do.”

There are moments in my life I will never forget. Like when my daddy took off my training wheels and helped me ride a bike. My fourth grade spelling bee, where I placed first in the county. Even the night I met Lucas holds something special to me. The first time I felt Grace kicking, and then when I held her for the first time. Today is another moment, a sacred memory. When the food is all gone and the guests bid us a goodnight, I will wake up every day on this very stretch of land and remember this day and the way Chase made me feel.

After Father Fitzgerald blessed our union, we sat down inside the barn Chase had his contractor build to hold the animals he swore Grace needed. Priscilla and her catering company decorated it to look like a rustic restaurant, complete with long tables and twinkling lights.

Chase danced with Grace first, so she could have her cake and then waved goodbye to start her weekend with Miss Georgia and Carson. Priscilla was a little upset at first, until Chase let her know we would be getting busy with a little brother or sister right away.

“Care to make a wager on that one, little brother?” Dylan and Austin both held out their hands, but didn’t notice how Lainie looked pale and didn’t drink any champagne.

“Absolutely.” Chase agreed, and the three of them did some weird handshake as everyone laughed, except for Lainie, of course.

As Dean pulled Priscilla onto the dance floor, a song he requested playing overhead, Chase wrapped his arms around me, kissing my neck as we watched his parent dance like professionals. “I’m serious about having a baby. Later on, when I carry you across the threshold, I will make love to my wife, with no barriers.” He had visited his doctor a few weeks ago, had him run a few tests to make sure he didn’t have any lasting effects from Virginia. He received the all clear a few days ago.

“Alright, y’all! You ain’t gotta go home, but ya can’t stay here.” Dylan rounded everyone up as the hour grew late. “These newlyweds gotta get their honeymoon started and Chase is gonna have to watch YouTube to know what happens.”

When I first met Dylan, I’d assumed him to be this really tough guy, too mean to have a heart. But as I watch him and Claire together, seeing the love he really has for his family and the life he has, I couldn’t help but love him. His loyalty astounds me and his need to put everything right, is something you just don’t find anymore.

Austin gave me the impression he was above everyone else, too sophisticated to live among us country folks. But he, too, loves this family and will fight to the death for us. He’s as smart as they come, but his heart is solid gold. Like Dylan, he has a desire to do away with all of the corruption.

As the tail lights of the last guest fades into the night, my husband swoops me up, “Chase!” My scream fills the porch, followed by the giggles the champagne helped to create.

“That’s right, Sweetness. Start warming up for screaming my name for real.” He had asked me nicely not to go into our bedroom as I was getting dressed, saying he had worked on a surprise for me. As he kicked the front door closed, I noticed flower petals on the floor, with Mason jar candles going across the room and up the stairs. Wrapping my arms around his neck, the twinkle of the lights catching in the wedding set on my left hand. When Chase placed this ring on my finger, I wanted to protest it was too much, but when I looked into his eyes and saw the excitement and pride, I couldn’t do it.

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