Page 61 of Wishes on Wildflowers
Nathan figured he should turn and watch the bride, even though he wanted to keep looking at Jasmine.
Behind him, Dan Ranta nodded at him, cradling his infant son while Mandy and Buddy shoved at each other beside him. Dixie was nowhere to be seen.
Nathan’s heart went out to the man. At least he’d come to his sister’s wedding, tough as it must be for him.
Linnea appeared in the gap beyond, arm linked with her father’s. Dave Ranta Senior had suffered a massive heart attack last fall, but he seemed to have recovered. Not enough to take over his landscaping business again — Dan ran it now — but enough to play some golf and putter around his own yard. One good thing had come from the shock. The blustering man had given his grudging approval of Logan’s request to marry his daughter.
Man, Nathan was having trouble focusing. The bride and her father passed his row, and he turned again to see Jasmine. She practically sparkled today, and… was that wink for him? He grinned back, and she smiled wider.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” asked Pastor Tomas.
Nathan settled into the folding chair and crossed his arms. He’d better listen carefully to the wedding sermon so he’d know how to be the best husband Jasmine could ever have hoped for.
She’d say yes, wouldn’t she?
Jasmine sigheda happy sigh as she accepted the folded paper from young Sam at the end of the ceremony. He, his sister, and several other neighborhood children handed outenvelopes to everyone present as they gathered around Linnea and Logan. Linnea held a heart-shaped box as Logan slipped his arm around her and nuzzled her neck.
Her roommate. Married. Linnea’s room in the apartment they shared was all packed up. Some of the guys had offered to move the boxes to Logan’s rental by the river while the newlyweds were off on their honeymoon.
Jasmine wasn’t sure if she’d look for another roommate. When would Nathan ask her to marry him? He and his brother had sorted out their Pops’s belongings and begun fixing up the family home.
Nathan slipped his arm around her and held up his envelope. “What a fun idea,” he murmured into her ear.
Jasmine nodded and leaned against him, allowing him to tug her a little way out from the crowd surrounding the bride and groom.
“Everyone ready?” called Logan.
Assorted replies affirmed.
“Then let’s do it!”
Jasmine faced Nathan and unfolded the corner just as he did. Together they opened the papers to release the swallowtail butterflies inside. Theirs joined the dozens of winged beauties as they rose in the air, a fitting celebration.
“Is it true butterflies only live a few days before laying their eggs and dying?” Nathan asked quietly.
The cloud of butterflies swirled and began to dissipate to the delighted laughter of the assembled friends and family.
“It’s true. So beautiful, but so fleeting.”
“Like life.”
She could tell he must be thinking about his father by the pensive look on his face. Then he smiled and reached to touch her hair. “You’ve got a new friend,” he whispered.
A butterfly clung to his finger when he lowered it to show her. Its beauty caught her breath, and she barely dared breathe.
“Reminds me of wildflowers,” Nathan said quietly. “Here today, gone tomorrow, but our Heavenly Father still knows we have need of such beauty in our lives.”
The butterfly took wing, hovering a moment between them, then fluttered off into the park.
Jasmine brought her focus back to Nathan, only to realize he’d dropped to one knee and held out a small box, open to a sparkling ring.
Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened as she took in his dear face. Here? Now?
“Jasmine Grace Santoro, I love you with everything in me, and I don’t want to waste another moment without telling you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Nathan, I…” Her gaze flew back to the ring as he plucked it from its sapphire nest. Petals and leaves of white gold cradled a diamond at their center. Could anything be more perfect? “I love you. Please, yes, I want to marry you.”
He slipped the ring on to her finger then rose and gathered her in his arms as cheers surrounded them.
