Page 32 of The Captain's Midwinter Bride
“Have you seen very many brides, my dear?” Annalise inquired, smiling at her son in the mirror.
Oliver shrugged, looking handsome in his black dress attire. And so much like his father Annalise’s breath caught.
“As it were, I haven’t. But now that I’ve seen you, I’m certain all others pale in beauty.”
Turning about on her seat, Annalise caught his hand and pulled until he sat on the bench next to her. “Tell me, my dear, are you practicing your best lines on me? Testing how they are received?”
“I am doing no such thing.” Oliver affected disgruntlement before the corners of his lips tipped up. “However, would you say you were impressed?”
Annalise chuckled. “They were most impressive.”
Pulling on his lapels in an exaggerated fashion, Oliver smiled when she laughed again. After a moment, his smile faded as his intense gaze skipped over her face. “So he finally won you.”
“Your father didn’t win anything.” She smacked his hand lightly. “I’ve always been his wife.”
“Of course you have. But…” He paused, reaching up to lightly touch the festive red roses Beth had entwined into her hair. “But now he’s won your heart. I never would have thought there was much of a difference, but seeing you and Father over the last several days has shown me how wrong I’ve been.”
Fighting back tears, Annalise locked her jaw to contain them. Never would she have thought that the serious-minded young man she had married to save herself from ruin all those years ago would be the kind-hearted, loving man she adored today. Since she had agreed to renew their vows, he had been attentive and doting. Annalise paused when she realized he had always been that way. Phillip had always been courteous and thoughtful, but now that they had been honest about their true feelings for each other and laid to rest all the sins of the past, all his previous actions came into sharp relief. He claimed to have always loved her and, looking back on the long years of their marriage, she realized he had shown her his love in a multitude of ways, big and small. Annalise just hadn’t recognized his regard for what it was.
Well, now was the time for her to showcase her love for him.
“Are you ready?” Oliver asked, cutting through the fog of her thoughts.
“I’ve been ready for the last twenty-five years. Now take me to your father,” she ordered, rising to her feet and looping her arm around his.
“Only because he deserves you. And you deserve him.” Oliver pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “Now, let’s not leave the poor man thinking his bride has changed her mind.”
“Yes, let’s not,” she agreed, allowing Oliver to escort her down the stairs and into the family parlor.
Her nerves danced a merry tune, but as soon as their son lead her through the door, her eyes met Phillip’s and all her skittishness fell away. This was her husband, after all, the man she’d known nearly her whole life. And yet she had not truly understood him, or loved him, until he had finally returned home. But the future was now theirs to spend together.
The End
