Page 97 of I'll Be There
“Just a little longer,” Conner said.
Justin nodded, the big brother in his eyes.
The back doors opened, and a few people in the back turned their heads.
Conner looked up.
Justin’s hand again squeezed his shoulder. Steadying.
Liza stood at the threshold, flanked by Raina and Mona, both dressed in soft, powder-blue dresses against her beautiful latte-rich gown. She’d swept her hair up, but a few a dark curls fell, framing her face. Her smile.
Those eyes that latched onto his, so much love, so much grace, so much...
His chest hollowed, his jaw tightening against the terrible urge to weep.
The music changed.
A Thousand Years,a cello solo drawn out as Mona left Liza’s side, walking down the aisle, her smile for Conner, then her husband, Joe, who sat near the front, bride’s side.
Heart beats fast...promises...how to be brave.
Raina then came down, glancing back at Layla dressed in her own flowing, powder-blue dress, holding a basket. Liza stood next to her, holding her hand.
I have died every day, waiting for you...
Halfway down, Raina turned, and Layla started along the aisle, dropping white rose petals in tiny handfuls. Eventually, she joined her mother at the altar.
One step closer...
The congregation rose.
Darling, don’t be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years...
Liza smiled and his heart lit on fire.
Yes.
His breath caught, held as she glided down the aisle toward him, the music dropping away, the beauty of the moment, the pure rush of his bride coming to him, beautiful and whole, the image of grace, nearly crumbling him.
God’s immutable mercy.
And now he was crying. He didn’t even care as a tear caught on the edge of his trimmed beard.
Only then did he realize she didn’t wear the jacket. He barely even noticed the scar ribboning up her arm—but now the fact that she hadn’t chosen to hide it...
He longed for her strength.
She reached up as she came to the altar, touched his face, wiped the moisture with her thumb.
A simple gesture that told him exactly who she was. The woman who knew him.
The woman who loved him anyway.Oh.
He caught her hand, met her eyes. Nodded. “I told you I’d be here.”
She grinned. “You kept your promise.”
Just the first, babe, just the first.
