Free BOH 8-21-07 (00178434).DOC by Unknown Page B

chest. Seeing her
    blue sparkling eyes calmed his insecurity. “I’ll marry you
    any time, any place. You’re my other half.”
    “From this day forward,” he murmured.
    “I’m sorry Katy isn’t here. She’d be over the moon.”
    Mike tightened his grip. “Tonight is for us. Want to
    go upstairs?”
    Cyn rolled off his lap and took off at a run. “What do
    you think? Last one there has to cook supper for a week.”
    Mike grabbed her on the second step.
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    Bridge of Hope

Epilogue
    The Wedding Day
    Cyn scanned the small crowd waiting for her to walk
    down the garden path. A hot sun beat down on the late
    September day, warming the air to an unseasonable high.
    There wasn’t a cloud in sight and no breeze to disturb the
    beautifully decorated tables.
    Happiness bubbling in her heart threatened to choke
    her. She wanted to run wild across the lawns, screaming
    her joy.
    Katy tugged on her dress. “Come on, Cyn. They’re
    starting the song again. People are lookin’ at us.”
    Mike paced on the grass ahead. She grasped Katy’s
    hand and walked toward her husband-to-be.
    The next ten minutes passed in a blur. Cyn had
    wanted to savor each moment. Tonight she’d watch the
    video to see what she’d missed.
    “Cyn?” the minister’s voice penetrated the fog
    swirling in her mind.
    She gazed into Mike’s eyes. “I do…for always.”
    The collective cries of amazement that shot up from
    the crowd had nothing to do with the minister
    pronouncing them man and wife. Everyone stared in
    amazement at the American flag flapping wildly in the
    still air.
    A sense of peace seeped into Cyn’s soul. She lifted her
    gaze to her husband. “It’s Peter wishing us well.”
    The love in Mike’s eyes turned her knees weak. “I
    know. We owe him. He brought me to the Hope River that
    night.”
    “You may kiss the bride…” The guests’ excitement
    65

    Pam Champagne

    almost drowned out the minister’s words.
    Cyn and Mike sealed their union with a passionate
    kiss. “Let’s grab some alone time,” Mike whispered.
    Hand-in-hand, they started back to the house. Katy’s
    young voice rang out in the still afternoon. “Daddy,
    Mommy, wait for me.”
    Mommy. Cyn’s heart melted. In that instant her
    marriage became real.
    Mike trailed a finger down her cheek. “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be. You and Katy are a package deal. I
    wouldn’t want it any other way.” She turned in time to
    catch Katy as she charged across the lawn. “Come on
    sweet pea. Let’s go change so we can enjoy the fantastic
    food everyone brought.”
    Could life be any better? Cyn didn’t think so.

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