“Shh.” Sliding down beside him on the snow, Serena cupped her hands on either side of Colin's handsome face. Gazing into the deep brown eyes of the man she loved, she kissed him. Tenderly. Deeply. Lovingly. “I want you,” she whispered. “I love you, and the ring is beautiful.”
“I do believe I see Starlight in your eyes, my love. So, will you please marry me and allow me the great privilege of taking care of you all the rest of my days?”
“Yes, I will marry you, Colin Stephen Young. We'll take care of each other all the rest of our days together. Besides, I'm sure Lily will take care of both of us.”
They laughed together.
“Without a doubt.” Colin nuzzled her neck and then deliciously nibbled on her ear before meeting her lips once more. “Merry Christmas, Serena.” When they parted, he tightened his hold on her and grinned. “You can't even know how close I came to proposing to you last night at Barney's Diner.”
“Oh?” Serena tilted her head to one side and her lips curled. “How might that have gone?”
“Something like, âMarry me, Serena. Say you'll be mine. Whenever. Wherever. Let's go back to Philly and be married by the weekend. Get yourself a yellow hat. Rescue me from myself and take me to live with you and Lily. We'll have lots of fun adventures in the big city.'”
She smiled against his lips when Colin leaned in for another kiss. “I know the truth. You only want to marry me so I can help to dress you before the show tapes. I'll only do that for my husband, you realize. I might even agree to the red high-tops with the jingle bells. We can negotiate about the reindeer nose.”
He laughed. “Oh, love, you're welcome to do whatever you'd like with me as long as we make it legal and proper in the eyes of the Lord.”
“Colin, please promise me one thing.” Serena stroked the back of her hand across his cheek.
“What's that?” His lids were heavy as he eyed her. “In this moment, I'm likely to promise you anything.”
“Always sing or read to Lily before she goes to bed.” Serena gave him a coy grin. “Then come read, sing, or whatever else you'd like. With me.”
With a growl deep in his throat, Colin reached for her again. “Love, that's a promise I'll be more than happy to fulfill for the rest of our lives.”
23
Almost Two Months Later
Valentine's Day â Starlight, Iowa
Colin's heart was full as he stood at the front of the church, waiting for his bride.
Alex stood beside him as Nikki started up the aisle. As Serena's matron of honor, she was lovely in an ivory, tea-length dress with a red satin sash. She carried a simple bouquet of red roses and baby's breath, the smaller version of Serena's bouquet except for the addition of lilies for the bride.
Nikki's gaze rested on her husband as she approached the front of the church. Her smile was one of a woman in love with her husband.
Colin's eyes misted as she made the turn and took her place opposite them.
Ah, Lily. His precious little princess began her walk up the aisle next in a pretty dress that complemented Nikki'sâivory with a red satin sash.
Marla had styled Lily's mass of dark curls, and she wore a garland of red roses. Lily beamed and, in her hands, she carried a small basket of red and white rose petals which she scattered on the white-draped middle aisle.
Walking beside her, wearing a more serious expression, Andrew Sinclair balanced a white satin pillow with their wedding rings.
Colin caught the look of pride on Hannah and Dylan's faces as their son appeared quite the young man in his black tuxedo with red cummerbund and red rose in his lapel. His attire mirrored what Alex wore, albeit a much smaller version.
Per Serena's request, Colin wore a traditional cutaway tuxedo with a red vest, ascot, and pocket square similar to the ones he'd worn the night of the Liberty Bell Ball.
Lily giggled and winked at himâwhere and when had she learned to do that?âand then waved to Serena's mother, Joan Monroe.
He'd driven with Serena and Lily to their home in Virginia to spend the New Year where he'd asked, and been given, their blessing to adopt Lily and marry Serena.
Kevin and Joan planned to take Lily back to Virginia for the upcoming week while he jetted off with Serena for their honeymoon in an idyllic villa on the picturesque Amalfi Coast of Italy.
Graham's parents were on a long-planned trip to Europe, but they'd had dinner with Jack and Elaine Preston in New York one recent weekend where they'd made plans to spend Easter together in the Hamptons.
Colin planned to take his girls to England the coming summer. He wanted to show them where he'd grown up, reconnect with a few distant relatives, and visit the gravesites of his parents and grandparents. To be sure, the trip would be bittersweet, but with his wife and daughter at his side, it would give him the closure he needed.
Colin snapped to attention as the string quartet began to play a wedding selection by Bach, a classical piece perfectly suited to the acoustics of the beautiful stone church.
Serena stole his breath as she began to walk up the center aisle on the arm of her father. Beautiful and serene.
His.
In her elegant, tea-length, ivory satin gown, matching ivory satin shoes, and short veil, Serena was a vision. Truly the woman of his heart.
“Reading from Ecclesiastes 4, verses 9 through 12,” Starlight's Pastor Ted began, Bible in his hands, “âTwo are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.'”
As the wedding service continued, Colin smiled at the sight of their friends and family gathered together to observe and celebrate this day with them.
Marla, Trina, Lawrence, and many of the staff members and producers from
Wake Up, Philadelphia!
as well as Nikki, Alex, and all their new friends in Starlight.
Caroline dabbed at her eyes with the tissue Ben handed to her and, catching Colin's eye, gave him a warm wink and a thumbs-up.
Colin hadn't yet told Serena, but his wedding gift to her was a small home he'd contracted to build in Starlight. A special getaway home for long weekends, summer retreats, and the occasional holiday. A place to call home. He smiled as he recalled his promise to Lily to enroll her in a summer camp at Starlight Soccer.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Pastor Ted said the words Colin had long been waiting to hear. “Colin, you may now kiss your bride.”
“I've waited for you my entire life.” Colin caressed Serena with his gaze.
“Thank you for sharing the moment.” Serena raised her lips for his kiss.
“Always,” he whispered as his lips met hers.
After Pastor Ted introduced them as husband and wife, all of those gathered in the church applauded.
Alex, Jake, Dylan, and Dante all cheered. At least one or two of them whistled.
Both he and Serena laughed when someone at the back of the church rang jingle bells.
Turning to face the congregation, Colin felt a tug on his jacket. He crouched down beside Lily. “Yes, Lily-Love?”
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, my precious daughter.” After kissing Lily's soft cheek, Colin lifted her in his arms and then reached for Serena's hand. “Colin and his girls. Maybe a new idea for show segments?”
“Not on your life,” Serena said. “Let's go, Mr. Young.”
“Lead the way, Mrs. Young.”
His heart overflowing, Colin marched down the aisle with his family.
A married man. A father. The most blessed man in the world.
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Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Loveâ¢
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