heart. He had only himself to blame.
I had no connections with anyone outside of my family. My faith was so weak. Before, when I was with you, I wasn’t like the way I am now.
Jenna’s words reverberated through his head. Made his heart hurt more. What she said described him.
You were my catalyst for change. For finding Pastor Dan and his church. For falling in love with God. I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but being dumped at the altar was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Dissatisfaction with his life, with everything, made Ash itch. He wanted what Jenna had found—unwavering faith and a place to belong. Was it too late to change?
Amber touched his shoulder, then hugged him, not the half-armed air hug she was famous for, but an honest-to-goodness not-letting-go hug like they’d shared when she was little. “Isn’t today wonderful?”
He let go of her. “The best.”
“Thanks for your help.” She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, given what a mess I made of you and Jenna.”
“I would have lost her on my own. I just did.”
“Try, try again. ”
“What happened belongs in the past,” he said.
“No, it doesn’t. You make a cute couple. That’s why I’ve been trying to get you to spend more time together.”
“The dinner at the café and wedding site tour.”
“I was hoping for lunch after the bridal salon visit, but that didn’t work out.” Amber beamed. “Still rather brilliant with shades of Jane Austen’s Emma, don’t you think?”
“You’re not a matchmaker. Don’t do it again.”
“You didn’t seem to mind at the time.”
“I do now.” Jenna’s present burned a hole in his pocket. She might not want it, but he needed to give her the box. Maybe she could see the gift as a thank-you, not a good-bye.
“Change your mind,” his sister suggested. “We’ll figure out a plan.”
Amber was so young and in love. He was happy for her, but she didn’t understand how complicated things were with Jenna. “Go find your husband. The two of you should be leaving soon.”
“I will, but I have to say something first. Since Jenna came back into your life, you’ve been the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I think there’s a correlation between her and your good mood.”
“Maybe,” Ash said. “Or maybe not.”
Amber stuck out her tongue at him. “I’m trying to help. I still feel awful for what I did.”
“Don’t. This is nobody’s fault but mine. Jenna and I were in no position to make a marriage work two years ago. Not the way God intended.” He kissed Amber’s forehead. “Go find Toby so you can start your honeymoon.”
She walked away. Her gown swooshed with each step. His little sister was a married woman, a wife.
Ash should get used to being a confirmed bachelor. The only woman he wanted didn’t want him.
He saw Jenna standing on the other side of the room and joined her. “Toby was correct. You are the right photographer for this wedding.”
Jenna fiddled with her camera. “Thanks.”
Ash wanted so much more than her gratitude. He wanted a second—make that third—chance. “Jenna—”
“I’ll e-mail a link when the proofs are ready.” Her tone was polite, measured. “Amber and Toby are getting ready to leave. I need to photograph their exit.”
Always the professional. Ash wouldn’t stand in her way. “Go.”
What was he going to say, anyway? I’m sorry? Forgive me again? He hadn’t a clue what to do. But maybe God would know. Ash closed his eyes, and for the first time in a long while he prayed, a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for all he had, and a petition for what he didn’t have. But he realized that wasn’t right, and instead he prayed that God’s will be done for him, for his family, and for Jenna.
The sun dipped below the horizon. White lights twinkled in the darkness, illuminating trees and the gazebo at the Sweetwater Country Club. Jenna stood
I had no connections with anyone outside of my family. My faith was so weak. Before, when I was with you, I wasn’t like the way I am now.
Jenna’s words reverberated through his head. Made his heart hurt more. What she said described him.
You were my catalyst for change. For finding Pastor Dan and his church. For falling in love with God. I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but being dumped at the altar was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Dissatisfaction with his life, with everything, made Ash itch. He wanted what Jenna had found—unwavering faith and a place to belong. Was it too late to change?
Amber touched his shoulder, then hugged him, not the half-armed air hug she was famous for, but an honest-to-goodness not-letting-go hug like they’d shared when she was little. “Isn’t today wonderful?”
He let go of her. “The best.”
“Thanks for your help.” She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, given what a mess I made of you and Jenna.”
“I would have lost her on my own. I just did.”
“Try, try again. ”
“What happened belongs in the past,” he said.
“No, it doesn’t. You make a cute couple. That’s why I’ve been trying to get you to spend more time together.”
“The dinner at the café and wedding site tour.”
“I was hoping for lunch after the bridal salon visit, but that didn’t work out.” Amber beamed. “Still rather brilliant with shades of Jane Austen’s Emma, don’t you think?”
“You’re not a matchmaker. Don’t do it again.”
“You didn’t seem to mind at the time.”
“I do now.” Jenna’s present burned a hole in his pocket. She might not want it, but he needed to give her the box. Maybe she could see the gift as a thank-you, not a good-bye.
“Change your mind,” his sister suggested. “We’ll figure out a plan.”
Amber was so young and in love. He was happy for her, but she didn’t understand how complicated things were with Jenna. “Go find your husband. The two of you should be leaving soon.”
“I will, but I have to say something first. Since Jenna came back into your life, you’ve been the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I think there’s a correlation between her and your good mood.”
“Maybe,” Ash said. “Or maybe not.”
Amber stuck out her tongue at him. “I’m trying to help. I still feel awful for what I did.”
“Don’t. This is nobody’s fault but mine. Jenna and I were in no position to make a marriage work two years ago. Not the way God intended.” He kissed Amber’s forehead. “Go find Toby so you can start your honeymoon.”
She walked away. Her gown swooshed with each step. His little sister was a married woman, a wife.
Ash should get used to being a confirmed bachelor. The only woman he wanted didn’t want him.
He saw Jenna standing on the other side of the room and joined her. “Toby was correct. You are the right photographer for this wedding.”
Jenna fiddled with her camera. “Thanks.”
Ash wanted so much more than her gratitude. He wanted a second—make that third—chance. “Jenna—”
“I’ll e-mail a link when the proofs are ready.” Her tone was polite, measured. “Amber and Toby are getting ready to leave. I need to photograph their exit.”
Always the professional. Ash wouldn’t stand in her way. “Go.”
What was he going to say, anyway? I’m sorry? Forgive me again? He hadn’t a clue what to do. But maybe God would know. Ash closed his eyes, and for the first time in a long while he prayed, a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for all he had, and a petition for what he didn’t have. But he realized that wasn’t right, and instead he prayed that God’s will be done for him, for his family, and for Jenna.
The sun dipped below the horizon. White lights twinkled in the darkness, illuminating trees and the gazebo at the Sweetwater Country Club. Jenna stood
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